POV: Riley
The grand council chamber shimmered with quiet authority, its vaulted ceiling carved with constellations that glowed faintly in the morning light. Golden chandeliers cast a warm brilliance across the long obsidian table, where the Elders of the realm sat in solemn anticipation. Tapestries depicting ancient battles and the rise of past rulers lined the walls—silent witnesses to the weight of every decision made within these walls.
Riley stood beside Alex at the center dais, her heart steady but alert. Every time she entered this chamber, the reality of their new roles pressed down on her—the responsibility, the scrutiny, the truth that their words now shaped the future of thousands.
At the head of the table sat Elder Alaric, his silver hair cascading over his dark council robe
