The air in the council chamber grew heavier with each passing second, thick with tension you could almost taste.
The floating magical lights flickered nervously overhead, making shadows dance across the polished obsidian table like restless spirits.
Every breath felt too loud in the silence.
Seris stood perfectly still at the center of it all, her silver-white hair catching the dim light. Her golden eyes fixed on the frozen image of the hooded figure hanging in the air above the table.
The intruder's shadowy blade was raised mid-swing, frozen in time, but you could almost feel the deadly intent radiating from it.
"This one," Seris said, her voice low and controlled, "wasn't part of Vesper's plan."
Alistair Noctis. The sharp-eyed king from the east, leaned forward in his seat.
"You're telling us this... person just showed up out of nowhere?"
Seris gave a single nod. "Vesper came to deliver a message. This one made sure he never got the chance to finish."
