"Then it's been decided. Sean will forfeit his life for acting on his own accord. The seed will be assigned a new guardian," one of the masked men delivered the final verdict, his voice echoing with cold authority through the dimly lit chamber.
He sat at the midpoint of the arc-shaped table, his position subtly elevated, making it easy for anyone to guess that he held the role of leader among this shadowy group, their faces hidden behind intricate masks that gleamed faintly under the flickering torchlight.
"Aren't you all too eager to judge? I expect you to hear him out at the very least before giving your judgment," a deep, resonant voice intervened just before the verdict could be carried out, cutting through the tension like a blade through silk.
