The next morning, Stephan went to meet King Orak in private. The gnome ruler looked exactly as he remembered... sharp-eyed, impeccably dressed, and wearing that same sly, merchant's grin that made it impossible to tell whether he was being friendly or setting up a deal. Every smile from Orak felt like a trap waiting to be sprung.
"I've received word from my son, Olath," the king began, his voice carrying the smooth confidence of a practiced negotiator. "He tells me your expedition into the Soul Desert was… eventful. That you ran into a few complications."
Stephan's lips curved faintly. "That's correct. But nothing we couldn't handle."
Orak leaned back in his ornate chair, steepling his fingers. "I'm glad to hear it. My son tends to exaggerate, but even his stories carried a certain… weight. Tell me, did you find what you were searching for out there?"
"Yes," Stephan said simply.
