Morning sunlight sparkled across the untouched snow covering Bloodstone Manor, painting the estate in a quiet, brilliant white. The previous day's summit had ended successfully, yet the vivid signs of its profound impact remained visible throughout the grounds.
Carriages bearing the distinct crests of neighboring villages still occupied the wide guest courtyard, as several weary delegates had gladly accepted Zephyir's warm invitation to stay another day before beginning their long, grueling journeys home.
The grand manor felt unusually lively, humming with an energy it had not known for generations. Attentive servants hurried through the winding stone halls, carrying trays of warm breakfasts to the various guest suites.
Cheerful, relaxed conversations echoed from every corner of the estate, softening the historically stern architecture of the fortress. Bloodstone had never hosted so many diverse visitors for reasons of genuine peace rather than tense, defensive politics.
