The first person to enter was Nyssa — ancient, frail, her eyes milky with age yet sharp as glass. Behind her came Elder Brax, his long white beard braided in three, and Elder Corin, youngest of the council but known for his wisdom.
When they stepped into the chamber, the torchlight flickered low, almost bowing before their presence.
"What is this chaos?" Nyssa demanded, her cracked voice cutting through the air like brittle glass. "The moon itself trembled, we felt it."
Kael inclined his head, trying to steady his voice. "It's her," he said bitterly, pointing toward the unconscious figure lying against the stone wall. "Liora. She unleashed some kind of power — unnatural. It destroyed her chains."
"Unnatural?" Brax's eyes narrowed. "Or ancient?"
The three elders drew closer. Gonzalo stepped aside, unwilling to let go of her completely but allowing them to see.
