Location:House Ashenveil Estate — meeting room / underground training facility
Date/Time:Mid Voidmarch, 9939 AZI
Realm:Lower Realm
Lord Ashenveil poured fresh tea. The old tea had gone cold during his brother's story, and the act of pouring was the act of a man rebuilding the room's composure after dismantling it.
He sat down. Grey eyes on Jayde.
"You said you're not interested in being stupid about it." The veteran's voice was level. "Tell me what you are interested in."
"Understanding the full picture," Jayde said. "The Temple controls the passages. The recruitment. The pills. But something I don't understand — why does the Lower Realm tolerate it? An entire realm, millions of people, letting one institution dictate who leaves and who stays. That's not just control. That's submission. Why?"
Lord Ashenveil looked at her for a long time. The grey eyes weighing whether to open a door that couldn't be closed.
