Within the hidden enclave, the fire's dance painted a play of flickering shadows upon the serene landscape. Lyan sat in deep contemplation, his eyes sealed shut but his mind a whirlwind of consciousness, deftly navigating the complex surveillance network meticulously established through his network of acid ants discreetly stationed within the city.
"The orb has been retrieved by the Duke's men. There's no doubt he's the puppeteer orchestrating this festival's turmoil," Lyan murmured under his breath, a pensive furrow marking his brow. "Yet, what's his ultimate aim? Is it to stoke the embers of enmity between Astellia and the Redanian Empire, subtly drawing the empire's power into the relentless power struggle of the Astellia Kingdom?"
