Nwadike's eyes remained fixed on his father, absorbing the weight of his words. "What do we do, Father? The Apelings acted out of necessity, but they've drawn themselves into a deeper conflict. And Ikem… he won't stand for much more bloodshed."
Osita shook his head slowly. "Ikem is wise, but even he cannot control the emotions of his people once they've been provoked. The Apelings have tasted violence, and though it is against their nature, they will be tempted to act again if pressed. And this is what Murmur wants."
A heavy silence fell over the room, the gravity of the situation weighing on them both. Osita knew that Murmur's ultimate goal was not simply the downfall of Björn's followers, but the erosion of Björn's own stability. By fanning the flames of conflict, Murmur was pushing Björn toward a breaking point, feeding him raw faith energy at a rate that would drive any mortal to madness.
