Starfania felt the weight of her words settled into her chest. She looked down, trying to process the gravity of what Ren was sharing.
"What happened to him? " Starfania asked, her curiosity tinged with dread. Ren took a deep breath, as if bracing herself for the memories. "He fell in a battle we never saw coming. It was swift and brutal. Veltre fought valiantly, but the darkness overwhelmed us. After his loss, confusion and blame took root among the allies."
Starfania felt a knot forming in her stomach. "Did anyone even try to bring us back together? "
Ren nodded slowly. "We tried. Many times. But the scars run deep. Accusations flew in the wake of his death. Some said it was a betrayal, that we were being watched. Others simply mourned and couldn't see past their grief. Without Veltre's wisdom, we lost our way."
Starfania bit her lip, images of fractured bonds flashing in her mind.
"Can We Fix It? " she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Ren met her gaze, a flicker of determination in her eyes. "It won't be easy. Rebuilding trust takes time and effort from all sides. But if we can find a common purpose, a reason to stand together again, perhaps we can heal the wounds of the past. "
Despite their forced smiles, Starfania could feel the undercurrent of tension in the room. Her unease was palpable, but she pushed it aside. She wasn't about to let them see any crack in her armor. Their quizzical stare bore into her until one of them sneered, " Hey, kid! I hope you're not in charge here, because that would truly be embarrassing. "
Starfania curled an eyebrow, letting a slow smirk crept onto her face.
" Oh, don't worry. If I were in charge, you wouldn't even be standing right now, " she said, her voice steady and laced with dry humor. The man's expression faltered, but he quickly recovered, his tone darkening as he leaned forward. " What brings someone like you to Cesar's dining room? This place isn't for kids. Let me guess–you're just a humble little servant trying to keep up, aren't you? "