David exhaled a weary sigh, his mind racing as he stood outside the advisory council chamber. His once carefully planned day had spiralled out of control. What began as a simple task to prepare for the coming-of-age ceremony had morphed into a looming confrontation with the noble elders of Aethelwarin.
He had intended to remain on the sidelines, letting the intricate web of Ternion's politics play out without his interference. But now, his fate was intertwined with the estate's future, and ignoring it was no longer an option.
As he leaned against the stone wall, his thoughts whirled in a chaotic mess. The idea of standing still and allowing the world to collapse around him grated on his instincts. He belonged here, in Ternion, and he wasn't going to idly watch its downfall.
