Queen Velara's gaze swept across the room, her icy blue eyes narrowing slightly as she took in the murmurs of her council. The dwarves, though silent now, were visibly unsettled by Vincent's words. She exuded a presence of power and control, every motion deliberate and exact, but Vincent could sense the growing concern behind her calm facade.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity of silence, Velara raised her hand, and the dwarves fell quiet. Her eyes returned to Vincent, but now there was a glint of calculation, as if she were weighing possibilities and consequences in her mind.
"You speak of dark forces adapting and growing stronger," she said, her voice soft but carrying through the chamber with authority. "It is not something I take lightly. But trusting outsiders, especially humans, is not our way. For too long, we have relied on our own strength, our magic, and the unyielding mountains to shield us from the world's chaos."
