Velkar, Feris, Vorn, and Mirra stood over the glowing pure mana stones, their eyes gleaming with triumph. The battle had cost them much, but they could finally taste victory.
The bodies of the fallen Celestial Academy elders lay far behind them, forgotten in the shadow of their prize. They were moments away from seizing the treasure they had fought so hard for.
Velkar reached out, his fingers hovering just above one of the stones, its radiance reflecting in his greedy eyes.
But before he could grasp it, a voice sliced through the silence like a blade.
"Do you think you've asked permission to take what is mine?"
The voice was calm, yet filled with a command that made the group freeze mid-motion. Slowly, almost unwillingly, they turned around to face the source of the voice.
