The council chamber was thick with tension.
Every member present knew that the situation was more dire than it appeared. Ailson and her family's escape had ignited fear among the supernatural community.
Worse still, the council had uncovered their deep ties with the League of Shadows,a notorious criminal organization that operated in secrecy, dealing in forbidden magic and dark experiments.
The League's power had grown in recent years, and the council's influence was waning.Elder Solan, the head of the council, sat at the helm of the table, his fingers steepled in front of him.
His eyes, aged with wisdom but sharp with intent, moved across the room, gauging the unease in the other members. They were not simply dealing with rogue supernaturals anymore. This had escalated into a war of shadows, and Solan knew they were running out of time.
"The League of Shadows won't stay in hiding for long," Solan said, his voice measured. "We know they're aware of Gloria's reincarnation."A murmur rippled through the room at the mention of Gloria,the girl who had unknowingly inherited the power of the Blood Moon Wolf goddess.
She was both a blessing and a curse, a symbol of hope and an invitation for disaster."Which means…" Elder Althea began, her voice trembling slightly, "that he is also returning.
The Evil Immortal."The room fell silent. The Evil Immortal,an ancient being of unimaginable power,was the one who had ended each of the Blood Moon Wolf's reincarnations in the past.
He had hunted her through time and space, killing her every time she was reborn, ensuring she could never fulfill her true potential. His return meant that Gloria's life was in immediate danger."We need to reach the League," Solan continued, his voice unwavering.
"But we know that their spies are watching us. They've infiltrated our ranks, which means direct contact is out of the question.""What are you suggesting, Elder Solan?" asked one of the younger council members, his brow furrowed in confusion.
A dark smile tugged at the corner of Solan's lips. "We use the spies against them. We know they're feeding information back to the League, so we'll feed them exactly what we want them to hear.""And what, exactly, is that?" Althea asked.
Solan stood, his hands clasped behind his back as he paced the room. "We spread the news that the Blood Moon Wolf has fully awakened.
We make them believe that Gloria has already accepted her destiny and unlocked her full power. That will force their hand.""Force their hand?" Althea looked concerned.
"If they believe she's fully awakened, they'll send everything they have to kill her.""Exactly," Solan said with a grim nod.
"They won't be able to resist. And we'll be prepared for their response. We know that the League has its own motivations, but their number one priority is maintaining control over the supernatural world. If they think Gloria is a threat to that control, they'll come for her."
"But the League isn't just going to send assassins," Althea pressed. "If they know the Blood Moon Wolf is back, the Evil Immortal will come, too. He has always been the one to destroy her."Solan paused, considering her words.
"Yes, the Evil Immortal will come. He always does. But this time… this time, we won't let history repeat itself. This time, we're ready."A ripple of unease passed through the room.
Every council member present knew that Solan's plan was risky, but there was no other option.
The League had to be drawn out of hiding, and they needed to take the bait."Prepare our defenses," Solan ordered. "Alert our allies. We'll need everyone ready when the time comes.
And make sure Gloria and Eragon are informed. They need to know the gravity of the situation."The council members nodded, though the weight of Solan's words hung heavy in the air.
They knew that Gloria, despite her power, was still coming to terms with her reincarnation.
The last thing she needed was to face a centuries-old immortal hell-bent on her destruction. But there was no turning back now.
They had set the wheels in motion.Meanwhile, Gloria sat in her room, the weight of her reincarnation pressing down on her.
She had heard whispers of the Evil Immortal but had never truly understood the gravity of his threat. Eragon sat beside her, his presence a source of comfort, though even he couldn't shield her from the storm that was coming.
"They think I'm ready," Gloria said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. "They're going to tell the League that I've fully awakened"Eragon reached for her hand, squeezing it gently. "You're not alone in this.
We'll face them together.""But what if I'm not strong enough?" she asked, fear flickering in her eyes."You will be," Eragon replied with certainty.
"You're stronger than you know. And this time, the council is prepared.
We're all prepared."Gloria nodded, though the weight of what was to come settled heavily on her shoulders.
The League of Shadows, the Evil Immortal,she had been thrust into a battle that had been raging for centuries, and now, she was at the center of it all.
"We have to stop them," Gloria said firmly, determination hardening her resolve. "Once and for all."Eragon smiled softly. "We will. Together."
As the council's plan set into motion, Gloria and Eragon knew that they were heading toward a confrontation unlike any other.
The League, the Evil Immortal, and the destiny of the Blood Moon Wolf, all of it was coming to a head. And this time, Gloria wasn't going to run from it.
She was going to face it head-on, no matter what it took.