The Inner Sanctum of the Council Citadel was an opulent yet intimidating chamber. Its vaulted ceiling was lined with faintly glowing runes, and a massive circular table carved from obsidian occupied the center. Around it sat the Council's Inner Circle, and at its head sat Caelren, his emerald robes sharp under the pale light.
To his left sat Elira Thorne, her emerald robes cut with angular lines of silver. Her sharp green eyes carried an edge of authority and piercing intelligence.
To Caelren's right sat Archmage Selene Vaelora, whose presence was felt more than it was seen. Her ethereal figure was partially hidden beneath a deep hood lined with flowing silver threads, her lavender eyes glimmering faintly from beneath the shadows.
The faint hum of mana threads coursed through the walls, filling the heavy silence with a low vibration.
Caelren spoke first, his voice grave.
"We stand on the edge of instability. The people of Eryndor felt the Abyss tremble, and then… silence. Now, Rui sits with a fractured Primordial Core, something we cannot explain, let alone control."
Elira leaned forward slightly, her hands folded on the obsidian table.
"The public grows uneasy. Whispers turn to rumors, and rumors turn to fear. Rui must speak. He must stand before the people and show them stability, even if we have little of it ourselves."
Selene's voice cut through the air like silk over steel.
"And yet, Elira, you speak as though Rui is a tool—a blade to be brandished against uncertainty. He is not a puppet. Nor can he be expected to shoulder our burdens indefinitely."
Elira's sharp gaze turned to Selene.
"And yet, Archmage, he is our reality. The people will look to him whether we want them to or not. Better to shape the narrative than let chaos write it for us."
Caelren raised a hand, cutting off their exchange.
"Enough. Both of you are correct in your assessments. Rui must speak—but not before we exhaust every possibility of stabilizing his core. Kovar has made little progress, but there is still time."
Selene tilted her head slightly, her lavender eyes narrowing.
"And what if time is the one thing we cannot afford, Caelren? What if the fractures in his core deepen before we can act? What then?"
A heavy silence fell over the table.
Caelren sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"Rui will address the public in three days. That is non-negotiable. In the meantime, Kovar will continue his work. Selene, if you have insights into stabilizing a Primordial Core, now would be the time to share them."
Selene's eyes glimmered faintly before she leaned back into her chair.
"Some truths are better learned by the seeker, not the teacher. But… I will provide what guidance I can."
Elira's lips pressed into a thin line, but she said nothing.
For a moment, the only sound was the faint hum of mana threads coursing through the chamber walls. The weight of the conversation seemed to settle heavily over the three Archmages, their silence saying more than words ever could.
Then, it was Caelren who spoke, his voice quieter, heavier.
"We cannot ignore the possibility that this situation may force the Sovereign Mage to return."
The words hung in the air like a dagger suspended by a thread.
Elira's sharp emerald eyes flicked toward Caelren, her expression unreadable. Selene, still cloaked in shadow, tilted her head slightly, her lavender eyes narrowing with intrigue.
"The Sovereign Mage has been in seclusion for seven years, Caelren," Elira said carefully. "They retreated from the world's affairs for a reason—reasons none of us were made privy to."
Selene's smooth voice cut in, gliding through the tension like silk. "And yet, Elira, if there was ever a moment dire enough to demand their return… it is now."
Caelren nodded slowly, his emerald gaze fixed on the obsidian table before him. "If Rui's core cannot be stabilized… if the public begins to fracture under fear… then the Sovereign will have no choice but to step back into the light."
Elira exhaled through her nose, her arms crossing over her chest. "Let us hope it does not come to that. The Sovereign's return would signal to the world that we have lost control—and perhaps even hope."
Selene's eyes glimmered faintly beneath her hood. "Hope is not lost yet, Elira. But it does hang by a thread."
Caelren straightened his posture, his voice regaining its steady edge. "For now, we must focus on what we can control. Rui will speak to the public. Kovar will continue his research. And we will prepare—for every outcome, no matter how uncertain."
The two Archmages and Grand Mage exchanged brief, knowing glances before the meeting began to dissolve into silence once more.
The shadow of the Sovereign Mage—a figure spoken of only in hushed tones—now loomed faintly at the edges of their thoughts.
And somewhere, deep in the hidden sanctums of the Citadel, the faint hum of ancient mana stirred—as if the world itself was holding its breath.