The battle in the Eternal Spire's chamber left a heavy silence in its wake. Eziel, Boran, and Lysara lingered near the pedestal where the Riftcore rested, its glow now subdued but stable. Each of them bore the weight of exhaustion and uncertainty, yet none dared voice the doubts clouding their minds.
"We need answers," Eziel finally said, breaking the silence. His voice was steady but laced with urgency. "Those agents—how did they know we were here? And who sent them?"
Lysara looked up from the Riftcore, her face pale but resolute. "The Voidborn have spies everywhere. But for them to infiltrate the Spire... it suggests someone inside Arkasol is working with them."
Boran growled, slamming his axe into the floor. The metallic clang echoed through the chamber. "A traitor? Here? Name them, and I'll deal with it myself."
Lysara shook her head. "It's not that simple. If we accuse the wrong person, we risk exposing ourselves further. We need proof."
Eziel nodded, though his fists clenched at the thought of betrayal. "Then we start looking. Someone in the Spire's inner circle knows more than they're letting on."
---
The trio departed the chamber under the cover of darkness, taking a hidden passageway that led to an abandoned section of the Spire. The air here was damp and cold, the corridors lined with long-forgotten artifacts and faded murals depicting Arkasol's ancient history.
As they walked, Lysara spoke in hushed tones. "There's a council meeting tomorrow—one of the rare times when all the city's leaders gather in one place. It might be our best chance to observe and uncover the traitor."
Boran frowned. "And what if they try something during the meeting? The Riftcore might be stable now, but it's still vulnerable."
"I'll place additional wards around it before we leave," Lysara assured him. "But the meeting is too important to miss. If we're going to find answers, that's where we need to be."
Eziel glanced at her, his expression unreadable. "And what's your plan if the traitor is someone with significant power? Confront them in front of the entire council?"
Lysara hesitated, her gaze dropping to the ground. "We'll adapt as needed. For now, gathering information is our priority."
---
The council chamber was a vast, circular room at the top of the Eternal Spire, its walls adorned with banners representing each faction within Arkasol. Humans, elves, orcs, and the various other races that called the city home had equal representation here—at least in theory.
Eziel, Boran, and Lysara entered discreetly, taking seats near the back where they could observe without drawing attention. The room buzzed with tension as leaders debated the recent surge in Voidborn activity. Accusations flew between factions, each blaming the others for lax defenses or hidden agendas.
"Enough!" A booming voice silenced the room. High Chancellor Drevian, an imposing human clad in ceremonial armor, stood at the central podium. His presence commanded respect, though his expression was one of thinly veiled frustration.
"We are here to address the threat to Arkasol, not to bicker like children," Drevian said, his voice resonating through the chamber. "The Voidborn grow bolder with each passing day. We must unite, or we will fall."
Despite his words, the atmosphere remained charged. Eziel's sharp eyes scanned the room, noting subtle glances and whispered exchanges. He couldn't shake the feeling that someone here was hiding something.
As the meeting progressed, a messenger entered the chamber, bowing low before handing Drevian a sealed letter. The High Chancellor broke the seal and read its contents, his expression darkening with each word.
"An attack," he announced, his voice grim. "A Voidborn raid on the western district. Casualties are high."
The room erupted into chaos. Some council members called for immediate retaliation, while others argued for fortifying the city's defenses. Amid the uproar, Eziel noticed a figure slipping out of the chamber—a cloaked elf whose face was partially hidden.
"Stay here," Eziel whispered to Boran and Lysara, rising from his seat. "I'm following them."
Boran started to protest, but Eziel was already moving, his steps silent as he slipped through the chamber's side exit.
---
The elf moved quickly through the Spire's labyrinthine corridors, their cloak billowing behind them. Eziel kept his distance, his own footsteps muffled by a spell. He trailed the figure to a secluded room guarded by two armored sentinels.
Eziel pressed himself against the wall, his heart pounding. He couldn't hear the conversation inside, but the room's wards shimmered faintly, a sign of powerful magic. Summoning his courage, he whispered an incantation, his dagger glowing softly as he prepared to breach the barrier.
Before he could act, the door opened, and the cloaked figure stepped out. Their eyes met for the briefest moment, and Eziel's breath caught as he recognized them: Eryndor, a high-ranking council member known for their staunch opposition to Voidborn alliances.
Eryndor's gaze hardened, and they turned sharply, vanishing into the shadows. Eziel hesitated, torn between pursuing them and investigating the room they had just left.
He chose the latter, slipping past the guards with practiced ease. Inside, the room was sparse but functional, dominated by a single table covered in maps and documents. At its center lay a fragment of a Void crystal, its surface etched with runes that matched those on the Riftcore.
Eziel's stomach twisted. Whatever Eryndor was planning, it was tied to the Voidborn—and it was far from over.