"Let's bring the council into session," Galvas announced as he settled into his seat. The other nobles and lords followed suit, arranging themselves in a circular formation. The floating image of the two Meerlins dipped toward the floor, creating a rippling effect that transformed the ground beneath them into the gently undulating surface of water over white and blue marble.

Borrosil noticed more attendees entering the hall. The acting chiefs of the Water Guild and the Fishers Guild from the eastern southern region of Aquilora had arrived—the Whydit twins. Though not as legendary as Helfellyn, whom some called the King of the Seas, they were attempting to fill his sizable shoes. Borrosil wished he had met Helfellyn before his mysterious disappearance, but he supposed that's what happens when a man loses his wife and later his daughter.

Helturna Vaingrace Whydit made his entrance as well, fashionably late. Borrosil observed him closely, finding that the man matched the image he had imagined—a high ranker through and through. Helturna exuded nobility, eschewing the traditional attire of the southern region for a regalia that was conservatively casual. Unlike the overly tight and pretentious clothing often worn by nobility in other realms, his fashion followed no simple cultural norm but his own vision.

His hair was such a deep blue it bordered on purple, and his eyes burned with a rigid intensity. The aura of his presence seemed to shift the balance of the room toward him. He was almost perfect. Borrosil could see flashes of Lord Koleson—the man whose fortunes his father often griped about yet deeply respected. But there was something off; Helturna projected too much of his own ambition, making him appear rigid rather than fluid. If power flowed like water, Helturna was a stubborn rock disrupting the current. To Borrosil, the rigidly ambitious were the most exhausting people—black holes that sucked the energy out of everything.

This was evident when Borrosil nearly overlooked Seizaki, Helturna's son, who stood just behind his father. Seizaki bore a respectable figure and shared his father's nearly purple hair but was overshadowed by Helturna's overpowering presence.

Adding another layer to the scene, Lady Solere Prestiona Whydit joined Helturna, bracing him with a smile. A member of the Solere family and mother to Prestiona Ateister Whydit, she possessed the gleaming white hair her family was famous for. Borrosil likened her beauty to ice—striking yet cold. She had been part of Koleson's harem and had borne him a son.

For a long time, many noble families either dreaded or coveted mixing their blood with the Whydits. Koleson had fathered two Lancers and multiple high rankers without highborn blood. People wondered what would happen if he combined his lineage with one of the Five Divine Families. Their curiosity was satisfied when Koleson took a liking to a woman of low standing within the Solere family. They had a son, Ateister, whom Borrosil had heard was a prodigy—already recruited into the Imperial Cradle and amassing three hundred delegates, well on his way to becoming a Lancer.

Yet here was his mother, sharing affectionate smiles with Koleson's son, Helturna. Borrosil found it amusing how everyone pretended not to notice the impropriety on display. He also felt a pang of sympathy for Seizaki, who looked like he'd rather be anywhere else.

The delegates took their seats on opal-colored chairs. A hush fell over the room before Eadric Blackthorn spoke.

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"My fellow lords and ladies, and esteemed guests," he began, his voice measured. Borrosil noted how subtly his father excluded certain parties from his address. "We are gathered here, both my son and I, to honor the passing of Lord Koleson. He was truly a great man. I knew—"

"I was under the impression this meeting was to announce the commencement of the festival for the first time in three hundred years," Helturna Vaingrace interrupted.

Eadric Blackthorn, a lord whose hold was in a higher realm and a high ranker to boot, faced blatant disrespect. His guards tensed, as did Helturna's, but Eadric raised a hand to quell the brewing tension.

"Yes," he conceded, his tone calm but firm. "Lord Vaingrace is correct. We are here to discuss the commencement of the Ranking Festival. However, I thought it appropriate to first honor a friend—though our paths crossed only briefly, I deeply respected him. He was a loyal vassal, if ever there was one..."

Eadric paused, his eyes subtly challenging Helturna to interrupt again. But Helturna remained silent, merely nodding.

"Very well," Eadric continued. "I see no need to waste any more of your time. Let's proceed to the matter at hand." He cleared his throat, and his engineer stepped forward, activating a portable entangled drive. A holographic map materialized above the table, detailing a geographical area.

"Here we have the Scorchlands," Eadric explained. The map zoomed in to reveal a desolate landscape of thorny jungles and parched earth. "The Blackthorn family has been endeavoring to conquer and cleanse this region of the corruption that has permeated it since time immemorial. The Scorchlands, my fellows, lie just beyond our hold."

"We're well aware of the Scorchlands, Lord Blackthorn," one of the Whydit twins interjected. "It's a region where young rankers go to make a name for themselves. They say it's endlessly desolate, its nature so twisted that only the strongest warriors can venture there and return in one piece."

Eadric smiled appreciatively. "You're exactly right. My son recently returned from a campaign there," he said, gesturing toward Borrosil. "But that's beside the point."

"So what is the point?" the twin pressed.

"He'd get to it faster if you remembered your place and refrained from interrupting him, esteemed Guild Chiefs," Borrosil said, his smile polite but his words sharp.

"Now, now, Lord Borrosil," Helturna chimed in, seizing the opportunity to sow discord. "You can't blame my kin for their curiosity about your father's mention of the Scorchlands. Like the rest of us, they're keenly aware of that place's reputation. While we commend your efforts to cleanse the region in preparation for our Emperor's return, we can't help but think your father intends to host the Whydit Festival there."

"You say that as if it were ever a secret intention, Helturna," Borrosil retorted. "My father fully intends to conduct the upcoming festival in the Scorchlands, as is his right as your sovereign."

Murmurs and whispers rippled through the room. Eadric maintained a composed expression, responding with a nonchalant shrug. "Well, I suppose the not-so-secret is out," he said, a hint of a mischievous grin tugging at his lips.

"Yes, as my son stated, I wish to hold the next festival in the Scorchlands," Eadric confirmed.

Helturna leaned forward, ever so politely. "Now it's starting to feel like you're confirming the rumors," he said.

"What rumors might those be?" Eadric asked, though he knew full well.

Helturna met his gaze steadily. "That you aim to use the festival—and by extension, the resources of the Whydit family—as a final push to cleanse the Scorchlands. Once secured, you would claim lordship over both Kerrasuk and the Scorchlands, becoming one of the most powerful lords in Aquilora."

A hushed tension settled over the hall. Eadric took a deep breath before replying. "Your concerns are understandable. But I assure you, my intentions are transparent. After the festival is complete, I plan to abdicate my position as Lord of Kerrasuk to focus on the Scorchlands."

Gasps echoed around the room. Even the Spotless Magistrate, who had remained impassive until now, raised an eyebrow.

Eadric glanced slyly at Galvas Heltrin Whydit. They had discussed this plan earlier. While Galvas had agreed to support whatever strategy Eadric proposed, he had hoped not to be put in a difficult position. Now, with even Helturna considering the implications, Eadric looked to Galvas as if to say, See? I've made it easy for you.

Galvas smiled faintly. The ball was in his court now. As one of the Three Serpent Heads ruling Kerrasuk in Koleson's stead, Galvas had been the most active leader in the region. He might not have been the strongest of the brood, but he wielded the most influence. Eadric had handed him an opportunity; all Galvas had to do was seize it.

Rising from his seat, Galvas cleared his throat, drawing all eyes to him.