Liora was dragged into a shadowed cellar beneath a ruined Lunari outpost, her wrists bound with coarse rope. The Shadow Council's stronghold buzzed with activity, their voices a mix of Solaris and Lunari zealots plotting to undo the peace. Veyra loomed over her, her cousin's eyes cold. "Renounce Kael and the treaty, or watch our people fall," she demanded, the second shard pulsing faintly on a table nearby.
Liora's silver eyes blazed with defiance, her body aching but her mind sharp. "You'd doom us for pride," she spat, testing her bonds. Veyra paced, her voice softening. "Join us, Liora. We can rebuild the Lunari—without Solaris taint." The offer hung heavy, tempting her with family ties, but Liora's resolve hardened, memories of Kael's trust fueling her.
Using a hidden blade in her boot, she worked the ropes loose, her movements subtle as guards argued nearby. She planned her escape—disarm Veyra, grab the shard, and signal Kael. Her heart raced, torn between saving her cousin and stopping the Council, but her duty to the peace she'd fought for prevailed. As a guard turned, Liora tensed, ready to strike, her resolve a quiet flame in the darkness.