The grand hall of the Kael estate was lit with silver chandeliers, the kind that made even a whisper echo like a secret slipping through glass. Four long tables formed a square, each claimed by one of the great hunter families. At the center, a long oak table stood for the council head — tonight, occupied by the stern figure of Lord Veyran Kael, Karn's father.
The meeting should have been about the Magma Devourer incident.It was. Until someone mentioned Karn.
"He moved before anyone else even realized the beast was turning," murmured a man from the Dravik family, voice dripping with curiosity. "Unawakened boys don't react like that."
A ripple of murmurs spread through the room. Eyes turned, some curious, others suspicious.
Karn sat at the edge of his family's side, posture calm, gaze lowered. He didn't flinch at the attention — but he could feel every stare like a blade on his skin.
One woman from the Varos family leaned forward. "Lord Kael, is it true your middle son struck the Devourer's armor with a single blow and caused it to falter? Without a mana weapon?"
Veyran Kael's eyes flicked to Karn, then back to the table. "My son is disciplined. Discipline wins battles, not magic alone." His tone was measured, but the air was heavy.
Across the table, Karn's mother, Lyra, shifted ever so slightly. Her hand brushed Karn's under the table — a silent reminder: Stay calm.
But the oldest Dravik son smirked. "Discipline? Or something you're not telling us?"
The tension cracked. Words became sharper, layered with subtle accusations. Karn said nothing. Every instinct screamed at him to not give them proof.
Lyra finally spoke, voice warm but carrying steel beneath it. "If you think a boy's quick feet are a threat to your legacy, perhaps your own sons should train harder."
The Varos woman's lips tightened. No one replied.
The rest of the meeting dragged on, but the mood never softened. By the end, Karn knew one thing: this wasn't over. The families would keep watching him. Waiting for him to slip.
As the council adjourned, Lyra walked beside him. Her voice was barely a whisper."You were perfect tonight. But the more they look for your shadow… the sooner they'll see the sun."