The Grand Assembly was the most important event of the year — a convergence of leaders, nobles, and powerful mages from all eight kingdoms. It was held in the Celestial Hall, an immense dome of white marble and enchanted glass, with runes etched into every surface to deter violence.
At least, that was the intention.
Kertia arrived with Arielle, Tomas, and Liora at his side, each dressed in formal robes. His black-and-silver attire bore the insignia of the Guardian — a skeletal hand holding a crown — a symbol that drew uneasy stares from many attendees.
From the raised dais, Principal Mereda spoke warmly to the assembly, introducing dignitaries and welcoming the kingdoms. Her voice carried a practiced calm, but Kertia could sense the tension beneath her words.
Whispering Walls
As speeches began, the hum of side conversations filled the hall. Nobles in jeweled capes exchanged sly glances, council members murmured behind fans, and the magic crystal chandeliers above reflected the flicker of hidden agendas.
Kertia kept scanning the crowd for Lady Morwen. She stood near Archmage Veloran, her expression serene, almost too serene. Every now and then, her eyes darted to a tall, hooded figure standing against the far wall — the same man Kertia had seen in the gardens.
Arielle leaned closer. "He's here. The hooded one."
"I know," Kertia replied quietly. "We let them think we don't suspect a thing."
The Keynote Speech
Veloran took the stage, his deep voice resonating through the chamber. "Our kingdoms stand united against the shadow. Yet… unity requires that we root out the unstable elements that endanger us from within."
Kertia felt every eye turn toward him. The implication was clear.
Tomas's hand tightened into a fist. "He's setting you up."
"Let him," Kertia said under his breath. "The trap only works if the prey thinks it's safe."
The Turn
When the speeches ended, the assembly moved into the "open floor" portion — an ancient tradition where anyone with authority could raise accusations or petitions.
Lady Morwen stepped forward, her voice as sharp as a blade.
"I bring forth evidence," she declared, holding up a sealed scroll, "that a certain necromancer — under the guise of 'Guardian' — has been secretly raising undead armies, not for the defense of the kingdoms, but for his own conquest."
A ripple of gasps moved through the hall. The hooded figure in the corner smirked.
The Counterstrike
Kertia took a deliberate step forward, his boots echoing against the marble floor.
"And I," he said calmly, "bring forth the truth."
He raised a skeletal hand, clicking his fingers. A single bone soldier materialized beside him — not threatening, but carrying a glowing crystal orb.
"This," Kertia announced, "contains the conversation between Lady Morwen and her Veil of Shadows contact, recorded by a binding rune."
The orb flared, projecting a shimmering illusion in the air — the garden scene, crystal clear, with every damning word replayed for the hall to hear.
Gasps turned to outrage. Voices rose like a storm.
Chaos in the Hall
The hooded man tried to flee, but Arielle's wind magic slammed the doors shut. Liora's runes lit the floor, binding him in place.
"Unmask him," Kertia commanded.
When the hood fell, the hall erupted in shouts — it was Lord Rhaedon, a noble from the Kingdom of Eryndral, missing for three years and now revealed as a Veil of Shadows commander.
Lines in the Sand
The council was forced to act. Lady Morwen was stripped of her titles on the spot, while Rhaedon was dragged away to the dungeons beneath the Celestial Hall.
Veloran, to Kertia's surprise, approached him afterward. "You've made enemies today… but you've also made allies."
"I'll take the allies," Kertia replied, "but I won't forget the enemies."
As the assembly closed, the political map of the kingdoms had shifted. The traitors had been exposed, but Kertia knew this was only the first crack in the dam.
The ancient deity beneath the earth still stirred… and now, its servants would be desperate.
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