The smoke from the siege still hung thick in the air, a bitter reminder of their narrow survival. Inside the battered sanctuary, tension simmered among the survivors. The alliance that had seemed promising now showed signs of strain.
Kaelis paced the war room, her expression hard. "Our numbers are dwindling, and trust is fragile. If we fracture now, the enemy wins."
Serin slammed her fist on the table. "We need to strike back force their hand before they gather more strength."
Aloysius stood quietly, eyes scanning the faces around him. "We must be careful. Desperation breeds mistakes."
Suddenly, a messenger burst in, breathless. "There's news from the outer realms. Another faction has declared allegiance... but they come with conditions."
Aloysius's brow furrowed. "Conditions?"
"The Veilbound Covenant demands a share of the power and authority over all Ascendants."
The room fell silent, the weight of a fractured alliance settling over them like a dark cloud.
Aloysius knew that unity was their only hope against the rising tide of darkness, but to achieve it, sacrifices would be demanded trust tested and boundaries redrawn.
The struggle to hold the Radiant Veil intact was no longer just a battle against external threats it was a war within.