"Say that again." Kiaria's tone sharpened.
All attention turned to Azriel.
"I… do not dare," he replied.
"What if I insist?"
Diala tightened her hold on Kiaria's wrist. She did not speak, but her head moved slightly–a warning against escalation. Aizrel looked between them in confusion, unable to understand what had shifted. Ru and Yi stepped forward instinctively, placing themselves between Patron and Chief without hostility, but with readiness.
"Chief. Patron," Ru said carefully. "What is happening?"
Kiaria did not answer him.
"Yi," he said instead, eyes still on Azriel, "give me an empty scroll."
Yi raised his hand to retrieve one from his spatial ring.
Nothing came.
His brows tightened. He tried again.
Still nothing.
"I cannot access it."
The street remained loud. A woman argued over grain prices behind them. A cart rolled past as if no fracture existed in the world.
"Have you not understood yet?" Kiaria asked quietly. "Spiritual energy is sealed."
