Alaric's POV
"We have the power to influence them," I stated firmly, my voice slicing through the thick tension filling the stone chamber. "We can show them the transformation. Make them see that our bodies were meant for this liberation—"
"Ric," Vivienne's cautionary whisper reached only my ears. I swept her concern aside and pointed decisively at Eclipse.
"Garrison!" I shouted, desperation seeping into my words. "Your son can barely take his first steps. Don't you want him to feel the shift? To live free from these damned chains?"
Eclipse let out a heavy sigh, his worn face turning my way. "Only a fool wouldn't crave that," he grumbled, running fingers through his salt-and-pepper beard. "But craving doesn't make it real. We're pathetically few, and our power's nothing to write home about. We can barely defend these castle walls, let alone anything outside them."
