“A traitor!”
“Bind the traitor!”
“A human traitor, howunexpected—”
“And the young Lord Sanada in league with her—”
In the midst of it all, Princess Nitya turned to Ryu, her eyes desperate. “I admit, I betrayed you,” she cried, “but you must know the truth, you have to know who was behind—”
“Silence!” one of the Council members cried, and there was a flash of blinding magic, rendering Nitya unconscious.
Ella blinked her dazzled eyes, trying to see who had spoken. But the Council chamber had fallen into a forbidding silence now, and she couldn’t deduce who had spoken, or who had struck Nitya unconscious. It had sounded like Lord Haruki.
Or Lord Kenji….or Lord Isamu…
Was the princess working with someone else on the Council?
Even as these thoughts swirled in Ella’s mind in the hushed silence, Ryu gently helped her to her seat, before he turned to the Council, his face set in a forbidding frown.
“Lord Sanada Azuma, what do you have to say for yourself?”
The Elves all blinked, their eyes slowly coming to rest on Azuma, who was going red.
Ella's heart pounded within her chest as she stood among the members of the Darkwalker Council, witnessing the confrontation between Azuma and Ryu unfold before her eyes.
Tension hung heavy in the air, and the weight of uncertainty bore down upon them all.
Azuma, his usually composed demeanor wavering, faced the piercing gazes of the council members. Accusations swirled like ethereal whispers, casting a shadow of doubt upon his allegiance. Ella could sense the trepidation in his voice as he defended himself.
"I assure you, esteemed council members, my intentions were never aligned with the traitorous Princess Nitya," Azuma stated firmly, his words laced with a mix of frustration and determination. "I sought only to protect the Twilight Court from potential harm."
Ryu, his eyes narrowed but his tone steady, responded to Azuma's claims. "Azuma, I understand your concerns, but I assure you, my loyalty lies with the well-being of all the Four Kingdoms. I will not allow my personal connections to compromise our collective prosperity."
The council members exchanged glances, their expressions revealing the weight of the decision they were about to make.
Ella watched, her gaze shifting between Azuma and Ryu, her heart torn between the desire for justice and the hope for understanding.
In a moment that seemed to stretch on endlessly, Azuma and Ryu locked eyes, the tension between them palpable. Words hung unspoken in the air, heavy with the weight of their shared history and conflicting ambitions.
Finally, Azuma's shoulders sagged, and he let out a sigh. "Ryu, perhaps I have misjudged you," he conceded, his voice tinged with a hint of regret. "I see now that your intentions are noble and your commitment to peace is unwavering."
Ryu's eyes softened, a flicker of understanding crossing his features. "Azuma, we are all bound by duty and a desire to protect our respective kingdoms. Let us find common ground and work together for the greater good."
As the council members began to contemplate their next course of action, the room fell into a heavy silence. The weight of Azuma's actions and intentions hung in the air, demanding a resolution.
Finally, the head of the council, a wise and aged elf, rose from his seat. "We shall adjourn for the day," he announced, his voice resonating with authority. "The matter of Lord Azuma's punishment, if any, requires careful consideration. We will reconvene when we have reached a decision."
The meeting hall was abuzz with the aftermath of the revelations that had unfolded before the Darkwalker Council.
Ella could still feel the weight of the tension in the air as the council members gradually dispersed, their voices hushed and their expressions filled with a mixture of surprise and disbelief.
The gravity of the situation was not lost on any of them, and the consequences of Azuma's actions lingered like a dark cloud over their deliberations.
Lady Clara and Lord Kaito approached Ryu, their expressions a mix of relief and concern. Lady Clara reached out a hand to touch Ryu's arm, her voice filled with motherly warmth.
"Ryu, my son," she said softly, "we are so proud of you. You have faced this trial with strength and integrity, and you have proven yourself to be a true leader."
Lord Kaito stood by his wife's side, his gaze fixed on Ryu. "Indeed, Ryu," he added, his voice filled with a mix of fatherly pride and a hint of caution, "you have handled this situation with grace and determination. We can see the potential within you, the power to guide our people."
