Ethan sat quietly in the same waiting chamber as before, his form still that of Duran. His hands rested on his lap, but his mind was anything but calm.
He had just risked everything sneaking through the most protected parts of the Council Hall. And now, here he was—back in the room like nothing had happened. No alarm was triggered. No spell had caught him. His Stealth skill, combined with the disguise, was holding up far better than expected.
Still, his thoughts were racing. The conversation he had overheard echoed in his mind—the mention of demons, the ritual, the deal with the foreign empire. There was something bigger going on, something much more dangerous than a simple betrayal of power.
A knock came at the door.
Then it opened without waiting for a reply.
One of the soldiers stepped in, armor clinking softly as he bowed slightly. "Protector Vareth and Elder Harran request your presence now, Master Duran."
