Another tense atmosphere settled in the hall. But a voice broke it.
"He's right."
To the representatives, it was unfamiliar. The fourth star had almost never spoken. Though they had watched the Virelenna alongside him and the others, he had never once addressed them directly.
They had always considered this star the weakest of the four.
But as his voice rang out, many hearts couldn't help but tremble. It carried a weight, a heaviness that even Iron Crown didn't possess.
All eyes turned to Quiet Flame. He held the attention of the entire room.
"He won the Virelenna without deceit. He won the right to ascend. If you wanted it to be compulsory to choose a faction, then you should have added it to the rules."
Iron Crown and Crimson Hollow narrowed their eyes, but it was Dreaming Sea who spoke next.
"The child is surely a talent, old man," she said, voice like a still lake. "But it'll be to your detriment if he doesn't make it far."
