Salt Family Manor…
The grand assembly hall…
In the center of the hall stood Phillip Salt, his hands behind his back, a calm yet resolute aura swirling around him. The polished obsidian floor reflected his upright posture, highlighting the dramatic shift in the once quiet and obedient younger son of the Salt Family.
At the head of the assembly sat Elder Grandfather Salt, the current patriarch of the Salt Family. His long, silver-streaked beard rested on his chest, and his eyes narrowed at the young man before him.
Around him sat the core members of the Salt Family—uncle Elor, second uncle Mavin, and several elders with wrinkled faces, each with their own vested interest in the family's affairs. Their eyes darted between Phillip and the patriarch, waiting for the fire to ignite.
