Each step forward carried the weight of a sovereign who had no need for pretense. The air thickened, charged, and with every subtle motion of her fingers, lines of force began to spark into being. Thin arcs of light coiled between her knuckles, flickering and snapping. Her aura, once disinterested, now roared with menace, becoming an ominous pressure that made even seasoned warriors like Serika and Vex tense instinctively.
"M-mother?" Felicity's eyes widened when she saw the magical force gather at her mother's fingers. "Didn't you… Didn't you return to your research? Why are you-"
Queen Morgana's eyes slid to her daughter for the briefest of moments. There was no warmth in them. She did not answer.
The shift in the air was all Quinlan's group needed. Chairs scraped stone, boots planted firmly, blades and spells alike readied.
Felicity lurched to her feet, panic overwhelming her usual composure. "Mother! What is this?! Why are you… Why are you doing this?!"
