"Then what are they?" Selera asked.
Valdran slowly took a few steps forward and stopped near one of the stone walls.
"Several centuries ago, when the bloody wars between the branches of the Lionheart family were even more intense than they are today, a group of elders secretly formed a small circle."
He placed his cane against the stone.
"Their original goal was to protect the purity of Lionheart blood."
"You mean preventing unsuitable marriages?" Andreas asked.
Valdran gave a bitter laugh.
"At first, perhaps."
Then he continued.
"But when a group of people allows themselves to decide what pure blood means for generations, sooner or later, they start defining purity themselves."
His gaze remained fixed on the carving of the eyeless lion.
"They considered themselves the protectors of the family."
Valdran remained silent for a few moments.
"But the problem with people who protect their blood too much is that one day, they start deciding who deserves to live."
