The calm, peaceful mask of Lord Valerius was completely gone. In its place was the face of a madman, his eyes wide with a triumphant, terrifying glee.
He was no longer a serene philosopher. He was a king standing on the edge of a loaded cannon, ready to prove his point with a final, devastating blast.
"You see, Shaper!" he bellowed, his voice echoing in the vast, cavernous chamber. "This is the true beauty of my system! Peace, order, and purpose, all working in perfect harmony!
The contentment of my people is not just a state of being. It is a power source! A clean, renewable energy born from perfect societal order!"
Ryan looked from Valerius's crazed face to the humming, glowing engine below. He finally understood. Valerius wasn't a true believer in the Cult of Final Stillness.
