Kael and Liora retreated to a dimly lit war room in Elderglow, the letter about the Void remnant clutched in Kael's hand. The citadel buzzed with unease, the treaty's ink barely dry as dissent festered. Determined to uncover the source, they pieced together clues—secret meetings, coded messages—pointing to a hidden faction: the Shadow Council.
Disguised in cloaks, they infiltrated an abandoned warehouse on the city's edge, the air thick with tension. Inside, hooded figures chanted, their voices a mix of Solaris and Lunari tones. Kael signaled Liora, and they crept closer, overhearing plans to sabotage the peace with the Void's remnants. A familiar voice cut through—Liora's cousin Veyra, her silver hair glinting under a torch's flicker, commanding the group.
Liora froze, her breath catching. "Veyra…" she whispered, her daggers trembling in her grip. Kael's hand steadied her, his whisper urgent. "We need proof. Stay focused." They recorded the meeting, capturing Veyra's orders to unleash chaos, but a guard's shout forced them to flee, narrowly escaping through a side exit.
Back in the war room, Liora's hands shook as she played the recording. "She's family… how could she?" Her voice broke, the betrayal cutting deep. Kael's jaw tightened, his golden eyes dark. "We'll confront her, but this Council's bigger than us now." The revelation of Veyra's role cast a shadow over their victory, the Council's threat merging with the Void's lingering danger.