Chapter 17: Guildmasters at Dawn
The sunrise over Eloria's capital was tinged with tension and anticipation. Aurelius stood atop a marble balcony overlooking the city, the gold-trimmed banners of House Davian catching the early morning breeze. Below, the arrival of the city's most powerful guildmasters—craftsmen, merchants, healers, and mages—signaled the beginning of an unprecedented gathering.
In the grand assembly hall, every seat was filled. Nobles whispered, city officials exchanged wary glances, and commoners pressed close to the barricades, eager for a glimpse of power in motion. Aurelius entered accompanied by Calista and Sir Lucien, every movement deliberate—projecting both confidence and vigilance.
On a central dais, twin tables had been prepared: one laden with contracts and ledgers, the other with scrying crystals and magical wards to expose any trickery.
He spoke, his clear, resonant voice silencing the crowd. "Let us end subterfuge in the light of day. House Davian welcomes scrutiny: every contract, every coin, before the eyes of Eloria."
Challenges came fast. A guildmaster accused Davian of tampering with the city's ironworks; a merchant lord claimed foreign bribes had poisoned the marketplace; a rival noble produced alleged proof of falsified ledgers implicating Aurelius directly.
Unfazed, Aurelius invited each accuser to present their evidence, submitting to independent review by trusted royal magistrates and neutral mages. As ledgers were inspected and illusions dispelled, it became clear: the accusations were baseless—carefully forged details melting away under the relentless clarity of magic and law.
Calista's sharp investigation brought an added revelation: two major conspirators from House Wesker and their allies had used shadowy intermediaries to create the forgeries and funnel bribes. When confronted, a captured accountant spilled names, locations, and dates—shattering Wesker's last-ditch gambit for control.
Sir Lucien stood before the crowd, voice steady. "Let all see: when power is wielded in truth, no shadow endures the dawn."
Moved by the spectacle, several guildmasters pledged direct loyalty to House Davian, expressing not only gratitude for restored trust, but admiration for the unwavering openness shown in the crisis.
As the morning faded, Aurelius stepped outside to the acclaim of the people—his legend reinforced not by mere gold or magic, but by a triumph of transparency and nerve. House Davian's enemies retreated, their plots unmasked by unity and sunlight.
Later, in the quiet of his council chamber, Aurelius met the eyes of his allies. "The daring to stand in full view is our true shield. Today, we built more than alliances. We built the expectation—among friend and foe alike—that House Davian's strength is as untouchable as it is unhidden."
The city, under this new dawn, belonged—at least for today—to the Golden Sovereign.
**To be continued...**