The Syndicate envoy was younger than expected, a woman in her thirties wearing civilian clothes that emphasized non-combatant status, her mana signature weak enough to confirm she wasn't hidden A-rank assassin pretending to be messenger.
"Commander Draven sent me," she said once Luthra and coalition leadership gathered at the gate, "he speaks for Syndicate High Command regarding our... ongoing situation."
"Draven, not Vex?" Vera asked, her knowledge of Syndicate structure providing context others lacked.
"Commander Vex is committed to eastern operations indefinitely," the envoy explained, "Commander Draven assumed regional authority in his absence, he wishes to discuss formalizing the current cessation of hostilities."
'Vex is gone, replaced by someone who might actually negotiate. Or someone playing different game entirely.'
