The city had begun to hum louder, its pulse a constant undercurrent that pushed against the edges of Rowan's mind. He had not slept since the appeal. The weight of the Book, of the choices he had made, hung heavily on him like an invisible chain, pulling him deeper into the heart of the city. Every street he walked, every face he passed, seemed to be watching him—waiting for him to act.
The people of the city were restless. Their lives, their futures, now depended on the decisions Rowan would make. And yet, despite the gravity of it all, the silence between him and Tess remained unspoken, heavy with the tension of what lay ahead. She had been his constant, his tether to something real in this swirling storm of power, but now he felt the distance between them growing.
"We can't keep walking like this, Rowan." Tess's voice cut through the silence, sharp and sure. She stood beside him, her eyes fixed on the path ahead.
"I know," he said quietly, his voice hollow. "But I don't know what else to do."
Tess met his gaze, and for a brief moment, the city around them seemed to disappear. The noise, the bustle, the weight of the Book—it all faded away, leaving just the two of them standing in a fragile moment of clarity.
"You're not alone in this," Tess said, her voice soft but resolute. "We've come this far together, and we'll finish this together. But you have to decide, Rowan. You can't keep letting the city decide for you."
Her words hit him like a cold splash of water, snapping him back to the reality of the moment. He had been drifting, caught in the current of decisions made for him, the expectations of others, the weight of his power. But now, the choice was his.
The Book pulsed at his side, its call growing louder, more insistent. He could feel the pull of its power, the weight of the responsibility pressing against his ribs. He had made a choice once. But now he had to decide again.
"What do I do?" Rowan whispered, more to himself than to Tess. The city had already given him its answer. But could he live with it?
Tess's gaze softened, and she stepped closer to him. "You take control."
Rowan nodded slowly, his breath shaky but his resolve beginning to solidify. The city, the Book, the people—they were all waiting for him to lead. And he had no choice but to rise to the occasion.
The air shifted as they continued down the street. Rowan's steps were more certain now, his mind clearer than it had been in days. The weight of the Book still pressed against him, but now it felt like something he could carry, something he could use to shape the future.
They reached the heart of the city—the Council Hall, its towering structure looming over them like a silent judge. Inside, the Council was already waiting. The tension in the air was palpable, thick enough to cut with a knife.
Rowan stepped into the hall, his presence commanding the room without a word. The faces of the Council members watched him, their eyes heavy with expectation, with judgment. But they didn't know what he had become. They didn't know the power he now wielded.
He approached the dais, feeling the eyes of the city on him. He could hear the whispers, the soft hum of voices behind him, but he ignored them. This was his moment. His decision.
"The time has come, Rowan." Blyth's voice echoed in the silence, firm and unwavering. "You've made your choice. Now we'll see if you can live with it."
Rowan took a deep breath, his gaze sweeping over the Council members. "I've lived with it long enough." His voice rang out in the hall, steady and sure.
There was a flicker of surprise in Blyth's eyes, but he didn't speak. The silence hung heavy in the air as Rowan stepped forward, his hand gripping the Book tightly.
"I'm not just a clerk anymore," he said, his words clear, ringing in the hall. "I'm the Keeper now. And I'll write the future of this city. No more waiting. No more dithering. The city will bend to the law, or it will break under it."
The words were final, and as soon as they left his lips, Rowan felt something inside him shift. The Book pulsed once, and the city seemed to exhale with him.
The Council members exchanged looks, but there was no going back now. The city had made its choice, and so had he.
Rowan's gaze hardened, the weight of the Book no longer a burden but a shield. He would shape this city. For better or for worse, he would be the one to decide.