He lifted his head, met the Great Elder's gaze, and slowly broke into a smile.
"It would be my honor, Great Elder."
"Black Stone Territory welcomes you."
Great Elder Gu watched Raylo's reaction, a flicker of approval flashing in his cloudy eyes.
Charisma. Courage. Decisiveness.
"Very good."
The Great Elder nodded.
He slowly rose from his throne.
Raylo's breath caught for a moment.
Before, while seated, the Great Elder had felt ancient and profound, like a mountain range that had lain dormant for a millennium.
But when he stood up, that mountain range… came to life.
His twenty-meter-tall body was slightly stooped, bent by the weight of countless years.
His skin, like dry tree bark, was covered in deep wrinkles. Every line seemed to be a mark carved by time itself.
"Great Elder, my territory… is in the middle of a war,"
Raylo stressed.
"There might be danger. You…"
He was cut off by a soft chuckle before he could finish.
The laugh was old and hoarse.
"It matters not."
