Five months had passed since Kael returned from the academy. Two of those months had been spent transforming Starfall City from a graveyard into a fortress.
Kael sat on his throne — a seat of black stone and silver inlays that Dorin had carved from a single block of shadow-iron ore. His posture was relaxed, one arm resting on the armrest, the other draped over his knee. To his right, Aria stood with her hands folded behind her back, her violet eyes scanning the hall with quiet alertness.
Before him, his inner circle occupied their designated seats.
Commander Yuki Tanaka sat rigid and straight-backed, her ice-blue eyes fixed forward. Beside her, Commander Vyra Sable — the Spirit Soul realm officer Cassandra had assigned — leaned back in her seat.
