Chapter 110

• The sun rose sluggishly over the alliance stronghold, its warm light cutting through the lingering shadows of the recent battle. Though battered and bruised, the surviving forces had begun their recovery. Repairs to the walls were underway, and warriors patrolled the perimeter with renewed vigilance. Amara stood in the council chamber, her fingers tracing the edge of the artifact, now resting on the table before her. Its glow was faint but steady, a quiet reminder of both its power and the burden it placed on her.
• Xander entered, his movements slow but deliberate. He was still pale, the wound from the ambush leaving him visibly weaker, but his presence carried the same strength that had always comforted Amara. Asher followed close behind, his sharp eyes scanning the room as he leaned casually against a pillar.
• "You called for an emergency council," Xander said, his voice low but steady. "What's the situation?"