Chapter 29 The Council's Mask

• The storm had moved inland by morning, drenching the city’s upper sectors in a constant, rhythmic downpour. Towering buildings stood like silent sentinels in the rain, but beneath them, in the dim corridors of the Council Hall, preparations were in motion.
• Grandmaster Caelus stood before a massive window, overlooking the skyline. He was draped in ceremonial robes, etched with gold thread and lined with the symbol of the Phoenix. Around him, the Council convened in silence, each figure veiled in shadow, seated in a crescent around the room.
• “The Seal is weakening,” he said flatly. “Our agents confirm that the girl—Amara—has uncovered the Vault and awakened the Guardian Flame.”