The midnight bells across the capital district did not chime when the twelfth hour arrived.
Instead, the glass lanterns along the grand avenue died in a single silent wave that swallowed the outer wards whole.
Nox stood before the massive muster table as warning runes flared crimson across the polished stone surface.
"The secondary power grid just cut out in Ironvale," Serian said, tracing a pale finger along the glowing green veins in the map table.
"Harbor Bay lost its deep sea ward engines ten seconds later," Yeda added, resting both hands on her paired shortswords.
"This is not a local failure caused by the rector's death," Vasa said, adjusting her silver spectacles while scanning three floating scrolls at once.
"Someone pulled the main breaker at the continental core," Kendra growled, resting her massive tower shield against the edge of the dais.
