Morning broke over the Royal Capital.
Unlike the bustling streets outside, the atmosphere within the Royal Palace was solemn.
The great Council Chamber had been prepared long before sunrise.
For centuries, only the Five Great Houses of the Third Order had held seats within these walls.
Five great thrones stood in a semicircle before the royal dais.
House Veilbourne.
House Nocturne.
House Velmora.
House Duskryn.
House Umbraxis.
Today...
That tradition would change forever.
One after another, the nobles entered.
Lord Eryx Nocturne strode in first. Lord Vadok Velmora followed shortly after.
Lord Garrick Umbraxis entered with his usual composed expression.
Lady Seraphine Duskryn had yet to arrive.
Finally...
Queen Nyxara Veilbourne entered the chamber.
Every noble bowed.
"My Queen."
Nyxara ascended the royal platform before turning toward the council.
"You may rise."
Everyone obeyed.
She allowed silence to settle.
Then she spoke.
"For generations..."
"This council has governed only the Third Order."
She looked around the chamber.
"That era has ended."
Several nobles exchanged uncertain glances.
Nyxara continued.
"The Second Order no longer exists."
"Its people now live beneath our banner."
"If we truly intend to become one kingdom..."
"...then this council must become one as well."
She raised one hand.
The enormous doors slowly opened.
Five attendants carried four beautifully crafted chairs into the chamber.
Unlike the original five seats...
These bore no ancient wear.
Freshly carved.
Freshly polished.
Symbols of a new beginning.
They were placed beside the existing council.
Many nobles watched in silence.
Some approving.
Others uncertain.
Nyxara spoke once more.
"I hereby recognize the surviving noble houses of the former Second Order."
The doors opened again.
Four figures entered together.
The first wore crimson armor marked with claw motifs.
Though much older than Rigor had been...
His proud posture remained unmistakable.
"Lord Magnus Valen."
The surviving head of House Valen.
He knelt.
"My Queen."
Beside him stood a broad-shouldered man wearing dark steel robes stained with soot.
"Lord Darius Ashgrave."
Master of mines and industry.
"My Queen."
The third figure carried a thick white fur cloak despite the warmth.
Her sharp blue eyes constantly scanned the room.
"Lady Freya Frostbane."
Mistress of the northern hunters.
"My Queen."
Finally...
An elderly noble carrying an elegant silver cane approached.
His face betrayed little emotion.
"Lord Cedric Thorncrest."
Former adviser to the Second Alpha.
"My Queen."
The chamber fell silent.
Many veterans of the war instinctively tensed.
Not long ago...
These four houses had stood against them on the battlefield.
Now...
They stood within the same council.
Nyxara descended from her throne.
She personally approached each newly placed seat.
Then turned toward the four nobles.
"Take your places."
For several seconds...
None of them moved.
Lord Magnus Valen finally spoke.
"My Queen..."
"Do we truly deserve seats among those we once fought?"
Nyxara met his gaze.
"You fought as enemies."
"You stand here today..."
"...as citizens."
She looked across the chamber.
"I refuse to rule a kingdom divided between conquerors and conquered."
"There shall only be..."
"...the Third."
Silence.
Then...
Magnus slowly nodded.
One by one...
The four nobles took their seats.
For the first time in history...
Nine great houses sat together beneath one crown.
Nyxara returned to the royal dais.
"With your seats come responsibility."
She first looked toward Lord Darius Ashgrave.
"House Ashgrave."
"You rebuilt fortresses and forged weapons for generations."
"From this day forward..."
"You shall oversee reconstruction throughout our expanded kingdom."
"Restore every village destroyed by war."
"Reopen every mine."
"Strengthen our economy."
Darius placed a fist over his heart.
"It will be done."
Nyxara nodded before turning.
"Lady Freya Frostbane."
"You know our northern wilderness better than anyone."
"From today..."
"House Frostbane shall work alongside House Duskryn."
"You will patrol our borders together."
"Hunt dangerous beasts."
"Protect every frontier village."
Freya smiled proudly.
"An honor."
Eryx quietly nodded in approval.
He had long respected Frostbane warriors.
Nyxara's gaze shifted.
"House Valen."
Magnus stood.
"You once produced the fiercest warriors of the Second."
"You will now produce defenders."
"Your soldiers shall reinforce our standing army."
"Not as conquerors..."
"...but as protectors."
Magnus bowed deeply.
"I swear it."
Finally...
Nyxara faced Lord Cedric Thorncrest.
The old noble calmly met her eyes.
"House Thorncrest."
"You possess centuries of administrative experience."
"You will serve within the Ministry of Governance."
"Help unify our laws."
"Help unite our people."
Cedric slowly bowed.
"My Queen."
Though respectful...
Something in his eyes lingered.
A quiet sadness.
Perhaps...
Something else.
Riven, standing beside Eryx, noticed it immediately.
He said nothing.
Just as Nyxara prepared to conclude the meeting
BOOM!
The council doors burst open.
Several guards reached for their swords.
"It's Lady Seraphine!"
The Duskryn Matriarch entered hurriedly.
Her usually composed expression had disappeared.
"My Queen..."
"I've found something."
The room instantly grew silent.
Nyxara motioned her forward.
Seraphine placed an ancient scroll upon the council table.
"I searched the Royal Archives through the night."
"I found records dating back to shortly after the First Cataclysm."
Every noble leaned closer.
Seraphine unrolled the fragile parchment.
"The disappearances..."
"...have happened before."
A murmur spread through the chamber.
She continued.
"The records describe entire settlements vanishing."
"No blood."
"No bodies."
"No signs of battle."
"The description matches our current reports exactly."
Vadok frowned.
"So history is repeating itself."
Seraphine nodded grimly.
"There is more."
She pointed toward faded lines of ancient script.
"The chronicler wrote that these disappearances began shortly before..."
"...the weakening of the Great Seal."
The chamber fell completely silent.
Even the newly appointed Second Order nobles looked uneasy.
Eryx's eyes narrowed.
"The Great Seal..."
Nyxara slowly repeated the words.
"...the prison beneath the world."
Seraphine nodded.
"The same prison said to contain the Voids."
No one spoke.
Centuries of legends...
Suddenly felt far too real.
Then Seraphine revealed one final piece of information.
"My Queen..."
"The ancient records mention one final warning."
She looked around the council.
Her voice lowered.
"When the hungry darkness walks unseen..."
"The Moon shall seek an heir..."
Riven's eyes widened ever so slightly.
Nyxara's expression changed.
"The Moon..."
"...shall seek an heir?"
Seraphine nodded.
"I believe..."
"...the Lunar Trials were never simply a coming-of-age ceremony."
"They were created..."
"...to find the one chosen by the Moon before the darkness returned."
Silence consumed the chamber.
Outside...
The wind suddenly howled through the palace windows.
Far away...
Hidden beneath endless layers of stone...
One more glowing rune upon the ancient chains...
Faded.
And in the darkness...
Something smiled.