The atmosphere in the dimly lit chamber was tense. The forbidden magic practitioners knelt before their master, heads bowed low as they awaited his judgment.
The losses had been mounting—too many men, too much influence slipping through their fingers. Their reach, once shadowing the entire empire, was now dwindling, retreating like a tide against an unyielding shore.
The master clenched his fists, nails biting into his palms. His frustration was palpable, nearly suffocating the air in the room. The god he served had refused to answer his calls. Silence stretched between them, an unbearable void that weighed heavy on his shoulders.
"It is because of her," he spat, his voice barely above a growl. "Adeline."
The mere mention of her name ignited his fury. Her existence alone had unraveled the fate they had so carefully woven. She had altered the story in ways they hadn't accounted for, and now, every carefully laid plan was falling apart.
