Those with real strength rarely bothered with politics. The truly talented chose the Ashborn path, chasing riches, and glory, far from the weight of titles and the complicated politics.
That was what made Ben's victory matter. It didn't just shake the arena, it stirred the roots of the old nobles. Eyes once closed now turned toward him, calculating, watching.
But Ben didn't care. If this were a human kingdom, it would've been a problem. Their short lives made them act fast, power plays came within months, maybe a few years at most. But Nephirid were different.
With lifespans ten times longer, so too was their patience. In a world of humans, Ben might have had a handful of years before being forced to bow or bleed.
Here? He had decades before anyone made a real move.
***
Ben and Elvira returned to their true form now, as they're safe inside a pathway created by the Dhurnokh. A hidden path, one that's recently created for their plan.
