lies

Zareon, his tone as cold as the night, broke the silence first. "Vincent's death marks the end of a dangerous chapter for all of us," he began, his voice low and measured, yet thick with a dark satisfaction. "His ambition knew no bounds, and his attempt to breach the veil could have unravelled everything we've built."

El-Kharis's expression remained unreadable, but a slight tightening of his jaw betrayed the rawness of his emotions. It was not merely Vincent's death that weighed heavily on him. It was the knowledge that everything that had transpired—every move Vincent made, every betrayal—had ultimately led to this moment. The council members had come to celebrate Vincent's demise, but to El-Kharis, it was a bittersweet victory.