Tension

The city was alive with activity as Aric made his way from his estate to the imperial palace. The streets of Valeria's capital were bustling, merchants hawking their wares, street performers entertaining small crowds, and nobles gossiping as their carriages rolled by. Normally, Aric might have spared a glance or two at the chaos of it all, but today, his mind was elsewhere.

The Northrenders had arrived.

He hadn't done anything to stop them, not because he couldn't—but because he didn't want to. Why? Well, that was a question even he couldn't answer easily. Perhaps it was because this meeting had the potential to shift the fragile balance of power, and Aric preferred to watch it unfold rather than meddle prematurely. Or maybe, deep down, he wanted to see her again.

Ysir.