Treachery from

The Grand Elder wasSecond Elder's

The Grand Elder watched carefully. To side with Gazen meant preservingLing Yi had given him an

Still, Gazen was a force to be reckoned with. The emperor's control over the Arbitration Tribunal,

On the other hand, siding with the Second Elder presentFreedom's Light and a more inclusive, less oppressive empire. While such reforms could extend the empire's life, they also risked eroding the very power structures that had kept it in control for so long. By aligning himself with the Second Elder, the Grand Elder would be forced to weaken Gazen's military-driven rule, potentially leaving the empire vulnerable to rebellion and external threats.

Then there was Naolin. The leader of Freedom's Light was a figure who loomed larger with each passing day. Her movement grew stronger, emboldened by the empire's inner turmoil. She fought not just for a free people, but for a world in which the empire's oppressive hand no longer strangled the provinces. If the Second Elder rose to power, there was a chance he would negotiate with her, offering concessions that could bring an end to the bloodshed. But could such peace last? Would Naolin ever accept anything less than the complete dissolution of the empire?

The Grand Elder found himself in a precarious position. He had always been the silent architect of stability, guiding the empire through unseen dangers. But now, the choice before him was not merely about which leader to support—it was about the future of the empire itself. Would he preserve it as a bastion of control, ruled by fear and might, or guide it into an uncertain future, where reform might just save it from implosion?