Three days later, the council chamber was filled with tension. The high-ranking disciples, warlocks, and nobles who governed the tower sat around the long, rectangular table, their faces grim as they awaited the start of the meeting. Valen stood at the head of the table, his cold gaze sweeping over the room. Lucian sat further down, his expression carefully neutral, though Valen could see the flicker of ambition in his eyes.
The meeting began as usual, with reports on the state of the tower's defenses, resources, and preparations for the looming threat of the Serathin Empire. But the air was thick with anticipation, as if everyone was waiting for the inevitable confrontation.
It wasn't long before Lucian made his move.
"My Lord," Lucian said suddenly, standing from his seat. All eyes turned to him, the room falling silent. "I must speak on behalf of the council. There are... concerns about your leadership."
Valen remained seated, his face impassive. "Go on."
Lucian stepped forward, his voice gaining confidence as he addressed the room. "Many of us believe that under your leadership, the tower has grown weak. Your inaction in the face of the Serathin threat and your failure to deal with internal dissent has left us vulnerable. I propose that a new leader be chosen—someone who is willing to take decisive action."
Murmurs spread through the room as Lucian's supporters nodded in agreement. Valen remained silent, watching the scene unfold as if it were a performance he had already seen.
Lucian turned to the council, raising his voice. "I call for a vote of no confidence in Valen's leadership!"
For a moment, the room was silent, the weight of Lucian's words hanging in the air. Then, slowly, several council members began to nod, murmuring their agreement. It seemed that Lucian had succeeded in swaying them.
But Valen was not finished.
"You speak of weakness, Lucian," Valen said softly, his voice cutting through the murmurs like a blade. "But tell me, what do you know of strength?"
Lucian frowned, taken aback by Valen's calm demeanor. "Strength is the ability to act when necessary, to take control when others falter. You have failed to do that."
Valen stood slowly, his gaze locking onto Lucian's. The room fell into a tense silence, everyone waiting for his response.
"Strength," Valen said quietly, "is knowing when to wait and when to strike. It's knowing your enemy's weaknesses and exploiting them. And most of all, strength is not letting emotions cloud your judgment."
Lucian opened his mouth to speak, but Valen cut him off.
"You think you've won because you've gathered a few supporters," Valen continued, his voice icy. "But you underestimate me, as so many have before."
Before Lucian could react, the doors to the council chamber swung open, and several of Valen's most loyal warlocks and soldiers entered, their weapons drawn. Lucian's eyes widened in shock as the room was quickly surrounded.
"You wanted a confrontation," Valen said, stepping closer to Lucian. "Now you have one."
Lucian's face paled, realizing too late that he had walked into a trap. Valen's forces moved swiftly, taking control of the room, and within moments, Lucian was disarmed and forced to his knees before Valen.
"You've made a mistake, Lucian," Valen said, his voice low and dangerous. "And in this world, mistakes have consequences."
Valen stared down at his former disciple, his expression cold and unreadable. He could feel the eyes of the council on him, waiting to see what he would do next.
But Valen had already made his decision.
"Take him away," Valen ordered, turning his back on Lucian as the guards dragged him from the room. The council sat in stunned silence, the reality of Valen's control sinking in.
The game had started.