The Meeting

The atmosphere in the council room was thick with tension. Every leader of the major factions had arrived, their faces a mixture of suspicion, frustration, and, in some cases, outright hostility. At the far end of the table, General Jorvik's posture was rigid, his eyes narrowing as Lena took her seat.

"I trust we're all aware of the growing instability in our ranks," Jorvik began, his voice firm but with a hint of satisfaction. "It's time we stop pretending that Lena's leadership, or her reliance on the core, isn't undermining the foundation of this alliance."

Lena's hand clenched into a fist beneath the table, but she remained silent, waiting for him to continue.

"We can no longer afford to put all of our faith in one person, especially when that person is so compromised," he continued, his voice gaining strength. "It's time to discuss a transition in leadership."

The words hung heavy in the air. A few leaders glanced nervously at each other, but no one spoke up immediately. The silence felt like an eternity.

"You're suggesting we replace Lena?" Zhen'ara's voice was calm but firm. "With all due respect, General, we've fought together for months. We've seen Lena's ability to command, her sacrifice. We need to be focusing on the Rhytil, not tearing apart our own."

But Jorvik wasn't backing down. "What is this alliance, Zhen'ara, if it's held together only by one individual? Lena has made her choices, and now we must look at what's best for all of us."

Lena stood up slowly, her eyes locked onto Jorvik's. "Are you really going to suggest that the best thing for the alliance is to fracture it even further?" she asked, her voice steady despite the emotions swirling inside her. "The Rhytil are the real enemy here. If we let them divide us, we lose. Do you understand that, General?"

The room went silent again. Her words were sharp, calculated, and pointed. She could feel her heart pounding in her chest, the tension rising to a breaking point. The stakes had never been higher.

Jorvik's expression tightened, and for a moment, Lena saw the subtle flicker of uncertainty in his eyes. But it quickly vanished, replaced by a stubborn resolve.

"Perhaps you're right," Jorvik said slowly, leaning forward on the table. "But we cannot ignore the fact that the core's influence is changing you. The power, the control—it's altering your judgment. We need a leader who can unite us, not someone who's been compromised by the very weapon we're fighting."

Lena's mind raced. The core had made her stronger, but also more isolated. It had given her abilities that no one else had, but it had also created a distance between her and those she needed to trust the most. She couldn't blame them for their fears. She had started to fear herself, too.

"Enough!" shouted a voice from the back of the room. It was one of the lesser-known faction leaders, a woman named Varell, who had kept quiet until now. "We're wasting time here. Every moment we spend debating leadership is a moment the Rhytil use to further their influence. Our people are dying, our worlds are falling. And we're here arguing over who gets to lead? This is ridiculous."

Her words struck like a hammer, and for a moment, there was a shift in the room. The leaders began to murmur, their tone shifting from confrontation to quiet contemplation. Even Jorvik's stance faltered slightly.

"You're right," Lena said, her voice suddenly cutting through the noise. "We can't afford to waste any more time. But if you're all so concerned about the direction of this alliance, then I'm offering a solution. We will hold a vote. You can choose someone else to lead, but it's clear that I'm the one the Rhytil fear. My connection to the core—" she hesitated, her eyes momentarily drifting to the empty space next to her where Elias used to stand. "—it's the only thing keeping them at bay. Without that, we're vulnerable."

For a brief moment, Lena saw a flicker of respect in the eyes of several leaders. Even Jorvik seemed to consider her words, though his expression remained hard.

Zhen'ara was the first to speak again. "The vote is the only way forward. We cannot let our personal feelings cloud our judgment. The war must come first."

Jorvik nodded begrudgingly. "Fine. We will vote. But know this, Lena: if you are no longer fit to lead, we will have to make hard decisions for the survival of our people."

Lena swallowed hard, but her gaze remained steady. She had no choice but to agree. But as she left the meeting, she knew that the fracture had deepened. The alliance was no longer united, and she wasn't sure if anything could put it back together.