A Game of Shadows (1)

The burden of leadership had set in faster than Thutmose expected. Despite being the designated heir, assuming control of the clan's administration was more than a simple transition of power.

The bureaucrats—senior officials and influential figures who had long maintained the delicate balance of the Earth Clan's vast system—were less than cooperative. Delays in approving decrees, hesitation in carrying out his directives, and endless formalities turned what should have been a seamless command into a tangled mess of red tape.

Reports of unresolved disputes piled up. Clan resources were stretched thin from the aftermath of the beast tide, and any attempts to allocate them efficiently met with resistance. Some elders subtly pushed their agendas, withholding key approvals to stall decisions, while others questioned his right to make significant changes so soon after Khepri's departure.