Mariana Va Ironblade sat behind Elara's desk as morning light filtered through the administrative office windows, illuminating stacks of documents that never seemed to diminish no matter how many hours she spent working through them. The chair felt too large for her frame, designed for someone with Elara's commanding presence rather than her own more protective approach to leadership.
Two months had passed since Elara left for the capital, and what had started as temporary duty had become her new reality. Each decision was made by asking herself "What would Elara do?" but increasingly, she found herself trusting instincts that felt entirely her own.
