Soraya knew, even then, that it wasn't just Orion watching her. An entire host of allied lords and Archlords had their gazes fixed upon her, waiting.
Back then, all she could think about was breaking through, about not squandering the resources, not failing Orion's trust, and not disappointing the esteemed patrons of the allied forces. Under that colossal pressure, the cocoon around her soul had finally shattered.
Now, with Lorelia asking her for the secret to that transformation, Soraya was genuinely at a loss for words.
"Your Lord's Stone was a gift from Lord Orion. The resources came to you too easily. Deep down, you do not know how to cherish them, how to seize a true opportunity."
Soraya couldn't find the words to teach, but Vexis, the lich who stood beside them, had no such difficulty.
