"Second point," Elara continued, her voice steady. "I cannot join you as a subordinate. However, there is an alternative."
Rhazuun's eyes lit up. The door wasn't shut; it was just heavy.
"As you've noticed, while magic exists on this continent, there is no centralized authority. No academy, no guild, no standardization," Elara explained. "I intend to be that beginning."
This was an ambition Orion had planted in her mind long ago.
Rhazuun understood immediately. She didn't want to be a member; she wanted to be a founder.
"Your Highness, how does this benefit the Order of the Dandelion?" Rhazuun asked. He wasn't a fool. The establishment of a new, independent Magic Association created a competitor, not an asset. His gaze lost some of its earlier warmth, replaced by the calculation of a negotiator. "What if I were willing to operate this organization under the banner of the 'Order of the Dandelion'?"
