He raised a single hand. "Zhang Ruoyun," he said, calm as sin.
The Phoenix of Balance moved without a word.
She initially didn't belong to the Origin Families. She wasn't born of Origin Families royalty back then, nor did she carry the inherited superiority bloodline many of the Origin Families council did. But none of that mattered. Zhang Ruoyun bowed only to balance — and balance now had a name, and it was Parker Nyxlith.
Her story with him was even before these families existed but that was a story for another time.
Her steps were light, but the air around her rippled with ancient force. Feathers of black and white shimmered briefly at her back, flickering between illusion and truth. She extended her arm, and from her palm bloomed three orbs — yin and yang split like bleeding moons, each pulsing with divine dichotomy.
The three orbs struck the foreheads of the Voidhowls.
Instantly, the room erupted in screams.
Screams that weren't entirely human.
