Early next morning the grand hall of the Phoenix Soul Pavilion was radiant with morning light, spilling through the high-arched windows and casting golden slants over the polished stone floor.
A long, rectangular table stretched down the center, filled with elders and seated dignitaries, each with their own aura and distinct robes embroidered with the lightning raven insignia.
At the highest seat of honor sat Fang Yuan, upright and composed.
His robes was a midnight black, trimmed with silver along the cuffs and collar.
Around him sat the pillars of the clan:
Elder Chen, Elder Sun, Elder Yin, Elder Jingyi, Elder Ra, Elder Joshua, Elder Long and Elder Mei.
And at the secondary seats half formal, half anticipatory, were the younger generation:
Fang Tian, Fang Ruì, Fang Bo, Fang Yang.
The room buzzed with suppressed excitement.
Murmurs exchanged.
Everyone knew what today meant.
Except for Fang Tian.
