Chapter 15
The sanctum was a grand, circular chamber of floating platforms, suspended within an ethereal void. Twelve seats carved from their respective domain essences formed a ring. Twelve thrones encircled a black mirror table—its surface unnaturally still, reflecting not the faces above it, but what lay beyond mortal sight. At its center hovered a radiant sigil—ancient and pulsing with neutral energy—where High Arbiter *Seravain* now stood, hands clasped behind his back.
A heavy silence lingered.
"Let it be known," Seravain began, his voice echoing unnaturally, "the Void Domain has awakened."
A hush fell.
*Caerith Vonn* was the first to rise. His fiery aura flared. "We warned of this day! You all scoffed at the idea that the Void could ever return. Now it festers in the hands of a rogue!"
*Elaris Veilshade* tilted her head, cloaked in a ripple of shadows. "Bold, Caerith. But we know little of the bearer. Perhaps it's not corruption... but correction."
*Thorne Marrick* leaned forward with cold intrigue. "I want him brought in—alive. His essence studied. If the Void's back, it's no accident. We may be witnessing the resurgence of forgotten laws."
*Lysara Thorneveil* gave a slow, creaking smile. "Decay follows all things. Perhaps the Void is the world's memory... unraveling. Let it."
*Rhaelun Tideborne* placed a calming hand on the sigil before him. "And if it isn't correction but collapse? We must act before tides shift beyond control."
*Orund Felgrim* slammed a gauntlet down. "Containment is cowardice. The bearer must be eliminated. Now."
*Zeyda Emberlyn* countered softly, "He saved a settlement. If he sought chaos, we'd see it already. Destruction leaves roots... he's left none."
*Myrren Solari*, bathed in radiance, frowned. "He has not sought war. But silence does not mean innocence. He walks in ancient power. Power unchecked."
*Kaelri Windcrest* floated lazily above her seat. "Perhaps the wind favors change. Let the boy stir the world. It grows stale."
*Vaskor Dren* grunted. "Let the ground feel his steps first. Only then will I pass judgment."
Seravain raised a hand. "Enough. We do not yet know Draziel Vale's path. But we agree—he must be found. Watched."
Caerith growled, "Or killed."
"No," said Seravain firmly. "We'll vote."
The sigil in the center pulsed, awaiting judgment.
---
The floating sigil at the center of the sanctum began to glow brighter as each council member's emblem shimmered in turn. The moment had arrived—a vote that could determine the fate of Draziel Vale… and perhaps the balance of the world itself.
*Seravain*, the High Arbiter, remained at the heart of it all, neutral in stance, but his eyes scanned each member carefully.
He raised his hand. "Each of you shall cast your judgment. But let it be known—this decision is not merely about one man. It is about what the world will become… should the Void be left unchecked, or unjustly silenced."
The silence was thick with power.
---
*Caerith Vonn* (Infernal Domain) stood tall, his crimson cloak flickering like flame.
"My vote is for elimination."
"The Void is chaos. Destruction. It devours order and consumes reason. We cannot gamble with existence for sentiment. Strike him down before the darkness grows roots."
A pulse of red light flickered across his sigil.
---
*Elaris Veilshade* (Umbra Domain) responded with a sly tilt of her head.
*"My vote is for observation."*
"There's something else at work here. The Void returned through him, yes… but to kill him without understanding is to blindfold ourselves in a storm."
A dark purple glow shimmered from her sigil.
---
*Thorne Marrick* (Arcanum Domain) leaned forward, eyes glowing with symbols.
*"My vote is for containment and study."*
"Capture him. There is knowledge buried in the Void. I can feel it… and we've been too long without answers."
A sigil of glowing blue etched itself into the air.
---
*Lysara Thorneveil* (Decay Domain) smiled, eyes black as pitch.
*"I abstain."*
"The world decays, with or without him. Let him walk. Let the world decide."
Her sigil dimmed to a pale gray haze, fading like ash.
---
*Rhaelun Tideborne* (Tide Domain) exhaled deeply.
*"My vote is for watchful neutrality."*
"He's not shown himself an enemy—yet. But neither is he a proven friend. We'll observe. Nothing more."
A soft seafoam glow waved across his sigil.
---
*Orund Felgrim* (Stone Domain) stood, towering in armor.
*"Eliminate."*
"No risks. No hesitation. The stone does not shift to accommodate a storm. We stand firm, or we fall."
His sigil pulsed with heavy, dark gold light.
---
*Zeyda Emberlyn* (Flora Domain) stood, voice calm.
*"My vote is for protection."*
"He saved lives. I've heard whispers from the roots. This is no harbinger of doom. Let him grow into his choice."
Her sigil blossomed into green light.
---
*Myrren Solari* (Radiance Domain) frowned.
*"Contain."*
"Until we are sure he will not tip the world into shadow, he must be held. With care. With mercy."
White light beamed softly from her sigil.
---
*Kaelri Windcrest* (Gale Domain) drifted in midair, flipping a coin.
*"Let the wind decide... and it tells me to wait."*
"Let's watch. For now."
Her sigil spun like a cyclone of pale silver.
---
*Vaskor Dren* (Earthshaper Domain) crossed his arms.
*"I say… let him walk."*
"He's earned his path, for now. If he falters, then we crush him."
Brown stone glow from his sigil etched into the ring.
---
Seravain turned as the chamber dimmed. The votes were sealed.
- *Elimination*: 2
- *Containment*: 2
- *Observation/Watch*: 4
- *Protection*: 0
- *Abstain*: 0
- *Let walk (Neutral/Delayed)*: 2
A final ring of light circled the High Arbiter.
*"The council is divided,"* Seravain intoned. *"But the dominant vote is for observation. We will not act… yet. But he is marked. The moment he tilts toward chaos—we strike."*
And somewhere, far beyond the sanctum… the Void stirred.
—