The council chamber of Valdorne groaned under the weight of tension. Golden light filtered through the stained-glass windows, painting the room in fractured hues of red and blue. Leaders from the Western nations—Aethelmar, Coralis, Valdorne, and scattered neutral cities—sat behind arched tables, all facing one man.
Shin Soma stood calmly beneath the gilded crest of Valdorne. The orb pulsed, vibrating in his pocket, its glow subtle yet impossible to ignore. Behind him, Laverna stood like a silent flame, her hand lightly resting near her tiger-eye necklace. Zera, Tessara, and Maika flanked them with steady eyes, each wearing their devotion not just in their stance but in the way their crests pulsed faintly with synchronized resolve.
Guild Master Davis stood at Shin's side, arms crossed, eyes narrowed beneath a furrowed brow. "Let's begin," he said with a gravelly tone.
"With respect," spoke General Vael of Coralis, his voice sharp as the steel medals on his cloak, "how do we know we can trust this man? The Soma name is tangled in the betrayal of the East. Tristan's own crown claimed Shin's father was aiding Falzath before he fell."
"And what of the rumors?" added Lord Ferren of Gyrhold. "That this boy commands sorcery older than the founding of our kingdoms? That he harbors a Kitsune harem bent on seducing and usurping our leaders?"
"That is absurd," snapped Davis. "You forget who faced Kharzad's horrors while you cowered behind your walls."
Murmurs followed. Doubt rippled across the council chamber like cracks in ancient stone.
Laverna stepped forward, her fingers curling protectively around her necklace. Her voice cracked through the tension like thunder. "Enough."
The generals turned toward her.
"Do you know what this necklace means?" She held it up, the tiger-eye gemstone glinting in the colored light. "It belonged to my mother. It's all I have left of my family—a symbol of a noble bloodline crushed under tyranny. But it's more than that. Inside it rests the jamadhars of George Applebee, a Master Assassin who died fighting a Falzath dragon. His blades, his soul, gave me strength. They chose me as their bearer."
Gasps stirred in the room. In a blaze of fire and wind, the jamadhars materialized, clasped in Laverna's hands. Lightning sparked along the curved tips, rippling across the polished stone walls.
"You want the truth? You want trust? I was a slave. Bought as a child by the Lichtenstein family. Because I could regenerate, they used me like a doll to test how much a body could endure. I was cut open, burned, mutilated—again and again. When I finally wanted to die, to see my murdered family again, Shin found me. And instead of letting me fade, he gave me purpose."
Lyssa of the Fourth Talon stood, voice bold. "She speaks the truth. I've seen her fight. If she wished to level this chamber, no one could stop her. But she doesn't. She fights for him. For freedom. For us."
She raised her hands. Lightning arced and formed a protective dome around Laverna, shimmering like a tempest's embrace.
Laverna's crest flared visibly on her lower abdomen. It pulsed with the same rhythm as Shin's mark, etched on the back of his left hand.
Mira leaned toward her sister Tove. "They really are unstoppable," she muttered, voice caught between reverence and fear.
Tove nodded slowly. "She cut through assassins like a windstorm. That Kitsune power... she's not human."
Olga, seated beside them, whispered, "And she's beautiful. No wonder Shin is surrounded by women like her. But... do any of us even stand a chance?"
Behind them, Rynn and Dalen exchanged glances.
"Remember when Shin was just a quiet swordsman?" Rynn murmured.
Dalen smiled. "Now he looks like he walked out of a legend."
Mira turned to her Talon sisters. "We didn't even realize we were bound. Rorick had us in his grasp, and we never knew. He chained our minds while smiling to our faces."
"Shin shattered those chains," Tove said, her voice soft. "When he exposed Rorick's Falzath transformation... when he ended him... he freed us."
"He didn't just kill a monster," Olga added. "He broke the curse that gripped our will."
The air shifted as Laverna continued, her voice like fire over ice. "If you're so worried about bloodlines and propaganda, maybe ask yourselves why you're still standing. Who led the charge through Kharzad? Who rallied the rebel cities of Aethelmar? Who gave your broken kingdoms hope again?"
Silence fell like a blade.
Shin stepped forward, eyes steady, the faint glow of his orb casting flickers of light along the chamber floor. "I never asked for a crown. I care nothing for thrones or titles. What I care about are the people still gasping for hope. Still fighting through shadows. If my name brings suspicion, let it. My actions will be my voice."
The orb flared softly. The same light reflected in the eyes of the women behind him.
Tessara touched her shoulder. Even in their doubt, he bears our burdens. He carries us all.
Maika's eyes narrowed, scanning the gathered leaders. If they knew what betrayal meant, they wouldn't question his resolve. They'd follow him blindly.
Zera's gaze softened as she watched Shin. He doesn't need a crown. His soul commands loyalty stronger than any throne.
From the far end of the room, Mira stood. "I was once a King's Blade. Sworn to royalty. But I've never witnessed someone fight like Shin Soma. He leads without asking, commands without speaking. If the Fourth Talon must choose a banner—then we choose his."
One by one, Tove, Lyssa, Olga, Rynn, Dalen—all stood in silent solidarity.
General Vael sank slowly into his chair, defeated.
Davis allowed himself a smirk. "There's your answer."
Sunlight pierced the stained-glass windows, striking Shin's orb. It glowed in response, radiating like the first true dawn Valdorne had seen in years.
Laverna sheathed her jamadhars and took her place beside Shin. "Then let the summit begin. And let the East know... their lies end here."
As the murmurs gave way to assent, Shin turned to the women beside him. Their eyes met his. Their crests glowed. Their bond was unshakable.
And in that moment, the chamber, the summit, and Valdorne itself belonged to them.