Chapter 5 - THE COUNCIL OF ELDERS
The Grand Council Chamber was a cold, circular room built from jagged blue slate. In the center stood an ancient monolith of carved black stone—the Moonstone, an ancient artifact used for centuries to measure the spiritual purity and strength of pack wolves.
Seated along the raised stone tiers were twelve Elders of the Northern Wastes, dressed in heavy white robes lined with wolf fur. At the head of the council sat Lord Vane—a hawk-nosed, bitter old Alpha with snow-white hair and eyes like dull iron.
King Kieran sat on his high seat to the side, his arms resting lazily on the armrests, but his posture was tense, his muscles coiled like a spring ready to snap.
Arya walked into the center of the chamber, accompanied by Lyra. Across the room, standing among the observers, were Elena and Maya. Elena wore a look of triumphant anticipation, her arms crossed over her midnight-blue dress.
"Lady Arya Windmir," Lord Vane’s raspy voice echoed through the cold air. "The crown has presented you as the True Mate of our King. Yet, you are born of an Omega line. Our laws state that any mate brought into the Royal Lineage must demonstrate a wolf spirit capable of bearing the harsh winters and military pressures of the Frostpeak territory."
"The Moon Goddess chose her," Kieran interrupted, his voice laced with venom. "That is the only law that matters, Vane."
"With all respect, Your Majesty," Vane replied smoothly, bowing his head slightly, "the Goddess gives us bonds, but nature dictates survival. If her spirit is too fragile, the bond will drain her life force within years. We only ask that she touch the Moonstone. If the stone glows white, her wolf is strong enough to endure the crown. If it remains dull gray... the Council has the right to veto the physical bonding."
Arya looked at the black monolith. It towered eight feet high, covered in ancient, glowing runes.
"Arya," Kieran said softly, his golden eyes meeting hers from across the room. "You do not have to do this. I can dissolve this Council with a single word."
Arya looked at Kieran, then turned her gaze to Elena, who was smirking wickedly from the sidelines. Elena knew Arya’s wolf was small. Elena had spent ten years reminding Arya that she was weak.
No more, Arya thought. If I am to stand beside him, I cannot hide behind his sword forever.
"I will take the test," Arya said clearly, her voice echoing with an unnatural firmness that surprised even herself.
She stepped up to the black stone. The air around the monolith was freezing, smelling of cold ozone and ancient earth. She lifted her right hand, her fingers trembling slightly, and pressed her palm flat against the smooth surface.
For three agonizing seconds, nothing happened.
The stone remained pitch black.
Elena sneered, stepping forward slightly. "As expected! Her wolf is hollow! She is unfit—"
BOOM.
A blinding pillar of liquid silver light shot out from the top of the Moonstone, shattering the shadows of the high ceiling! The slate floor cracked under Arya's feet.
The runes on the stone didn't just glow white—they burned with a fierce, terrifying silver flame that radiated heat across the entire chamber!
The Elders gasped, tumbling backward off their stone seats. Lord Vane’s eyes nearly bulged out of his head as the silver energy swirled around Arya, wrapping around her body like a shimmering cloak of starlight.
Deep within her chest, Arya felt something break open—a seal that had been placed on her magic long ago. Her gray eyes flashed a brilliant, luminous silver.
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Kieran stood up slowly, his jaw set, a look of profound awe in his eyes.
The Moonstone didn't just accept her. It bowed to her.
