"Lady Sylly, your words seem as fragile as a spider's web. I may have underestimated the courage it takes to infiltrate our meeting, but don't underestimate my ability to discern the truth," said Vorian, his cutting voice echoing around the room.
Alina, for her part, was visibly disconcerted that her bluff had been questioned. Her eyes reflected a mixture of surprise and concern at Vorian's reaction. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. The reality of the moment seemed to have trapped her tongue, and she searched frantically for a convincing explanation, only she wasn't someone who could think quickly in emergency situations.
The other mages remained silent, observing the scene.
The atmosphere in the room became even denser, charged with the energy of the imminent confrontation between the unquestioned leader and the mysterious intruder.
Vorian, tired of the empty words, raised his left hand with an open palm towards Alina. His fingers were thin and long. A subtle glow began to emanate from his fingers, a manifestation of the magic that flowed through his veins. Magic circles, intricate and luminous, began to form around her raised arm. They spun like serpents of light, tracing plex patterns with runes.
"You don't understand the gravity of your actions, Lady Sylly. Sneaking into a meeting of the Council of the Magi is an act of espionage enough to get you guillotined, and don't forget that you took the Library of the Magi without authorization. Your intentions are dark and your presence is a threat to the order we work so hard to maintain," declared Vorian with a coldness that cut like a blade.
Alina finally managed to regain her posure, but her eyes still revealed a desperate search for words that would convince Vorian that she could be trusted. Her previously confident face now showed signs of unease. It was clear that she had not anticipated such a hostile reaction.
"Vorian, please listen to me. I'm not an enemy. I'm here to protect, to prevent forbidden knowledge from falling into the wrong hands." Alina pleaded, her voice trembling but laden with determination.
Her words, however, fell flat. Vorian didn't give in to persuasion. His eyes remained fixed on Alina as the magic circles continued to multiply around his raised arm.
"Protect? Or do you seek your own power? Your crimes speak louder than your words, Alina Sylly. You have violated the trust of this council and the Elders, and now you will have to face the consequences," said Vorian, his voice echoing with implacable harshness.
Faced with Vorian's unwavering decision, Alina finally realized that there would be no easy escape. Her mind whirled in search of a way out, but the words seemed to elude her. She lowered her head momentarily, accepting the inevitability of the fate unfolding before her.
Alina was powerful, but she couldn't fight an Elder, after all, as the librarian of the Library of the Magi, many of the books she had read were written by the Elders of the Tower of the Magi themselves.
Vorian, now with the magic circles plete around his arm, slowly lowered his hand towards Alina.
"You will be brought before the Court of the Magi to answer for your actions. May magical justice decide your fate!" proclaimed Vorian, his voice resounding with authority.
However, the unexpected touch of a strong hand interrupted Vorian's downward movement. The Elder turned his head in surprise to meet the determined eyes of Kaizen, a man with midnight-black hair, small eyes that shone with an impressive intensity and broad shoulders that denoted a strength that was not mon among mages.
"Old man, before you make a rash decision, allow me to clarify a few things," said Kaizen, his voice firm and controlled.
Vorian took a step back, releasing Alina's wrist. The magic circles around his arm began to fade slowly, dissipating like ethereal smoke. However, the Elder's expression remained as serious as ever.
"And you must be the one they call Psyker. You've been pardoned for your crimes by the mercy of the Guardians, but you dare to interfere in Olaynore again? That's dangerous, even for you," warned Vorian, his tone laden with an authority that few dared to hold against Kaizen.
Kaizen, however, was not intimidated. He looked at Vorian calmly. "I'm not here to interfere in anything, Vorian, and Alina is not as much of a threat as you assume."
Vorian frowned, but didn't interrupt Kaizen. The other mages remained silent, watching everything with wide eyes.
Kaizen approached Alina, placing himself between her and Vorian. He kept a firm gaze on Vorian, sending a clear message that he would not accept any rash gestures. "If she took over the Library of the Magi, it was to protect it from the wrong hands."
Vorian raised an eyebrow, expressing suspicion. "Protect it? You invade our cities, kill and steal a treasure trove of knowledge that doesn't belong to you, and you still dare to accuse us?"
Kaizen sighed, as if he were dealing with a child's ego. "It doesn't matter anymore. Our plan was to sneak out unnoticed, but it's okay if you noticed us, because you, of all the Elders, I believe you're the only one who won't dare fight me."
"Kaizen... you've always been an enigma to us. Your presence in this place is a challenge to our precepts and to the order we are sworn to protect," declared Vorian, his voice heavy with thought.
Kaizen tilted his head slightly, accepting Vorian's words with a serenity that contrasted with the tension in the air. His eyes, as deep as the abyss, met Vorian's in silent defiance.
For years, Vorian had been a staunch defender of the principles of the Wizard Tower, of the founders, dedicating himself body and soul to preserving magical order and stability in Olaynore. If the Guardians were the ones who upheld the principles of the founders, Vorian was the one who took advantage of it, meaning that he was not a supporter of the other Elders' philosophy of freeing Olaynore.
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