Zhun'Var, the Supreme Elder, stared at the pulsing core for a while. Then he dipped his hands into the pockets of his robe, producing the fist-sized core he had shown the Others.
This core was fake, and Zhun'Var had only presented it to the court for them to place their hopes on it. The real core was the one hovering before him, emitting a dreadful aura.
He turned away from the core and walked toward the far end of the room, where a single mirror stood. He gazed into it—and what looked back wasn't his reflection.
It was the Alpha—a vague silhouette that was indecipherable. The only thing that stood out were the cold blue eyes with red veins, which seemed to peer into Zhun'Var's very soul.
Zhun'Var bowed his head slightly, then spoke again in a voice filled with reverence. "They trust me. Even now. The Elders. The Monarchs. They all believe I was born to protect this realm."
He chuckled softly as the core pulsed violently behind him, as if reacting to those words.
