"One million." Two words broke the suffocating tension.
Spoken not by Alex, but by Guardian Elmara, they lingered in the air like an undeniable verdict. She remained silent for nearly ten seconds, letting their weight settle over the room before continuing.
"See this beautiful little marvel on my finger." Lady Elmara raised her right hand, displaying an intricately wrought black ring set with a deep blood-red gemstone that seemed to glow from within. "This artifact stands above the Ancient class."
The scowl that had lived on her face since she had taken her position was gone, entirely, immediately, replaced by something that belonged to a completely different person.
Her eyes were glittering. The expression was the specific, unguarded excitement of a child who had acquired something extraordinary and had been waiting, with great difficulty, for the right moment to show it off.
