The High Council courtroom was a vast marble hall, its polished white floors reflecting the glow of suspended crystal lanterns that drifted like slow-moving stars. Tiered sections curved around the chamber in sweeping arcs, each designated for a different faction—elves, humans, fae, beast-kin, giant-bloods, and more—each marked by their own banners and colors. At the center stood the raised circular dais reserved for judgment, towering beneath a domed ceiling etched with the history of the Great Resonance War.
On its own it was a gorgeous piece of architecture, but today it was mad house.
The next morning had arrived, and history was poised to change forever. The first Deathforged Contract in recorded history was about to be signed. The High Council Court was already in chaos—an uproar of shouting, accusations, and frantic discussion echoing through the vast dome. All factions were present. All eyes were on the doors. Lady Vorenna stepped inside with Atlas at her side, wrists shackled. He leaned toward her.
"Why do you have me in these things? You know they don't matter."
"It's for appearances," she murmured. "Endure it."
The moment the crowd recognized him, fury erupted.
"That's the Unseen!"
"Monster—!"
"Fallen Eye's dog!"
Booing, insults, even a few thrown objects. Atlas didn't flinch. The Light Elven Speaker banged his staff. "Order! Order! This is Atlas the Unseen?"
"Yes, sir," Lady Vorenna answered, stepping aside as Atlas was led to the front.
The Speaker pinched the bridge of his nose. "Very well… Grand Arbitrator Vorenna, who else have you selected for this so-called 'team'?"
"They should have all arrived by now," she replied. "I arranged for each to be brought separately—for safety."
Atlas yawned loudly. Without asking permission, he wandered toward the Human Concord's seating. The guards tensed, weapons raised, spells igniting—but Atlas ignored them completely. He stopped in front of a chair occupied by an elderly human representative.
"Get up. I want that seat. I'm tired."
The representative trembled. "B-But… I'm sitting in—"
"I don't care. Sit on the floor."
Silence rippled across the court as the old man obediently stood and lowered himself to the marble floor. Atlas dropped into the chair, leaned back, feet propped up—and immediately fell asleep. Shock spread like wildfire. Gasps, outraged whispers, indignant shouts. No one had ever shown such blatant disrespect inside the High Court. Lady Vorenna cleared her throat, composed.
"Since he's already here, allow me to formally introduce the chosen leader of the Deathforged."
She unfolded one of the parchments.
"Atlas. Last name, unknown. Species: Human. Age thirty-three. Height: 5' 9". Resonance: none. Crimes: serial kidnapping, murder, torture, espionage, confirmed ties to the Order of the Fallen Eye, and the documented assassinations of nearly every noble house in the Volguard Dominion. Kill count: unknown. Sentence: execution by sword."
Fury erupted from the Volguard section. Booing shook the hall. Someone hurled a goblet.
Atlas didn't even stir.
"Our appointed leader," Vorenna finished evenly. "As approved by majority vote."
A Dark Elf representative called out, "Then who else have you dragged from the dungeons, Grand Arbitrator?"
Vorenna lifted her hand. "Open the doors. Bring in the second nominee!"
The great doors parted. Instead of a prisoner escorted by guards, a massive iron cage was wheeled in by two muscular Light Elves. Inside, shackled to the bars, was a feral-looking girl. Long tangled brown hair, sharp red eyes with slit pupils, fox-like ears, and fur-lined arms ending in curved claws. A short tail twitched behind her. A suppression muzzle bound her mouth.
Gasps filled the dome.
Lady Vorenna announced:
"Nominee two. First name: Ako. Last name: unknown. Species: Beast-kin. Age sixteen. Height: 5'0". Resonance: Wild. Containment Zone: Albritiz Dungeon, Cell 3009. Crimes: carriage theft, pickpocketing, and the serial killing of hundreds of elk hunters in the northern territories. Estimated kill count: two hundred ten. Sentence: execution by drowning."
The guards removed the muzzle's locking spell. Ako spat on the floor of her cage.
"Let me outta here, assholes."
A collective shudder passed through the hall.
The doors opened again. This time a tall, thin young man strutted through—smiling despite his shackles. Around the pale skin of his neck was a collar that glowed with resonance—a magic dampener. His long blue hair with black streaks was nearly shimmering, and he carried himself like a performer walking onstage. Several Light Elven women swooned, prompted by the wink he gave them.
"My, my… this is the woman who pulled strings for me?" he said, eyeing Vorenna. "You're stunning."
A guard shoved him forward. He only grinned wider.
Lady Vorenna sighed before continuing:
"Nominee three. Lorian Volkas. Hybrid—Fae and Light Elf. Age one hundred twenty-four. Height: 6'5". Resonance: Veil. Containment: Albritiz Dungeon, Cell 3000. Crimes: gambling fraud, financial scams, multiple counts of abetting, grand theft, second-degree murder, manslaughter, kidnapping, extortion, distribution of the narcotic known as 'fairy dust,' pickpocketing, insurance fraud, and pyramid-scheme engineering. Most notably, the seduction of the princess and the queen of the Sunborn Empire. Following said seductions, he stole their crowns—and the king's as well. Estimated kill count: two. Sentence: execution by lethal poison."
A roar of outrage exploded from the Sunborn section. Nobles shot to their feet, shouting curses, pointing, demanding his immediate removal.
Lorian waved cheerfully. "Correction: both princesses and the queen. Very different tally. But I digress. Honestly impressive when you think about it. I mean you know how hard that is? To hook up with two princesses and a queen? That kind of finesse takes skill. I refuse to be uncredited. But I digress."
He glanced into Ako's cage and tapped the bars with both hands.
"They promised me freedom and gave me a pet? Fantastic."
"Screw you," Ako hissed, baring her claws.
He laughed. "And she talks. Wonderful."
The Light Elven nobles were losing their minds—red-faced, furious, some calling for guards, others calling for Vorenna's resignation. The court was descending into chaos again. Lady Vorenna stood firm, unmoved.
"If the Council finds this choice controversial…" she began, "…you will certainly dislike the next one."
The hall rippled with anxious murmurs.
And the next door began to open.