The Dragon Palace.
Adonis sat at the head of the breakfast table, his loose robe sliding off one shoulder as he reviewed a series of glowing reports hovering in the air. Beside him, Sapphira was gracefully peeling a blood-orange, while Millia watched the shadows in the corner of the room dance to her silent whim.
The peace was interrupted by the arrival of a messenger raven made of pure shadow. It dissolved into a scroll in front of Adonis, the ink pulsing with a frantic red light.
"Oh, the Church has finally grown desperate enough to play their last card," Adonis said, his voice carrying a dark amusement.
Sapphira paused, her violet eyes narrowing. "The summoning? I thought their ether reserves were too depleted after you annexed the Western Leylines."
"They used life-force sacrifices," Adonis replied, his expression turning cold. "Twelve priests and seven maidens. A high price to pay for a boy in a hoodie."
