Allen massaged his temples, the low murmur of the advisors doing little to settle his growing irritation with the city's nobility.
The council meeting had dragged on for three hours, their arguments about trade taxes and borders feeling like a waste of his time.
Before he could speak, a strange noise rose from the lobby downstairs, the sudden uproar cutting straight through the office door. The advisors went silent, their heads turning toward the exit while the distant shouting turned into a chorus of confused murmurs.
"What is going on down there?" Garret asked, setting his papers aside.
Allen stood up without answering and headed toward the observation deck overlooking the hall. Pushing the doors open, he stepped onto the balcony to find the entire guild hall frozen in complete silence.
Hundreds of adventurers stood in a wide circle near the reception desk, their eyes fixed on a figure in the center.
