No one dared to speak immediately. The weight of her words pressed down on every shoulder present.
Benjamin... was truly not among them anymore.
And Elara, their queen and leader, offered no immediate response, no defense, no explanation to fill the void.
In one corner of the hall, closer to Elara's position, Lotus sat gracefully upon a thick, woven carpet laid out upon the ground.
Her eyes remained closed in deep concentration, her lips moving faintly as she engaged in a silent, rhythmic chant—perhaps seeking guidance from the ancestral spirits or attempting to maintain some inner balance amid the chaos.
Nearby, Tamar and her sisters stood clustered together in a small group, their faces reflecting uncertainty and hesitation.
They shifted uncomfortably but refrained from intervening, unsure of how best to navigate the explosive confrontation unfolding before them.
