Point of View: Eldrin
The bitter aroma of coffee still lingered in the air when a knock echoed against my office door.
I didn't look up from the reports.
"Have they arrived?"
"Yes, Leader," my secretary replied from the other side. "They're already in the meeting room."
I let out a quiet sigh, closed the document in front of me, and picked up my cup with one hand while gathering the necessary reports with the other. The weight wasn't physical…
…but I felt it anyway.
"This job is killing me…"
It wasn't the first time I said it.
It wouldn't be the last.
I stepped out of the office and walked down the hallway in silence. At this hour, the council building was quiet.
Too quiet.
And I knew what that meant.
They were all waiting.
The meeting room was only a few steps away. It wasn't grand or overly decorated, but it was carefully designed.
Functional.
Balanced.
I opened the door.
The conversations stopped instantly.
They were all there.
Seated around the circular table, each occupying their assigned seat. In front of every chair was a small plaque displaying their name and position.
It wasn't necessary—we all knew each other.
But symbols mattered.
Minister of Security: Thistram
Minister of Economy: Sophia
Minister of Infrastructure: Morgath
Minister of Education: Merlin
Minister of Production: Kaelen
Minister of Health: Lyriana
And finally—
My seat.
Leader: Eldrin.
The table was round for a very simple reason:
No one stood above the others.
At least…
not in this room.
"I'm glad to see you all again," I said as I walked to my seat.
Some nodded. Others gave faint smiles. There was fatigue on their faces…
…but also determination.
That always reassured me.
I sat down calmly, placed the reports in front of me, and tapped the table lightly with my fingers.
"You'll find today's topics in front of each of you."
The sound of papers sliding broke the silence as everyone picked up their documents.
And then—
As if someone had flipped an invisible switch, the atmosphere changed.
The warmth vanished.
Only seriousness remained.
"Let's begin," I said.
I paused briefly, scanning each of their faces.
"As our first point, we need to decide how to respond to the King of Atlantis' request for a potential alliance."
Some frowned slightly. Others were already reading.
"This is a delicate matter," I continued. "I want to hear your opinions before giving mine… and that of the First Pillar, Sylvanas."
Silence lingered for a few seconds.
Until Kaelen spoke.
He leaned forward slightly, resting his arms on the table. His eyes carried a mix of interest and restrained excitement.
"I'll be honest," he said. "My stance is influenced by personal reasons."
Several of them looked up.
That was unusual.
"As an omnificer…" he continued, "I cannot ignore what Atlantis represents."
Merlin tilted his head.
"Could you elaborate?"
Kaelen nodded immediately, as if he had been waiting for that question.
"My team and the OEI researchers have been analyzing the products Atlanteans are selling in Dalaran," he explained. "And what we found… is concerning."
Sophia raised an eyebrow.
"Concerning?"
"Their manufacturing methods are completely different from ours," Kaelen replied. "It's not an improvement… it's an entirely different way of understanding everything."
The silence deepened.
"If we form an alliance with them," he added, "even without sharing critical information… partial access alone would be enough to advance."
Sophia crossed her arms.
"So you believe the benefit lies in knowledge."
"Exactly."
Kaelen leaned back slightly.
"My vote is in favor of the alliance."
Merlin tapped the table lightly with his fingers, thoughtful.
"From an educational perspective…" he murmured, "this could also be beneficial."
Everyone turned to him.
"We could organize exchanges between academies," he continued. "Excursions. Interactions between students. It would broaden their perspectives."
He paused briefly.
"My vote is also in favor."
Two votes.
Fast.
Too fast.
Thistram spoke.
He didn't raise his voice.
He didn't change his posture.
But the moment he did, the atmosphere tightened.
"I disagree."
Silence fell instantly.
Kaelen frowned.
"Why?"
Thistram interlocked his fingers on the table before answering.
"Because this isn't just an alliance," he said calmly. "It's a statement."
Morgath nodded slowly.
"He's right."
Everyone looked at him.
"It would disrupt the current balance," Morgath continued. "And we are not in a secure position."
Sophia tilted her head slightly.
"Are you implying we would be attacked?"
"I wouldn't rule it out," Morgath replied. "Atlantis is protected by the ocean. We are not."
Thistram spoke again.
"I'm concerned about how other leaders will react."
His gaze hardened slightly.
"Especially two."
He didn't need to say their names.
Still—
he did.
"Rangar… and Xyra."
The atmosphere grew heavy.
Kaelen exhaled in frustration.
"An alliance would also strengthen us," he argued. "It could deter attacks."
Thistram shook his head slowly.
"You're underestimating them."
Sophia frowned.
"Explain."
Thistram leaned forward slightly.
"Our continent is becoming overpopulated," he said. "That creates pressure. Tension. Limited resources."
Sophia nodded.
"We know that."
"Then understand this," he continued. "Xyra governs Exuvia by eliminating every threat without exception. She maintains absolute control and uses other species as resources."
Lyriana lowered her gaze briefly.
"I've seen the results…"
Thistram turned slightly.
"And Rangar…"
Morgath spoke first.
"He's a barbarian."
Thistram shook his head.
"That's what I thought at first."
Silence returned.
"But he's not."
His words were slow.
Measured.
"We investigated his rise," he continued. "Several individuals opposed him on his continent."
Kaelen crossed his arms.
"And?"
"They disappeared."
No one spoke.
"Others died from poison," he added. "Some in internal conflicts."
Merlin frowned.
"That sounds… organized."
"It is," Thistram replied. "He eliminated all opposition before consolidating power."
The weight in the room increased.
"He's intelligent," Kaelen murmured.
"And dangerous," Thistram added. "He understands war better than anyone who has merely studied it."
Lyriana raised her gaze.
"I saw him during the first conquest."
Everyone looked at her.
"I couldn't analyze him properly…" she continued, "but he's close to reaching Level 2."
A pause.
"When he does…"
Her voice lowered slightly.
"He'll be on Sylvanas' level."
The silence that followed was absolute.
No one moved.
No one spoke.
Only the faint sound of my coffee cup touching the table broke the tension.
The meeting had only just begun…