The silence in the Elder Ironfang’s chambers was thick, heavy, suffocating. It pressed in on him, a physical weight that matched the crushing disbelief in his heart.He sat in his massive, ornate chair, carved from ancient, dark wood, its high back offering little comfort. His eyes, usually sharp and commanding, were wide, still trying to make sense of what he’d witnessed. Topa, his strong, proud son, brought low. Humiliated for sure.He had known Kael was formidable, yes. The first time their paths had crossed, a chill had snaked down the Elder’s spine, a faint tremor of unease he couldn’t quite explain. Kael’s presence had been… different. Frighteningly so. But he’d brushed it off, a veteran warrior’s exaggerated caution. He had only foreseen a difficult challenge for his son, a hard time, perhaps a few bruises, a test of his mettle. But ultimately, Topa, his eldest, his strongest, was destined for glory, for the beautiful Elara. The fight, he’d believed with every fiber of his bei
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