Ryker’s POV I’ve never liked big ceremonies. Too much fluff. Too much noise. Too many people pretending to matter.But today, I’m standing in what used to be the council hall, and the air is quieter than I expected. Not tense. Not scared. Just… expectant.Griffin’s gone off to oversee some other changes. Lena is nearby, talking quietly with a few elders. I don’t need to hover. Not today.I’ve got a stack of Keeper records in my hands, folders, tablets, scrolls—whatever anyone ever thought could hide the truth. Today, nothing hides.I glance at Corvin and Tamsin. Their faces are stiff. They were part of the old guard, the old rules, and they don’t know what to do with themselves now.“Ryker,” Tamsin says, voice tight. “Are you sure opening everything is—”“Necessary,” I cut in. “Yes. Otherwise, what’s the point of change?”Corvin shakes his head. “You can’t just throw centuries of procedure aside.”I step closer to the table. “I’m not throwing it aside. I’m correcting it. The records
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