Chapter 113: Hollow Relics

Members of the fourth's court sat in the corner of his private chambers, the warm light from a single oil lamp made faint shadows on the stone walls. 

The air smelled faintly of ink and parchment, mingled with the richer scent of wood smoke from the hearth. Around him, his trusted gathered as they seemed to do so much now. Serina stood by the window, one arm resting on the sill as she gazed out into the quiet evening streets of the capital. 

Hitoshi sat with his hands clasped over the head of his cane, his expression pensive. Viscount Kael leaned against a nearby shelf, idly flipping through a book, though his eyes were unfocused. 

Aric tapped his fingers against the armrest of his chair, a soft rhythm that mirrored the cadence of his thoughts. 

"The people are talking," he said finally, his voice steady but low. "Rumors are one thing, but to truly shake the Church's power, we need something tangible. Something they can see with their own eyes."