Kapitel 93: Near end.
As seasons turned and another year passed, subtle tensions rippled through both territories. The Ember Circle had perfected their internal cohesion and moral clarity; the Golden Serpent Sect refined their subtlety and layered strategies. Yet neither side advanced nor crumbled. Many in both camps wondered how long this delicate balance could last.
Ember scouts reported signs of heightened Serpent activity in border regions: small caches relocated under moonlight, unfamiliar faces passing through neutral villages. The Serpents, meanwhile, noted that the Ember Circle's allies moved with unshakable confidence, as though guided by an invisible hand. Each faction adapted and adjusted, hoping to catch the other off-guard.
Within the Ember Circle's council hall, Lyrus met with the generals, captains, and allied clan leaders. They debated whether to press forward, pushing deeper into contested grounds, or maintain their cautious watch. Some argued that the Serpents' covert schemes warranted a decisive strike. Others favored continued patience—why risk lives when the Circle thrived in its current sphere?
At the Silent Court, Elder Kazreth, the Jade Whisper, listened to his generals—Malzaryn, Ivrineh, and Yashever—deliberate their next move. Kazreth's guardian, Threnix, stood watchfully. Frustration seeped into their voices. Every plan to weaken Ember influence foundered on unexpected resilience or subtle counteractions. Every attempt to sow discord ended in a return to tense equilibrium.
The stalemate weighed on everyone. Villagers in frontier lands tired of uncertainty. Traders longed for stable routes without fear of sabotage or shifting alliances. Even warriors felt the strain—endless readiness without resolution taxed hearts and minds.
Lyrus, pondering this at dusk beneath old oaks, realized that prolonging the stalemate only bred stagnation. The Circle had grown strong but what was strength without purpose? Kazreth, too, understood that cunning had its limits. The Serpents could not ascend further while trapped in this deadlock.
Something had to change. Whispers spread that perhaps both leaders considered a dramatic shift—whether that meant a final confrontation or a bold negotiation remained unclear. The stalemate had served as a crucible, forging stronger identities and methods on both sides, but at a price. The land needed direction.
As night fell, stars gleamed over watchful patrols and silent camps. Far apart, Lyrus and Kazreth both acknowledged the truth: this balance could not last forever. A climax approached—something that would force a hand, break the circle of indecision, and show the world which vision would guide tomorrow's dawn.
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein