A few days later, in the council hall of Emerald Castle, Ethan sat tall and composed on the central throne. Just behind him to the left stood Elynn, calm and respectful, her posture straight and her expression unreadable.
To Ethan's right, in the first seat beside the throne, sat an elderly man with a long white beard and robes that marked him unmistakably as a grand mage. This was none other than Archmage Eldrin, the leader of the Tower faction from the northern front.
At that moment, Eldrin was staring at Ethan with a deeply conflicted expression. Beneath the surface of his composed face, his eyes betrayed a storm of emotions—shock, disbelief, and even a flicker of fear.
"Your Excellency, Lord of Emerald Castle," Eldrin finally broke the silence, his voice steady but laced with awe. "I never imagined you'd actually defeat the savage and brutal Dungeon army. Your strength is… staggering. Truly terrifying."
