Thutmose's steps echoed against the polished stone floor, each footfall crisp and deliberate. The grand halls of the Earth Clan's estate were vast, lined with towering pillars etched with the legacy of generations past.
Shadows danced along the walls as the mana torches flickered, their glow never quite reaching the vaulted ceilings. Yet despite the grandeur, his mind was far from the architectural marvel surrounding him. He was already dissecting every angle of the situation.
The Patrician was leaving.
That alone was rare. Rarer still was the trust placed upon him—the heir—to govern in the Patrician's absence. It was an honor, but it was also a challenge.
