The puppet's vicious accusations echoed like hammer blows collapsing on cracked vases, threatening to shatter the amber of determination still burning inside.
Adam snapped his face to the chair behind him, paling as he saw the emperor's face crumble.
The steely glint in his eyes dimmed, leaving an almost empty gaze behind. The vengeful drive that forced his fingers to dig into the armrest faded, replaced by guilt reflected in their weak twitch.
He clenched his jaw. He couldn't let this happen! They had a real chance of defeating the puppet, if not, to at least buy enough time to endure until the blessed land expelled him and the other disciples. But he couldn't do it alone, nor let a father's guilt crush his last hope.
Cursing his dependence on the emperor, he roared without wasting a second.
"Don't listen! His arrogance is a deception, a clever weapon to infiltrate our heads and destabilise our psyche."
