The instant my fingers closed around the stolen key, I felt the weight of its enchantments humming faintly through the metal. A subtle warmth spread through my palm, resonating with my own mana. It was meticulously crafted, the magic woven into its structure radiating with precision—evidence of the Council's mastery, and perhaps their hubris. I pocketed it without missing a beat, eyes flicking swiftly across the hall, scanning for any hint that our theft had been noticed. But the Lord remained oblivious, his attention locked firmly onto the whispered exchanges with his subordinates.
Beside me, Asterion shifted slightly, the picture of bored indifference perfected in his stance and expression. To an observer, he was merely another enforcer enduring yet another tedious day. Only the faintest tightness in his jaw, visible only to my practiced eye, betrayed his true state of readiness.
