Vardy leaned back in his chair, exhaustion creeping into his voice. "Every time we make progress, he finds a way to pull ahead."
"That's what men like him do," Selene said, her tone matter-of-fact. She moved closer, her dark cloak trailing behind her. "They keep you on the defensive until you're too tired to fight back. And then they crush you."
"Cheerful as always," Ferah muttered.
Selene smirked faintly but didn't respond.
Tracy leaned forward, her hands resting on her knees. "If we can't take him head-on, what's the plan? Because we can't just sit here waiting for him to make the next move."
Vardy didn't answer immediately. His eyes drifted back to the map.
DEAN'S CHAMBER
Dean stood in his lavish chamber as Marcus stood nearby, his expression grim as usual.
"They're saying the Dud is still out there," Marcus said.
Dean turned.
"Let them talk," he said dismissively. "It doesn't matter. When the time comes, they'll see what true power looks like."
