The remaining mages in the meeting room, although relieved to be alive, were still shaken by the sudden disappearance of Arion and the others, so they exchanged nervous glances with each other when the meeting seemed to come to an end, but Vorian still hadn't left.
The candles flickered slightly, casting dancing shadows on the walls adorned with antique tapestries. An atmosphere of uncertainty hung in the air as Vorian scratched his beard and seemed to think of something.
Finally, Vorian rose from the table and said:
"It's settled, then. At last, the red tape is over..." he declared, his voice echoing around the room. "However, before we close this meeting, there is something you need to know."
The mages looked at him, their faces a mixture of curiosity and apprehension. What else could the Elder Master Mage have to reveal?
Vorian raised his hand, a gesture that instantly silenced any remaining murmurs in the room. His eyes narrowed slightly and looked up.
"During the entire time of this meeting," he continued, his voice taking on a tone of unusual gravity, "we were being watched and listened to the whole time."
A murmur of perplexity ran through the mages, their gazes flickering between disbelief and alarm. How could they have been watched so closely without realizing it?
Vorian stretched out his hand in front of him, an aura of power pulsing around his fingers. He snapped his fingers, sending out a wave of energy that reverberated up the walls of the room and created a magical gravity zone. The eyes and ears created by Alina, skillfully woven through the magic, were suddenly drawn to Vorian's palm.
A flickering light danced across their contours, like distant stars reflected in a dark mirror.
Alina tilted her head slightly, her eyes now fixed on Vorian's. "Master Vorian, members of the Council of Mages, I apologize for my approach. I did not seek to cause intrigue or distrust. I came in search of answers and, perhaps, an alliance." She bluffed.
Alina's words perplexed the wizards. A noble librarian, from a family naturally renowned for its wisdom and probably possessed of vast knowledge, she was certainly seen as a potential ally, but she was also an exile from the Library of the Magi.
"Answers? Alliance?" said Vorian, arching an eyebrow. "Explain yourself, Lady Sylly. Why should we trust you, especially after you've been secretly watching us?"
Alina took a deep breath before she began to explain herself. Her eyes now showed not only determination, but also a hint of vulnerability.
"Lord Vorian, members of the Council of Mages, I understand the gravity of my approach. Allow me to tell you the story that brought me here," Alina began, her eyes meeting those of every wizard in the room.
"The Library of the Magi, which was my home and source of knowledge for so many years, has become a place where truths are distorted and power is used for purposes that go against the original purpose of magic. Many of the magical objects I kept there during the years the Library was sunk in the Forest of the Forgotten have begun to undergo unexpected changes after so long away from Olaynore."
She paused, allowing the words to penetrate the hearts of those present. The room was immersed in silence, only the occasional crackle of a candle breaking the stillness.
"I believe that the Psyker, the one who sought me out, was waiting for this. He seeks a forbidden knowledge, one that could alter the balance between magical energies and throw all worlds into unrecoverable chaos. I, as the last librarian, could not remain indifferent to this.
I decided to seek help from the only group that could understand the magnitude of this threat, the mages of Olaynore, and when I heard about this party, I..."
"Enough." Vorian said, interrupting her. "Do you really think I can't recognize a lie? Your heart is racing and your words are slurred. Think about it, do you really think that a wizard like me wouldn't be able to recognize such an obvious lie?"