Echoes of Resolve

Cliff stood silent, his mind clouded by the revelations from Rakahn and Akumu. The weight of the past hours, the accumulated fatigue and frustration seemed to condense into a single point in his chest. Each breath was heavier than the last, yet he couldn't stop now.

A slight, almost imperceptible noise made him turn around. The soldier was back, the same one who had woken him earlier. Her face was tense, marked by worry. Her eyes, though betraying some nervousness, also showed a silent determination.

"My Lord," she began, her voice a bit lower, as if she feared breaking the fragile balance in the room, "Officer Dahlia requests your presence. She... she seems very agitated."