A Bargaining Chip

The Emperor and the Tower Sage stood and stared opposite each other, distanced by a hundred steps.

The air between them carried enormous tension, barely even making a single sound. The entire hall was drowned in grave silence.

Then the Emperor's voice cut through the silence like a razor snapping a thin thread.

"Guilly, we have come a long way. That future that we dreamt about as kids, the one that drove us to put an end to all the Tower seats — that future is now."

The Tower Sage had his head lowered. After a while, he raised his head and responded to the Emperor with a squared face.

"I've heard you, but leave Lady Henai and her son out of this."

The Emperor shut his eyes for a moment, nodding. "I'm sorry, Guilly, I can't do that."

"Gahalad, she is your sister. Should I even be the one suggesting this? I thought you were happy to see him; I thought you were touched?!"