Choose your duel
Standing in the grand chamber of the Council of Ten, I couldn't help but feel a sense of overwhelming pressure. The room was enormous, its high vaulted ceilings adorned with intricate carvings that depicted scenes of ancient battles, legendary spells, and the founding of the university.
The walls were lined with tall windows, their stained glass casting colorful, distorted light that danced across the floor. It was a place steeped in history and power, and today, I was at the center of it.
The ten members of the council sat in a semicircle before me, each one perched on a throne-like chair that seemed to amplify their presence. They were the most powerful mages at the university, each one a master of their craft, and their gazes were fixed on me with a mix of curiosity, expectation, and judgment.
My heart pounded in my chest as I stood before them, trying to keep my expression neutral, though I could feel the tension knotting in my stomach.