A long talk came from Sage. Two hours it lasted.
Her words carried no polished grace of Kieran, nor Dorian's careful logic. Straightforward. Unflinching. Like blade on stone. Each phrase built so Torres might test its weight, turn it in his hands. Truths spoken barefoot on cold ground.
From the start, she explained the Quintessence bond - its nature, its power, the way it held firm when the Severance Ritual tried to pull apart what was linked. After that came details on her four Alphas, each one different, each bringing something only they could offer. Then, without pausing much, she went into how the Council ran - not just who gave orders but how force got applied, where pressure might bend them. Near the end, she mentioned Dorian's findings: quiet truths dug up, spots in their armor spotted over time.
