The morning dawned over Elderglow, the citadel basking in the fragile peace sealed the night before. Kael and Liora stood on the balcony, the signed treaty in hand, their fingers still warm from their public vow. Below, the task force mingled with citizens, their cheers fading into murmurs as dissent stirred. Whispers of Solaris and Lunari hardliners rejecting the alliance reached their ears, the crowd's mood shifting like a storm on the horizon.
Kael's jaw tightened as he scanned the gathering. "They're turning already. Our love's a target." His voice carried a mix of frustration and resolve, his golden eyes narrowing.
Liora gripped the treaty, her silver hair catching the early light. "They fear change. We knew this would happen." Her tone was steady, but her gaze darted to a shadowed figure slipping away—someone distributing pamphlets denouncing their union.
The tension broke when a Solaris elder confronted them, his voice sharp. "This treaty dishonors our blood! You've sold us to the Lunari!" The crowd murmured, some nodding, others glaring. Liora stepped forward, her voice cutting through. "We saved you all. This is strength, not surrender."
Kael placed a hand on her arm, his presence a shield. "We'll prove it." But as they spoke, a courier delivered a sealed letter, its wax broken to reveal a chilling message: a Void remnant survived, its power stirring anew. Their victory felt hollow, the dissent echoing the threat they thought they'd ended.
The crowd dispersed, leaving Kael and Liora alone, the letter's weight sinking in. "We can't let this divide us," she whispered, her hand brushing his.
"Not now," Kael agreed, his grip firm. The echoes of dissent loomed, a new battle brewing as they turned to face the uncertain day.