A light snowfall blanketed Bloodstone Manor during the night, covering the rooftops and gardens in a quiet layer of pristine white. The estate stirred awake beneath the pale winter sky as servants swept snow from the stone pathways. Along the outer walls, guards changed shifts with crisp, disciplined movements that broke the morning silence.
Inside the council chamber, however, the atmosphere was far less peaceful. Several elders sat around the circular oak table, their voices low as they discussed the events of the previous few days. A palpable tension hung over the room, contrasting sharply with the serene winter landscape outside.
"The villagers have begun visiting the manor almost every morning," one councilor remarked, adjusting his heavy robes.
"They no longer request audiences with the Alpha," a second elder added, leaning forward. "They seek the Luna instead."
