Echoes of Eden

Day 4: Council Summons

In the dimly lit chamber of her grand bedroom, Lita stood before a full-length mirror, reflection cast in a soft glow of the rising morning. The air was thick with anticipation, a palpable energy that seemed to crackle around her. Smoothing the folds of her proper clothing, fingers trembling ever so slightly, betraying the calm facade she tried to maintain.

Her summons to the Herald Council weighed heavily on her mind, a mixture of honor and trepidation swirling within her chest. To be the voice for all on the Surface, one part of her felt happy and the other wanted to hide wishing someone else would take her place.

Lita couldn't help but feel a surge of doubt creeping into her thoughts. Did she truly possess the wisdom and courage to stand before the council, to speak on the Surface? The doubts gnawed at her, like insidious whispers, threatening to undermine her confidence.

But then, she caught her gaze in the mirror, the fierce determination burning in her eyes starkly contrasting the uncertainty lurking beneath the surface. It was more than just her doubts and fears; she was selected as the Elemental Holder of Lightning for a reason.

With a steadying breath, Lita squared her shoulders and lifted her chin, summoning the strength of those before her to bolster her resolve. Today, she would step into the hallowed halls of the Herald Council not as a hesitant novice, but as a pillar for the Surface. And whatever challenges lay ahead, she would face them with solidity.

—

Standing at the threshold of the grand hall where the Herald Council convened, the weight of her summons pressing down on her with an almost physical force. The murmurs of the assembled echoed in the vast chamber, a cacophony of voices that seemed to reverberate within her very soul.

The question of whether the Surface still required their aid loomed large over the proceedings, casting a shadow of uncertainty over Lita's heart. As one of the Holders of Eden, it was her sworn duty to uphold the protection of her realm, to ensure that lightning spread amongst the storm clouds.

But as she gazed into the depths of the council chamber, her thoughts drifted back to her friends, to the bonds of friendship and loyalty that had wrapped themselves around her heart like ivy—the longing to return to their side, to stand shoulder to shoulder with them.

Caught between her duty to Eden and her desire to be with those she enjoyed, Lita felt her conflicted emotions intensify. Allowing the Surface to be separated for good would mean no longer revisiting her friends. If she were to run back now she'd be deemed a deserter.

As she stepped into the council chamber, her heart heavy with uncertainty, Lita knew that she faced a choice. Whether she chose to remain in the grace of Eden or follow the path that led back to the shadows that had once taken her, the decision would weigh heavily on her soul for eternity.

The Herald Council chamber was a masterpiece of architecture that Lita sometimes found sketching on her reports, the timeless elegance, and etchings from its past builders. Carved from the heart of the ancient mountain that housed the border of Eden, the chamber exuded an aura of solemnity and reverence that seemed to seep into every stone and crevice.

As Lita stepped through the towering doors, she was greeted by the sight of a vast circular chamber, its walls adorned with intricate murals depicting scenes of myth and legend. Shafts of golden light filtered through stained glass windows, casting a kaleidoscope of colors upon the marble floor with a compass.

At the left of the chamber stood a set chamber of five seats, carved to match each Elemental Holder that had been summoned while her's was vacant. At the center surrounding the throne section were four rounded chairs, each occupied by a Herald of Eden, their robes of silver and gold shimmering in the gentle glow of the chamber's many hanging lanterns.