A truth unveliled

Madeline nodded slowly as she absorbed Rosalie’s words, her expression thoughtful. The more she learned, the more it seemed that Ael’s motivations had layers beyond simple malice or deception. This wasn’t a case of black and white; it rarely was, in her experience, and Rosalie’s observations only reinforced that belief.

You’re absolutely right, Rosalie. If Ael knew she was taking a risk by altering the artifact—and she went ahead with it anyway—that suggests a moral conflict she couldn’t ignore. That’s not something a person does lightly, especially if her own safety was at stake. Madeline’s gaze softened a little, her usual pragmatic demeanor yielding to a note of empathy. She respected courage, and this decision by Ael, however subtle, sounded like a small act of defiance against her orders.

@Rosalie Rutherford