Moments later, the great doors creaked open and a tall elf entered the hall. His striking blue eyes swept across the room like cold fire and settled directly on Alex. His long silver hair was braided down his back, and his body bore strange scars—faded, yet impossible to ignore. He looked to be in his forties or fifties by human standards, tall and slender, and supported himself with a twisted wooden staff. It wasn't flashy, but natural—shaped like a living branch, rough and spiraled, exuding a soft green glow like moss kissed by moonlight.
He walked with quiet authority, his steps echoing across the wooden floor until he reached the center of the hall and stood beside Alex.
"Honored council," he said, voice deep and resonant, carrying the weight of age and wisdom, "I will not waste your time. I am taking this human under my protection and assume full responsibility for his actions."
"You can't do that—" a voice protested sharply from the side.
