Draft:The Last Council

After the cliffhanger on The Cloud Searchers, Emily and her allies finally enter Cielis. Her amulet's voice informs her that the city was built by early storekeepers to silence other stones’ voices.

After waking up, Emily meets Max Griffin, her guide. She states that she has a headache and he says seeing Cielis might help it go away.

Meanwhile, Navin is sent to a dropship, confused why Trellis and Luger were taken prisoner. Karen assures him that they have their reasons, stating that they know more. Enzo adds up to the conversation, saying she’s right and he doesn’t know squat, meaning he must accept what the authorities do. He then argues that the elves are his friends. Navin is told that he should never trust one, especially if it is the son of the Elf King, also known as the King of Gulfen.

Max then tells her a story: the reason why he is treated like a leader is because his father was once the Captain of the Cielis Guard, and he took his place when he died. His real ambition is to join the Guardian Council, the powerful figures in ruling the city. The spot is only temporary, until they decide on a replacement. He admits police work never suited him.

In order to enter the council, a stonekeeper, like Emily, must go through a series of tests. To pass, they must survive. Then, in an instant, a sound comes. Navin tells Karen if she is fine, but she tells him to tell when they get there.

At the landing, Leon, Rico and Enzo halt, with a person unauthorising them to go beyond the point. Due to a lack of paperwork, they are relieved of their duties, being told to enjoy their time. Yet, they grow suspicious from this behaviour.

As captives, Trellis and Luger question the people, but are told to be silent, as asking the ‘wrong questions’ would get them into more trouble. They are then welcomed into Yarboro Prison, with their captors saying a little bird told them they were the son of the devil themselves. Resentment towards the elf race is uncommon, with them saying families were killed by them. They have not forgotten this, giving harsh conditions. At Block Four, an area reserved for foreigners, the Guardian Council would trial them for two war crimes. Until they are summoned, they would stay. Trellis says that Cielis would fall, before the enemy would arrive.

At the Council's chamber, Emily asks how she could get inside, having an urge to speak with them. Max then replies to her that it is not possible, they cannot enter and bother them unannounced. Karen then thinks this is a mistake, questioning why it was luxurious. But Emily was held in high esteem in the city. Navin then has a conversation with her, stating he did not like the place. Tomorrow was her first day at the academy. They then rested, waiting for the day to come.

Meanwhile, Enzo told Rico and Leon that it was desolate, like a ghost town. They then entered a restaurant, expecting something to eat. But the owner said they were closed, implying they did not welcome foreigners. A sense of rage entered him, pulling his shirt. Eventually, they meet Aly, her asking if they needed a place to eat. Her mother greeted them, in a nervous tone. But then her father told them they had to leave, for their safety. A secret is found: the Guardian Council is no longer what it was once. Then, a knock is on the door. It was them, arresting them for conspiring against the council. Enzo, Rico and Leon escaped.

Meanwhile, Cogsley and Miskit find an enclave. In a nest, a wyvern hatchs up. It's mistaken them as parents. But then, they spot an airship. They then try to become silent, freeing the young wyvern. They both fall into it, with the man spotting Cogsley was an older model. He then says they look harmless, going to his house. A robot, called Cecil welcomes them abroad. Miskit is shocked from him knowing Silas Charon, his former master. Vigo, the person who bridged them, tells why their master was exiled. It was because he wanted to destroy the mother stone, also criticising the council for their irrational actions. He eventually resigned following Silas’s.

Emily then wakes up, in somewhere else. A person summons her to the council. She meets other students, enraged they did not get the treatment they expected. Four silhouettes appear, with them saying good luck to them.

Max and Emily walked together, seeing falling shards. A peculiar occurrence happens: a bleed. In the void, a person is not supposed to have any of that. They then encounter a fight, between Pierce and another person. She intervenes and prevents any harm to him. But then, a swarm of grouls appear, mercilessly consuming the weak. They run and then find a drainpipe, enough to flee. A test, only for the strongest to be in.

Meanwhile, at Yarboro Prison, Trellis and Luger decide to free themselves by an amulet. Aly then finds her parents, but she has no option but to leave. A group of guards meet them, prepared to attack them. Leon then attempts to fight with a sword but his attempts are futile. With the help of Trellis, he successfully kicks him, killing him and turning into stone. Yet, there were much more to fight. Outnumbered, they were hopeless, but then Miskit and Cogsley appeared, on an airship. The tide swiftly turned into their favour.

At the academy, a challenge arises: an old Cielian children’s game. To jump on the wrong tile would mean a fatal mistake. Max, Ronin, Pierce and Emily had cautiously jumped. They finally entered a hallway, but when they walked more and more, only two remained. In fact, Griffin had betrayed her. He had taken hold of the precious mother stone.

In the catacombs, Karen, Emily and Navin had to fight grouls, eventually going to the Garden of Keepers. They reunited with the other members: Trellis, Vigo, Cogsley, Dagno, Miskit, Leon, Rico, Enzo and Aly.

At night, a tribute for fallen stonekeepers happened. There were very few of them left. The city was secretly dark.

The title of the fourth volume, The Last Council, referred to the Guardian Council about how it was its last.