THE FORBIDDEN LAW

hrough them. Elara could feel the tension in the air, th

ove her head. "Stand with me for our rights, for our f

e cowed! We will not be cowed!" The sound echoed through the square, a powerful d

ainty in their eyes, and she seized the moment. "You are not our enemies! You are our neighbors, our

cheek, looked back at his men, his expression conflicted. "You're

epping forward to stand beside Elara. "You know this is wrong. You kn

ssed against the guards, a sea of faces filled with determination. The t

e the din. "Together, we can reclaim our city! To

ision unfolding. One by one, the guards began to lower their weapon

is voice breaking. "We're not here to f

voice steady. "You have the power to c

ping in defeat. "I... I can't fight my own people," he muttered, and one by o

corners of her eyes as she looked out at the faces of those who had come together in that moment o

lara shouted, her voice ringing with conviction. "We will continue t

nd, and the Council would have to reckon with the strength of their unity. But she also knew

ings, strategizing their next moves and gathering intelligence on the Council's plans. Mira's network of infor

Luminary hideouts and spreading propaganda to discredit Elara and her allies. Fear began to

nd allies. "We need to show the people that we are still strong," she said, her voice steady. "We need

eed to be careful. The Council will be watchin

staged a peaceful march through the city? We can invite everyone to j

march would be a powerful statement. We'll gather at the square a

in this fight; they had each other, and they had the people of the city behind them. The march would

to distribute flyers and spread the message through whispers in the marketplace. They painted banners and prepared signs tha

at the front of the square, her heart racing as she looked out at the sea of faces that had gathered. P

e square. "Today, we show the Council that we will not be silenced! We wil

led them forward, the thrumming pulse of unity propelling them through the streets. They marched past the gra

energy and passion of the march. Families, workers, and even some former guards stepped forward, their

led over her. She could see guards lining the streets, their expressions

to Elara's side. "We're here for eac

"We will not back down. We are her

Elara raised her voice once more. "We demand to be

energy reached its peak, a loud crack echoed through the air. Elara's heart droppe

rd shouted, his voice booming over t

ped forward, raising her hands in a gesture of peace. "We are not here to

You have been warned. Disperse

pression fierce. "We will not bac

k into the hearts of some in the crowd. But she refused to let it take hold. "We are stronge

cing. "If you want to silence us, you will have to do it by force. But know this:

mination in their eyes, and she felt a renewed sense of hope. They were not just fighting

together and face the Council's wrath, or they would let fear tear them apart. And in that moment