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Sophie and her friends had gathered in the huge, echoing atrium of Eternalia, waiting for the Council to finish their private meeting. Grady and Edaline stood off to the side, chatting quietly. Keefe, naturally, couldn't stand the silence for long.
"Okay, guys," Keefe declared, leaping onto a bench. "Let’s have a Deepest Voice Contest. Winner gets bragging rights and Fitz’s dessert at dinner."
Fitz rolled his eyes. "You know you can’t beat me, right?" He cleared his throat and tried his best, dropping his voice an octave. "Welcome to Eternalia," he boomed, but the effect was ruined by a crack halfway through. Everyone burst out laughing.
Biana giggled. "You sound like you swallowed a squeaky toy. My turn!" She tried for a deep tone: "I am the mighty… Biana!" It came out almost as high as her normal voice, and she doubled over, laughing at herself.
Dex puffed out his chest. "Let me try!" He gave it a go: "Sophie, the fate of the universe rests on your shoulders!" It was deeper, but Dex’s voice cracked too, sending Keefe into hysterics.
Sophie shook her head, determined to at least beat Biana. She tried: "I am the mysterious Black Swan." It was more of a croak than a rumble, and she turned bright red as Keefe clapped.
"Iconic," Keefe said. "But allow me—" He smirked, took a deep breath, and intoned, "I am Lord Hunkyhair, ruler of all I survey!" His voice was surprisingly deep, but he lost it at the end, dissolving into laughter.
Wylie stood up, grinned, and rolled his shoulders. "Ready to see how it’s done?" He took a breath and rumbled, "You dare challenge the Council?" The floor actually seemed to vibrate. Everyone’s eyes widened.
"Whoa!" Dex said, impressed. "That was… kind of scary."
Before anyone could crown Wylie the winner, the doors to the Council Chamber opened. The Councillors stepped out, elegant and imposing, each distinct in their own way:
Alina: Porcelain skin, fragile features, with dark brown hair and caramel highlights.
Bronte: The only Ancient, with pointed ears, curly brown hair, and sharp features.
Clarette: Bronze skin and shoulder-length black hair.
Darek: Warm brown skin, shiny black hair curled at the ends.
Emery: Dark brown skin, shoulder-length black hair, and sapphire blue eyes.
Liora: Bronze skin.
Noland: Black hair in a ponytail, thick sculpted eyebrows.
Oralie: Long, golden-blonde ringlets, blue eyes, rosy cheeks.
Ramira: Dark skin, short tightly curled black hair.
Terik: Wavy brown hair, cobalt blue eyes, mechanical prosthetic leg and a silver cane.
Velia: Long, straight black hair and blue eyes.
Zarina: Bronze skin and long white-blond hair in a single braid.
Keefe didn’t miss a beat. "Council! You’re just in time for the Deepest Voice Contest!"
The Councillors exchanged amused glances. Emery, always quick to play along, stepped forward. He straightened his robes and spoke in a voice that was smooth and rich, making the air hum: "May the contest commence."
"Wow," Sophie whispered to Biana. "He could totally do voiceovers."
Noland was next, his deep, slightly nasal tone carrying across the atrium: "Is this truly the best challenge you have for us, students?"
The others followed, each with their own flair. Bronte’s voice was raspy but deep, Clarette’s melodic, Oralie’s gentle but steady, while Ramira’s was unexpectedly forceful, and Zarina’s had a musical lilt.
Then Darek stepped forward, a twinkle in his eye. He squared his shoulders and intoned, "You will find, young ones, that experience brings depth in more ways than one." His voice was like rolling thunder, startling everyone.
Dex’s jaw dropped. "Did not see that coming."
But Emery looked confident. "Hard to top that, but—"
But then Terik shuffled forward, cane tapping, lips curled in a sly smile.
He paused, locking eyes with Grady. "I suppose I can give it a try," he said, his voice dropping lower and lower, until it was impossibly deep, smooth as velvet, with a hint of an unplaceable accent. It reverberated around the room: "Sometimes, the deepest truths are the ones we keep closest to our hearts."
He turned to Grady and, in that same dangerous voice, purred, "Wouldn't you agree, Grady?"
The room went silent. Grady gave him a flat, unreadable look and said, "Stop."
Terik immediately looked away, biting his lip and letting out a strange, wheezing sound as if he was trying not to laugh.
For a moment, everyone just stared, the tension thick—then Keefe burst out cackling. "Oh my stars, what was that?"
Biana doubled over. Dex gasped for air.
Even some of the Councillors snorted, unsuccessfully trying to hide their laughter.
Keefe leaned in and whispered to Sophie, "You know, I think there’s a story there."
Sophie went red, not just from laughter. Notification spiked in her mind—could her dad be sleeping with a Councillor? And a male one, too? That was definitely against the rules. She tried not to look at Grady, or at Terik, or at Keefe’s smug, knowing grin.
Meanwhile, Terik was still wheezing, Emery was shaking his head, and Grady just rubbed his temples.
Keefe wiped a tear from his eye. "Well, I think we found our winner. Sorry, Wylie. Terik’s voice could knock someone over."
Wylie just grinned. "Guess I’ll have to train harder."
Sophie, still blushing, joined in the laughter. Somehow, she knew this would be one contest they'd never forget.