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High Magister Dephronyis lay in his sleeping chamber, his breathing coming in short, sharp rasps. His chambers were positioned in such a way as to catch the light pouring in through the Emerald Oriel into the Great Atrium below and from where he lay he watched the morning sunlight catch dust motes that flitted randomly across the beam. Dephronyis could feel his heart faltering, his frame weakening, and he knew that his time had come. Frustrated with so much still to achieve, but no time left to accomplish it all, he accepted his mortality with decorum and stoicism. Calling his faithful Zyg assistant Kostadin to his bedside, Dephronyis spoke softly and urgently, his words fading.
Kostadin, who had served his master for many seasons and had grown to love and respect him, held his emotions back as he quietly left the chamber. Secretly he knew that ruling the Council had been the only thing that Dephronyis had lived for, and he had feared for his master's well-being when the Council voted to step down and allow the Rangers to take control, and this last order Dephronyis had given Kostadin proved his worst fears had come true.
Dephronyis gazed at the mellow sunlight illuminating his chambers, and recalled the day High Magister Fyrae had summoned him to tell him he was to take over the Council, and how terrified he had been of the responsibility and power suddenly bestowed upon him. Had it been a blessing or a curse? He still wasn't sure, and he still didn't feel entirely adept, even after all these seasons, but he had carried out his duties as expected of him, and had learned to appreciate, even love, the role he had taken on. And now the end had come and he knew he must choose a successor himself.
This decision had played on his mind for many weeks, especially in recent days as he felt his health start to spiral down, and it had soon become apparent to him that there was only one choice for his replacement. The Council as a whole had become childish in their demands in recent times, and he had noticed a propensity for selfish acts that were not always for the betterment of Jracon society. One council member had risen above this pettiness in his eyes and had continued to speak for the Jraconi, and it was he whom Dephronyis had commanded Kostadin to summon to his bedside.