Deacon Vane set the dark green jade cylinder onto the velvet quilt beside Kaelen’s knee.
Beside the cylinder, Vane arranged four heavy silk pouches embroidered with the golden crest of the Conclave Banking Guild.
“Four thousand High-Grade Spirit Stones,” Vane whispered, his voice hushed in the quiet room. “The elders of the Fifth and Sixth Towers paid their drafts before sunrise. They were practically crawling on their knees so their slippers wouldn’t scuff the stones.”
Kaelen swept his sleeve across the four pouches.
With a soft rustle, the spirit stone drafts disappeared into his storage ring.
Inside his mind, the Fallow Slate updated its treasury balance with a smooth, golden flicker.
[The Fallow Slate — Stage 4: Quad-Track] [Total High-Grade Spirit Stone Reserve: 24,000 HSS]
Twenty-four thousand high-grade stones.
