CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED AND SEVENTY TWO - A Shifting Balance

"For now, we observe and we prepare," Elara replied. "I'll need to perform a series of diagnostic rituals to better understand the nature of the magic we're dealing with. In the meantime, these wards should provide some stability." As the days passed, the mansion settled into a new routine centered around Elara's presence and Anna's care. The mage was a constant fixture, always nearby, always watching. She would spend hours poring over ancient tomes she had brought with her, muttering incantations and consulting with strange, arcane artifacts. The pack members regarded Elara with a mixture of awe and apprehension. Her power was evident, and many found her presence unsettling. Yet they couldn't deny the calming effect the wards seemed to have on Anna, whose magical outbursts had decreased in frequency and intensity. Anna, for her part, felt conflicted about the changes in her life. On one hand, she was grateful for Elara's help and the relative stability the wards provided. On the ot