A strained hush followed Galen's words, like the moment before a storm either breaks or passes. A few exchanged glances across the three arcs of the circular table, but no one dared speak first—not even the kings.
Berg Thuden muttered something under his breath—something that sounded suspiciously like, "Arrogant little bastard"—but he wasn't bold enough to say it louder.
Queen Lucy, ever the master of timing, let the weight of the silence stretch just a second more. Then she gently clasped her hands together, voice poised and cool.
"Now that all members are present," she said, her eyes brushing across Galen with a flicker of meaning, "this summit of the Allied Kingdoms Task Force shall officially begin."
With a subtle motion of her fingers, the ancient glyph carved into the floor at the center of the chamber shimmered to life. A radiant symbol formed—three interlocked circles spinning into a glowing triangle, each one representing a kingdom: Crescent, Solara, and Tempest.
