Ross didn't blame them—power always came with a price, and none of them knew what that price would be.
"I won't force anyone," he said after a long pause, his tone softening.
"This is your choice. Whether you take one or not, you're still my family. You'll still have a place here, in this bunker, under my protection."
He looked around the hall, meeting every gaze—one by one.
"But remember this: the world outside isn't waiting for us to decide. It's changing every day. If we don't grow stronger, we'll be swept aside. These stones… they're our chance to change that."
Silence followed once more, but it wasn't the same kind as before.
Now, it was filled with tension, with the quiet thrum of courage being born in hesitant hearts.
Ross watched them closely.
He knew this moment would decide everything—who was brave enough to step forward, and who would choose the safety of the familiar.
