The announcement in the sky hung there for a full minute, a silent, burning declaration of war, before fading away, leaving a stunned and terrified world in its wake. The fragile peace that had settled over Portentia shattered like glass.
Nox and Serian rushed back to the throne room, where the rest of their council was already gathering, their faces a mixture of shock and grim resolve.
"The God-War," Vexia said, her voice a low, tight whisper. She brought up a massive, holographic map of the world in the center of the room. "The Scripture is no longer hiding its intent. This is not a trial. This is an invasion."
The map was covered in new, ominous symbols. In the far east, over the lands where ancient empires once stood, a massive, golden sun icon pulsed. To the west, across the ocean, a symbol of a snarling wolf and a raven flickered. And in the heavens directly above them, a new, terrifying icon had appeared: a single, all-seeing eye, wreathed in lightning.
