The Grand Assembly Hall of Celestial Harmony Academy had never hosted anything like this in its thousand-year history.
Built to accommodate the largest academic gatherings, its soaring crystal dome and floating platforms now served a far more ominous purpose. For the first time in over a century, all nine heads of the Great Families had converged in one place.
The tension in the air was so thick it seemed to press against the protective formations surrounding the hall.
Nine thrones of different materials—each reflecting their family's power and heritage—formed a perfect circle beneath the dome.
At the center, a simple stone table held communication crystals, documents, and the remnants of what had once been the Continental Intelligence Council's credibility.
Academy Head Valdris Celestine stood at the periphery, his ancient eyes taking in the unprecedented gathering.
