Leon crossed the final stretch of the hall, his steps steady as every divine-stage presence watched him in silence.
The pressure in the air was heavy, layered with restrained power, yet none of it slowed him.
Behind him, Selena, Darian, and Luke took their seats among the SS ranks, blending into a sea of disciplined stillness. Ignatius and Akira moved to the twelve seats beneath the elevated throne, their expressions tight, alert.
Leon alone stopped at the very front, directly before the highest seat.
His gaze lifted.
The leader sat there.
She was an elf, but nothing about her fit the fragile image the race was known for. Her head was completely shaven, pale skin marked by a long scar running down the right side of her face, hidden partially beneath a dark eyepatch.
Her posture was relaxed, almost casual, yet it carried a weight that demanded attention. She looked like someone who had survived too much to bother pretending otherwise.
Leon studied her carefully.
