For a moment, the room went quiet.
Alf, Erinnette, and Hesbeirn all turned to look at Garius, who silently read another page before setting it down.
Then Alf cleared his throat. "My lord…"
"Hm?"
Alf hesitated for a moment, then asked, "…Are you planning to join the battle too?"
Garius didn't look up. His hand moved to his chin, thumb resting along his jaw.
"…I don't know, Alf."
He finally looked up, his eyes sharp.
"But if Edmund breaks through our first defensive line…"
His gaze drifted to each of them, one by one.
"Then the only ones capable of stopping him are me, Francesca… and the three of you."
"But my lord…" Alf spoke again, voice low. "We sealed the Celestials before, because you led the full party."
Garius nodded, eyes still locked on the document in his hand. "Yes…"
He set the paper down.
"…But back then, each Celestial was separate. Isolated. We could focus, divide, and counter."
His eyes narrowed.
"Now Edmund… is a different beast altogether."
