The air in the Royal Council Chamber felt heavy with consequence as I watched Father and Duke Thorne exchange grave looks across the polished table. Three days had passed since the Star-Sailors' disturbing revelation about the Umbral Expanse, and sleep had become a luxury none of us could afford.
"We cannot simply wait for this threat to reach us," Father said, his voice carrying the weight of a world newly aware of its cosmic vulnerability. "If our planet truly serves as a Keystone of Harmony as they claim, we must take an active role in understanding what we face."
Duke Thorne nodded, the silver at his temples catching the morning light. "Agreed. The Star-Sailors have been forthcoming with information, but there's a difference between receiving reports and witnessing realities firsthand."
