The tension in the council hall crackled like electricity in the air as warriors hurried to arm themselves. Amara could feel her heart pounding, the sound echoing in her ears like the distant horns that had roused them from their relative peace. Every face around her wore a mask of determination, but underneath, she sensed the flickers of fear—an emotion they could not afford to dwell on.
"Gather the scouts," Seraphina commanded, her voice rising above the commotion. "We need to assess the threat and determine the source of the alarms. We can't let them catch us off guard."
Kirin moved beside Amara, his expression a mix of concern and readiness. "What do you think it is?" he asked, tightening the straps on his armor.
"Whatever it is, it's urgent," Amara replied, scanning the hall. "We should prepare for the worst. The factions may have made their move earlier than anticipated."
