Umbra stood in the great hall of the kingdom, his eyes scanning across his family. His wife, Akari, was beside him, her presence the calm in the maelstrom that was weighing upon him. Crystal and Ember flanked the sides, her brother forward, all of them excited yet curious. The warmth of the reunion was palpable, the joy of seeing each other again after so much turmoil was undeniable, but Umbra knew that beneath the surface, there was a pressing danger that they could not ignore.
With the eager family gathered around him, anxious to welcome him back, Umbra took a deep breath. The familiar sounds of laughter, cheerful greetings, and the embrace of loved ones were in the air, but down in the pit of his stomach, the threat was looming. The game time was over. It was about time that they, too, understood the gravity of the situation.
"We all have to go through this lesson," Umbra said, his voice level and steadying yet commanding. "But I will be the teacher."
