Cassius's voice was ice. "So we dissolve it to make the world more comfortable?"
"No," Athena said sharply. "We protect it. We strengthen it. And we find who would rather see the realms divided than united under something new."
Silence fell.
Then Lysara added, "There's another angle." She opened a scroll. "This symbol appeared on Kaelen's blade. It wasn't his crest."
She unfurled it on the table.
Athena's breath caught.
Lucas went still. Cassius narrowed his eyes.
Etched into the blade was a serpent coiled around a dying star.
Ancient. Banned. Erased.
"The Cult of the First Fang," Cassius whispered. "They were wiped out a thousand years ago."
"Or so we thought," Lysara said. "But if they're resurfacing—and backing Kaelen—this challenge wasn't about you. It was a test."
Athena finally sat, her voice low but unshaking. "Then we passed."
Lucas added, "But they'll send another."
