Alex approached Julius, weaving through the lingering knots of tension that always seemed to follow the Alliance's upper echelon.
The others hadn't emerged from the Trial Gate yet, leaving a rare pocket of silence in the cavernous hall.
Alex took his place beside the President, his gaze fixed on the swirling energy of the portal.
"Got your wish fulfilled?" Julius asked.
There was a genuine warmth in the man's curiosity, though his eyes never stopped scanning the room for potential threats.
"Yes," Alex nodded, a faint, satisfied smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "More than I expected, actually."
Alex leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a low level,
"President, I want to share some secrets with you."
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
Julius didn't hesitate; he didn't even ask for clarification.
With a sharp flick of his wrist, a dense, shimmering energy barrier snapped into existence around them, muffling the world and distorting the light from the outside.
