The summons arrived in silence. No messengers on horseback, no military escorts, no blaring announcements on city screens. Just a sealed black envelope delivered to Marvin Richmond’s residence, marked with the crest of eleven interwoven sigils—the seal of the Council of Elders.It was said that only once in a lifetime could a man be summoned before them, and even then, few survived the weight of it unchanged. To sit in their presence was the highest honor and the heaviest curse.Marvin stood on the Richmond mansion balcony as the envelope burned faintly in his hand. He had ensured the rebuilding of Richmond from ashes, fought through betrayal, declared reforms, and carved a thirty–year covenant around the Astralyte. Yet now, this—this felt heavier than every battlefield combined.The note had contained only six words.“The Hall of Continuum awaits you.”The motorcade was small and discreet, nothing like the grand parades that once carried his father. Marvin had refused more than two

The engines growled like watchful beasts.Their low hum filled the Richmond courtyard, vibrating against the old stone walls that had carried the weight of Marvin's family’s history. Headlights cut through the night, beams of light carving into shadows that clung stubbornly to the mansion. The convoy was waiting—sleek, black vehicles lined with the precision of a military parade.Marvin Richmond stood still for a moment, drinking in the sight. Behind him, the mansion towered, silent and solemn, its windows dark, its walls watching. It felt less like a house and more like a tomb of memories—his battles, his scars, his victories all sealed inside.Carl Bowen stepped from the lead car, his silhouette was sharp under the lights. His voice cut across the night.“Are you ready?”Marvin exhaled once, steadying himself. He placed a firm hand on Alicia’s shoulder before moving forward. Without another glance behind him, he opened the door to the lead vehicle and slid inside.Behind him, Stel