It was already 9:27.
Inside King Lucian’s palace, in the grand meeting room, seven elders sat around a long wooden table, their faces lined with age and expectation. The room was quiet, save for the subtle creaking of chairs and the occasional cough. The king sat at the head, calm and composed.
One of the elders, Chigo, finally broke the silence.
“Your Highness,” he said, glancing at the large wall clock. “You told us this meeting was urgent and insisted we be here by nine sharp. It’s already twenty seven minutes past, and we’re still waiting. What exactly are we waiting for?”
Murmurs of agreement rose among the elders.
King Lucian smiled gently. “We’re waiting for Adrian. He’ll be here any moment now.”
Another elder, Maxwell, raised an eyebrow. “Wait… who is Adrian?”
Just then, the
