The session didn’t drag on much longer after the break. Most of the key points had already been established, and what remained was confirmation rather than debate. Still, the atmosphere stayed sharp until the very end, like no one was fully willing to relax until everything was formally acknowledged.
When it finally concluded, the shift was immediate. Conversations broke into smaller groups, the tension easing just enough for people to step out of their roles and into something more informal. It didn’t last long, but it was noticeable.
Lyra stepped away from the main table, exhaling slowly as she let the weight of the discussion settle. She hadn’t realized how focused she had been until that moment, how tightly she had been holding everything in place.
“You pushed harder than I expected
