The Council chamber was filled with tension.
Ethan sat at the head of the table, his eyes scanning the faces of the representatives gathered before him. They had come from across the world—from Portside, from the eastern settlements, from the northern mountains, from the hidden cities that had emerged from the shadows. They were leaders, warriors, scholars, and dreamers. And they were looking to him for guidance.
"The Network of Light has grown beyond anything we imagined," Mara said, her voice steady. "We now have over a hundred settlements connected, sharing resources, knowledge, and support. But with growth comes challenges. We need to establish a formal structure of governance. We need to decide who leads, how decisions are made, and how we resolve conflicts."
A murmur ran through t
