I frowned slightly, realizing I had no idea where Dante had gone after entering. There were no spare seats left, so where did he sit? Or maybe he was just standing in the middle of the hall, completely invisible to all of us, like some smug ghost enjoying the awkward silence.
The Emperor's fingers finally stopped tapping.
"Thank you all for coming," he said, his voice deep and composed, slicing clean through the heavy air. "I know the hour is early, but the situation demands urgency."
Everyone straightened a little. Even those who looked calm a moment ago were now tense and alert. You could hear the subtle rustling of robes and armor as everyone adjusted themselves for what was coming.
"The shadows are moving again," the Emperor continued. "Our intelligence have confirmed that forces from the World of Peanu have been active in our territories. Not openly—but they're here."
