Inside the Soul Society — the Grand Hall of Convergence.
Hedrick sat at the head of a long, gleaming obsidian table that stretched deep into the chamber, one hand supporting the side of his face while his other drummed faintly against the polished surface. His posture was calm, but the silence surrounding him was heavy, almost oppressive.
Before him sat four other figures — two men and two women — each radiating a distinct aura of power. Yet even with all their might, none dared speak first.
For a long while, the five of them remained motionless, their eyes occasionally meeting in the dim golden light before drifting back down toward their hands, as if the very air between them demanded restraint. The echoes of the Spirit Society's energies shimmered faintly in the background — a silent hum that only emphasized how still the room had become.
At last, one of the women broke the stillness.
