A sudden hush fell—more complete than any before. Even the ambient whirr of camera drones seemed muted, as if the very air strained to catch his next words.
"This mist is the first sign of an ancient evil—one who wishes to destroy this world and devour all life upon it. An entity whose power eclipses everything you think you know, whose hunger is so vast that your very souls would be nothing more than kindling for its feast."
A few people gasped, others looked at each other with wide eyes. Someone in the back actually sank into their seat.
"And yet," Alister continued, his expression tightening into something resolute, almost grim, "I do not tell you this to spread despair. I reveal it so you might understand the scale of the threat we face—and why I must do what I am about to do."
He stepped forward then, standing so close to the edge of the dais that it seemed he might stride right down into the crowd.
