Arthur paused for a moment, standing behind his desk with his fingers gliding across the smooth obsidian glass. He needed to ground himself in the significance of the instant.
The study,his refuge, his central hub, his strategic base,felt altered now. It seemed larger, emptier, almost delicate.
Evolon remained perfectly still, its blue form frozen in place.
Beyond the tall windows, the Dominion Sanctum was stirring to life. The distant buzz of transport lanes hummed quietly, accompanied by the soft glow of morning lights flickering on across the extensive estate. The harmonious blend of nature, machinery, and infrastructure typically brought him comfort.
But today, that harmony barely reached him.
Today, something shifted beneath his calm facade.
He stepped forward.The sound of his footfall echoed in the stillness of the room, more pronounced than usual.
