The red winds of Cyrsis howled faintly outside the obsidian fortress. Inside, the war chamber was lit by braziers, their flames bending and twisting as though straining against the tension in the air.
Aamir sat at the head of the stone table, Zalmic to his right, Seemus to his left. Kunal and Seenu leaned casually against the wall behind him, though both kept sharp eyes on everything.
It was Seenu who broke the silence first.
"Aamir," he said plainly, his voice carrying a tone of curiosity that cut through the heavy air. "I've been meaning to ask you… how many planets are there? I mean the ones like Earth—where life really matters?"
Aamir's crimson gaze shifted toward him. He rested his chin on his hand, silent for a moment before answering.
