Ariana's final words echoed in the quiet War Room. We have the means to reach the sky.
Hope was a dangerous thing. Jonah felt a small spark of it in his chest. But one quick look at General Ironwood's angry face was enough to crush it. The General did not trust the Silver Phoenix Empire, and he definitely did not trust their unclear, mysterious promises of help.
"What means?" Ironwood asked, and his voice was sharp and suspicious. "Our two nations have been bitter rivals for a hundred years. You expect us to just believe that you have a secret weapon that you're just now willing to share with us?"
The Empress, who had remained silent on her throne, let out a small smile. "It is not a weapon, General. It is a ritual. It is an ancient and powerful art that our people have preserved for a thousand years. We call it the Celestial Catapult."
