The meeting had dragged on for another exhausting day.
From sunrise until the last rays of evening filtered through the towering stained-glass windows of the Grand Assembly Hall, the three great powers of humanity had once again debated the same issues that had haunted them for over a month.
The Church.
The Authority.
The War Council.
Along with the invited guild masters, retired veterans, nobles, scholars, and observers, they had argued until even the scribes recording every word struggled to keep pace.
Yet despite everything...
Nothing had changed.
The peace treaty remained unsigned.
The future of humanity remained uncertain.
And the assembly hall had once again reached the same conclusion it had reached countless times before.
No decision.
Commander Rurik slowly stood from his seat.
His weathered face revealed exhaustion that even a veteran soldier could no longer hide.
"I believe today's discussion has reached its conclusion."
