Ethan himself went rigid for a beat.
He truly hadn't expected Feylora to hand him command of a whole army—without holding anything back—at a moment like this.
But the daze lasted only a heartbeat.
The next instant, Ethan lifted a hand and motioned for everyone to rise.
"Get up."
His voice wasn't loud, but it fell clearly into every ear.
"Since you've joined my army, you're my family. I won't treat you like servants. In ordinary times, you can do what you want—but when war comes, you fight like your lives depend on it."
As those words landed, the atmosphere in the hall—still carrying a trace of vigilance—loosened visibly.
The Stone Golem and the Ravenkin answered in unison. Then they each took out a strand of rune power from themselves, cradling it in both hands and offering it to Ethan.
Ethan lowered his gaze and understood immediately.
A rune contract.
