Elara had called the private family session in the original Echo sanctum beneath Eden Prime. The message left no room for debate: the next phase of expansion required more than alignment.
It demanded a visible shift in leadership resonance. The sanctum arrays ran at medium intensity, strong enough to amplify connections without overwhelming the participants.
Elizabeth, Sabrina, and Lira arrived on schedule. The air carried the low hum of active systems and the faint scent of cleaned metal and skin.
Elizabeth entered first, expecting to direct the session as she had done many times before. Elara stepped forward and placed a firm hand on her mother's chest, stopping her in place.
"Not tonight," Elara said. Her voice stayed level. "You trained me. Now the empire needs me to lead the binding."
