Director Adrian Cross closed the tablet in his hand. "That will be all for today."
The doors of the KAMB briefing chamber slid open. For a moment the room remained still, then chairs shifted, and the five guilds began to rise. The atmosphere changed immediately once they stepped into the corridor outside. Inside the chamber, everything had been formal—numbers, policies, projections. Outside, it felt like people again.
Mira stretched her arms high above her head. "Oh thank god."
Garrick glanced down at her. "You survived."
"Barely," she said dramatically. "If that meeting lasted another ten minutes I was going to summon something just to liven things up."
"Please don't summon things inside government buildings," Garrick muttered.
"No promises."
Kaida was already scrolling through notes on her tablet. "That briefing was useful."
Lucien looked at her. "You're the only person here who would call a government policy meeting useful."
Seris smiled faintly. "It confirmed several things we suspected."
Orion added quietly, "And gave us access to national raid data."
Lucien rubbed his face. "I regret asking."
Ahead of them, the corridor opened into the main KAMB lobby. Tall glass walls let sunlight spill across the polished floor. Tempest Choir was already near the exit. Elara Voss noticed Aurora first and raised a hand casually. "Leaving already?"
Mira brightened instantly. "You guys were amazing."
Elara laughed softly. "Well, your Breach gate looked clean."
"Good planning," Lucien replied.
One of the Tempest members smiled at Mira. "Your summon wolves were incredible."
Mira lit up immediately. "Finally someone appreciates my work."
Garrick muttered, "They destroyed half a building."
"Details."
Iron Bastion exited the chamber next. Ronan Calder passed Aurora and gave Lucien a brief nod. "Good work."
Lucien returned the nod. "You too."
Across the lobby, Crimson Banner emerged last. Darius Kade slowed slightly when he saw Aurora, his eyes moving across the group. Eight members. He gave a faint smirk. "Enjoy the spotlight while it lasts."
Lucien shrugged easily. "I plan to."
Darius snorted quietly and continued walking. Hostile—and very competitive.
Then the final guild exited the chamber: Regulated Order. Elias Verdan walked calmly at the front, the others following behind. They slowed when they reached Aurora.
Lucien crossed his arms casually. "Long meeting."
"Yes," Elias replied. His silver gaze moved across the group, then settled briefly on Nox. "There is something I wanted to say."
Lucien's posture shifted slightly.
Elias continued. "Your advice before the B-Rank raid." A brief pause. "It was useful."
Helena nodded once. "The insulated equipment prevented several problems inside the gate."
Mira blinked. "Oh." She looked at Nox. "You gave them raid advice?"
"He called Elias before they went in," Lucien answered calmly. His tone wasn't annoyed, but his attention had sharpened.
Elias inclined his head. "It improved our chances considerably."
Nox replied simply, "You cleared the gate."
"Yes." Elias' gaze moved across Aurora. "But we also remember the S-Rank gate."
The lobby fell quiet for a moment. Caelum gave a short nod. "We saw what your guild handled in there."
Viktor folded his arms. "That fight would have broken most teams."
Lucien shrugged lightly. "We did what we had to."
Elias met his gaze. "And that is why Regulated Order respects Aurora Covenant."
Lucien held his gaze for a moment, then nodded once. "Likewise."
There was no hostility between them—only recognition. Two strong groups operating in the same storm. After a moment, Elias turned toward the exit. Helena glanced back once. "You draw attention."
Mira frowned. "That sounds ominous."
Helena smiled faintly. "Sometimes."
Regulated Order stepped outside. Elias gave Nox one final look. "So you will also give out raid advice to other guilds now?"
Nox replied calmly, "If needed."
Lucien watched him another moment, then sighed. "...Next time tell me first."
Mira leaned toward Seris and whispered loudly, "Oh this is definitely jealousy."
Seris pinched the bridge of her nose. "Please stop talking."
The lobby grew quiet. Near the glass railing overlooking the lower level, Cassian Verity stood beside Director Cross, watching. Cross followed his gaze toward Aurora.
"The strongest guild in the country," Cross said quietly.
Cassian didn't respond immediately. His eyes rested briefly on Nox. Lucien had shifted slightly closer to him again without realizing it. "...Perhaps."
__
Outside the building, Aurora stepped into the afternoon sunlight. Mira exhaled dramatically. "Freedom."
Lucien stretched his shoulders. "Next time we bring snacks to a government meeting."
Seris nodded thoughtfully. "That might improve Mira's behavior."
"Hey."
They started walking down the plaza steps together. For now—no alarms, no gates. Just sunlight and conversation. But inside the KAMB headquarters, everyone who had been in that meeting understood something.
The world was organizing itself. Five guilds. One country. And gates that would not stop appearing.