The unification had not yet been officially finalized. No seals had been pressed, no grand declaration announced to the world. And yet, despite all that, it was already in motion—slow, deliberate, and inevitable. Like a massive river gathering strength upstream, it was only a matter of time before it surged forward. When it finally did, the result would be nothing short of historic: a nation so vast and influential that it would stand among the largest countries the world had ever known.
"Now then," Solaris began, her voice calm yet carrying an unmistakable weight, "I suppose this is the first time in history—since the Great Forest rose to become one of the world's most important pillars—that we leaders have gathered like this."
