The silence that followed Strax's decision was uncomfortable.
It was… heavy.
As if each one there was still evaluating, recalculating, accepting—or rejecting—what had been decided.
Strax let his gaze sweep across the table one last time.
Each face.
Each reaction.
Kali, clearly dissatisfied.
Rogue, almost amused.
Scarlet, intrigued.
Ouroboros, satisfied.
Tiamat… motionless.
He took a deep breath.
"We leave in two days."
The sentence landed like a stone.
Simple.
Direct.
But enough to reorganize everything.
Samira was the first to react.
"Two days?" she repeated, frowning slightly. "That's… not enough."
"It's enough," Strax replied, without hesitation.
Yennefer tilted her head slightly.
"Or that's exactly what they want it to look like."
Cristine smiled slightly.
"Strategic pressure."
Beatrice nodded.
"They're controlling the pace."
Strax didn't deny it.
"Yes."
Silence again.
But this time—
More focused.
More… functional.
