The corridors of the Sunspire Palace hummed with unease. Bao Bao walked with steady steps, but every corner of his mind was alert, every flicker of shadow or light a potential sign of the storm approaching. The air smelled faintly of ash and ozone, remnants of the Umbra Conclave's attack, and each breath reminded him of how fragile the peace had become.
Rana and Kuro flanked him, moving with a quiet precision honed from years of service. Raijin kept a few paces behind, his eyes scanning every vantage point as though he could sense danger before it arrived. The four of them gathered in the council room, a space that had once been a place of debate and strategy, now thick with tension.
Bao Bao spread a map across the table, tracing routes with a finger that glowed faintly from the Sunfire beneath his skin. "Pyronis is stirring," he said, his voice low. "Scouts report increased activity along their western borders. The Five Flames are convening."
Rana's brow furrowed. "They're waiting for an excuse. That attack—our encounter with the Conclave—could be exactly what they need to declare war."
Kuro slammed a fist against the table, leaving a small scorch mark. "So they're watching us, measuring us, waiting for any sign of weakness. We can't let them misinterpret the aftermath of that attack."
Raijin's voice was calm, but every word carried weight. "The Conclave's assault was more than an attack. It was a signal. Pyronis will use it as justification. They'll claim Firelonia's power is growing too fast, too unpredictable. To them, it's an existential threat, and the world will believe it."
Bao Bao's jaw tightened. "Then we act before they strike. The Golden, Silver, and Bronze armies are ready, but the Council is still debating who controls what. We can't waste time with politics while Pyronis prepares."
Rana exhaled sharply. "They'll see our unity as a provocation. The Conclave's attack has already given them fuel. Every move we make now is scrutinized, every Sunfire flare noticed."
Kuro leaned over the map. "We need to anticipate their moves. Position the Sunshadow Guard along the Ash Plains. Strengthen the southern walls. And keep our spies close to the western passes. Pyronis will look for the slightest opening."
Bao Bao nodded, letting the weight of command settle on his shoulders. "Prepare the armies, but do not alarm the Council yet. They must not see our hand fully. Pyronis thrives on fear and hesitation. We give them neither."
Raijin's eyes met Bao Bao's. "And what of the Conclave? We've seen them once. Will they strike again?"
Bao Bao's fingers clenched. "They may. But we've learned from the last encounter. We will be ready."
A moment of silence hung over the room. Outside, the wind carried the distant echo of the Ash Plains, as if the land itself was whispering warnings of fire and shadow. Bao Bao looked at his closest allies—Rana, Kuro, Raijin—and knew the next days would test them in ways none had ever faced before.
"And," Bao Bao said finally, his voice low but certain, "we will show Pyronis that Firelonia does not tremble at threats. We rise. Not just to defend our kingdom, but to protect the light itself."
The others nodded in unison. Outside the walls, the world shifted, and somewhere to the west, the fires of Pyronis stirred in response.
The first real days of war had not yet arrived—but the shadow of it had already reached their doorstep.