(Next Day, The Elders Council Emergency Meeting, Planet Tithia)
The First Elder was the first to arrive at the meeting venue.
He entered the grand hall in silence, his ceremonial robes trailing behind him, as he ascended the curved stone dais and took his seat at the head of the table, overlooking the rest of the chamber.
He sat without a word, hands folded, his expression neutral as the hall remained still for a moment longer… until the others began to arrive.
One by one, the remaining eleven elders stepped through the arched entryway, each cloaked in ceremonial garb, their faces veiled, their hands gloved, and their body language carefully restrained, as dictated by council protocol.
No identities were revealed.
No names were spoken.
Only the faint sound of footsteps echoed through the circular chamber as each elder entered, paused briefly to acknowledge the First Elder with a slow, deliberate nod… and then moved to assume their designated seat along the perimeter.
