A Call to Arms.

The great summit room of Valoria stood as a testament to Archen Land's strength and unity. Its vaulted ceilings were adorned with intricate carvings of the five clans that had once united Narn. Massive stone pillars lined the room, their surfaces etched with swirling patterns of mana, glowing faintly with the power imbued in them. Around a large circular table sat the Narn Lords, the hazy sunlight filtering in through tall windows that overlooked the thriving lands of Archen Land.

Lord Thrax leaned back in his chair, his aged face lined with equal parts wisdom and exhaustion. He adjusted his robes, his crooked staff leaning against the side of the table. "It hasn't even been a year since the last summit," he muttered, shaking his head. "I'm getting too old for this."

Across from him, Lord Jeth sat with his legs stretched out, his large frame relaxed but his eyes sharp and calculating. He flicked the stalk of wheat in his mouth to the other side, narrowing his gaze at Kon. "Alright then, Kaplan. Everything good with you? Or is there somethin' else going on?" His drawl carried a tinge of suspicion.

Kon stood tall, his tiger-striped cape draped over his shoulders, his swords resting at his sides. His stern expression didn't falter as he addressed Jeth's question. "I wouldn't have called this summit if it wasn't necessary."

Before Jeth could reply, the doors to the room opened, and a commanding presence swept in.

King Darius entered the room, his milky brown fur catching the sunlight as he strode forward with an air of effortless authority. The golden glow of his nose ring reflected faintly off the ornate hammer-axe, Baltaçek, slung across his back. His broad back, tattooed with the Boga Clan's symbol, rose and fell as he greeted the room.

"Apologies for the delay," Darius said, his deep voice warm yet commanding. "I had to leave Velmar in quite a hurry when I received the summons." He moved to his seat at the head of the table and turned to address the group. "Let's begin."

---

Kon wasted no time laying out his proposal.

"For years, we've worked to weaken Razik's hold over Narn," he began. "We've fed his paranoia, drawn his forces to the borders, and made him believe an invasion from Archen Land was imminent. That paranoia has made him reckless. He's gathered the bulk of his forces near the border to stop us. Now is the time to strike."

The room was silent as the Lords absorbed his words.

Kon continued, "If we take out his forces now, we will cripple his hold on Narn. The remaining lands will fall to us without resistance. Only the capital will remain."

Lord Thrax tapped his staff on the ground thoughtfully. "It sounds bold, but it's risky," he said. "Razik may have reinforcements we don't know about. The Children of Shadow… and perhaps other Hazëls. Are we prepared for that possibility?"

Kon inclined his head. "That's why I propose we move carefully. Lord Kushan will be our eyes in the sky. With his Arcem, he can survey the battlefield and scout for reinforcements. If reinforcements arrive, Adam can teleport a secondary force to intercept them. If those reinforcements include the Children of Shadow, Adam will bring prominent Lords to keep them at bay."

Lord Jeth nodded slowly, his wheat stalk twitching. "And who's stayin' back here at the capital?"

"We'll leave two Lords behind," Kon replied. "One of them will be Darius, as the King of Archen Land. The other…"

Trevor raised his hand with a grin. "I'll stay," he volunteered.

Darius nodded in approval. "Good. The capital must remain protected. This plan ensures we have contingencies in place, but the bulk of our strength will focus on taking down Razik's main forces."

The Lords murmured their agreement, but Jeth leaned forward, narrowing his eyes at Kon. "Sounds solid, but I can't shake the feelin' that this could've waited till the next official meetin'. Callin' us here like this… somethin' ain't addin' up. Why now, Kaplan?"

The room grew quiet, the other Lords turning their attention to Kon. Adam, seated beside Trevor, had been silently observing Kon throughout the discussion. Now, his gaze sharpened, waiting for an answer.

Kon's jaw tightened. He glanced at Trevor, who gave him a subtle nod of encouragement. With a reluctant sigh, Kon turned to the guards at the door and gave a simple command. "Bring her in."

The heavy doors opened again, and the sound of soft footsteps filled the room. The Lords watched in stunned silence as a female Tiger Tracient was led into the chamber. She walked hesitantly, her dirt-streaked fur and trembling frame betraying her fear. Her wide, uncertain eyes darted around the room before landing on Kon, who stepped forward to meet her.

"Tigrera," Kon said gently, taking her hand in his.

The room erupted into murmurs of disbelief.

"Impossible…" Lord Thrax muttered, his voice trembling. "Another Tiger Tracient?"

Lord Jeth narrowed his eyes at her. "Who are you?"

Tigrera swallowed hard, her hand tightening around Kon's for support. She took a deep breath, steadied herself, and answered, "My name is Tigrera. That's… that's all I know."

Kon stepped forward, standing protectively beside her. "She's the reason I'm calling for this action. If there's one Tiger Tracient still alive, there may be others. And not just Tigers—there could be other captives waiting to be freed."

His words hung heavy in the air, the weight of his conviction impossible to ignore.

For a long moment, no one spoke. Then, Darius rose to his feet.

"We proceed as planned," he said firmly. "It's time to take back Narn. Prepare your forces. We march to war."

The room erupted with renewed determination as the Lords rose, echoing their battle cry:

"For Asalan! For Narn!"

Amidst the commotion, Adam remained seated, his sharp blue eyes fixed on Kon and Tigrera. Something about the situation left him unsettled. He couldn't quite place it, but the sight of Kon holding Tigrera close stirred an unease deep within him.

As the cheers subsided, Adam's gaze lingered on the two Tigers. Whatever lay ahead, he couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning of something far more complicated.