Intention

"Ah, there you are. We were just talking about you," Julian said, a meaningful smile playing on his lips as he spotted Emery walking into the grand hall of Terra City.

The room was filled with familiar faces—Izta's five widows, Chumo, Thrax, and to Emery's delight, Klea had surprised him by bringing Shinta along.

Seeing them all together brought a rare sense of peace. It wasn't often that all five of them could gather like this. A flicker of hesitation crossed Emery's mind as he considered the weight of the unresolved tension between him and Julian. The clash they'd had earlier still lingered in the air, unspoken but palpable. For a brief moment, Emery was unsure whether to address it here, in the presence of his closest companions or to let the lighthearted mood prevail a little longer.

With measured steps, Emery approached Julian and met his gaze. "What were you talking about me?"