The Warlord's Council required absolute authority to govern the physical world.
When Orion spoke at the heavy ironwood table, the ambient temperature in the room naturally rose, projecting the undeniable presence of the Vanguard. When Elara issued a command, the shadows deepened around her, silently enforcing the weight of the void.
Zenith, however, possessed an administrative problem.
The seven-year-old Emerald Variable relied entirely on advanced reality patches and glowing green holograms. His power was infinite, but it was entirely digital. When he issued a decree, a text box materialized in the air. It was mathematically efficient, but it lacked tangible, physical weight. Mortals could not touch a line of code. They could not feel the gravity of a hologram.
Zenith realized he fundamentally required a physical asset. He needed a symbol of his office.
