Lucien gathered those who would go with him.
Like he had promised before, the ancient beasts would come. Even if battle did not happen immediately, Lucien felt safer with them nearby, and more importantly, their presence alone could change the outcome of negotiations, intimidation, and sudden conflict.
So they were included at once.
Eirene also had to come.
The cure production would continue even without her direct supervision, but only because Lucien had already prepared for that. Inside his divine energy core, he had created the refinement chambers and medicinal workspaces necessary to keep the process moving.
Verdant Veil's people would continue under the structure she had already imposed.
Even so, Eirene herself remained essential.
For alliances.
The Lunareth Sect trusted her.
Dawnbinder would listen to her.
In a campaign where legitimacy mattered as much as force, that alone made her irreplaceable.
The Liberators Astraea had rescued earlier also insisted on joining.
