The air in the Hall of Authority crackled with an unspoken tension, thick enough to be cut with Nicole’s own crimson-hued gem. Her sister, Maya, stood before her, a storm brewing in her eyes.

"Nicole, the Ice Nation are planning an attack, and you know that. Why are you not doing anything?" Maya's voice, usually a soothing melody, was now a sharp, insistent chord.

Nicole, the Red Gem Possessor, merely sighed, a ripple of weariness crossing her elegant features. "Sister, everything is not about war. You know how many times that world has repeatedly waged war and lost? We do not have to worry ourselves about such trivial matters when we have more pressing issues at hand, like the solar eclipse that has refused to happen."

Nikki, the Yellow Gem Possessor, chimed in, a dismissive wave of her hand accompanying her words. "Besides Maya, the Ice Nation is the smallest of the worlds. Small in size, population, weapon, and sorcery. We have greater advantage even if they try to attack us."

Nora, the White Gem Possessor, ever the pragmatist, added, "Why would they even think of attacking us?"

Maya’s eyes narrowed, a glint of something akin to frustration, or perhaps fear, appearing. "Like you said, they are the smallest. They might want to seize the opportunity to capture our sorcerers and sorceresses or slaves to produce more weapons. You know too well, they come back with stronger weapons every time we go to war with them, and a lot of children go missing after war. Those retreating capture them in secret. They have tactics."

A chill ran through the hall, a premonition of the chaos to come, a warning that even the most powerful could be blindsided by the desperate and cunning.