The warm light from the oil lamps illuminated the faces of the newly elected senators, casting long, flickering shadows on the walls of Amendolara's Senate Hall. The air was thick with the weight of the decisions being made, decisions that would shape the city-state's future for generations.
Cornelius sat rigidly in his seat, his mind racing. Though the meeting had so far been filled with optimism and ambition, Juleios' sweeping changes left him uneasy. He knew he was witnessing the birth of a new Amendolara, one radically different from the conservative city-state he had once served.
"But… but… war means casualties…" Cornelius stammered, his voice trembling as he looked at the determined faces around him. "Amendolara has already lost too many people! How can we rush into more battles after suffering such devastation?"
