Morning did not arrive naturally.The lights brightened in slow stages, imitating dawn without warmth. Elara woke before they reached full strength, eyes already open, mind already moving. Sleep had come to her in thin layers—rest without escape. She felt rested, but not soft.Grounded.Damien stirred when she shifted beside the bed. “You’re up early.”“I didn’t really sleep,” she said gently.He studied her face, searching for strain, panic, fracture. Finding none unsettled him more than if he had. “Is that bad?”Elara shook her head. “No. It’s… different.”Phoenix was already awake, seated by the window again, knees drawn up, chin resting loosely on them. “The system below adjusted overnight,” she said. “It’s quieter.”Damien frowned. “Quieter sounds worse.”“Not this time,” Phoenix replied. “It means it’s listening.”Elara stood and stretched slowly, noticing how her body responded—no sudden flares, no sharp edges. Just sensation. Weight. Balance.Choice.Alexander did not contact t
Last Updated : 2025-11-22 Read more