All Chapters of Beneath the Diamond Veil: Chapter 61

Morning came slowly, like the world itself was reluctant to begin again.Elara woke before the lights brightened, her body already alert. Not tense. Not calm either. Somewhere in between. That balance had become familiar, like walking a thin line without looking down.She lay still, listening. The quiet wasn’t empty. It carried meaning now. Every pause felt intentional.When she finally sat up, the presence responded, not with pressure but awareness. It was no longer something she fought or feared. It moved with her, like a shadow that knew when to stay soft.She dressed without hurry and left her room, the corridors greeting her with muted motion. People nodded as she passed. Some smiled. Others watched carefully. Respect and uncertainty lived side by side now.In the briefing room, Phoenix stood at the far table, reviewing data screens that scrolled too slowly for anyone else’s comfort. She didn’t look up when Elara entered.“You felt it too,” Phoenix said.Elara stopped beside her.