Nothing broke. That was the first lie Elias noticed. No fire. No collapse. No screaming sky. Just silence.The seam in the door stopped widening, hovering open just enough for his mother’s arm and half her face to exist in the chamber suspended between realities.She gasped, eyes locking onto his. “Elias,” she whispered, voice raw. “You shouldn’t be here.”His throat closed. “I came for you.”She shook her head desperately. “You don’t understand what I’m holding.”“I do now,” Elias said. “And you shouldn’t have to.”The Witness hummed softly, pleased. “See?” it murmured. “Truth doesn’t destroy. It rearranges.”Victor tightened his grip on Elias. “She’s destabilizing.”Council Prime barked, “Pull back! Now!”Elias didn’t move. His mother strained forward, fingers brushing his wrist. The contact sent pain lancing through both of them. She cried out. “The lie is unraveling can you feel that?”Elias nodded. “Like something peeling.”Seraphine stared at the walls. “The symbols are changin

“You’re shaking.”“I’m fine.”“You’re not.”Elias pulled his arm out of Victor’s grip. “Stop saying that.” Victor’s jaw tightened. “You absorbed a rupture point.” “And he’s alive,” Elias snapped. “For now,” Council Prime said calmly.Elias shot them a look. “You’re not helping.” Seraphine crouched beside the unconscious man. “His vitals are stabilizing.” Julian tilted his head. “At Elias’s expense.”Elias ignored him. The plaza had thinned. Not emptied, just retreated. People watched from a distance now. Whispering. Pointing. Evaluating. “He saved him,” a woman murmured.“He caused it,” someone countered. Victor leaned closer. “You centralized the overload. That wasn’t instinct. That was structural.” Elias frowned. “Speak plainly.”Victor’s voice dropped. “You’re becoming the anchor.” Council Prime didn’t disagree. “That is precisely the risk,” they said. Elias exhaled sharply. “So what? I stop helping?”Julian’s tone was light. “You can’t help everyone.” Elias met his gaze. “Watch m

“You feel that, don’t you?”Victor’s voice was low. Elias didn’t answer immediately. He stood in the center of the chamber, eyes closed, breathing slowly. “Yes,” he said finally.Seraphine folded her arms. “Define that,” Julian spoke before Elias could.“Pressure,” he said quietly. “Equal and opposite.”Council Prime’s gaze was sharp. “It’s begun.” Elias opened his eyes. “The sky blinked again,” he said. Victor muttered, “That’s not comforting.”Elias shook his head. “No. It’s alignment.” Seraphine frowned. “Alignment to what?” Before Elias could answer The floor trembled. Not violently. Deliberately.A ripple of force passed through the chamber and out toward the city. Julian inhaled sharply. “He’s doing it.” Victor turned. “Doing what?” Julian’s eyes gleamed. “Stabilizing.” Across the cityIn the central financial district A crowd gathered around Adrian Vale. Unlike Elias’s plaza, this one was orderly. Structured. Silent.Adrian stood atop a raised platform. No shouting. No chaos. J