The chamber of the primary node lay at the heart of the vault, a sphere of swirling light that defied the limits of physical space. Sophie felt her lungs burn as the very air seemed to dissolve into pure energy. Every step forward required a conscious exertion of will to maintain her corporeal form against the gravitational pressure of the node. Behind her, Valerius and Elias struggled, their bodies flickering like dying candles in a gale. The Architects were true to their nature. They provided the path but they did not care if the travelers were pulverized by the journey.
As they reached the central pedestal, the entity that had guided them manifested again. It did not stand upon the floor but hovered within the light. It instructed Sophie to place the Ledger upon the node. It promised t
