The morning sun rose over Portside, casting long golden shadows across the cobblestone streets. Ethan stood on the wall, his eyes fixed on the horizon, his heart filled with a sense of peace he hadn't felt in years. The shadow was gone, the echo contained, the world at peace. For the first time since his awakening, he felt truly free.
But freedom, he had learned, was not the end of the journey. It was the beginning of something new.
"You're up early," Ava said, appearing beside him. "Couldn't sleep?"
Ethan shook his head. "I've been thinking about the future. About what comes next."
Ava was silent for a moment. Then she said: "What do you want to happen next?"
Ethan looked at the town below, at the people going about their daily lives. They were happy, hopeful, thriving. It was everyt
