Peace did not break in a single loud moment. It began with small signs that most people would ignore if they were not looking closely. A shipment went missing along a secure route that had not failed in months. A trusted officer reported strange delays in messages that should have moved instantly across the network. Two minor leaders from different districts accused each other of secret dealings, even though they had worked well together before. None of these events alone meant disaster, but together they formed a pattern Marcus could not dismiss.
Marcus stood in the council chamber early one morning, studying reports spread across the wide table. The Central Table had brought structure and order, yet now that very structure seemed to be under quiet pressure. Elena pointed to the trade lo
