The winter months passed with a calm that felt earned rather than borrowed. Snow covered the rooftops and streets, softening the sharp lines of the city that had once seen so much conflict. Trade moved steadily through cleared routes, and the unified guard maintained quiet order without heavy display. The Central Table met on a regular schedule, reviewing progress and adjusting plans with steady hands. Marcus watched these routines with careful attention, knowing that strong systems were built in ordinary days, not only in crisis. Yet beneath the calm surface, he sensed that the world beyond his borders was shifting in ways that would soon demand action.
Elena was the first to bring clear signs of that shift. Reports from allied cities showed changes in leadership across several regions.
