Those words hit with the finality of total nonexistence. “THE ARCHITECT IS AWAKE.” Everything stopped. Not metaphorically. Not poetically. Literally. The Eraser froze mid-motion inside the silver void. The Foundations giant eye blinked with great force, stars crashing down and building up in messy swirls. The Sleeper, remaining just about intact beyond the Initial Door, became absolutely motionless. Even the Prisoner stopped breathing. Luna felt it instantly. A pressure. Not from outside. From everywhere at once. As though reality had just recalled it was watched by something it forgot about long ago. The ancient woman beside Luna went rigid. For the first time She looked afraid. Not regretful. Not tired. Afraid. Kael, standing near the crumbling fight zone past the Door, stumbled when a w
