The morning sun rose over the mountains, painting the valley in shades of gold and amber. The birds were singing. The breeze was gentle. The world was peaceful.
But for Ethan, peace was a foundation. Something to build on. Something to protect. Something to share with the world. Something that had been earned through years of struggle, sacrifice, and hope.
He stood on the porch of the global council building, watching the light spread across the buildings below. It had been two months since Thomas's community had joined the network. Two months of watching the bridge between the two communities grow stronger. Two months of watching new friendships form, new connections build, new hope spread across the valley and beyond.
The community had grown beyond anything they'd ever imagined. What
