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 no longer a luxury. It was a responsibility. Something he had to protect. Something he had to fight for. Something he had to build.
He stood on the porch of the global council building, watching the light spread across the buildings below. It had been three months since the crisis in the mountains. Three months of watching the community heal. Three months of watching the global network grow stronger. Three months of watching the fear slowly fade.
The crisis had changed something. It had shown them that the world was still full of people who didn't understand. People who were afraid. People who were willi
