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 felt like a distant memory.
He stood on the porch of the community center, watching the light spread across the buildings below. It had been three months since the regional autonomy was established. Three months of watching the regions develop their own communities. Three months of watching the global network expand and evolve.
But three months had also brought new challenges. New conflicts. New threats.
Not from outside. From within.
The shadow had been growing restless. It had been with them for so long, guiding them, protecting them, teaching them. But something had changed. Something was shifting in th
