The argument over Lyra's dyes, and its peaceful resolution, left Aethelburg subtly altered. It was as if a muscle had been strained and then, in healing, had grown stronger. The community had discovered it could not only create together but could also disagree, passionately, and find a new path forward without fracturing. The Shard's continued silence now felt like a mark of respect, a master watching his students successfully navigate a complex piece of music on their own.
Then, the world began to change.
