The Free Zone had changed in the months since the Tapestry Wall started pulling everything together.
People moved with more purpose now, but not the rigid kind. Hybrids worked because they fit real needs.
The Reef kids mixed with locals without much fuss. Coherence sat steady at 94 percent most days. Life felt earned.
This week, the Distant Echo Market showed up bigger than before. Traders from three pockets rolled in with carts and tents, drawn by stories of balanced hybrids and the Zone's reputation for fair deals.
They set up along the main clearing for seven days, trading goods for "story value" as much as metal or food. No big Amrit surprises.
Just outsiders wanting practical stuff: memory anchors that actually held up, schedules with built-in flexibility, tools etched with simple poems that made them easier to remember.
