The new quest felt different. It wasn't about reaction, about fending off an immediate threat. It was proactive. It was about construction.
"So the System wants you to, what, cast a magic spell on our apartment?" Jake asked, peering over Kofi's shoulder as if he could somehow see the blue text himself.
"It says 'reinforce a designated safe zone'," Kofi explained, rereading the quest description. "Using the Aegis. I don't think it's a one-and-done spell. I think I have to… build it. Weave it into the apartment itself."
Nina was already at the whiteboard, her marker flying across the surface. "Okay, a safe zone. A fortress. That's our new priority. If Thea's art is a beacon, then we need to make sure this apartment is a black box. Nothing gets in, nothing gets out."
"How are we supposed to do that?" Ruby asked, her voice a little shaky. She was still sitting on the floor with Thea, who had finally stopped crying and was just a quiet, exhausted weight against her side.
