For the next seven days, the Seventh Meeting Place transformed. Not into a fortress, but into something more powerful: a community united. Everyone contributed. The pilgrims who had found shelter here offered to stand guard. The keepers strengthened the bonds between their roads. The queen and her sons trained together for the first time in their lives. Elara documented everything, creating a record that would survive even if they did not. And Seong moved among them all, not as a leader giving orders, but as a friend offering encouragement.
Varen watched it all with wonder. "I did not know people could be like this," he said to Seong on the seventh night.
"Like what?"
"Selfless. Brave. Willing to risk everything for something bigger than themselves."
"Neither did I," said Seong. "Until I found them."