Aftermath
The city of Novus lay quiet under the soft morning light. The streets glistened with the remnants of rain, but life had begun to return. Shops opened, citizens emerged, and the hum of the city's energy was steady, unbroken.
Aria walked beside Kieran and Luna, each step deliberate. The device, now calm and dormant against her chest, had ceased pulsing violently. Its light was steady, obedient, a silent reminder of the storm they had survived.
"The fractures are sealed," Luna said, her voice low, filled with relief. "The city can move forward without fear. People won't know how close they came to disaster."
Aria nodded, her gaze sweeping over the skyline. "It's peaceful… but fragile. We can't rely on luck. We need to be ready if something else tries to tear the city apart."
Kieran's hand rested on her shoulder. "We'll be ready. Together."
They moved toward the central plaza. Sunlight reflected in puddles on the cobblestones, turning the streets golden. Children ran and played, merchants shouted their greetings, and life had resumed its rhythm. The city seemed to breathe, finally unburdened by the shadows of yesterday.
Aria exhaled, feeling a deep sense of accomplishment. "It's done. We survived. We've stabilized everything… at least for now."
Luna smiled faintly. "And the people won't even realize it. But that's what makes it worth it. They get to live, unaware of how close the world came to collapse."
Aria's fingers brushed the device lightly. Its warmth was comforting, almost human, and she felt the echoes of time fade into quiet harmony. Every thread of the city had been repaired, every fracture realigned.
"We've won," Kieran