The house had gone quiet in a way Dory hadn't heard in days.
For an entire week, there had always been noise somewhere—metal striking metal, girls talking in the kitchen, Liam moving in and out with trays, Horg giving short instructions. Even at night, there had been movement. Now, all of that was gone. The silence wasn't uncomfortable, but it was noticeable.
Dory sat on the edge of his bed with a fresh tunic on and his damp hair pushed back. He had taken longer than usual to wash up, making sure every trace of soot and sweat was gone. His body felt lighter, but also tired in a steady, deep way that didn't go away immediately.
He rested his elbows on his knees and looked at the floor for a while, letting his thoughts settle. There was no need to rush anything now. The deal had ended. The work was done. There was nothing pressing him forward for the first time in days.
After a moment, he spoke.
"System."
The screen appeared in front of him, just like it always did.
