Life with an ancient cosmic entity as a silent observer was... weird.
"You get used to it," Maya assured nervous creatures. "It's literally just watching. No feeding, no threatening, no anything."
"But WHY is it watching?"
"Because it's curious. Because for the first time in eternity, it has something to be curious ABOUT."
The Unseen—now unofficially nicknamed "Watcher"—hovered at the edge of community events, observing everything. Council meetings. Celebrations. Arguments. Reconciliations.
Once, during a particularly heated debate about blood bank funding, Glad felt a nudge—not intrusive, just present.
Conflict, the Watcher's voice murmured. You disagree.
"We do. That's normal."
Normal?
"Healthy communities have disagreements. They work through them. That's how they grow."
I do not understand.
"You will. Keep watching."
The Watcher watched.
And slowly, almost imperceptibly, something shifted.
The hunger—the ancient, endless hunger—began to fade.
Not satisfied.
Replaced.