Chapter 246 — The First Rejection
It began with something small. Not destruction. Not defiance. A refusal.
In the eastern city, where the walls had partially collapsed and the ground had already begun to settle itself into safer patterns, a group gathered near the damaged section. They didn't come to watch. They came to act. "We rebuild it." The statement was simple. Direct. But it carried something different. Not reliance. Choice.
A man stepped forward, placing his hand against a broken section of stone. It shifted slightly beneath his touch. Aligning. Stabilizing. He pulled his hand away immediately. "…No." The word came out sharper than he expected. People nearby turned. "What?" He shook his head. "…Don't let it."
A pause. "…Don't let it fix this." Confusion spread first. Then hesitation. "…Why not?" The question wasn't aggressive. It was genuine. Because the answer wasn't obvious.
