The Court opened.
And beyond it—
Worlds.
Not one.
Not ten.
Countless.
Each one a variation of existence.
Each one a possibility that had taken a different path.
Some thriving.
Some dying.
Some—
Broken beyond recognition.
Adrian stepped forward.
The First Wound glowing softly.
No longer unstable.
No longer overwhelming.
Controlled.
Evolved.
Lyra walked beside him, hands in pockets like they weren't about to fix the multiverse.
"…So."
Pause.
"…Where do we start?"
Kaelith answered.
"Selection recommended: highest instability."
Aria grinned.
"…Of course."
Seraphine looked ahead.
"…There…"
One world stood out.
Not because it was chaotic.
Not because it was collapsing.
Because it wasn't changing.
At all.
Elara narrowed her eyes.
"…That's wrong."
Adrian nodded.
"…Yeah."
Because life—
Always changed.
Growth.
Decay.
Movement.
But this world—
Was still.
Perfectly still.
They stepped through.
And arrived.
A city.
Flawless.
Buildings pristine.
