Sophie returned to the Phoenix estate, now a research lodge open to public code scholars and ethics fellows.

She walked the halls with her hand lightly grazing the wall.

Memories rose from the marble floors like smoke.

Whispers of arguments. Of dreams. Of beginnings.

She paused before the old strategy room.

Inside, Camellia’s original drawing of the LUX validator map still hung beside the whiteboard.

She smiled.

And walked on.

Later that night, Alexander pulled a small velvet box from his bag.

Sophie caught him, eyes narrowed.

“You’re not…”

He opened it.

Not a ring.

A chain.

With a small iron charm — the shape of a compass.

He handed...