The system did not explode, It did not collapse and it did not end the way things in stories usually end when they finally lose control.
Instead, it softened like something that had been holding its breath for too long and finally decided it was allowed to exhale. The fracture in reality, what once held the thing called Orion, hung open for a moment longer, trembling at the edges, as if unsure whether it still had permission to exist.
Darian stood before it, unmoving, not because he was afraid but because anything he could have done had already been done.
Behind him, Adanna's presence was quieter now, not weaker and not fading, just no longer being bent by anything external.
For a long time, neither of them spoke because there are moments where language feels like interruption.
Then, softly, Adanna said "It's gone quiet."
Darian gave a small, tired breath "No," he replied "It just stopped pretending it was louder than us."
