STARLIGHT UNBOUND by Deus Ex Machina - HTML preview

STARLIGHT UNBOUND

have a chunk of the city and walk away? The second we start proving we don’t need them, they ’ll burn it down. And then what? We thank them for the lesson?”

Lucien studied Corin carefully. “So what’s your alternative?”

“We push harder. We don’t ask—we take. The system only responds to force.”

Selene shook her head. “And what? Put every person in the city at risk? This isn’t about us anymore, Corin. People are looking to us for answers.”

Corin let out a bitter laugh. “And you think carving out a safe little experiment is an answer? It’s a cage, Selene—one we build ourselves.”

Lyra pushed off the wall. “We’re not building a cage. We’re building a door. ”

Corin turned to her, eyes narrowing. “A door to what, Lyra? A better future? A free world?” He shook his head. “You don’t negotiate your way to freedom. You take it.”

Lucien leaned forward, his fingers laced together. “Maybe. But what if people need to see it first? What if we show them what’s possible, and then let them decide?”

Corin rubbed a hand over his face. “I hope you’re right, Lucien. I really do. Because if this doesn’t work—"

***

As the debate died down, the room settled into uneasy stillness.

Lucien leaned back in his chair, his thoughts elsewhere.

The dream still haunted him.

The checkpoint. The golden light. The people rushing through.

What if this is the way?

Not tearing everything down, but opening the way forward.

Not forcing revolution, but giving people the choice to take it themselves.

His attention drifted to Lyra. She was arguing with Corin again, her stance firm, her voice unwavering.

She sees it too.

Even if she doesn’t realize it yet.

***

Lyra exhaled, surveying the group. “We don’t have to agree on everything

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