The doors slid open with a muted hum that felt almost reluctant.
The moment Selene stepped inside, she slowed, her posture changing in a way Elena recognized instantly. Not fear. Not tension. Focus. The air in the chamber was heavier, not in pressure but in intent, the shard-lines converging overhead and beneath the floor into a dense lattice of crystal and metal that surrounded a suspended core. Sigils etched into every surface glowed faintly, cycling through patterns that felt measured rather than active.
Elena stopped beside her.
"…This isn't a normal control room," she said quietly, eyes moving across the structure. "I don't even think it's meant for people to stay in for long."
Selene didn't answer right away. She walked closer, careful not to touch anything, letting her perception spread outward. The magic here wasn't aggressive. It didn't push back. It simply was, layered and stable in a way that made her uneasy.
