It took Lucien several more days to convince the universe to answer through the scale again.
He rebuilt broken authority channels one by one, linked them to the merged Origin Core fragment, and taught the restored structure how to measure without pretending it still possessed the complete truth it once held.
The universe resisted every shortcut.
Lucien expected nothing less.
Equivalent Exchange was not an ordinary authority.
It was a conversation with existence. And existence was apparently a very careful negotiator.
Still, Lucien succeeded.
The balance-scale necklace rested in his palm.
Its metal carried a muted glow. The two tiny plates hung in perfect stillness, yet Lucien could feel the incomplete authority moving quietly inside.
Equivalent Exchange had returned, but not at its full strength.
