Volume I — Arc 1 — Epoch I
Chapter 7 — Market Fair
[Pulse 01:20:00 — Fair tick | Log: Market fair | Channel: public]
Aurelius: "Today is fair. Len, show token list."
Aurelia: "Let each act be plain. Let each voice matter."
Len (bright): "Tokens here. Clerk gave marks to true witness. Hold one if you saw a fact."
Clerk (calm): [ISSUE] Witness token batch: 120. Mode: verify → name, sight, time. Use: review call. Guard: auto-check on claim.
Aurelius: "Teach first. Show hearth care."
Aurelia: "Skill first. Law lasts if folk know craft."
Len led a group to a stall. She held up a small lamp and a coal box.
Len: "Feed small coal, not large. Push spark slow. Keep space from bright items."
Clerk: [DEMO] Teach task: feed hearth → step list: check spark → set guard → note time. Reward: witness mark for learner.
A youth named Rill tried a feed. He missed step two. The clerk noted and gave soft note.
Rill: "I will try once more."
Len: "Try slow. Look. Feel the heat. Say the step as you do."
Rill did. The coal took glow. Len smiled and clerk gave a token for his step.
Aurelius: "Now show lamp map demo."
Trader set up a small post model. He placed model lamp, then map pins. He kept face steady as folk watch.
Trader: "Place post in open space. Keep three post gap to hearth. Sign map with pin name."
Clerk: [CHECK] Demo map: pass in mock run. Note: border rule clear.
A rustle on the ribbon — a young man with quick eyes, Rax, raised voice.
Rax: "I can give witness for a friend. I saw him feed hearth at night." He held a token.
Clerk: [VERIFY] Token: issued to Rax at tick 01:18:05. Claim: witness for friend who fed hearth at 01:04:00. Cross-check: time mismatch → token flag.
Aurelius: "Why claim mismatch?"
Rax's voice sped. "I... I meant to help. I thought it small. I did not lie to harm."
Aurelia: "Small lies rot trust like damp rot in wood."
Clerk: [ACTION] Token flag → ask for proof. Conseq: if false → repair work + public note.
Rax: "I will take work. I will mend market bench for two ticks."
Len: "Tokens hold truth. If token used wrong, you must mend harm."
Aurelius watched Rax accept the task. He felt a plain ache — truth has weight.
Clerk: [LOG] Token misuse → sanction: community task. Tally: rax → bench mend ×2 ticks.
A murmur ran; some showed pity, some nod.
Mira stood at trustee stall with ledger open. She read weekly plan and spoke to one who asked for aid.
Mira: "Show need. Bring witness. We do small work for good."
A woman with small son came slow, need in eyes.
Woman: "My roof broke. I need tools to fix. I have no coin."
Clerk: [REVIEW] Aid request: needs roof tool + token witness. Witness present: Len (saw fall). Trustee convene: Mira + Sarn + Len. Decision: grant tool loan for 7 ticks.
Mira: "Tool loan granted. Return when done or pass to next in need."
Aurelius: "See how fund moves. It is small net but real help."
Aurelia: "Fund is craft: coin, trust, work."
A side stall drew crowd. Tall, a stern man, tested trader's lamp in a wet mock. Water ran; lamp held. Folks cheered.
Clerk: [REPORT] Lampfold trial pass for 5 posts in fair area. Border holds. Heat read: 0.06 → safe.
Trader: "Trial shows good. I will not rush more posts till fund grows."
Aurelius: "Good. Now we must note: token faith must hold."
Aurelia: "Truth is thin. Guard it with task, not wrath."
A soft bell rang. The watcher voice spoke low.
Watcher: "I note one odd. A man with two names tried to swap ledger marks for coin. Clerk watch, flag."
Clerk: [ALERT] Fraud attempt: duplicate ledger mark. Action: freeze claim, call review.
Aurelius: "Bring him forth."
A man named Gath stammered. "I needed coin. I thought trade small task and no harm."
Clerk: [INVEST] Gath ledger check: duplicate mark found. Outcome: recall coin, require work pay + public note. If repeat → restrict write.
Aurelia: "We do not kill folk with rule. We set repair as law."
Clerk: [PENALTY] Gath: repay coin → plus two days market work. Record: warn.
Gath bowed, shame on face. He took tool and went to mend stall.
Len: "Task heals coin and trust."
Aurelius: He watched the work people do: mend bench, fix roof, carry wood. The market moved with new pulse: rule met by work.
Aurelia: "This is law craft: coin sets right, work heals harm, watch keeps fraud low."
Aurelius: "We will mark tokens with more guard? Or let token be light?"
Aurelia: "Keep token light but true. Add tiny lock: token use must match time and place. Clerk auto-check on claim."
Clerk: [UPDATE] Token rule: on claim → cross-check time & place. False claim → repair sanction.
Aurelius: "Good. Keep trust simple and sharp."
Len called out: "Fair close soon. Vote now on market fair acts: trader map pass? Aid grant pass?"
Clerk: [VOTE] Items: Trader map accept (actor vote), Aid grant confirm (trustee sign). Timer short.
Votes ran. Market folk moved coins, signed marks, mended tools. When bell fell, tally came.
Clerk: [TALLY] Trader map: pass. Aid grant: confirm. Token rule update: pass.
Aurelius: He felt small joy swell. "We did work well."
Aurelia: "We did not aim for grandeur. We made craft that holds life."
Clerk: [COMMIT] Snapshot 01:20:45 — Entries: Market fair log; Token rule update; Aid loan; Lampfold trial pass; Fraud case logged.
Aurelius: "One more: note lesson from Rax and Gath. Truth must be taught. We will run token class at next fair."
Aurelia: "And we will keep watch but not fear."
They closed market fair with song soft, a tune for work and for repair. The ring kept record. The clerk wrote each mark and each small gift. The spiral wound one more loop.
Post-Law Reflection: Law is not rule alone but a mesh of act, proof, and care. Token truth is trust's cord; false use frays cord. When harm comes, work can mend both coin and soul. Small school of craft, public test, and clear pen can keep a town alive under law. The spiral grows when each loop adds skill, not just rule.