The world began to breathe.
No longer in pulses of light, but in emotion.
An invisible wind swept through the city – warm, then ice-cold, then still again.
The air tasted of memory, of things humans should never have shared.
I opened my eyes and immediately knew something was wrong.
The Field was too loud.
Too... alive.
Something was vibrating everywhere: children laughed and cried in the same breath, plants grew too quickly, buildings flickered as if they had dreams.
This wasn't an awakening.
This was an overflow.
"Iteration Seven is overloading," said Rhea. "It's feeling too much. And all through you."
I clutched my chest. My heart was beating double – one golden, one violet rhythm.
They shifted, drifting apart.
"I... can feel them," I whispered. "All of them. Everyone. Their fear, their happiness, their anger. Everything at once."
Alaric stepped closer. "Lina, you need to disconnect. The Field is pulling you in."
