The structure did not close after Aurelion lowered his hand, and that told him more than anything else. It stayed exactly as it was, partially open, showing that the system had not rejected him. At the same time, it had not allowed him to go further either. It stayed in that state, as if it had stopped at that moment on purpose.
Aurelion stood in front of it without moving, his focus steady. The connection inside him had not disappeared after he stepped back. It felt deeper now, like it was part of how he saw things. He did not need to reach for it anymore. It was simply there, shaping how he understood the space in front of him.
Sally watched him closely, her body still tense. She did not speak right away, but her eyes showed that she had already understood something important. "You could have opened it," she said. It was not said in anger. It was said because she knew it was true.
