Ferra returned to the white-gold root chamber before the Court bells. She carried three empty vials, a copper frame, and the refusal socket inside a padded case.
Hajin stood beside the clear basin with his sleeve rolled to the elbow. His forearm tattoo held a faint echo of the memory route's three circles.
Eirwen entered with Didi and Juna, then studied the copper frame before asking.
"How much can you test without asking the root to open the road again?"
Ferra set the copper testing frame down beside the basin.
"Enough to learn whether the route follows Shards, blood, or distance, though sealed paths will remain closed."
She opened the socket case, and its inner ring gave one low pulse toward the tattoo on Hajin's arm.
Aria displayed a notice near Hajin's wrist after the resonance settled.
[ Route Echo Available ]
[ Distributed Pattern Suspected, Foreign Authority Absent ]
Hajin quietly read the whole system notice through before speaking.
