The transition out of the Mindspace wasn't as jarring this time—no static recoil, no mental drag. Just the soft flicker of lights resetting, as if the world outside had politely waited for them to finish having their minds blown.
The manor's sub-garage came into view first. Still dim. Still humming with quiet electricity.
Ava stepped off the sync plate first, boots landing with a gentle thud.
Lucas followed a breath behind.
Neither of them said anything right away.
Her system pinged softly in the background.
[NEURAL LOAD STABLE][EMOTIONAL SUPPRESSION: ADAPTIVE MODE]
[NEW OBJECTIVE: INTEGRATE SCHEMATIC — R-0 CORE (GEN ZERO)]
But Ava dismissed the alert with a flick of her wrist.
For once, even she didn't care about the next build.
Not yet.
They moved together, shoulder to shoulder, through the long hallway under the manor. Every light that flicked on above them seemed too calm, too clean—like the building didn't know yet what the rest of the world was planning.
