The pattern did not fade.
That was the first thing Beatrix confirmed.
Even as they shifted position—
even as the lattice resumed its broader motion—
the localized structure remained,
anchored in a way nothing else had been.
Not rigid.
But persistent.
Like a decision that had been made
and not yet reconsidered.
"It's stabilizing," she said.
Neo glanced at her.
"Or waiting."
Cassandra let out a quiet exhale.
"That's somehow worse."
Lira didn't speak.
She had moved slightly to the side—
careful,
measured—
testing the edge of the pattern's influence.
The lattice adjusted around her,
but the structure held.
Not reacting.
Not dissolving.
Just… present.
Ast stepped closer to it.
Not into it—
but near enough to feel the difference.
"There's a boundary now," she said.
Beatrix nodded.
"Yes."
Cassandra frowned.
"That wasn't there before."
"No," Beatrix replied.
"We created it."
That word lingered.
Created.
Not discovered.
Not triggered.
