The moment the opposing pattern touched inside, the system did not fall apart. Instead, it tightened its structure in a controlled way. Aurelion felt it clearly as every part of the system adjusted at once. The pathways shifted, the connections aligned, and everything pulled inward to hold the structure steady. It was not panic or confusion. It was a controlled response meant to keep things stable.
Aurelion stayed focused, watching how the system handled the change. The intrusion did not spread further, and that was important. The system had reacted quickly enough to contain it before it could move deeper. Still, the fact that it had entered at all meant something had changed.
Sally felt it too. Her awareness sharpened immediately. "It got through," she said. Aurelion replied, "Yes." Rowan's voice came next, tense and quick. "That's bad, right?" he asked. Aurelion did not try to soften it. "Yes," he said.
