The moment Adrian stepped back, the world didn't fall apart.
It struggled.
Not instantly.
Not completely.
But undeniably.
The fragile balance he had been holding loosened, not snapping all at once, but weakening across multiple points. The space that had once felt supported now trembled under its own weight, forced to rely on its own definitions instead of his presence.
And not all of it—
Was ready.
Adrian stood still, watching.
Not interfering.
Not stabilizing.
Choosing.
The first signs appeared in the distance.
A cluster of presences that had once coexisted under his balance now began to shift unevenly. Some tightened, reinforcing themselves, becoming more defined, more stable. Others flickered, losing cohesion, struggling to maintain their existence without external support.
Lyra's voice was low. "…Yeah, it's happening."
Kaelith nodded slightly. "Natural selection of definitions."
Seraphine frowned softly. "Some of them won't survive…"
