Darren stayed for a few more weeks, watching the seal, making sure it held. Lin brought him coffee every morning. Rojin shared old war stories. Maye didn't say much, but every time she passed, she nodded at him, a silent acknowledgment of what they'd shared.
Eventually, he left.
Not to the village. Not to the woods.
To somewhere new.
The Helix was asleep again.
And this time, it was dreaming of something it couldn't understand.
A man who stood between chaos and silence.
Not a hero.
Just someone who stayed when it mattered.
