Chapter 7 · free to read
Everything the city has ever written down, filed by year, guarded by nobody. Nobody has needed to guard it. Nobody can read fast enough.
Removed. Living. Name struck by order — and the order's seal is a crane.
They silence the crowd for his bouts. Not out of respect. Because he asked, and because the council has seen what he does with a sound.
He is not reading my sword. He is reading the breath I take before it.
Artwork and narration generated with AI.