Silence preceding first testimony wasn't respectful, was tense, loaded with raw expectation of who knows that, after that initial phrase, there will be no more comfortable return to ignorance. Luara remained standing, aligned to circle's center, not in position of who begs justice, but who demands coherence, and felt gazes' weight on her as if they were hands trying to measure extent of what she was about to provoke.

First omega advanced without anyone needing to call her by name. Her ...