Mara placed her hand on the console. The crystal’s surface rippled, and a voice echoed—not Alexis’s, but a deeper resonance, the voice of the *system* itself.
Mara’s mind raced. The promise of power, the allure of being part of a revolution.
#### **Third Layer – The Hidden Core**
Lira smiled, a thin, cruel curve.
Mara could read the lines:
The crystal’s interior grew darker, the light dimming as Mara descended deeper. The walls now pulsed with a deep, throbbing red—heartbeat of the original upload. She could feel the memory’s age, the raw data of the moment Alexis’s mind was transferred.
The red glow faded, replaced by a gentle white light. The core pulsed one final time, then settled into a calm, steady glow—like a heart finally at peace.
A soft voice rose again, this time trembling with urgency.