It… worked.
That's what all the members of the Alliance Council thought as they stared at the sight in front of them with surprised—pleasantly surprised—looks on their faces.
Against all their expectations, the Water Point did not explode.
Even when the first Stonefang shoulders appeared at the ropes, when the first Velmourn eyes met the Stonefang's, or when the first containers were filled and lifted and stored away into Sanctuaries like priceless treasure—it did not explode.
They… they survived—without any collisions whatsoever.
And that felt… unreal.
By the time the sun had climbed somewhere behind the gray clouds, the line had thinned. The steam above the pots still rose, but the crowd was no longer packed tight.
People began to breathe again.
Some even shifted their weight like the stone in their backs had finally loosened.
There were no shouts.
No punches.
No blades unsheathed.
