They moved on to the other part of the company.
Nearby, several mana stabilizers hummed faintly, older models, their glow uneven, output deliberately throttled. One of them bore a long crack along its casing, sealed cleanly with resin and reinforced bands.
Lucy didn't slow.
"That one's on rotation," she said. "Back then I kept it below peak load. The fluctuation's manageable as long as it's not pushed."
Bruce's gaze lingered on it for a second longer than necessary.
"It buys time," he said. "Not safety."
"I know." Her reply was immediate. "But time was what I needed, now with what I've got currently I won't be needing those anymore."
They moved past it.
Further in, the storage building opened into view. Inside, crates were stacked with visible intent rather than order, supplies interlocked with spare parts, harnesses hung beside repair tools, emergency rations sealed and accessible.
