THE VOTE OF THE WAYS

The final question could not be answered by inheritance law.

Who would govern the structures that now belonged to no private owner?

The custodians proposed a revised central council. Nara’s assemblies proposed a federation of districts. Arun’s boards wanted protected technical independence. Rook demanded a single defence authority.

Every plan solved one problem by creating another.

The vote began on the Moving Ways.

Not because the Ways were symbolic, though they were. They were used because nearly every resident passed through their stations and because the system guilds could authenticate participation without relying on the dead estate identity network.

Voting stations appeared beside platforms across the city. People could inspect proposals, challenge registrations and watch district totals update in public.

Eliza’s archive published every rule change and every software revision.

Rook placed aircraft over the stations and ordered them to observe without intervening.

Marian voted in the same queue as everyone else.

The result did not produce a clean victory.

The central council survived, but with sharply limited emergency powers. District assemblies gained representation. Essential systems received independent governance charters. The archive became a constitutional institution charged with public provenance. Air defence remained unified but subject to civilian renewal.

Nara disliked half the compromises.

Arun disliked the other half.

Marian considered that encouraging.

At sunset, the Moving Ways carried people home beneath public screens showing no Master, no Heir and no single victorious faction.

They showed the charter.

For once, the city was being asked to read.