“Less than a week,” Juniper said, her fingers drumming against her thigh in that precise rhythm that meant her mind was racing. Her focus drifting to another group of Central observers crossing the plaza below. “Roma’s going to bury us in procedural motions before we can even get our first witness on the stand.”

“Speaking of witnesses…” Sophia pulled out her tab, holiday lights reflecting off its surface like warning signals. “We’ve got twenty-three to prep, and that’s assuming Central doesn’t add more to our list.”

Daniel’s shoulders tensed at the mention of Central, his usual composure cracking just enough to show strain beneath. “They’re positioning people throughout the city. I saw three more groups this morning.”

A child’s delighted shriek pierced through the holiday bustle, echoing off the layered belvedere like joy finding its voice. The line outside Moth’s toy store had grown longer since morning, now snaking past three levels of the radiantd paths, each person’s breath creating tiny clouds that danced beneath the winter sun.