Nadia Seats the Fifth Lead; Sixth Root Bed Stays Pale

Elowen made the empty terminal immaculate by removing the worker. Sabine returned force to the count: Jo’s blades close, the copper ends, and the sixth eyelet remains vacant.

Nadia carries that vacancy below the rail. Her hand tightens the fifth connection. Five valves pass water into five root beds; the sixth valve stays shut and its roots remain pale. The limit now has a cost.