Azari read the line twice before answering.
"Yes," she said gently. "This is correct."
Jung Min didn't add anything. He knew tone mattered more than words right now. The way she said it—calm, unthreatening, certain—was part of the lesson.
The monitor did not respond.
It dimmed again.
Not dramatically. Just enough that the light no longer reached the edges of the room.
Azari smiled faintly. "It's asking for feedback like a student."
Jung Min kept his eyes on the screen. "It's afraid of getting loud again."
A long quiet followed.
Then, slowly, new text appeared.
we do not feel the need to speak
Azari nodded. "Good."
Another pause.
this is different than the bells
"Yes," Jung Min said. "The bells needed to be heard."
The screen waited, then asked:
what did they want
Azari hesitated. She looked to Jung Min.
He answered without thinking. "Control."
The word stayed on the screen for a long time.
As if being examined from every angle.
Then the final line came.
we do not want that