Chapter 125: The Heart of Because
The descent into the abyss was a journey into a different kind of quiet. It was not the crushing silence they had faced before, but a pervasive, white-noise hum of disassociation. The Song-Cutter's hull, which normally sang a harmony of protection and purpose, now emitted a strained, logical chant: Hull endures pressure, because material is dense. Engine propels, because energy transfers. It was true, but soul-less. The rich layers of meaning the courage of the hull, the faith of the engine had been stripped away, leaving only sterile fact.
