The preservation lamps dimmed while the final archive copies remained beneath recorder glass. Hajin saw every flame lean toward the bronze succession tree before the first alarm reached the western stair.
Fourteen robed statues occupied shallow niches throughout the archive wing, each carrying a stone compass or measuring rod. Their inactive faces had watched generations of catalog work without appearing inside any foundation index.
White-gold lines opened behind their carved eyes at precisely the same moment across every niche. Light poured through the old stone without cracking it, then assembled into slender figures standing one pace before every niche.
The original statues remained behind them with their hands still folded around stone instruments.
[ CringeSlayer91: ] they were furniture this whole time
[ ShadowMage44: ] bro the statues clocked in and went to work
