Seven other recipients stood around the water. Kaelen recognized only one: Elara, a memory-scribe from the Shallow Archives. She nodded once, her jaw tight with the same hunger he felt.

The mapmaker shook his head slowly. “I saw every border I ever drew, and behind each border, a people I never met. The theme is Forgotten Neighbors .”

“That,” the Curator said softly, “is the first new theme.”