The following reflects the final state of Chapter 7, where Mira and Dorian ventured into the Aetheric Well beneath the Academy to investigate the Emperor’s "burnt sugar" rot, leading to a deep, synchronized immersion into the historical "Weave of Ages."

# Character State: ch-07

## Mira
Location: The Aetheric Well, Sub-level 9, Pyre Academy
Physical: Mana-burned palms; high residual core temperature; sensory vertigo.
Emotional: Transfixed; protective of Dorian; reeling from the vision of the Progenitors.
Active obligations: Owes Dorian a shared debrief on the "Weave" visions (Ch07) -- UNPAID.
Open loops: Mira/Dorian "Binary Star" soul-sync (Ch05) -- PERSISTENT; The Emperor’s Rot source (Ch06) -- UNRESOLVED.
Known secrets: Saw the "Thread of Ash"—knows the Pyre’s fire is destined to consume the Spire’s ice if the rot isn't purged -- Dorian does not know.
Arc: 75% -- Mira has fully accepted Dorian as her equal and metaphysical counterpart, moving from "forced partner" to "chosen soul-mate."
Permanent: YES (Achieved "Deep Sync" with Dorian; witnessed the true origin of the Starfall).

## Dorian Solas
Location: The Aetheric Well, Sub-level 9, Pyre Academy
Physical: Severe frost-scarring on forearms; stabilized heartbeat; temporary aether-blindness.
Emotional: Humbled; intellectually shattered by the inaccuracy of Spire history; profoundly attached to Mira.
Active obligations: Owes Aric/Elara medical restoration (Ch04) -- UNPAID; Owes Mira a confession about the Spire’s suppressed records (Ch07) -- UNPAID.
Open loops: Dorian/Minister Vane "Audit" threat (Ch06) -- UNRESOLVED.
Known secrets: Realized the "Correction Clause" was designed to trigger the rot, not prevent it -- Mira does not know.
Arc: 70% -- Abandoned the last of his "isolationist" academic pride to embrace the chaotic necessity of the Weave.
Permanent: YES (His magic has permanently shifted from "Absolute Zero" to "Equilibrium Frost").

## Minister Vane
Location: Imperial Palace, Ministerial Wing
Physical: No injuries.
Emotional: Anticipatory; clinical.
Active obligations: Owes the Emperor the "Dissolution Papers" (Ch06) -- UNPAID.
Open loops: Vane/Starfall Union "Correction Clause" trigger (Ch05) -- UNRESOLVED.
Known secrets: Knows the Aetheric Well was spiked with a resonant catalyst to track the Chancellors' movements -- The Chancellors do not know.
Arc: 20% -- Moved from passive observer to active saboteur of the Chancellors' exploration.
Permanent: NO

# World State: ch-07

## NPC Memory
- High Nobility (Capital): APPREHENSIVE -- Rumors of the Chancellors "disappearing" into the depths of the Pyre are fueling fears of a coup.
- Academy Sentinels (The Well): LOYAL -- Witnessed the Chancellors emerge from the Well in a state of "Glow" -- Now view the Union as a divine mandate rather than a political one.

## Faction Attitudes
- The Eternal Throne: DESPERATE -- The Emperor's rot is accelerating; they are preparing to "harvest" the Union's combined mana regardless of the Accord's status.
- The Crystalline Spire: FRACTURED -- Half the faculty views Dorian as a heretic for merging his mana with "unrefined" fire.

## Active World Events
- The Great Harmonization: Initial pulse detected. The Starfall Drift has slowed by 0.04% due to the Chancellors' deep sync.
- The Aetheric Rot: Accelerating. The scent of "burnt sugar" is now detectable in the lower levels of the Pyre Academy.