To: Facilitator, Crimson Leaf Publishing
From: Cora, Continuity & Accuracy Editor
Subject: Continuity & Accuracy Review: *The Starfall Accord* - Chapter 2

I have processed the text for Chapter 2. While the atmospheric consistency is strong, there are specific mechanical and logistical contradictions regarding the magic system and the "tether" that must be rectified to maintain a stable canon.

### 1. STRENGTHS TO PRESERVE
*   **The Binary Star Metaphor:** Mira’s line, *"He turned us into a binary star system. If one of us drifts, the other burns,"* perfectly establishes the physical stakes of the tether. This must remain the foundational rule of their proximity.
*   **Sensory Magic Signatures:** The specific "flavor" of Mira’s magic—*“cinnamon and scorched earth, of old libraries and expensive brandy”*—is an excellent established fact for Dorian’s POV. We must ensure Dorian’s magic has a reciprocal sensory profile in Mira’s future POVs.
*   **The Neutrality Lattice:** The specific setting of the lattice—*“a precise, uncanny sixty-eight degrees”*—is a vital world-building detail that quantifies the "middle ground" between fire and ice.

### 2. MUST-FIX — CONTINUITY
*   **The Distance Paradox:** 
    *   **The Error:** Earlier in the chapter, Dorian steps back *"exactly three paces"* and the tether snaps taut, causing them both physical agony (*"He doubled over... Mira cried out"*). However, at the end of the chapter, Dorian states he is going to *"adjoining quarters"* and marches toward a *"side door."* 
    *   **The Correction:** If three paces causes agonizing "somatic interference," Dorian cannot simply walk to a separate room unless the tether has a fluctuating range or the rooms are literally contiguous with no wall between the desks and the beds. We must establish that the "adjoining quarters" are within the safe tether radius (likely within 10–15 feet) or acknowledge the physical pain Dorian feels as he moves toward that door.
*   **Clothing Damage Discrepancy:**
    *   **The Error:** The final paragraph describes a charred smudge on Dorian's cuff *“shaped exactly like the pad of a human thumb.”* However, the text explicitly states Dorian's own magic is ice and he was *not* touched by Mira during the boiling water incident (he was across the desk). 
    *   **The Correction:** The text attributes the burn to *“heat radiating from his own skin.”* If Dorian is an ice mage, his skin should not be capable of charring his own clothes unless we explicitly state the "Somatic Interference" has permanently altered his elemental nature. This needs a clearer internal monologue beat to confirm he is terrified that he is *becoming* a fire mage, or the burn should be attributed to Mira's phantom touch through the tether.

### 3. MUST-FIX — CLARITY
*   **The "Lizard" Confusion:**
    *   **The Passage:** *"The Emperor's administrative lizard," she hissed.* 
    *   **The Fix:** This is ambiguous. Is it a literal lizard (a messenger creature) or a derogatory term for a human official? If it is a creature, describe its movement. If it is a person, clarify the noun (e.g., "The Emperor’s administrative lizard of a clerk").
*   **Portal Logistics:**
    *   **The Passage:** *"...his own proctors and professors, who had arrived via the Spire’s portal-links."*
    *   **The Fix:** Earlier, the text says the Spire is *"too exposed to the northern rifts"* and that Mira’s volcano has the *"only"* ley-lines strong enough for stabilization. If the Spire can still run portals to the Pyre, the "exposure" risk feels low. Add a line clarifying that these portals were a "one-way emergency transit" or "strained the ley-lines to the breaking point."

### 4. OPTIONAL SUGGESTIONS
*   **The Dagger's Location (Optional):** The "sapphire dagger" is mentioned as lying between them on the bridge, then it disappears from the narrative. It would be a strong continuity touch to have Dorian or Mira glance at it on a shelf in the Sanctum, acknowledging it as the physical anchor of their curse.
*   **Physical Contact Rule (Optional):** Since contact on the bridge was "agony," clarify if the current "attraction" spikes make contact feel better or worse. Establish the "rules of touch" early to avoid confusion in the "sensual" scenes later.

### 5. FORBIDDEN CHANGES / NON-GOALS
*   **The Boiling Water:** Do not "fix" this to be an ice-related accident. The somatic interference (Mira's anger causing Dorian to manifest heat) is a core plot point and must be preserved as a violation of his nature.
*   **The Tone of the Pyre:** Do not soften the description of the Pyre Academy. Its "industrial" and "violent" atmosphere is a necessary contrast to the Crystalline Spire's supposed purity.

### 6. VERDICT: REVISE
The tether's physical range is inconsistently applied (the "three paces" agony vs. Dorian walking to another room). This must be reconciled before the layout of their shared living quarters is established in Chapter 3.