The Sage's Sanctuary

The moment Reed felt the weight of his cosmic wounds settling around his consciousness like ancient scars that had finally learned to tell stories of wisdom rather than pain, he knew that the time had come for something he had never imagined would be possible—the Wounded Retreat that would transform his limitations into sanctuaries for others who carried the burden of imperfect leadership.

Standing in the shadow of Shia's Golden Sunset, watching the former queen create her Emerald Garden with the kind of graceful transcendence that belonged to someone who had successfully completed a cosmic responsibility, Reed felt his nature as the Tri-State Sage stir with something that might have been understanding.

The universe didn't need him to hide his wounds anymore—it needed him to demonstrate that broken things could become sources of strength for others who had learned to carry damage without letting it define their capacity for service.