In the city of Lucidia, privacy was a thing of the past. It was known as the City of Glass, not because of its towering crystal skyscrapers, but because of the way people’s thoughts shimmered like holograms above their heads. This phenomenon, called *Mindlight*, was a breakthrough in human evolution—or a curse, depending on who you asked.

Every resident of Lucidia had lived their entire lives with their innermost thoughts on full display. The moment a thought was formed, it materialized into glowing words or flickering images, hanging just a few inches above their heads. No matter how fleeting or private, every thought was laid bare for all to see.

For Elena, a 23-year-old sculptor, life in Lucidia was a constant performance. As she walked through the crowded streets, her Mindlight projected a swirl of ideas about her next art piece—an abstract structure that twisted like a serpent, made of glass and stone. But intertwined with her artistic thoughts were flashes of insecurity, a growing anxiety about whether her work would ever be recognized. The words "Will they even like it?" flickered briefly above her head before dissolving into nothing. She quickly glanced around, hoping no one noticed.

But in Lucidia, people always noticed.

Across the street, a group of students was huddled together, their collective Mindlights forming a mosaic of stress about upcoming...