@dand.development: **Episode 3 — "The Toll Before Sunrise"** Night in the marketplace, the ruined storefront under the guardian's stare — then a frantic rebuild montage, panels slamming in and the checkout ring igniting while the sky pales — and it lands at sunrise with the storefront blazing OPEN, Pip on Danji's shoulder, and the guardian bowing aside. The checkout screen even reads **TOLL PAID**. www.danddevelopmentandventures.com