# Brief (Version 4)

Title (working): Covenant of Light

Genre: Science fiction (character‑driven, institutional drama, hard‑sci flavored)
Target audience: Adult SF readers who like moral dilemmas and cultural evolution
Tone: Earnest, tense, ultimately hopeful
Language: English
POV: Close third person, rotating among 3 characters
Tense: Past
Length target: Novella, ~22–28k words, 10 chapters
Content constraints: Moderate peril, minimal graphic violence, no explicit sex
Definition of done: A cohesive, emotionally resonant story that blends strong cultural ritual, institutional conflict, and a grounded engineering choice into a fresh, unified arc.