.chapter-eight {
  --chapter-red: #b9cbbf;
  background: radial-gradient(ellipse at 57% 18%, rgba(70, 90, 84, .14), transparent 31rem), #080806;
}

.chapter-eight .hero {
  background: radial-gradient(ellipse at 69% 49%, rgba(140, 172, 155, .1), transparent 40%);
}
.chapter-eight .hero h1 {
  font-size: clamp(43px, 4.4vw, 74px);
  line-height: .85;
  letter-spacing: -.055em;
}
.chapter-eight .thesis { border-left-color: var(--chapter-red); }
.chapter-eight .evidence-rail--right { color: rgba(192, 211, 202, .7); }
.chapter-eight .poster-stage::before {
  background: radial-gradient(circle at var(--glow-x) var(--glow-y), rgba(218, 233, 209, .19), transparent 19%);
}
.chapter-eight .poster-stage .scan-line {
  background: linear-gradient(90deg, transparent, rgba(176, 207, 193, .82), transparent);
}
.chapter-eight .chapter-edge a {
  width: 30px;
  height: 38px;
  display: grid;
  place-items: center;
  color: var(--paper-dim);
  font-family: Baskerville, Georgia, serif;
  font-size: 24px;
  line-height: 1;
  text-decoration: none;
}
.chapter-eight .chapter-edge a:hover,
.chapter-eight .chapter-edge a:focus-visible { color: var(--paper-bright); }
.chapter-eight .story-chapter {
  background: radial-gradient(circle at 9% 33%, rgba(70, 91, 83, .12), transparent 25rem), linear-gradient(135deg, #0d0c09, #050504 64%);
}
.chapter-eight .story-prose p:first-child,
.chapter-eight .story-prose p:nth-child(3),
.chapter-eight .story-prose p:nth-child(5),
.chapter-eight .story-prose p:nth-child(7),
.chapter-eight .story-prose p:nth-child(9) { color: var(--paper-bright); font-style: italic; font-size: 1.13em; }
.chapter-eight .track-choice.is-selected {
  background: linear-gradient(90deg, rgba(127, 160, 145, .17), transparent);
  box-shadow: inset 2px 0 var(--chapter-red);
}
.chapter-eight .listening-room::before { background: var(--chapter-red); }
.chapter-eight .afterword { background: radial-gradient(circle at 65% 100%, rgba(65, 89, 80, .12), transparent 40rem), #070705; }

@media (max-width: 760px) {
  .chapter-eight .hero h1 { font-size: clamp(42px, 10vw, 70px); line-height: .83; }
  .chapter-eight .evidence-rail--right { display: none; }
}

.chapter-eight-next { display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; align-items: center; gap: 24px 42px; }
.chapter-eight-next .return-to-cover:first-child { color: var(--paper-bright); }