diff --git a/TODO.md b/TODO.md
index 2edd22b..b6fccea 100644
--- a/TODO.md
+++ b/TODO.md
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@ Pending tasks have been split into topic files under [`todo/`](todo/README.md):
 
 ## Recently completed (this session)
 
+- [x] CSS cleanup — removed dark-mode `@media (prefers-color-scheme: dark)` block from `variables.css`; deleted dead `colors.css` reference file; added all missing semantic tokens to `variables.css` (`--header-*`, `--search-error-*`, `--sys-*` dark-terminal tokens, `--*-muted-bg/border/hover` alpha overlay tokens); replaced every hardcoded hex/rgba in `common.css`, `main.css`, `search.css`, `admin.css`, `system.css` with `var()` references; fixed `--border-color` typo → `--border-primary` in `search.css`; fixed `view-toggle__btn` active color to use `--accent-foreground`; updated `README.md`; admin and public now share identical token set with zero duplication
+
 - [x] `pages-edit.php` — replaced EasyMDE (333 KB: 320 KB JS + 13 KB CSS) with OverType (118 KB, single JS file, no CSS); removed `easymde.min.js` and `easymde.min.css` from `public/assets/`; vendored `overtype.min.js`; replaced `<textarea name="content">` + 60-line EasyMDE toolbar/SVG init block with `<input type="hidden" name="content">` + `<div id="editor">` mount target + 6-line OverType init; `onChange` callback keeps the hidden input in sync for form submission; net saving: ~215 KB, ~54 lines of JS
 
 - [x] `templates/header.php` + `admin.css` — extracted last remaining inline `style=` from any shared template: `style="vertical-align:middle;margin-right:0.4em"` on the admin-nav public-site SVG icon moved to `.admin-body header nav > a svg` rule in `admin.css`; `templates/header.php` now contains zero `style=` attributes; only the dynamic gradient (`hsl(<?= $hue ?>)`) in `public/index.php` and the PHP-runtime `--disk-pct`/`--disk-color` custom properties in `system.php` remain (both legitimately dynamic)
diff --git a/public/assets/css/README.md b/public/assets/css/README.md
index da715a0..392d212 100644
--- a/public/assets/css/README.md
+++ b/public/assets/css/README.md
@@ -2,34 +2,20 @@
 
 ## File Structure
 
-- **variables.css** - CSS custom properties (variables) for colors and theme values
-- **colors.css** - Reference documentation of all color values used in the project
-- **common.css** - Shared styles: reset, header/nav, search bar, accessibility utilities
-- **main.css** - Home page styles
-- **admin.css** - Admin section styles
-- **system.css** - System page styles
-- **search.css** - Search/Directory page styles
-- **apropos.css** - About page styles
-- **tfe.css** - Individual thesis page styles
-- **easymde.min.css** - EasyMDE editor styles (minified, third-party)
-- **modern-normalize.min.css** - Modern normalize reset (minified, third-party)
+- **variables.css** — all CSS custom properties (single source of truth for every color/token)
+- **common.css** — reset, header/nav, search bar, accessibility utilities (loaded on all pages)
+- **main.css** — home page
+- **search.css** — search/directory page
+- **tfe.css** — individual thesis page
+- **apropos.css** — about + licence pages
+- **system.css** — admin system dashboard (dark terminal panels)
+- **admin.css** — admin section (loaded alongside `common.css` on every admin page)
+- **modern-normalize.min.css** — third-party reset (minified, do not edit)
 
-## Imports
+## Rules
 
-All CSS files automatically import `variables.css` to access CSS custom properties.
-
-## Variables
-
-### Shared Variables (public pages)
-- `--purple`, `--purple-dark`, `--purple-light` - Purple palette
-- `--black`, `--white` - Base colors
-- `--grey-light` - Light grey background
-- `--border-color` - Border color
-- `--text-muted` - Muted text color
-
-### Admin Variables
-- `--admin-bg`, `--admin-bg-alt` - Background colors
-- `--admin-border` - Border color
-- `--admin-text`, `--admin-text-muted` - Text colors
-- `--admin-purple` - Accent color
-- `--admin-input-bg` - Input background
+- Every color value lives in `variables.css` as a CSS custom property.
+- No hardcoded hex, rgb(), or rgba() in any other file.
+- All files `@import url("./variables.css")` at the top.
+- Admin and public share the same token names — no separate admin theme.
+- No dark-mode media query. The system page uses `--sys-*` tokens (intentionally dark terminal aesthetic).
diff --git a/public/assets/css/admin.css b/public/assets/css/admin.css
index 6deb4ae..21e670f 100644
--- a/public/assets/css/admin.css
+++ b/public/assets/css/admin.css
@@ -300,7 +300,7 @@
 }
 
 [role="status"][data-type="success"] {
-    background: rgba(92, 214, 157, 0.12);
+    background: var(--success-muted-bg);
     border-color: var(--success);
     color: var(--text-primary);
 }
@@ -354,7 +354,7 @@
 }
 
 .admin-maintenance-bar--active {
-    background: rgba(251, 202, 81, 0.1);
+    background: var(--warning-muted-bg);
     border-color: var(--warning);
     color: var(--text-primary);
 }
@@ -503,12 +503,12 @@
 }
 
 .status-published {
-    background: rgba(76, 175, 80, 0.12);
+    background: var(--green-muted-bg);
     color: var(--accent-green);
 }
 
 .status-pending {
-    background: rgba(251, 202, 81, 0.12);
+    background: var(--warning-muted-bg);
     color: var(--warning);
 }
 
@@ -523,17 +523,17 @@
 }
 
 .status-access--libre {
-    background: rgba(76, 175, 80, 0.12);
+    background: var(--green-muted-bg);
     color: var(--accent-green);
 }
 
 .status-access--interne {
-    background: rgba(65, 173, 255, 0.12);
+    background: var(--blue-muted-bg);
     color: var(--accent-blue);
 }
 
 .status-access--interdit {
-    background: rgba(242, 90, 90, 0.12);
+    background: var(--error-muted-bg);
     color: var(--error);
 }
 
@@ -560,30 +560,30 @@
 }
 
 .admin-btn-view {
-    background: rgba(65, 173, 255, 0.12);
+    background: var(--blue-muted-bg);
     color: var(--accent-blue);
-    border-color: rgba(65, 173, 255, 0.3);
+    border-color: var(--blue-muted-border);
 }
 .admin-btn-view:hover {
-    background: rgba(65, 173, 255, 0.22);
+    background: var(--blue-muted-bg-hover);
 }
 
 .admin-btn-edit {
-    background: rgba(243, 156, 18, 0.12);
+    background: var(--yellow-muted-bg);
     color: var(--accent-yellow);
-    border-color: rgba(243, 156, 18, 0.3);
+    border-color: var(--yellow-muted-border);
 }
 .admin-btn-edit:hover {
-    background: rgba(243, 156, 18, 0.22);
+    background: var(--yellow-muted-bg-hover);
 }
 
 .admin-btn-publish {
-    background: rgba(76, 175, 80, 0.12);
+    background: var(--green-muted-bg);
     color: var(--accent-green);
-    border-color: rgba(76, 175, 80, 0.3);
+    border-color: var(--green-muted-border);
 }
 .admin-btn-publish:hover {
-    background: rgba(76, 175, 80, 0.22);
+    background: var(--green-muted-bg-hover);
 }
 
 .admin-btn-unpublish {
@@ -701,7 +701,7 @@
 
 /* ── Danger zone (account page) ─────────────────────────────────────────── */
 .admin-danger-zone {
-    border: 1px solid rgba(242, 90, 90, 0.35);
+    border: 1px solid var(--danger-border-muted);
     border-radius: 4px;
     padding: 1.25rem 1.5rem;
     display: flex;
diff --git a/public/assets/css/colors.css b/public/assets/css/colors.css
deleted file mode 100644
index 48c0fc7..0000000
--- a/public/assets/css/colors.css
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,39 +0,0 @@
-/* ============================================================
-   COLOR VALUES REFERENCE
-   ============================================================ */
-
-/* Background colors */
---bg-primary: #ffffff;
---bg-secondary: #f5f5f5;
---bg-tertiary: #e8e8e8;
---bg-active: #d0d0d0;
-
-/* Text colors */
---text-primary: #111111;
---text-secondary: #666666;
---text-tertiary: #999999;
-
-/* Border colors */
---border-primary: #ddd;
---border-secondary: #ccc;
-
-/* Status colors */
---success: #5cd69d;
---error: #f25a5a;
---warning: #fbca51;
-
-/* Accent colors */
---accent-primary: #9557b5;
---accent-secondary: #683d7f;
---accent-foreground: #ffffff;
---accent-muted: rgba(149, 87, 181, 0.12);
---accent-blue: #41adff;
---accent-green: #4caf50;
---accent-yellow: #f39c12;
---accent-red: #f25a5a;
-
-/* Gradient colors */
---gradient-start: #3C856C;
---gradient-2: #60ECB4;
---gradient-3: #E390FF;
---gradient-4: #9557B5;
diff --git a/public/assets/css/common.css b/public/assets/css/common.css
index efe2cb2..f2758a0 100644
--- a/public/assets/css/common.css
+++ b/public/assets/css/common.css
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ header {
     var(--gradient-3) 40%,
     var(--gradient-4) 60%,
     var(--gradient-4) 88%,
-    rgba(149, 87, 181, 0) 96%
+    var(--header-gradient-fade) 96%
   );
 }
 
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ header nav ul a {
 /* Subtle shadow on all header text to improve legibility against the gradient */
 header nav > a,
 header nav ul a {
-  text-shadow: 0 0 16px rgba(119, 70, 145, 1), 0 0 32px rgba(119, 70, 145, 0.8);
+  text-shadow: 0 0 16px var(--header-shadow-strong), 0 0 32px var(--header-shadow-soft);
 }
 
 header nav ul a:hover {
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ header nav ul a:hover {
 
 header nav ul a[aria-current="page"] {
   opacity: 1;
-  border-bottom: 1px solid rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.6);
+  border-bottom: 1px solid var(--header-nav-active-border);
   padding-bottom: 1px;
 }
 
diff --git a/public/assets/css/main.css b/public/assets/css/main.css
index 59bca45..833a654 100644
--- a/public/assets/css/main.css
+++ b/public/assets/css/main.css
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@
 }
 
 .card__gradient-author {
-  color: #ffffff;
+  color: var(--accent-foreground);
   font-size: 0.75rem;
   opacity: .85;
   margin-bottom: .25rem;
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@
 }
 
 .card__gradient-title {
-  color: #ffffff;
+  color: var(--accent-foreground);
   font-size: 0.85rem;
   font-weight: 600;
   display: -webkit-box;
diff --git a/public/assets/css/search.css b/public/assets/css/search.css
index df6d437..9e6f166 100644
--- a/public/assets/css/search.css
+++ b/public/assets/css/search.css
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@
 
   .repertoire-col {
     border-right: none;
-    border-bottom: 1px solid var(--border-color);
+    border-bottom: 1px solid var(--border-primary);
     padding: 1rem 0 1.25rem;
   }
 
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@
 .view-toggle__btn.active,
 .view-toggle__btn:hover {
   background: var(--accent-primary);
-  color: var(--text-primary);
+  color: var(--accent-foreground);
 }
 
 /* Search controls bar */
diff --git a/public/assets/css/system.css b/public/assets/css/system.css
index 939b661..54ca1e2 100644
--- a/public/assets/css/system.css
+++ b/public/assets/css/system.css
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 .sys-tabs {
     display: flex;
     gap: 0;
-    border-bottom: 1px solid #555;
+    border-bottom: 1px solid var(--sys-border);
     margin-bottom: 1.75rem;
 }
 .sys-tab {
@@ -16,14 +16,14 @@
     padding: .55rem 1.1rem;
     font-size: .84rem;
     font-weight: 500;
-    color: #969696;
+    color: var(--sys-text-dim);
     text-decoration: none;
     border-bottom: 2px solid transparent;
     margin-bottom: -1px;
     transition: color .15s, border-color .15s;
 }
 .sys-tab:hover {
-    color: #e8e8e8;
+    color: var(--sys-text-bright);
 }
 .sys-tab.active {
     color: var(--accent-primary);
@@ -32,8 +32,8 @@
 
 /* ── Status section (always-visible panel above tabs) ─────────────────── */
 .sys-status-section {
-    background: #1a1a1a;
-    border: 1px solid #555;
+    background: var(--sys-bg-panel);
+    border: 1px solid var(--sys-border);
     border-radius: 6px;
     padding: 1rem 1.25rem 1.25rem;
     margin-bottom: 1.75rem;
@@ -46,8 +46,8 @@
 }
 .sys-status-toggle {
     background: none;
-    border: 1px solid #555;
-    color: #969696;
+    border: 1px solid var(--sys-border);
+    color: var(--sys-text-dim);
     border-radius: 3px;
     font-size: .72rem;
     font-family: inherit;
@@ -57,8 +57,8 @@
     transition: color .15s, border-color .15s;
 }
 .sys-status-toggle:hover {
-    color: #e8e8e8;
-    border-color: #888;
+    color: var(--sys-text-bright);
+    border-color: var(--sys-border-hover);
 }
 .sys-status-meta {
     display: grid;
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@
     gap: 1.5rem 2rem;
     margin-top: 1.5rem;
     padding-top: 1.25rem;
-    border-top: 1px solid #333;
+    border-top: 1px solid var(--sys-border-deep);
 }
 @media (max-width: 700px) {
     .sys-status-meta { grid-template-columns: 1fr; }
@@ -80,8 +80,8 @@
     margin-bottom: 2.5rem;
 }
 .srv-card {
-    background: #242424;
-    border: 1px solid #555;
+    background: var(--sys-bg-surface);
+    border: 1px solid var(--sys-border);
     border-radius: 5px;
     padding: 1rem 1.25rem;
 }
@@ -95,26 +95,26 @@
     font-size: .82rem;
     text-transform: uppercase;
     letter-spacing: .07em;
-    color: #969696;
+    color: var(--sys-text-dim);
     font-weight: 500;
 }
 .srv-card__detail {
     font-size: .8rem;
-    color: #969696;
+    color: var(--sys-text-dim);
     margin-top: .25rem;
     font-family: ui-monospace, "SFMono-Regular", Consolas, monospace;
 }
-.status-ok      { color: var(--accent-green); font-weight: 600; font-size: .85rem; }
-.status-warn    { color: var(--warning);       font-weight: 600; font-size: .85rem; }
-.status-err     { color: var(--error);         font-weight: 600; font-size: .85rem; }
-.status-unknown { color: var(--text-tertiary); font-weight: 600; font-size: .85rem; }
+.status-ok      { color: var(--accent-green);   font-weight: 600; font-size: .85rem; }
+.status-warn    { color: var(--warning);         font-weight: 600; font-size: .85rem; }
+.status-err     { color: var(--error);           font-weight: 600; font-size: .85rem; }
+.status-unknown { color: var(--text-tertiary);   font-weight: 600; font-size: .85rem; }
 
 .srv-section-title {
     font-size: .82rem;
     text-transform: uppercase;
     letter-spacing: .1em;
-    color: #969696;
-    border-bottom: 1px solid #555;
+    color: var(--sys-text-dim);
+    border-bottom: 1px solid var(--sys-border);
     padding-bottom: .4rem;
     margin: 0 0 1rem;
     font-weight: 500;
@@ -138,8 +138,8 @@
 /* Flush variant: no bottom margin — used inside sys-status-meta cell */
 .php-grid--flush { margin-bottom: 0; }
 .php-item {
-    background: #242424;
-    border: 1px solid #555;
+    background: var(--sys-bg-surface);
+    border: 1px solid var(--sys-border);
     border-radius: 4px;
     padding: .5rem .75rem;
 }
@@ -147,18 +147,18 @@
     font-size: .75rem;
     text-transform: uppercase;
     letter-spacing: .06em;
-    color: #969696;
+    color: var(--sys-text-dim);
 }
 .php-item__val {
     font-size: .92rem;
     font-family: ui-monospace, "SFMono-Regular", Consolas, monospace;
-    color: #e8e8e8;
+    color: var(--sys-text-bright);
     margin-top: .15rem;
 }
 
 /* ── Disk bar ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── */
 .disk-bar-wrap {
-    background: #555;
+    background: var(--sys-border);
     border-radius: 3px;
     height: 6px;
     margin-top: .5rem;
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@
     display: flex;
     justify-content: space-between;
     font-size: .78rem;
-    color: #969696;
+    color: var(--sys-text-dim);
     margin-top: .25rem;
 }
 
@@ -198,8 +198,8 @@
         -45deg,
         transparent,
         transparent 6px,
-        rgba(255,255,255,.03) 6px,
-        rgba(255,255,255,.03) 12px
+        var(--sys-overlay) 6px,
+        var(--sys-overlay) 12px
     );
     border-radius: 4px;
     animation: sys-panel-shimmer 1s linear infinite;
@@ -223,9 +223,9 @@
     color: var(--text-secondary);
 }
 .log-toolbar select {
-    background: #242424;
-    border: 1px solid #555;
-    color: #e8e8e8;
+    background: var(--sys-bg-surface);
+    border: 1px solid var(--sys-border);
+    color: var(--sys-text-bright);
     border-radius: 4px;
     padding: .4rem .7rem;
     font-size: .85rem;
@@ -235,7 +235,7 @@
 
 .log-meta {
     font-size: .78rem;
-    color: #969696;
+    color: var(--sys-text-dim);
     font-family: ui-monospace, "SFMono-Regular", Consolas, monospace;
     margin-bottom: .75rem;
     display: flex;
@@ -245,11 +245,11 @@
 .log-meta span::before { content: attr(data-label) ": "; opacity: .6; }
 
 .log-unavailable {
-    background: #242424;
-    border: 1px solid #555;
+    background: var(--sys-bg-surface);
+    border: 1px solid var(--sys-border);
     border-radius: 4px;
     padding: 1.5rem;
-    color: #969696;
+    color: var(--sys-text-dim);
     font-size: .88rem;
 }
 .log-unavail-path {
@@ -264,13 +264,13 @@
     opacity: .7;
 }
 .log-empty {
-    color: #969696;
+    color: var(--sys-text-dim);
     font-size: .88rem;
     padding: 1rem 0;
 }
 .log-output {
-    background: #0d0d0d;
-    border: 1px solid #555;
+    background: var(--sys-bg-deep);
+    border: 1px solid var(--sys-border);
     border-radius: 4px;
     padding: 1rem;
     overflow-x: auto;
@@ -286,13 +286,13 @@
     white-space: pre;
     padding: .05rem .1rem;
     border-radius: 2px;
-    color: #bbb;
+    color: var(--sys-text-body);
 }
-.log-line + .log-line { border-top: 1px solid rgba(255,255,255,.03); }
-.log-crit   { color: #ff7070; background: rgba(242, 90, 90, 0.12); }
+.log-line + .log-line { border-top: 1px solid var(--sys-overlay); }
+.log-crit   { color: var(--sys-syntax-crit);   background: var(--error-muted-bg); }
 .log-error  { color: var(--error); }
 .log-warn   { color: var(--warning); }
-.log-notice { color: #a0c8ff; }
+.log-notice { color: var(--sys-syntax-notice); }
 .log-line::before {
     content: attr(data-n);
     display: inline-block;
@@ -303,21 +303,21 @@
     user-select: none;
 }
 .log-count-badge {
-    background: #242424;
-    border: 1px solid #555;
+    background: var(--sys-bg-surface);
+    border: 1px solid var(--sys-border);
     border-radius: 3px;
     font-size: .76rem;
     padding: .15rem .5rem;
-    color: #969696;
+    color: var(--sys-text-dim);
     font-family: ui-monospace, monospace;
 }
 .log-copy-btn {
     position: absolute;
     top: .6rem;
     right: .6rem;
-    background: #242424;
-    border: 1px solid #555;
-    color: #969696;
+    background: var(--sys-bg-surface);
+    border: 1px solid var(--sys-border);
+    color: var(--sys-text-dim);
     border-radius: 4px;
     font-size: .76rem;
     padding: .25rem .6rem;
@@ -327,7 +327,7 @@
     z-index: 2;
 }
 .log-copy-btn:hover {
-    color: #e8e8e8;
+    color: var(--sys-text-bright);
     border-color: var(--accent-primary);
 }
 .log-copy-btn.copied {
@@ -337,7 +337,7 @@
 
 .sys-refresh-note {
     font-size: .78rem;
-    color: #969696;
+    color: var(--sys-text-dim);
     margin-bottom: 1.25rem;
 }
 .sys-refresh-note a {
@@ -359,14 +359,14 @@
     line-height: 1.6;
 }
 .sys-cache-badge--hit {
-    background: rgba(251, 202, 81, 0.12);
+    background: var(--warning-muted-bg);
     color: var(--warning);
-    border: 1px solid rgba(251, 202, 81, 0.35);
+    border: 1px solid var(--warning-muted-border);
 }
 .sys-cache-badge--miss {
-    background: rgba(92, 214, 157, 0.12);
+    background: var(--success-muted-bg);
     color: var(--success);
-    border: 1px solid rgba(92, 214, 157, 0.35);
+    border: 1px solid var(--success-muted-border);
 }
 
 /* ── Nginx config viewer ───────────────────────────────────────────────── */
@@ -380,18 +380,18 @@
     vertical-align: middle;
 }
 .nginx-source-badge--live {
-    background: rgba(92, 214, 157, 0.15);
+    background: var(--success-muted-bg);
     color: var(--success);
-    border: 1px solid rgba(92, 214, 157, 0.35);
+    border: 1px solid var(--success-muted-border);
 }
 .nginx-source-badge--local {
-    background: rgba(251, 202, 81, 0.12);
+    background: var(--warning-muted-bg);
     color: var(--warning);
-    border: 1px solid rgba(251, 202, 81, 0.35);
+    border: 1px solid var(--warning-muted-border);
 }
 /* Nginx syntax highlight layers inside .log-output */
-.nginx-comment   { color: #666; font-style: italic; }
-.nginx-directive { color: #7eb8f7; }
-.nginx-block     { color: #d4a0ff; font-weight: 600; }
-.nginx-value     { color: #e2c08d; }
-.nginx-location  { color: #79dac8; }
+.nginx-comment   { color: var(--sys-syntax-comment);   font-style: italic; }
+.nginx-directive { color: var(--sys-syntax-directive); }
+.nginx-block     { color: var(--sys-syntax-block);     font-weight: 600; }
+.nginx-value     { color: var(--sys-syntax-value); }
+.nginx-location  { color: var(--sys-syntax-location); }
diff --git a/public/assets/css/variables.css b/public/assets/css/variables.css
index 73a9d59..95d32e5 100644
--- a/public/assets/css/variables.css
+++ b/public/assets/css/variables.css
@@ -2,68 +2,90 @@
    CSS VARIABLES (CUSTOM PROPERTIES)
    ============================================================ */
 
-/* ── Light mode (default) ─────────────────────────────────────────────── */
 :root {
-  --bg-primary: #ffffff;
+  /* Backgrounds */
+  --bg-primary:   #ffffff;
   --bg-secondary: #f5f5f5;
-  --bg-tertiary: #e8e8e8;
-  --bg-active: #d0d0d0;
-  --text-primary: #111111;
+  --bg-tertiary:  #e8e8e8;
+  --bg-active:    #d0d0d0;
+
+  /* Text */
+  --text-primary:   #111111;
   --text-secondary: #666666;
-  --text-tertiary: #999999;
-  --border-primary: #ddd;
-  --border-secondary: #ccc;
+  --text-tertiary:  #999999;
+
+  /* Borders */
+  --border-primary:   #dddddd;
+  --border-secondary: #cccccc;
+
+  /* Status */
   --success: #5cd69d;
-  --error: #f25a5a;
+  --error:   #f25a5a;
   --warning: #fbca51;
-  --accent-primary: #9557b5;
-  --accent-secondary: #683d7f;
+
+  /* Accent */
+  --accent-primary:    #9557b5;
+  --accent-secondary:  #683d7f;
   --accent-foreground: #ffffff;
-  --accent-muted: rgba(149, 87, 181, 0.12);
-  --accent-blue: #41adff;
-  --accent-green: #4caf50;
-  --accent-yellow: #f39c12;
-  --accent-red: #f25a5a;
-  --gradient-start: #3C856C;
-  --gradient-2: #60ECB4;
-  --gradient-3: #E390FF;
-  --gradient-4: #9557B5;
+  --accent-muted:      rgba(149, 87, 181, 0.12);
+  --accent-blue:       #41adff;
+  --accent-green:      #4caf50;
+  --accent-yellow:     #f39c12;
+  --accent-red:        #f25a5a;
 
-  /* Search error block (public only, overridden in dark mode) */
-  --search-error-bg: #fff0f0;
-  --search-error-border: #c00;
-  --search-error-color: #c00;
-}
-
-/* ── Dark mode — public pages only (.admin-body keeps light vars) ─────── */
-@media (prefers-color-scheme: dark) {
-  body:not(.admin-body) {
-    --bg-primary:    #111111;
-    --bg-secondary:  #1a1a1a;
-    --bg-tertiary:   #252525;
-    --bg-active:     #333333;
-
-    --text-primary:   #eeeeee;
-    --text-secondary: #aaaaaa;
-    --text-tertiary:  #777777;
-
-    --border-primary:   #333333;
-    --border-secondary: #444444;
-
-    /* Accent hue lightened for contrast on dark bg (4.5:1 against #111) */
-    --accent-primary:    #b87fd4;
-    --accent-secondary:  #9557b5;
-    --accent-foreground: #111111;
-    --accent-muted:      rgba(184, 127, 212, 0.15);
-
-    /* Status colours — slightly muted on dark */
-    --success: #4db886;
-    --error:   #e05555;
-    --warning: #d4a830;
-
-    /* Search error block */
-    --search-error-bg:     #2a1515;
-    --search-error-border: #e05555;
-    --search-error-color:  #e05555;
-  }
+  /* Gradient (header) */
+  --gradient-start: #3c856c;
+  --gradient-2:     #60ecb4;
+  --gradient-3:     #e390ff;
+  --gradient-4:     #9557b5;
+
+  /* Header decorative */
+  --header-gradient-fade:  rgba(149, 87, 181, 0);
+  --header-shadow-strong:  rgba(119, 70, 145, 1);
+  --header-shadow-soft:    rgba(119, 70, 145, 0.8);
+  --header-nav-active-border: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.6);
+
+  /* Search error block */
+  --search-error-bg:     #fff0f0;
+  --search-error-border: #cc0000;
+  --search-error-color:  #cc0000;
+
+  /* System / terminal panel (dark surfaces) */
+  --sys-bg-surface:   #242424;
+  --sys-bg-deep:      #0d0d0d;
+  --sys-bg-panel:     #1a1a1a;
+  --sys-border:       #555555;
+  --sys-border-deep:  #333333;
+  --sys-border-hover: #888888;
+  --sys-text-dim:     #969696;
+  --sys-text-bright:  #e8e8e8;
+  --sys-text-body:    #bbbbbb;
+  --sys-overlay:      rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.03);
+
+  /* System syntax highlight */
+  --sys-syntax-comment:   #666666;
+  --sys-syntax-directive: #7eb8f7;
+  --sys-syntax-block:     #d4a0ff;
+  --sys-syntax-value:     #e2c08d;
+  --sys-syntax-location:  #79dac8;
+  --sys-syntax-notice:    #a0c8ff;
+  --sys-syntax-crit:      #ff7070;
+
+  /* Muted alpha overlays — derived from semantic tokens */
+  --success-muted-bg:     rgba(92,  214, 157, 0.12);
+  --success-muted-border: rgba(92,  214, 157, 0.35);
+  --warning-muted-bg:     rgba(251, 202,  81, 0.12);
+  --warning-muted-border: rgba(251, 202,  81, 0.35);
+  --error-muted-bg:       rgba(242,  90,  90, 0.12);
+  --error-muted-border:   rgba(242,  90,  90, 0.35);
+  --blue-muted-bg:        rgba(65,  173, 255, 0.12);
+  --blue-muted-border:    rgba(65,  173, 255, 0.30);
+  --blue-muted-bg-hover:  rgba(65,  173, 255, 0.22);
+  --yellow-muted-bg:      rgba(243, 156,  18, 0.12);
+  --yellow-muted-border:  rgba(243, 156,  18, 0.30);
+  --yellow-muted-bg-hover:rgba(243, 156,  18, 0.22);
+  --green-muted-bg:       rgba(76,  175,  80, 0.12);
+  --green-muted-border:   rgba(76,  175,  80, 0.30);
+  --green-muted-bg-hover: rgba(76,  175,  80, 0.22);
+  --danger-border-muted:  rgba(242,  90,  90, 0.35);
 }