They woke early the next morning, not because something demanded it, but because the light slowly warming their faces made it easy to open their eyes.

Fate blinked up at the sky for a moment, confused by how rested they felt. There was no heaviness in their chest, no pressure hanging over them. Just a calm sense of starting fresh.

The Dreamer sat up beside them, brushing a bit of grass from their clothes. "Morning," they said simply.

Fate stretched, feeling the gentle pull in their muscles. "Morning."

They stood and looked around. The field was quiet, washed in soft light. A few birds hopped through the grass nearby, pecking at seeds. There was nothing dramatic about the moment, and that was exactly why it felt good.

"So," Fate said, "where do we go today?"

"Wherever feels right," the Dreamer replied. "There's no plan to follow."

Fate took a slow breath and nodded. "Then let's just walk."

They started down the slope together, heading toward a line of trees that marked another part of the valley. The ground was cool beneath their feet, still holding the night's chill. Dew sparkled on the grass, catching the light in small flashes.

As they reached the trees, they found a narrow path weaving through the shade. The air grew cooler, filled with the smell of moss and damp leaves. Sunlight filtered through the branches in shifting patterns.

Fate touched the rough bark of one tree as they passed. "I used to see places like this only as parts of a story that needed shaping," they said. "I never noticed the small things."

"What do you notice now?" the Dreamer asked.

Fate looked around slowly. "The space between things. The quiet. The way the world just… keeps going."

They walked deeper into the forest until they reached a small clearing where a few stones formed a natural circle. Someone had once used this place—maybe for rest, maybe for talk, maybe for nothing at all. Now it simply existed.

Fate sat on one of the stones, running a hand over its cool surface. "I always thought everything had to have a purpose," they said. "That every moment needed meaning."

"And now?" the Dreamer asked gently.

"Now I think meaning doesn't need to be forced," Fate said. "Sometimes it just happens because you're here."

The Dreamer's expression softened. "That's the lesson you were always meant to learn."

They didn't linger long. After a few minutes, they stood and continued down the path until the forest opened into another stretch of meadow. This one was wider, with rolling grass and patches of wild herbs growing close to the ground.

Fate walked ahead a few steps, feeling the sun warm their face again.

"You know," they said quietly, "I spent so much of my existence worried about people making the wrong choices. Worried about things turning out badly."

"And now?" the Dreamer asked.

"Now I'm realizing that people don't need me watching over every decision," Fate replied. "They live. They try. They learn. And things still move forward."

"That's how the world works," the Dreamer said. "With or without guidance."

Fate slowed, letting that truth settle deeper.

They reached a small hill at the edge of the meadow and climbed to the top. From there, the landscape spread out again—more hills, more fields, more small paths leading in different directions.

Fate smiled, a quiet, sure expression.

"There's so much to see," they said.

"And we have time for all of it," the Dreamer replied.

Fate took a step forward, then another, their pace relaxed and steady.

No rush.

No pressure.

No future demanding their attention.

Just a simple day waiting to unfold.

"Let's keep going," Fate said.

The Dreamer walked beside them, calm and certain.

Together, they moved on—two travelers sharing the world without needing to lead it or shape it, only to live in it.

And for Fate, that was enough.

They walked down from the hill, following one of the narrow paths that led into another gentle stretch of land. The morning was still new, the air cool and clean. The ground felt soft under their steps, and every sound carried easily—the rustle of grass, the chirping of distant birds, the quiet rhythm of their own footsteps.

After a little while, they reached a wooden fence marking the edge of a small farm. A few animals grazed nearby, lifting their heads only briefly to glance at the travelers before returning to their food. A farmer noticed them and gave a simple wave.

Fate waved back without hesitation.

"I used to think people would always react strongly to me," Fate said. "Fear, reverence, confusion… something."

"People respond to how you carry yourself," the Dreamer said. "And you're carrying yourself differently now."

Fate nodded, understanding more than before. "I guess I finally feel… normal."

"Normal is a good place to be," the Dreamer answered.

They kept walking until they reached a small bridge crossing a gentle stream. The water flowed beneath them with a steady, clear sound. Fate leaned on the wooden railing and watched it move.

"I used to worry about every turning point," they said. "Every event that might shift the future."

"And now?" the Dreamer asked.

Fate shrugged lightly. "Now I see that even if the water changes direction, it finds its way. I don't need to guide it."

The Dreamer smiled. "Exactly."

They crossed the bridge and continued along the path. The land opened again into wide fields dotted with small trees. Ahead, a group of travelers sat resting under the shade of one of the trees. When Fate and the Dreamer passed by, one of them lifted a hand in greeting.

"Safe travels," the traveler said.

"You too," Fate replied, surprised at how natural the words felt.

Then they walked on.

As the sun rose higher, the warmth settled comfortably around them. They paused near a large flat rock and sat down, sharing a quiet moment while looking out over the landscape.

"It's strange," Fate said after a while. "My existence used to feel heavy. Like I was tied to everything."

"And now?" the Dreamer asked again, patient as ever.

"Now it feels like the world exists beside me, not because of me," Fate said. "And that makes moving through it easier."

"That's what freedom feels like," the Dreamer said gently.

They stayed there for a few minutes longer before Fate stood up again, stretching lightly.

"Let's see what's over the next hill," they said.

The Dreamer got up as well. "Lead the way."

Fate didn't rush. They walked at an easy pace, not trying to get anywhere fast. The hill wasn't steep, but it still offered a small rise. When they reached the top, the view revealed another quiet valley with a cluster of trees near its center and a narrow path winding through it.

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