They started down the next hill, still walking side by side. The morning had grown warmer, and the air felt steady and clear. Nothing pulled at them. Nothing hurried them. It was just another peaceful stretch of land waiting to be explored.

As they walked, the cluster of trees in the valley came into clearer view. They weren't tall—just a small grove, almost like a place someone might stop to rest during a long day. The path led straight toward it, winding gently the whole way.

When they reached the grove, they found a few smooth stones scattered under the shade. Fate sat down on one and let out a small, relaxed breath.

"It feels good to stop whenever I want," Fate said. "Not because I'm avoiding something. Just because sitting down feels right."

The Dreamer sat beside them. "That's what living simply is. Doing things because they feel right, not because you're supposed to."

Fate ran their hand along the grass at their feet. "I never really understood what that meant before."

"You're understanding it now," the Dreamer said.

They stayed there for a bit, listening to the soft creaking of branches and the distant sound of the wind moving across the valley. Birds hopped through the grass near the edge of the grove, not startled by their presence.

After a moment, Fate stood again. "Let's keep going. I'm curious what's past this valley."

"No need to rush," the Dreamer replied. "We'll see it when we get there."

"I know," Fate said with a small smile. "But I want to keep moving. Not because I have somewhere important to be… just because it feels good to walk."

They left the grove and followed the path as it curved along another stretch of open land. The fields were quiet, and the sky above them was wide and bright.

Fate looked ahead at the long road winding into the distance. "It's strange," they said. "I used to think the world needed me watching over every decision people made."

"And now?" the Dreamer asked.

"Now I see it keeps going on its own," Fate said. "People make mistakes, but they also learn. They don't need me controlling everything."

"That's how it's meant to be," the Dreamer said. "Life grows on its own."

Fate nodded. "I think… I like this version of living."

They kept walking, their steps steady and relaxed. The road ahead wasn't dramatic or important. It was just there, waiting to be walked.

And for Fate, that was enough.

They moved forward together, not as forces shaping the world, but as two travelers simply living their day, one quiet step after another.

They followed the path as it dipped gently into another stretch of open land. The ground was level here, the grass shorter, and the breeze steady enough to keep the air cool. Fate walked with their hands loosely at their sides, not thinking too hard about anything.

After a few minutes, they spotted a small pond ahead. The water was still, reflecting the sky like a dull mirror. A few stones circled the edge, and a pair of ducks floated lazily across the surface.

Fate walked closer and crouched down near the edge. "I never really paid attention to small places like this," they said. "I was always focused on big moments."

The Dreamer stopped beside them. "Most of life happens in small places."

Fate reached out and lightly touched the water. It rippled slowly, then went still again. "It's calm here," Fate said. "It makes it easy to just… exist."

"That's the point," the Dreamer replied.

They stayed by the pond for a little while, watching the ducks move, listening to the soft splash when one of them dipped its head under the surface. Nothing important happened. Nothing needed to.

Eventually, Fate stood again. "Alright," they said. "Where does the path go next?"

"Forward," the Dreamer said. "Just like always."

So they followed the trail as it curved around the pond and continued toward a small rise in the land. At the top, they stopped for a moment and looked around. The world stretched out in gentle shapes—fields, trees, small hills, no clear destination.

Fate took a breath and let it out slowly. "You know," they said, "I used to think every step had to lead somewhere meaningful."

"And now?" the Dreamer asked.

"Now I think it's fine if a step is just a step," Fate said. "Walking is enough."

They continued on. The land stayed quiet, the kind of quiet that didn't feel empty—just steady. Fate didn't try to look ahead or predict anything. They simply moved with the moment.

After a while, they reached another dirt road, a bit wider than the narrow paths they'd been following. It led toward a small village in the distance—just a few houses, smoke rising from one chimney, nothing special.

Fate looked at it and smiled softly. "Maybe we can stop there later."

"If you want to," the Dreamer said.

"I do," Fate answered. "Not for anything big. Just to visit. To see how people live when no one's watching."

The Dreamer nodded. "That's a good reason."

They walked on, heading toward the village at an easy pace, unhurried and steady.

Nothing dramatic waited for them.

No big events.

No sudden changes.

Just a simple place, a quiet road, and another part of the day unfolding.

And that was enough.

They kept walking until the dirt road became firmer under their feet. As they got closer, the small village came into clearer view. It wasn't busy or loud—just a few homes with simple roofs, a couple of gardens, and a well in the center. A dog trotted across the street, stopped to look at them, then continued on without concern.

Fate slowed down a little. "It's quieter than I expected."

"Most places are," the Dreamer said. "People live quietly more often than loudly."

They reached the first house, where an older woman was sweeping her porch. She glanced up, gave them a polite nod, then went back to her sweeping. No fear. No awe. No tension.

Fate let out a small breath. "I used to think every encounter would be dramatic," they said. "Big reactions, big meaning."

"Most people don't look for big things," the Dreamer replied. "They just live their day."

They walked toward the village well, where a young boy was filling a bucket. He struggled a little with the weight, and Fate instinctively stepped forward.

"Here," Fate said, lifting the bucket with ease and setting it beside him.

The boy blinked in surprise, then smiled. "Thanks."

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