But Fate smiled anyway. "It's enough."

"It is," the Dreamer said.

They went down the other side of the hill. The wind picked up a little, brushing against their clothes. Somewhere nearby, a few insects buzzed in the grass. Nothing urgent, nothing demanding their attention.

After a few minutes, Fate spoke again. "I used to think I had to go somewhere important. That every step needed a purpose."

"And now?"

"Now every step is the purpose," Fate said. "Just moving. Just being here."

The Dreamer gave a small nod. "That's the change you've been looking for."

They continued walking until they reached a place where the road straightened out again. The land here was open and wide, with only a few trees scattered around. One stood close to the path—a tall, old tree with a thick trunk and branches that spread out like a quiet shelter.

Fate slowed down as they passed it, brushing their fingers lightly across the rough bark.

"Feels solid," they murmured.

"It's been standing here longer than most things," the Dreamer said.

"Maybe I'll remember it," Fate said.

"You don't need to. It'll just be part of the day."

Fate smiled a little. "Yeah. That's fine too."

They left the tree behind and kept walking. The road was calm. The sky stayed bright. The world continued exactly as it wanted to.

Step by step, they moved forward with no plans, no goals—just the steady, simple rhythm of the day carrying them to whatever came next.

They walked on, letting the long stretch of road guide their steps. The air stayed warm, and the light breeze kept everything comfortable. Nothing rushed them. Nothing tried to pull them in any direction.

Eventually, the road dipped gently downward. At the bottom of the slope, they saw a small wooden bridge crossing a shallow stream. The water glimmered in the sunlight, moving a little faster than the stream they had seen earlier.

Fate stepped onto the bridge and paused halfway across. They looked down at the water, watching it rush quietly over smooth stones.

"It keeps going," Fate said. "Doesn't matter where it started. It just… moves."

"Like you," the Dreamer said.

Fate rested their hands on the railing. The wood was warm from the sun. "I'm starting to understand that."

They stayed there for a few moments, listening to the soft sound of the water. Then Fate straightened and continued walking across the bridge.

On the other side, the road rose gently again. Soft grass grew along the edges, dotted with small white flowers. Fate reached down to touch one as they passed.

"It's simple," they said. "But it feels good."

"Most good things are simple," the Dreamer replied.

They kept going until the land flattened out once more. In the distance, they saw a single farmhouse standing alone, surrounded by wide fields. A few chickens wandered near the fence, and smoke drifted lazily from the chimney.

Fate watched it but didn't slow down. "I don't feel like stopping there."

"You don't have to."

So they walked past it. A dog barked once from the yard, then lay back down in the shade of the porch.

A little farther on, the road curved slightly to the right. The sun was still bright but beginning to tilt, hinting that the afternoon was passing.

Fate noticed the change in the light. "It'll be evening soon."

"Yes," the Dreamer said.

Fate didn't look worried. "We'll find a place to rest when we feel like it."

"Exactly."

They followed the curve, and the road opened into another long stretch of open land. The sky above them stayed quiet and wide.

Fate breathed slowly, comfortably. "I like this," they said. "Just walking. Nothing else."

"And the day likes you back," the Dreamer said gently.

They walked on, side by side, letting the hours move naturally—never pushing forward, never holding on—simply following wherever the simple, open road wanted to take them next.

They kept walking, letting the road stay quiet beneath their feet. The afternoon light softened a little more as time passed, but nothing felt urgent. The world around them moved at its own pace—steady, calm, unbothered.

After a while, the land shifted again. The fields slowly changed into low grasslands with patches of taller reeds here and there. The breeze moved through them, making a soft rustling sound.

Fate listened for a moment. "Everything has its own sound," they said.

"It does," the Dreamer replied. "You just never had the chance to hear it before."

Fate nodded slowly. "I like hearing it now."

They kept going. The road stayed clear, with no signs, no people, just the land stretching out ahead. A pair of deer stood at the edge of the grassland, watching them quietly. When Fate and the Dreamer passed by, the deer didn't run—they just flicked their ears and stepped back a little.

Fate smiled. "They're not scared."

"They can feel when someone doesn't bring trouble," the Dreamer said.

The road dipped again after a while, leading into a shallow hollow. A fallen tree lay off to the side, long and smooth with age. Fate walked their hand along the trunk as they passed, feeling the dry, worn surface.

"It's been here a long time," Fate said.

"Longer than either of us," the Dreamer answered.

They climbed out of the hollow and back into open ground. The sky now carried a warmer color, the sun lowering but still bright. The shadows stretched a little more across the road.

"We should think about resting soon," the Dreamer said.

"We can," Fate replied. "But not yet."

"Then not yet."

They continued until they reached a gentle rise. At the top, the land spread out in front of them once more—wide and calm, with a few tall trees scattered like quiet guardians. One stood close to the road, its branches long and steady, casting a wide shadow.

Fate stopped under it, just for a moment, letting the shade cool their skin.

"This feels nice," they said.

"It's a good place to pause."

"Not to stop," Fate said. "Just… to breathe."

They both stood there in silence for a short time, letting the breeze move around them.

Then Fate stepped out of the shade and back onto the road.

"Let's keep going," they said. "There's still a little more day left."

"Yes," the Dreamer agreed. "And the road is still open."

They walked forward again, easy and unhurried, letting the late-afternoon world settle quietly around them as they continued toward wherever the next stretch of road would lead.

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