They left the shade behind and followed the road as it gently sloped downward again. The air stayed warm, but the light was softer now, turning the day calm instead of bright. Nothing pushed them. Nothing hurried.

After a few minutes, the land opened into a wide flat area. The grass here was shorter, moving only a little in the breeze. The road felt almost empty, but not lonely—just quiet in a normal way.

Fate looked around slowly. "It's all so open," they said.

"It gives you space," the Dreamer replied.

Fate nodded. "I like having space."

They kept walking. Off to the left, a single wagon sat near a small shed. No one was around, and the horse tied to the post was calmly eating from a bucket. Fate glanced at it, but didn't feel any need to go closer.

"It looks peaceful," Fate said.

"Most simple things are," the Dreamer answered.

The road bent slightly to the left. As they followed the curve, they could see a few low hills in the distance. They weren't high or dramatic—just gentle shapes rising from the ground.

Fate watched them for a moment. "Maybe we'll reach those by night."

"Maybe," the Dreamer said. "Or maybe we'll stop before that."

Fate didn't mind either option. "We'll see."

They walked on. The sun continued to lower, casting longer shadows across the road. The air grew cooler, but still comfortable. Somewhere behind them, a bird called out once, then went quiet again.

Fate stretched their arms a little. "My legs don't feel heavy today."

"You're not carrying old weight anymore," the Dreamer said. "You're just walking."

Fate considered that. "Yeah. That's true."

The road stayed straight for a long while. Far ahead, they saw a large stone sitting near the edge of the path—flat on top, shaped almost like a simple bench.

When they reached it, Fate brushed their hand across its surface. "This could be a place to sit."

"It could," the Dreamer said. "Do you want to?"

Fate thought about it, then shook their head. "Not yet."

"Then we keep going."

They walked past the stone. The sky began to shift toward early evening colors, soft and calm.

Fate breathed in deeply. "This feels right," they said. "Just one step at a time."

"That's all life asks for," the Dreamer replied.

They continued down the road, moving at the same easy pace, letting the day wind down naturally. Nothing dramatic waited ahead—just more sky, more ground, more steady steps.

And Fate was content with that.

They moved forward, letting the soft evening settle around them. The light turned warmer, almost golden, touching the grass and the road in a gentle way. Everything felt slower now, but not tired—just calm, like the world was taking a long, peaceful breath.

The road stayed smooth and steady beneath their feet. A few small stones dotted the path, but nothing sharp, nothing troublesome. Fate watched the colors of the sky change little by little.

"It's nice," they said quietly.

"Yes," the Dreamer replied. "The day is closing its eyes."

A small breeze brushed past them, carrying the scent of grass and faint earth. It wasn't strong—it just moved enough to remind them the world was still alive.

They walked until they came across a pool of shallow water gathered beside the road. It wasn't large, just a round patch where rain had collected days ago. The surface reflected the sky like a soft mirror.

Fate paused and looked into it. "It's still," they said.

"Because it doesn't need to move," the Dreamer answered.

Fate nodded, then stepped away, letting the reflection ripple only a little from their passing.

They kept going. The land gently rose again, giving them a small view of everything behind them—the long road, the fields, the quiet places they had already crossed.

Fate looked back just once. "We walked a lot today."

"Yes," the Dreamer said. "And you didn't force a single step."

Fate smiled softly and turned their eyes forward again.

Ahead of them, a few tall grasses swayed by the side of the road. Fireflies began to appear between the stalks—just a few at first, glowing faintly in the dimming light.

Fate watched one blink bright and then fade. "Evening's really coming."

"It is," the Dreamer said. "But we have time."

They continued walking. The world grew quieter, but not empty. A cricket chirped, then another, creating a slow, simple rhythm in the grass.

Fate let the sound surround them. "It feels… gentle."

"The day is ending kindly," the Dreamer replied.

The road curved a little to the right, leading toward a small rise. At the top, the sky glowed with soft orange light, fading slowly into blue.

Fate breathed out, long and easy. "Maybe we'll rest when we reach that rise."

"That sounds right."

They walked the last stretch at the same steady pace—no rush, no reason to hurry. The light dimmed, the shadows stretched, and everything settled into calm.

By the time they reached the rise, the sun was almost touching the horizon. Fate stopped and looked around.

"This is enough for today," they said.

"It is," the Dreamer agreed.

The open road lay behind them. The quiet evening lay ahead.

And for the first time in a long time, Fate felt no need to chase anything—no need to decide anything. Just to stand, breathe, and let the simple peace of the moment hold them gently in place.

They lingered on the rise for a few moments, letting the last light of the day settle over them. The sky shifted slowly—orange melting into soft pink, then drifting toward quiet blue. Nothing hurried the colors. Nothing rushed the evening.

Fate breathed in, feeling the coolness of the coming night mix with the warmth still fading from the sun. "It's peaceful up here," they said.

"It is," the Dreamer replied. "The world is settling down."

Below them, the land stretched out like a calm blanket—grass swaying a little, shadows growing longer, the first hints of night just beginning to gather at the edges.

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