Shunya learned the first rule by accident.
He could not think like himself anymore.
The moment he framed an action as preparation, the pressure returned. The system did not care about muscles or motion first. It watched something deeper.
Purpose.
He discovered this while sitting at the edge of the bed, feet planted on the floor, posture relaxed. He felt stable. Allowed. The invisible leash stayed loose.
Then he thought, I should practice standing so I can walk later.
The pressure snapped tight around his chest.
Not painful. Immediate.
He froze.
So even future intent counted.
Shunya let the thought dissolve.
Instead, he focused on the sensation of the floor beneath his feet. The grain of the wood. The way the cold faded slowly as his skin warmed.
The pressure eased.
Interesting.
He was not punished for movement.
He was punished for anticipation.
Vikoria watched him closely from across the room.
"You stopped breathing again," she said gently.
