Morning arrived without signs.
No horns.
No messengers.
No distant movement.
Just light.
Kael opened his eyes and stayed still for a moment.
He listened.
Nothing answered.
Not danger.
Not need.
Only space.
Lira noticed.
"This is new," she said softly.
"There's nothing asking us to move."
Kael felt it too.
Then we choose the reason.
They rose and continued walking, not following a road this time—
just direction.
The land felt neutral.
Neither tense nor free.
Simply present.
As the sun climbed, they passed through an area where old markers lay broken in the dirt.
Symbols worn smooth by years.
Jon stopped and looked down.
"These used to mean something," he said.
Kael nodded.
They did. Once.
He stepped past them without slowing.
The others followed.
By midday, they reached a crossroads where four paths met.
No signs.
No guidance.
Kael stopped there.
He didn't decide immediately.
He waited.
Lira felt the patience through the bond.
Not hesitation.
Respect.
Finally, Kael chose a path that didn't pull hardest—
but didn't resist either.
Balance.
They moved on.
No one questioned it.
No one needed to.
As the day faded, clouds gathered but brought no rain.
Just shade.
They rested near a line of stones warmed by the sun.
Lira leaned back, eyes half-closed.
"Kael… do you realize something?"
He waited.
"There was a time when silence meant danger," she said.
"Now it just means… space."
Kael felt the truth settle.
Because we're not being watched anymore.
Not closely.
Not urgently.
Somewhere far away, the heir sat with reports he no longer read.
There were no clear movements to respond to.
No center to strike.
Only people moving without signals.
He set the papers aside.
For the first time—
He did nothing.
On the road, Kael stood again.
The others followed.
No signal given.
No signal needed.
Because when a day passes without command—
And nothing collapses.
That is how control finally ends.