For once, nothing followed Kael Veyris.
So he decided to try something unfamiliar.
Teaching.Power was easy.
Control was automatic.
But understanding.
That took time.
I looked at them Nyx, Selene, and Aethern standing in a quiet pocket of reality I'd stabilized just enough to exist without effort.
No danger today I said.
No enemies No stories collapsing.
Nyx blinked That's… new.
Good I replied Then you can focus Nyx struggled with fear not of dying, but of matter.
I didn't remove it.
I showed her how to stand while it existed.
Don't fight pressure I told her.
Decide where you stand, and let the rest adapt.
The space around her steadied.
For the first time, her presence didn't waver when reality shifted.
I'm not stronger she said quietly.
No, I agreed.
You're anchored Selene always saw too much.
So I taught her how to stop looking.
Futures aren't commands I said.
They're suggestions.
I showed her a moment where nothing happened.
No branching paths.
No outcomes.
Just now.
She smiled, relieved.
I don't have to know everything.
You were never meant to I said.Aethern tried to grow roots spreading endlessly, stabilizing more than necessary.
I stopped them gently.
Not every reality needs saving.
Aethern paused.
Then slowly pulled their roots back.
So that's restraint they said.
Yes I answered.
It's harder than power.
We stayed there for a long time.
No narration pressed in.
No threat approached.
Just existence steady, quiet, enough.
Nyx laughed at something small.
Selene sat without seeing tomorrow.
Aethern rested, finally not holding everything together.
And I realized something simple:
If I could teach them to stand
Then maybe this story didn't need me to carry it anymore
Not yet.