Eventually, Asher changed direction.
For the first time in a long while, he headed back toward Association territory.
Not because he was needed.
Because nothing was.
The journey took time, but there was no urgency. The roads were calm. The soul network stayed steady the entire way. No warning signs followed him.
When he reached an Association outpost, it felt smaller than he remembered. Or maybe he had simply outgrown it.
He presented himself at the internal desk. No announcement. No escort.
The receptionist checked his clearance, then paused. Her expression shifted—not surprise, but recognition.
"It's been a long time," she said.
"Yes," Asher replied.
She reviewed the logs tied to his name. Long gaps. Few entries. No emergency markers.
Her lips curved into a small, professional smile. "Status reports confirm it," she said. "Stability across monitored regions. No active threats. No escalation."
She looked up at him. "That's… a successful outcome."
