Morning arrived without ceremony.
No system chime.
No warning.
No prophecy.
Only a knock.
Hard. Urgent. Wrong.
Ardian was already standing when the doors opened.
A courier entered, breathless.
"The southern grain cities," he said. "All three."
Blendi did not ask what happened.
He asked when.
"At dawn," the courier replied. "Markets closed themselves. Councils dissolved. No violence."
Ardian frowned.
"They coordinated."
Blendi nodded.
"Which means this is not rebellion."
Ardian looked at him.
"Then what is it."
Blendi answered quietly.
"A test."
The air shifted.
Not visually.
Not audibly.
But both of them felt it.
A presence.
Muted. Watching.
Ardian turned sharply.
"You feel that too."
Blendi exhaled.
"Yes."
The transparent light returned. Dimmer than before. Respectful.
ADVISORY SYSTEM ONLINE
Trigger: Unrequested State Divergence
Authority: Advisory Only
Ardian clenched his jaw.
"You said it would only return if we asked."
Blendi shook his head.
"No. I said it would return if we forgot."
The system spoke.
"Southern regions have initiated preemptive autonomy protocols."
Ardian snapped.
"They do not have that authority."
The system paused.
"They were taught how."
Silence.
Blendi closed his eyes briefly.
"…we trained them too well."
Dialogue Event: Responsibility
Ardian's voice was tight.
"They are destabilizing food supply."
"They are protecting it," Blendi replied.
Ardian stared.
"By cutting us out."
"By proving they do not need us," Blendi said calmly.
The system projected data.
Regional granaries full.
Local militias disciplined.
Trade routes rerouted internally.
No chaos.
No panic.
Just separation.
Decision Prompt Appears
STATE RESPONSE REQUIRED
Reassert Central Authority
Outcome: Control restored
Cost: Trust collapse
Negotiate Reintegration
Outcome: Slow reunification
Risk: Precedent for future exits
Allow Temporary Divergence
Outcome: Long term resilience
Risk: Loss of perceived unity
Ardian read it twice.
Then looked up.
"They are using our own doctrine against us."
Blendi nodded.
"Yes."
Ardian asked,
"Did you expect this."
Blendi did not lie.
"I hoped."
Ardian blinked.
"You hoped your own nation would walk away."
Blendi met his gaze.
"I hoped it would learn how."
The Choice
Ardian paced once.
Then stopped.
He pointed at the third option.
"This."
Blendi did not move.
"Say it."
Ardian swallowed.
"We allow temporary divergence."
The system waited.
Blendi asked one last question.
"Why."
Ardian answered slowly.
"Because a nation that cannot survive disagreement will shatter under invasion."
Blendi smiled.
"Confirm."
DECISION LOGGED
Temporary Divergence Approved
Central Authority: Maintained
Unity Status: Adaptive
Immediate Consequences
The system updated.
Trade slowed.
Tax flow adjusted.
Military command remained unified.
No riots.
No celebrations.
Just… adjustment.
The system spoke again.
"Unpredicted outcome detected."
Blendi raised an eyebrow.
"Oh."
"Peripheral regions increased production efficiency."
Ardian laughed once.
A sharp, surprised sound.
"They are competing."
Blendi nodded.
"Yes."
The System Learns
For the first time, the system did not give advice.
It asked.
"Is decentralization failure."
Blendi answered immediately.
"No."
Ardian added,
"It is rehearsal."
The system processed.
Longer than usual.
"Advisory Update."
"Human governance demonstrates non linear stability."
Ardian smirked.
"It is confused."
Blendi corrected him gently.
"It is learning."
The Messenger Returns
Another courier entered.
"The southern councils request clarification."
Ardian straightened.
"They want permission."
Blendi shook his head.
"No."
Ardian hesitated.
"No."
Blendi smiled.
"Exactly."
Ardian turned to the courier.
"Tell them this," he said.
"You are still Albania."
"You are free to prove it."
The courier bowed and left.
After the Door Closed
Ardian exhaled.
"That felt dangerous."
Blendi nodded.
"It was."
Ardian asked quietly.
"Is this how nations die."
Blendi looked out the window at the city moving on schedule.
"No," he said. "This is how they stop being fragile."
The system dimmed further.
Not retreating.
Standing aside.
SYSTEM STATUS
Observation Mode
Human Decisions: Dominant
Intervention Threshold: High
Ardian looked at Blendi.
"You are letting go again."
Blendi smiled.
"I am making sure you can hold on without me."
A bell rang outside.
The Common Hour.
Life continued.
Arguments would follow.
Mistakes too.
But none of them would be fatal.
Because Albania no longer mistook unity for obedience.
And somewhere, deep in the structure of the state, the system finally understood something it had never been programmed for.
Trust.