Jun didn't rush the morning.
He woke before the sky brightened, but instead of rising with the kettle, he remained seated on the edge of his mat. The room held a kind of muted clarity, like the air before a quiet rain. He wasn't tired. Just… still.
The air was cool—colder than usual for that season—carrying the faint scent of damp stone and tea leaves from the day before. Outside, a single bird sang, not rhythmically, but like it was trying to remember the tune.
Jun's fingers traced the edge of the folded cloth beside him. Not to unfold it. Not to start the day. Just to acknowledge its quiet shape in the dark.
The floor beneath him creaked slightly when he shifted his weight. Familiar. Worn. Grounded. A home not made for comfort, but for rhythm.
A new system line hovered in the corner.
> [System Prompt: Echo Thread Placement – Observation Task Initiated]
Duration: Single Day (Sunrise to Sunset)
Location: Echo Row
Reward: None
