Time magic is the most mystical of all magical domains, offering infinite possibilities. Each event is like an online link point in the time structure, and different outcomes can lead to different historical directions. For example, the future for Evan, depending on the choices made, can result in entirely different scenarios.
"So, time has many possibilities? A complex lattice?" Evan asked, attempting to grasp Kronos's words with his own thoughts. "Like prophecies, the future you see, in the time I haven't experienced, did this world eventually get destroyed?"
"You don't quite understand time magic, Evan. The unique nature of time dictates its distinctiveness. Whether it's the past, the present, or the future, they each exist on a separate timeline," Kronos explained earnestly, avoiding a direct answer to Evan's question. "According to your tentative plan, time is a complex lattice with many intertwined timelines. This isn't incorrect, but it's the theory of parallel space and time, not time magic, not the domain I command."
"Uniqueness and parallel space and time..." Evan furrowed his brow.
"Yes, in this world, only one timeline exists, from beginning to end. Your not being part of this timeline means that it was entirely rejected, and because of your arrival, the future has also changed. Apart from me, no one else will be aware of the events in that rejected timeline. They never happened, and a new future awaits you to create," Kronos explained.
"Alright, since I'm here now, what does the future hold?" Evan asked, feeling inspired.
He was beginning to understand that Kronos, as the master of time, could traverse different spaces and times, existing independently beyond the time axis, diligently ensuring that time progressed in the direction he desired—the direction Evan hoped for. This was the incredible power of the Titans, as legend had it, the creators of this mysterious world.
"In the future, it will still face destruction," Kronos said slowly. "In the current timeline, the future I see remains one of destruction. Your resistance is insignificant, incapable of preventing the arrival of evil forces, and all life will be obliterated."
"What?!" Evan exclaimed in shock. "The future... destruction?"
The realization that the world he had come to could face impending doom left him deeply unsettled. Regardless of his existence, the world's fate seemed sealed. Why, then, had Kronos met with him? What was the purpose?
"Don't worry, Evan. This is what I'm about to explain. Although time is fixed, the outcome is not set in stone. It can be changed," Kronos reassured him. "For you, the events in the future that I've witnessed haven't occurred yet. The timeline rejected due to your arrival can be rewritten, much like you did with the previous timeline."
"Changed?" Evan contemplated the increasing complexity of the situation. Although he didn't fully understand everything, hearing that the world faced impending destruction was unsettling.
"First, you need to know who our enemies are, the threat this world faces, and the forthcoming destruction in the distant future," Kronos continued. "At this point, you should have seen those dreadful beings..."
"You mean the ancient gods?" Evan interjected.
"Yes, but what you've seen are not the complete ancient gods. Specifically, they are only a part of these beings that have projected themselves into this world through ancient magic," Kronos clarified.
"So, the gods are just projections!" Evan looked at Kronos, unsure of what to say.
"These beings, whom you call ancient gods, share a common origin. They were born in this world's infancy, just as the Titans were formed by the will of the stars. Our duty was to create life and offer hope, but the ancient gods, originating from the void, sought to destroy both life on the surface and the very core of the star..." Kronos continued, gazing out at the universe of stars through a crack in the rock. "As far as I know, this isn't the first star they've corrupted, and it won't be the last."
A silence fell over them as Evan struggled to comprehend the revelation. He was shocked by the notion that these formidable and malevolent beings shared a common origin with the Titans. Hearing Kronos's words, it became apparent that there were many of these ancient and powerful monsters.
Evan couldn't fathom how the world would survive if they were to reach Earth. The revelation that the world could potentially be destroyed, even with Evan's presence, left him questioning the significance of his arrival.
"Regarding the stories of these ancient void gods, I could talk about them for a long time, but circumstances don't allow it. You only need to know that they date back to the beginning of this world, when Titans battled them and eventually sealed their main forms, preventing them from fully manifesting in our realm. But we paid a heavy price for this victory," Kronos explained.
"A heavy price?" Evan inquired.
"Yes, the Titans' ability to create life ended after the war. Some Titans completely dissipated, while others, like me, fell from the sky during that conflict. This place is where I descended," Kronos revealed.
"Wait, you fell from the sky? You...?" Evan stared at Kronos in astonishment.
He realized that he knew too little about time magic, but how could he not understand that, despite traveling through time, he couldn't reach a future he hadn't experienced?
"Titan has lived again, having fallen from the sky, and now, by the willful transformation of the stars, they merge into one organic whole, continuing to maintain the natural order," Kronos said with deep veneration. "I am time itself, existing forever, endlessly, but I can no longer be felt by the life on this star. What you see now is the strength I once possessed, reflected in this specific time and space."
Kronos glittered with a weak silver ray, his hands echoing the starlight streaming through the crevices in the dike. In the gentle radiance, Evan felt a small, melancholic touch.
Although Kronos claimed to have become the will of the stars, an embodiment of time, Evan couldn't ignore that they had fallen from the sky, marking their passage in the vast universe and endless time. In a world where everything changes, what remains unchanging?
Perhaps nothing, Evan thought. Even Voldemort's pursuit of immortality, his quest to conquer death, seemed laughable in the face of such cosmic forces.
"Alright, Evan, you shouldn't mourn our fall from the sky; that's a distant past now and not what you should focus on," Kronos said softly. "As for what I've just told you, it's the end of the war for Titan, but it's truly a new beginning for mortals like you. With the rule of Titan over, this star will gradually flourish."
The essence of Titan was creation, and after they fell from the sky, the divine creative force they initiated began to evolve, shaping the very Earth itself. The civilizations on this star would now flourish, a challenging development to predict.
"Kronos, why did you wait here specifically for me, guiding Rowena Ravenclaw to bring me here?" Evan asked, his curiosity piqued. "What is it that you want me to do?"
He steered the conversation back to his current situation. While the revelations Kronos shared were mind-boggling, Evan didn't see himself as capable of saving the world. He lacked the awareness and strength for such a task. After all he'd been through, Evan wished to graduate from Hogwarts, find an interesting job, marry Hermione, and lead a peaceful life. The likes of Voldemort, vampires, evil gods, and Titans from the ancient void didn't concern him.
"In the war, Titan paid a heavy price to return the ancient god from the void to their sealed state, but the seal was incomplete," Kronos explained. "This incomplete seal maintains a connection between this star and the void. As magic civilization reached its pinnacle, these formidable mortals attracted the attention of these ancient gods. They followed the trail of magic arts, extending their influence back to this star, seeking an opportunity to break free from their shackles. I need your help."
Evan inquired, "What do you need me to do, though? I can't see how I can make a difference."
"Don't underestimate your own strength, Evan. The potential of mortals is limitless," Kronos assured him. "I know you have many questions, such as why I chose you. It's because, in my experience, you appeared on the battlefield at the very end of the war. It's a fact."
Evan couldn't fathom undertaking such a crazy mission in the future. It was madness to return hundreds of thousands of years in the past and battle with formidable ancient gods!
"We crossed paths in the past, which you haven't experienced yet, which was truly remarkable. That's the beauty of time magic," Kronos said with a smile. "By rejecting this mission, you'd alter many anxiously awaited outcomes. This fascinating world is on the brink of destruction in the not-so-distant future. As a member of this world, wouldn't you want to prevent that?"
Evan nodded reluctantly. If the world were to be destroyed, his life, the people he loved, and the things worth protecting would all cease to exist. He couldn't let that happen.
Kronos reassured him that Evan was chosen for a reason, having witnessed his involvement in the final battle. Divination and prediction had their limits, and the future could be changed. If Evan refused or didn't return to the final battle, Kronos wouldn't have encountered him, rendering their conversation meaningless.
"To prevent the world's downfall, you have a lot to do," Kronos said, beckoning towards a Time-Turner that slowly levitated onto a stone platform. "Your mission is challenging, Evan. You must correct the timeline's mistakes at different times, enhance your strength, and conserve our power."
"Time travel?" Evan asked in astonishment.
"To accomplish this, you'll need a powerful Time-Turner," Kronos explained, manipulating a Time-Turner radiating a blue aura in his hand. "This Time-Turner contains a portion of my own power. It will enable you to traverse different periods in the past and future. Even with all the time in the world, you'd still need this. I sense my power resonating within you. Have you used it before this?"
"I used it to return to Hogwarts a millennium ago," Evan replied, summarizing his use of the Time-Turner.
"A millennium ago, I presented it to Rowena Ravenclaw. She came to seek my help, hoping I could rid her of the strange power in her blood, which she regarded as a curse."
"I'm aware of that. Before I returned here, I observed Ravenclaw's memory," Evan said. "Did you manage to help her in the end?"
"Yes, it was a peculiar magical power, not of Titan or the void ancient gods, completely distinct from the typical time magic. It was a power that mortals naturally acquire through evolution," Kronos explained, gazing upwards at the slit in the rock. "Its source lies there."