I woke up wrapped in a softness I hadn't felt since arriving in this world. The mattress was firm but comfortable, and the sheets had a smooth texture that contrasted with the places I'd slept in before. I stretched, feeling a slight soreness in my muscles—nothing a good bath couldn't fix.
I knew this calm wouldn't last long.
I got up and saw the small tub in the corner of the room. The warm water running over my skin brought back a freshness I hadn't felt in days. Despite the chaos and battles, this moment offered me a brief respite. After a quick breakfast, I was ready. I needed to see Eldrek.
But there was something I had to do first.
I headed to Nayris's house. As I walked, I noticed that Nethria was starting to recover from the chaos left by the gargoyles. Most of the rubble had been cleared away, and the townspeople were busy repairing their homes. It was good to see things improving.
When I reached Nayris's door, I took a deep breath before knocking. She opened it with a kind smile, and I felt a deep gratitude for all she'd done for me.
"Hey, I brought back the flask," I said, holding it out to her.
Nayris looked at the flask and then at me, surprised. "You really didn't have to, but thank you. I'm glad it worked for you."
I nodded. "It did wonders, thanks to you."
Nayris smiled and added, "I was just heading to the bar. Want to walk with me? It's not far."
I needed to see Eldrek as soon as possible, but going with her wouldn't take long. "Sure, I'll walk with you."
We walked through the quiet streets. Nayris mentioned, in a casual tone, how she was thankful her house hadn't been damaged during the attack, though she regretted that the bar hadn't been as lucky. "I'm going to help clean up," she explained.
I couldn't help but chuckle a bit inside. That bar belonged to Grimmor, and the idea of his property being affected didn't bother me one bit. "I'm sorry you have to go for just that; it must be exhausting," I said.
"It is, but someone has to do it," she replied, her tone resigned but calm.
Finally, we reached the bar's door. "Thanks for walking with me, Darius. And be careful out there. We don't know if those creatures might attack again," Nayris said politely.
"I will, you be careful too," I replied with a smile. We said goodbye, and each went our way.
I adjusted the sword Grimmor had given me before leaving the town. Quickening my pace, I knew that Eldrek's cave was about an hour away.
---
It was a relief that my trek through the forest was calm. Facing those gargoyles... or harpies would have been a pain.
When I reached the entrance, a chill ran down my spine. I went in, feeling the cool air and the dim light surrounding me. Eldrek was there, as always, working on some weapons. The sound of his hammer hitting the metal echoed throughout the cave.
Seeing me, he turned around. "You arrived sooner than I expected."
"I need to talk to you," I replied, out of breath.
Eldrek nodded, setting his tools aside. He gestured for me to follow him further into the cave. I knew he had answers, and I needed to understand what was happening as soon as possible.
The smell of freshly ground herbs filled the cave as Eldrek prepared a steaming brew in a small cauldron. I sat nearby, silently watching his precise movements. The warmth and calm of the place contrasted with the chaos of recent days.
"Eldrek, I need your help," I began. "There's something I don't understand... I can't go on without learning to control what's happening to me."
Eldrek looked up, curious. He handed me a cup with the dark, bitter liquid he'd prepared. I drank it without protest before continuing.
"I'll be direct. I turned back time to save a friend, Nayris," I confessed, looking him straight in the eye.
"Nethria had been attacked by those damn gargoyles, and I suspect Grimmor was behind it all. I saw one of them kill Nayris right in front of me. At that moment, in the middle of the chaos, something inside me... shifted. I don't know how, but I went back a few minutes, just enough to prevent her death. I was able to change what had happened, but... I don't know how I did it or what consequences it might have. I feel like I'm toying with something I barely understand."
Eldrek nodded slowly, understanding the gravity of what I was saying. After a moment of reflection, the giant began to speak with his characteristic calm.
"Controlling time is not something to take lightly," he began, his deep voice echoing against the cave walls. "You must understand that every change, even the smallest, has the power to alter the course of events."
I listened closely, trying to absorb every word.
"Look, your ability to move between eras is not something I fully grasp," Eldrek continued, leaning forward with a serious expression. "But since I last saw you, I've learned one thing: the trick isn't in controlling time."
He paused for a moment, letting his words sink in. "The key is learning to feel the flow of events. Pay attention to your surroundings; you'll see that time, like everything in this world, follows patterns. Sometimes changes seem insignificant, but even those details can unleash massive consequences. Instead of trying to control time directly, try moving with it. It's like swimming in a river. If you fight against the current, it will drag you. But if you learn to go with it, you'll find direction."
Eldrek stopped talking for a moment, choosing his words carefully.
"I won't tell you which moments from the past are crucial or which you should avoid. You know I can't influence that. What I can warn you is to always be ready to face the consequences of your actions. Even if you think you're acting for the greater good, time remains unpredictable."
I frowned, trying to fully understand his warning.
"When you feel that time is beginning to shift in your favor, don't rush. Those are the moments when you need to stop, sense the change... and then decide. In that precise instant, when it seems everything is about to turn, you have more control than you imagine."
Eldrek allowed himself a slight smile.
"And remember, Darius, even though you asked me not to interfere in your choices, that doesn't mean you're alone in this. Sometimes, the best way to navigate through time is to trust your instincts... and those around you."
He paused, his expression turning darker. The giant leaned closer, his dark gaze filled with concern.
"There's something else you need to know," he said, his tone more serious. "Your ability... it's not like others. It comes from a source we call chaos, and that kind of power always demands a price."
I watched him closely, not daring to interrupt.
"Every time you use that ability," Eldrek continued, "you expose yourself to the influence of chaos magic. This magic doesn't follow normal rules; its nature is to alter, destroy, and recreate in a constant cycle of disorder. Its purpose isn't stability but uncontrolled transformation. If you're not careful with it, each leap through time can cause you to lose parts of yourself, leaving you something more vulnerable, more... fragmented."
The warning was clear and chilling, and for a moment, I was left speechless, thinking that the being from my dreams had somehow cursed me rather than gifted me with an ability.
The thought that the power I'd used to save Nayris could slowly destroy me deeply unsettled me.
"Then, what should I do?" I asked, my voice lower than usual.
"Take the time to master it," Eldrek replied, his tone softer. "Don't rush its use, and don't see it as a tool to change every little inconvenience. Let it flow, yes, but also make sure it doesn't control your destiny. Use the power only when you truly need it, and in time, you'll learn to wield it in a way that won't let it consume you."
I nodded, absorbing every word. Now, more than ever, I understood the gravity of what I carried inside. This power, which had given me a chance to change fate, could also end my essence if I wasn't careful.
Eldrek looked at me with compassion. "This power can be both a blessing and a curse. But you, Darius... You have the ability to choose what it will be for you."
Still processing Eldrek's warnings, I asked the question that had been on my mind.
"Do you have any idea how I could train to control it effectively?"
Eldrek scratched his chin, thoughtful. "I don't know how you trained in the past, Darius. What I do know is what I saw the last time we met, before you disappeared from my sight."
I looked at him, intrigued, waiting for an explanation.
"I remember you sat cross-legged, placed your hands on your knees, and closed your eyes. At first, nothing happened... But then, the air around you began to distort. It was as if space itself was twisting around you, and then... you disappeared."
Eldrek paused, looking at me with a mix of uncertainty and respect.
"Since then, I hadn't seen you until now."
I frowned, intrigued by what I had just heard. The image of myself disappearing in the middle of a spatial distortion was something I could barely comprehend.
"Maybe you could start from there," Eldrek suggested.
"If that position allowed you to tap into the power, maybe that's the starting point you need. If you can replicate what you did before, you might start to understand how it really works."
I nodded slowly. I didn't have many answers, but what Eldrek had told me seemed like a good place to start. If the version of myself in the past had discovered something through that technique, then maybe I could too.
"It's worth a try," I murmured, more to myself than to Eldrek.
I looked at him, a renewed determination in my eyes. "Do you mind if I try it right now?"
Eldrek nodded, though his expression showed some concern. "Do it, but proceed with caution. This power shouldn't be taken lightly."
Without saying more, I sat down, crossing my legs as Eldrek had described. I placed my hands on my knees and closed my eyes, trying to clear my mind of any distractions.
Meanwhile, Eldrek returned to his work, the hammering of metal filling the cavern.
Several minutes passed with nothing happening. My thoughts, scattered and uncontrollable, prevented me from focusing. Frustrated, I let out a shout, cursing under my breath.
"This is useless!" I exclaimed, my voice echoing in the cave. Irritation took hold of me, my mind clouded by the lack of progress.
From the other side of the cave, Eldrek raised his voice without stopping his work. "Maybe it'd help if you focus on a single thought, Darius! Focus on what truly matters."
I took a deep breath, reflecting on Eldrek's words. I stood up for a moment, relaxing my shoulders and taking a deep breath. "A single thought...," I murmured to myself.
I needed to clear my mind. Without thinking much, I approached the other part of the cave, where Eldrek continued working near the furnace. The heat felt suffocating there, the constant fire of the furnace the cause. Eldrek, completely focused, didn't even seem to notice.
"Hey, Eldrek," I said, leaning against one of the walls, trying not to melt in the heat. "I've got a question."
The giant barely looked up from what he was forging. "Yes?"
"About me… from the past, I mean. How was I? Handsomer than now? Stronger? I don't know, give me some detail."
Eldrek let out a short laugh and continued hammering the metal. "You haven't changed much, kid."
"Oh, come on, give me something. Did I have an epic scar? A metal arm? Something that makes me seem more... imposing!"
Eldrek turned with an amused smile on his face. "You were just as inquisitive. But, to be fair, I think you had better fashion sense. That cape suited you well."
I looked at him, incredulous. "The cape? Really?"
The giant laughed again, the sound echoing through the cave. "You could say you were... a bit more dramatic. But other than that, you were yourself. Though I wonder if you were ever this insistent."
I crossed my arms, snorting with a smile. "I guess that's also part of the mystery."
I went back to my spot, feeling somewhat more at ease, as Eldrek kept hammering with a grin still on his face. I sat down again, returning to the same position. This time, I took the pendant I always carried and held it tightly. I focused on what it represented, on everything I had lost, and on the promise I had made to myself.
As I did so, the steady sound of Eldrek's hammering in the background became part of my focus, like a metronome marking the rhythm of my concentration. Each strike on the metal anchored me in the present but also pushed me towards something deeper.
As the echo of each hammer blow resonated, I could feel a faint vibration in my chest, as if it resonated within me, aligning with something I didn't fully understand.
I felt the magic of chaos flowing through me, but in a different way. The space around me began to ripple, as if the very air were twisting and dancing around me.
Eldrek, from the other side of the cavern, stopped. The hammering ceased abruptly, and the sudden silence broke the spell. That was when a strange sound began to resonate, distorting the atmosphere. With urgency, he left what he was doing and ran toward me.
The last thing he saw was the space around me starting to fragment, as if time and space were tearing apart.
Just as it had happened before, I disappeared before his eyes, engulfed in the distortion of chaos.
Eldrek stood still for a moment, staring at the void where I had been.