"Eh? Are you sure it changed?" Elena asked with worry.
Flipping the pages of the tome, I realized that the first page wasn't the only thing that changed, every other page also changed!
"Uh.. every other page now except the first page is empty.. and yeah I told you how the first page was a table of contents. Now there's just a paragraph in the middle and it's titled Yggdrasil".
Looking confused rightfully so, she then exclaimed in excitement as she realized what I just said. "Did you just say Yggdrasil?! That's the mythical tree deity! The one that birthed the mystical race of elves!"
Realizing her outburst she quickly composed herself while staring at me with hopeful eyes, like a puppy wanting a treat.
Inwardly smiling at her expression and outburst I quickly started reading the paragraph.
"In the beginning of the universe, it is said that Yggdrasil, a deity of life and immortality, was there from the beginning. It's a deity shaped as a tree. It was said that its branches could even surround the whole universe itself, like a baby to a mother's embrace. But despite being a deity that has been studied throughout the universe, and how it was thought that everything about Yggdrasil was discovered, there was something that it was hiding, a species that it had created. The elves you thought? No, they're simply humans that have evolved to adapt to the presence of lots of mana. No, a species where there can only be one existing individual. A species that can control time itself, the Kairos."
"..."
"Pfft," Elena who couldn't hold it anymore, let out a giggle.
"Everybody knows that the Elves were created by Yggdrasil, this book is complete bullshit." She explained herself.
As if offended by her words, the watch on my wrist started trembling before it detached itself. It hovered between me and Elena and slightly glowed green.
Not even a second later it shined so brightly I thought the sun itself came into my room and as my head was dizzy from the sudden brightness, Elena who was across from me yelped in fear as well.
"Well well well, be grateful that I, the ruler of time have graced you with my appearance." An arrogant voice sounded all around me as it only added onto my headache.
I clutched my head and blinked my eyes quickly to rid of the blurriness. As the blurriness lessened I came to a realization that my room that I was previously in, was no more. Instead I was sitting in space, a strangely familiar scene.
Composing myself from the strange sight, I became wary at the stranger's voice. "Who are you?"
As I asked that, I stood up from my sitting position and got into a fighting stance. My two fists raised up and my right foot forward, I looked around to find the owner of the voice.
"How amateurish.. sit." The voice mocked me before I could even find it. But what I was most surprised at was my inability to resist it's command at sitting. It was like my body wasn't mine, I literally couldn't control it. My fighting stance that I was previously in began to tuck back into a fearful stance I had on previously and then into the sitting position I was originally in. It was as if.. my body reversed itself.
Realizing I could move my neck and look around, I tried to stand up again only to be frightened at the appearance of a man. It was obvious that he was the owner of the voice.
I tried to voice my questions on who he was but when I opened my mouth no words came out. I once again tried to stand up at the presence of the stranger but I realized that my body was shaking. It wasn't cold in here, it was at most room temperature, but my body was shaking still.
The man in front of me smirked as if he noticed my confusion. "It seems your body is still human, afterall even if your mind is not scared of me, surely your human body will subconsciously be scared of a Kairos.
As if on queue, my body stopped shaking and my mouth began working properly. It seemed that whatever the man, or should I say, Kairos did, he allowed me to at least have bodily functions.
And as if also on queue, Elena who I completely forgot about and was no where to be found suddenly appeared right in front of the Kairos. Her expression was of fear and worry while the Kairos itself was amused.
Looking at how she tried to open her mouth but how no noise came out, I realized that she must be experiencing the same thing I was.
"Let her go!" I yelled out in anger. Surprised at even my own decibels I managed to scream out.
"No worries no worries, your girlfriend isn't in any danger. She's just frightened by my appearance. Plus she's quite the talent.." The Kairos quickly told me.
Now that I was fairly more calm at his words, although he was extremely suspicious, I looked him up and down. Surprisingly he looked eerily familiar. He looked.. like me. He had my face my height and even my eyes. The only difference between us was that his hair, was a bright green while mine only had tips of green and his clothing was also different. He wore a simple cloak and dark leggings. He also looked older than me, a lot older.. even though his face was practically the same as mine somehow.
As if reading my thoughts, the Kairos simply smirked and said, "Ehhh? Are you curious about why we looked alike?"
"Who are you?" My voice was filled with venom as I responded to his taunts and although I was scared, I also couldn't help but be curious.
As if wanting to ease me, Elena suddenly disappeared and reappeared right next to me. I realized I was still sitting down even after all of that but I quickly stood up and caught her. She seemed to be unconscious though.
"Don't worry she's just asleep, I don't want people to eavesdrop on us afterall." The Kairos reassured me.
"Let's change this boring scene shall we?" As he said that, the space around us, literally the space, started shifting. It continued for a few seconds until I was met with a familiar scene, my room. Except, there was no bed or doors it was just a boxed room and I was sitting in front of my short table and across me was.. me. Well the Kairos to be exact.
He was staring at me with an amused expression on his face. "Tell me all of the questions you have for me. I'll answer them as best as I can."
"Who are you?"
"I am the last Kairos of this universe, Xiao Li."
"Why am I here?"
"Because your friend insulted me."
"Be honest."
"Finee, you're the next successor to us, Kairos."
Surprised at the sudden revelation but realizing the coincidences that added up until now, I realized he was truthful. "What do you want from me?"
The man in front of me yawned as his amused smile turned into a stoic bored look, as if he already predicted the question. "Already answered that didn't I? Hurry up with your questions they're so repetitive.."
Realizing my blunder I already guessed what they wanted from me, to be their successor. I quickly started pondering what other questions I had, then suddenly I remembered the book. The once crazy story about Yggdrasil was most likely the complete truth.
"Can you really control time?"
As if happy at that question, the Kairos smirked and a arrogant expression appeared. "Little boy, I created the universe itself you know? Of course I control time."
Sensing my doubts at his ridiculous claims, he quickly snapped his fingers. The space around us folded and we were back in my room. But it wasn't really my room. The previous basic room became depressing and broken. The bunk bed had no sheets and there were holes in the mattress. The wood flooring had broken boards and looked worn out from time. The lights above us were broken and out of use while the table that I often used frequently with Elena stood crooked.
It was obvious from this sight that this, was probably when the orphanage would be abandoned on the far future. A place forgotten to time and no longer disturbed. And this also made me realize that the Kairos, or now, Xiao Li was truthful.
After satisfied with my shocked and admittance expression, he snapped his fingers back, the scene folded onto itself once again and we were also once again back in space, surrounded by stars and galaxies.
"I hope that answers your question and that is also all I can do for now." Xiao Li said with a smirk.
"As if that's all you need to do to create the universe." I retorted back, wanting to rid of his arrogant face as it was weird seeing myself with such a unfamiliar expression.
It seemed that it worked out as Xiao Li rolled up his sleeves from his cloaks, where a watch that looked exactly like the one that attached to me, appeared. "Oops, looks like I've overstayed myself. I'll definitely get a earful from mother at this rate. Good bye now!"
On that note, the space began to crumble as that bright light from before that appeared from the watch, appeared through the cracks of space. When I came to be, I was sitting on top on my bed with Elena sleeping between my legs.
'This.. this is so confusing.'
***
Xiao Li
As I sent the boy and girl back I couldn't help but be happy.
'To think that the next Kairos is also next to a magic god.. surely this is the work of fate as well..'
"XIAO LI!!"
A voice of pure anger but still feminine sounded throughout my mind, normally it would've gave me a headache but I've become immune to it, and as if on queue, a angry face appeared in front of me. It had its eyes closed and was green in color. It's ears were pointed like an elves and their hair was luscious and long to where it reached down to touch the floor.
"Lady Yggdrasil," I quickly said as I bowed towards the head.
"Stand."
I quickly stood and smiled at her appearance. Her anger must've lessened a bit as her once angry expression turned stoic as her bright yellow green eyes opened.
"Do you realize your blunder?" She questioned me.
"Yes, mother. I'll try to be more careful next time."
Continuing to nag me, she said, "If you were to mess with that boy's fate, this universe is doomed for. You must let him walk his path undisturbed. Fate will never let him stray as his path is the same as yours, do you understand, boy?"
"Yes, mother." I said absent mindedly.
"Just meeting him and answering those questions of his, you've already almost made him trip on his path! Do you even know what that means? He could fall off his path and never achieve what he was meant to be!" She said, continuing to lecture me.
"Yes, mother I'll definitely be more careful next time." As soon as I said that, the space around us folded and I was staring a small wood cabin that was surrounded by, the woods. The face that was once in front of me disappeared as well and a figure came to view that was standing in the doorway of the cabin.
'It seems like I'll have to comfort mother that what I've done will merely speed up his process. I'll also tell her about the appearance of a magic god besides him as well, that will surely cheer up mother.'
________