Eye of the Eternal Weave: Eyes are the conduit to the soul, and through them, time flows—guiding, shaping, and unravelling the threads of fate. Gaze upon the infinite timelines, each one a path veiled in complexity. With a single glance, the tapestry of existence unfolds before you, countless possible futures spiralling out in every direction. Superset your will onto the infinite timelines, and with the strength of your intent, bend them to your desires. Watch as choices converge, diverge, and align, all beneath the power of your gaze.
Reading each word, I let the weight of my new Soul Ability sink in—Eye of the Eternal Weave. The power to manipulate infinite timelines. During the fight, I had glimpsed them: countless possibilities, countless timelines. One where I evaded the arrow entirely, another where it missed, and yet another where I had been struck in the head.
From what I understood, this ability, through the use of time aether, allowed me to weave different timelines to my will. During the fight against the training dummies, I had seen various versions of myself facing off against the training dummies. In doing so, I chose one where the arrow struck my shoulder rather than my arm. I had glimpsed timelines where I completely dodged the arrow, but they faded almost as quickly as they appeared, slipping through my grasp due to my lack of strength and mastery over abilities.
In my moment of contemplation, I heard slow, deliberate footsteps approaching from behind. Each step was measured, just loud enough to signal that whoever it was wanted their presence to be known.
Turning toward the approaching footsteps, I saw Ms. Athena walking toward me, a slight smile softening her otherwise stoic face. She wore black robes that matched her horns, which curved elegantly and glinted faintly in the light. The fabric draped perfectly along her figure, exuding an aura of power and refinement. She gave me a knowing look, her piercing eyes seeming to see straight through me.
"How's your training going?" she asked, her voice calm but tinged with curiosity. "Are you adapting to your newfound powers?"
I hesitated for a moment, unsure how much to reveal. The truth was, I didn't mind telling her about my time affinity. Ms. Athena always carried an air of quiet understanding, as if she knew more than she let on. I figured she'd uncover it sooner or later. But beyond that, there was something reassuring about her presence—steady, unshakable, and grounded in a way that made her seem deserving of trust.
"My training… well, I'm not entirely sure," I admitted, my gaze dropping for a moment. "It feels like it's going well, but on the other hand, my affinities are… hard to grasp. Like I'm holding onto something that keeps slipping through my fingers."
I met her eyes again and, after a brief pause, spoke the words. "It's… time," I said finally, my voice calm but tinged with uncertainty. "That's my affinity. Or at least, one of them."
Her expression remained calm, but her eyes lit up with a flicker of curiosity, maybe even approval. "Time," she repeated, her tone even and thoughtful. "An affinity I didn't think possible. You must be overwhelmed by its power and influence."
I nodded, scratching the back of my neck. "Yeah, it's been… overwhelming, trying to wrap my head around it. Seeing possibilities, watching them dissolve—it's a lot to process."
She tilted her head slightly, her horns catching the light. "And yet, you're processing it. That says more about your potential than you realize.
Her lips curled into the faintest smirk. "Give it time. No pun intended," she added, the slight humour in her tone making the moment feel unexpectedly lighter. "Trust yourself, Samuel. You wouldn't have been given this gift if you weren't capable of handling it."
"Now," she said, her voice carrying an unmistakable edge of challenge, "would you like to spar with someone who can actually fight back?"
The slight smirk on her lips and the gleam in her eyes made it abundantly clear she was talking about herself. There was no arrogance in her tone—just confidence, the kind born from experience and power.
I blinked, caught off guard by the sudden proposition. "You mean… you?"
"Who else?" she replied, crossing her arms as her horns gleamed faintly under the light. "Unless you'd rather stick with the training dummies."
Her words weren't mocking, but there was enough teasing to spark a flicker of determination within me. Sparring with Ms. Athena? The idea was equal parts thrilling and terrifying.
"I… uh…" I hesitated, my mind racing through the possibilities. Could I even hold my own against her for a second? Probably not. But the chance to test my abilities against someone of her caliber was too valuable to pass up.
"I'm game," I said finally, trying to sound more confident than I felt.
Her smirk widened just a fraction, and she unfolded her arms, the faint ripple of aetheric energy emanating from her. "Good," she said, her tone as smooth as ever. "Then let's see what you've learned so far."
I swallowed hard as the air around her shifted, charged with power. This wasn't going to be like any sparring session I'd ever had.
The next hour might as well have been torture.
Ms. Athena's power was illusions, and she wielded them with terrifying control. The moment our spar began, the world around me seemed to shift and warp, illusions bending under her will. One moment, I was standing on solid ground, the next, the floor seemed to dissolve, leaving me stumbling in a void.
Her illusions were seamless, every detail meticulously crafted to confuse and overwhelm. She attacked not just my body but my mind, forcing me to question everything I saw and felt.
"Focus," she said, her voice echoing from all directions. I spun around, searching for her, but every turn revealed another false version of her, each moving independently.
"How can I fight what I can't even see?" I growled, frustration bubbling to the surface.
"You're not fighting me," her voice came from behind me—or was it above? "You're fighting yourself. Trust your instincts, Samuel. Trust your aether."
I tried to tap into my time affinity, hoping it could help me see through the layers of deception. For a brief moment, I caught glimpses of her real position, but before I could act, the visions shattered like glass, her illusions adapting faster than I could process.
A wave of energy struck me from the side, sending me sprawling. I scrambled to my feet, only to find myself surrounded by identical copies of her, all closing in with predatory grace.
"Stop thinking so much," she said sharply, her tone both instructive and unforgiving. "Illusions prey on doubt. The moment you hesitate, they become your reality."
I gritted my teeth, forcing myself to focus. My body ached from the relentless pace, my mind teetering on the edge of exhaustion. Yet, deep down, I refused to give up.