The vision faded, leaving Arin, Kaelen, and Seraph standing in stunned silence within the shifting realm of timelines. The Weaver loomed before them, his threads curling and twisting as though alive, reflecting his power and authority over the Loom.
Arin's voice broke the silence, low and hoarse. "A prison… You made the Loom a cage for anyone who tried to change the course of fate."
The Weaver's gaze didn't waver. "It was necessary. The gods decreed that mortals could not be entrusted with the freedom to unravel the threads of existence. The Loom was created to maintain balance, to ensure the sanctity of their design."
Kaelen's fists clenched at his sides, his body trembling with restrained fury. "Balance? Sanctity? You're nothing more than a glorified jailer, keeping everyone shackled to your so-called order!"
Seraph stepped forward, his flames sparking erratically. "If the Loom is a prison, then why allow us to wield its power? Why give us a chance to fight against it?"
The Weaver's threads tightened, and his voice grew colder. "You misunderstand. The power you wield is not yours—it is the Loom's, and through it, you serve its purpose. You are not saviors or rebels. You are catalysts, meant to break and remake the cycle."
Arin's chest tightened as the words sank in. They weren't chosen to change the world—they were chosen to destroy it, only for it to be rebuilt anew. The Loom's design wasn't flawed; it was deliberate, a system meant to perpetuate the gods' control over all of existence.
"Then we'll break the cycle," Arin said, his voice firm despite the weight of the revelation. "We'll destroy the Loom and free ourselves from its grasp."
The Weaver's laughter echoed through the realm, a deep and resonant sound that seemed to vibrate through their very souls. "Fools. You cannot destroy the Loom. It is woven into the fabric of existence itself. To unmake it is to unmake everything."
Kaelen's voice was sharp. "If that's what it takes, then so be it. We'd rather see the world fall apart than live as pawns in your game."
The Weaver's threads surged toward them, wrapping around their bodies and lifting them off the ground. Pain shot through them as the threads dug into their skin, threatening to tear them apart.
"Your arrogance will be your undoing," the Weaver said, his tone void of emotion. "You are nothing more than fleeting sparks, destined to burn out."
But even as the threads tightened, Arin felt the Loom within him respond. The power that had once felt like a curse now surged through him with newfound intensity, fighting back against the Weaver's control.
"Enough!" Arin roared, and the Loom's energy exploded outward, shattering the threads and sending the Weaver staggering back.
Kaelen and Seraph dropped to the ground, gasping for breath as Arin stepped forward, his eyes blazing with determination.
"We're not sparks," Arin said, his voice steady. "We're the fire that will burn your prison to the ground."
The Weaver's threads coiled around him, but there was a flicker of hesitation in his movements. For the first time, it seemed as though he wasn't entirely in control.
"You seek to challenge the gods themselves," the Weaver said, his voice quieter now, almost contemplative. "Do you truly understand the weight of what you're attempting?"
Arin didn't waver. "We understand. And we'll bear that weight together."
The Weaver's form began to shift, his threads unraveling and reassembling into something more monstrous—a reflection of his true power as the guardian of the Loom. The realm around them darkened, the timelines twisting and collapsing into a single point.
Kaelen drew his weapon, his eyes alight with battle-ready resolve. "Looks like he's not going to let us walk away without a fight."
Seraph's flames roared to life, casting an eerie glow in the shifting darkness. "Good. I've been waiting to settle this."
Arin summoned the power of the Loom, feeling its threads intertwine with his own soul. The Weaver was more than a foe—he was the embodiment of everything they sought to destroy.
As the three of them prepared to face the Weaver, the weight of their decision pressed down on them. This battle wasn't just about survival—it was about reshaping the very fabric of existence.
And no matter the cost, they would see it through to the end.