Tia's chest heaved as she and Kian stumbled out of the Riftwood. The forest's oppressive weight had lifted, but the uneasy silence between them hung like a storm cloud.
"What did we just do?" Tia murmured, staring at the watch in her trembling hand.
"It worked," Kian said, his voice distant. "That's what matters."
She wanted to believe him, but a gnawing feeling in her gut told her the cost wasn't as simple as the figure had said. The memory of the searing pain, of something precious slipping away, haunted her.
As they reached the clearing beyond the forest, they found a caravan waiting. It wasn't there before. Horses whinnied, and a group of strangers, cloaked in deep red, stood motionless by the vehicles.
Tia froze. "Do you think they're friendly?"
Kian's hand went to his sword. "I doubt it."
Before they could decide whether to run or fight, a figure emerged from the largest carriage. A tall woman, draped in flowing crimson robes, descended gracefully. Her silver hair shimmered under the moonlight, and her eyes sparkled like twin amethysts.
"Keeper of the watch," she said, her voice smooth and commanding.
Tia exchanged a nervous glance with Kian. "Why does everyone keep calling me that?"
"Because you are," the woman replied, her smile both warm and unsettling. "But you are also... incomplete."
Tia took a step back. "What do you mean, incomplete?"
The woman's gaze shifted to the watch. "It is whole, yes, but its power is fractured. The piece you sacrificed? It was only the beginning. The true danger lies ahead."
"Great. More bad news," Tia muttered. "And who are you supposed to be?"
"I am Selene," the woman said, inclining her head. "High Priestess of the Order of the Shattered Hourglass. We've been watching you for a long time, Tia."
Kian stepped in front of Tia, his sword unsheathed. "If you've been watching, then you know we don't trust strangers in the middle of nowhere."
Selene's lips twitched in amusement. "Wise. But I am not your enemy. In fact, I may be the only ally you have left."
"Left?" Tia repeated, her heart sinking.
Selene's smile faded. "The moment you repaired the watch, the balance of time shifted. Others felt it—those who crave its power. They are coming for you, Tia. And they will stop at nothing."
Tia's legs felt like jelly. "Why me? I didn't ask for any of this!"
"You didn't need to," Selene said softly. "The watch chose you."
Kian stepped closer to Selene, his eyes narrowing. "What do you want from her?"
"To protect her," Selene said simply. "And to guide her before it's too late."
Tia's head spun. The watch. The sacrifice. The mysterious enemies. It was all too much. She looked at Kian, desperate for reassurance.
"What do we do?" she whispered.
Kian didn't answer. He was staring at something behind Selene, his expression darkening.
"Tia," he said slowly, "we have company."
From the shadows, figures emerged—at least a dozen of them. Their faces were obscured by dark masks, and their weapons glinted menacingly under the moonlight.
Selene turned, her expression calm but her eyes sharp. "The Seekers," she said. "They've found us."
"Seekers?" Tia asked, panic rising in her chest.
"Mercenaries," Selene explained. "Hired by those who seek the watch. And they will not show mercy."
Kian tightened his grip on his sword. "Then we won't give them a chance."
Selene raised a hand, and the air around her seemed to shimmer. A protective barrier formed, encircling Tia and Kian.
"Stay inside," Selene ordered, her voice firm. "I'll handle them."
Before Tia could protest, Selene stepped forward. The Seekers charged, their weapons raised, but Selene moved like water—fluid, precise, unstoppable. With a wave of her hand, a burst of light erupted, sending several Seekers flying.
Tia watched in awe and terror. Selene wasn't just powerful; she was terrifying.
But the Seekers weren't deterred. More of them emerged from the shadows, their numbers seemingly endless. Kian, ignoring Selene's warning, stepped out of the barrier and joined the fight. His sword clashed against theirs with a fierce determination that made Tia's heart ache.
"Kian!" she yelled, but he didn't look back.
Selene's voice cut through the chaos. "Tia, focus! The watch is the key. Use it!"
"Use it? How?" Tia cried, staring at the watch.
But before Selene could answer, one of the Seekers broke through the barrier. The masked figure lunged at Tia, and she screamed, stumbling backward.
The watch began to glow, and time seemed to slow. The Seeker's movements became sluggish, their blade suspended mid-air.
Tia's mind raced. Was this the watch's power? Could she control it?
"Tia!" Kian's voice snapped her out of her daze.
She raised the watch instinctively, and a burst of energy shot out, knocking the Seeker to the ground. Time resumed its normal flow, and Tia stared at the fallen figure in shock.
Selene reappeared beside her, her robes pristine despite the chaos. "You have more power than you realize," she said, her tone almost reverent.
Tia swallowed hard, her hands trembling. "What happens if I can't control it?"
Selene's gaze was steady. "Then the world will fall apart."
The weight of her words crushed Tia, but before she could respond, a loud horn echoed through the forest. The Seekers retreated as swiftly as they had appeared, melting back into the shadows.
"What was that?" Tia asked, her voice shaking.
Selene's expression darkened. "A warning. They'll be back, and next time, they won't hold back."
Kian limped toward them, his sword bloodied but his eyes sharp. "We need to move. Now."
Tia nodded, clutching the watch tightly. The answers she sought were still out of reach, but one thing was clear—this was far from over.
As they disappeared into the night, a new figure stepped into the clearing. His golden eyes gleamed with malicious intent, and his smile was cold.
"Let the games begin," he murmured, his voice dripping with menace.
The night was still, yet the weight in the air was unbearable. Tia, Kian, and Selene trudged through the dense woods, their breaths heavy and minds racing. Every step felt like a countdown to disaster.
Selene broke the silence. "We're nearing the Whispering Vale. It's a safe place—for now."
"Safe?" Kian muttered, glaring at her. "You seem to know a lot for someone who just showed up out of nowhere."
Selene sighed, the weariness in her eyes deepening. "Because I've been fighting this war for centuries. The watch has ruined more lives than you can imagine, Kian."
Tia stopped dead in her tracks. "Centuries?" she echoed. "You're not... human, are you?"
Selene gave her a small, sad smile. "Not entirely. The power of the Shattered Hourglass binds me to time. I am both its guardian and its prisoner."
Tia's mind reeled. The revelation only deepened the mystery, and the watch in her hand felt heavier than ever.
"Why didn't you tell us this earlier?" Kian demanded, his grip on his sword tightening.
"Because the less you know, the safer you are," Selene replied. "But now... it seems ignorance isn't an option."
Before Kian could retort, a strange hum filled the air. It was faint at first, like a distant whisper, but it grew louder, sharper, more invasive.
"What is that?" Tia asked, her voice trembling.
Selene's face paled. "A Rift. Time is collapsing here."
A shimmering tear appeared ahead, its edges crackling with energy. Through it, they saw flashes of events—past, present, and future—all jumbled together in chaotic fragments.
Then came the voice. Deep, resonant, and chillingly familiar.
"Keeper of the Watch," it called, echoing through the forest.
Tia's blood turned to ice. "Who... who's there?"
The Rift rippled, and a figure stepped through. He was tall, clad in dark armor that seemed to absorb the light around him. But what froze Tia was his face.
It was Kian.
Or rather, a version of him. This Kian's eyes glowed with an unnatural gold, and his expression was twisted with malice.
"No," Tia whispered, backing away. "This can't be real."
The real Kian stepped forward, his sword drawn. "Who are you?"
The dark Kian smirked. "I'm you. Or at least, what you will become."
"Impossible!" Kian spat.
"Not impossible," Selene said grimly. "Time is fractured. What you see is a shadow of a potential future—a warning."
Dark Kian chuckled. "A warning? No, dear Selene. I'm a promise. And I'm here to claim what's mine." His gaze locked onto Tia.
"Stay away from her!" Kian growled, stepping protectively in front of Tia.
Dark Kian tilted his head, amusement flickering across his face. "Ah, the knight in shining armor. Always so predictable."
He raised his hand, and the Rift behind him expanded. From its depths emerged shadowy creatures—twisted, monstrous versions of people Tia faintly recognized. Her neighbors. Her friends.
"Kian..." she whispered, clutching his arm. "This isn't just a future. He knows me."
Selene's expression darkened. "The watch links you to all timelines. He's using it to pull memories, to manipulate reality."
Dark Kian's smile widened. "Clever as always, Selene. But you can't stop what's already set in motion."
The ground beneath them trembled, and the shadows surged forward. Kian charged, his blade cutting through the darkness, but for every shadow he felled, two more took its place.
Selene raised her hands, summoning a barrier of light, but even her power seemed to falter against the onslaught.
Tia stood frozen, the watch in her hands glowing brighter with every passing second.
"You can't run from this, Tia," Dark Kian said, his voice soft but menacing. "The watch has chosen you, but it will destroy everything you love. Just like it did to me."
Tia shook her head, tears streaming down her face. "I don't believe you!"
"Don't you?" he asked, stepping closer. "Then ask yourself—why hasn't Selene told you the truth? Why does Kian always stand in your way? The watch is yours, Tia. But it doesn't need them."
Selene's barrier flickered, and she turned to Tia, desperation in her eyes. "Don't listen to him! The watch thrives on doubt. He's trying to break you!"
Tia looked at Selene, then at Kian, who was struggling against the shadows. Her heart pounded. The weight of the watch, the secrets, the lies—it was too much.
"What are you hiding from me?" she demanded, her voice trembling.
Selene hesitated. "Now is not the time—"
"It's never the time!" Tia shouted. "Tell me, or I'll give the watch to him!"
Dark Kian laughed. "Oh, this is delightful. Go on, Selene. Tell her."
Selene's shoulders sagged, and she met Tia's gaze. "The watch... isn't just a tool. It's alive. It chooses its keeper, but it also consumes them. If you keep using it, Tia, it will devour your soul."
Tia's breath caught. "What?"
Dark Kian took another step forward. "She's lying. The watch doesn't consume—it transforms. Look at me. I am what you could be: powerful, unstoppable, free."
The Rift crackled violently, and Tia felt a pull toward it. The watch in her hands began to vibrate, its glow pulsating with an almost sentient rhythm.
"Tia!" Kian shouted. "Don't listen to him!"
But his voice was distant, drowned out by the watch's hum. For a moment, everything else disappeared. It was just her and the watch.
And then, she heard it.
A voice, soft and gentle, whispering her name.
"Tia... choose."
The Rift flared, and time itself seemed to shatter.