Time Guardian

Irene stood in her cramped apartment, idly flipping through an old literary magazine. Outside, the rain pattered steadily, tapping lightly against the glass. Her gaze lingered on an illustration in the magazine—a painting of an ancient battlefield, shrouded in smoke, with warhorses charging across the scene.Suddenly, a burst of hurried footsteps echoed from downstairs, followed by a knock at the door. "Knock, knock, knock"—the sound was sharp and insistent. Irene walked over and opened the door. A young man stood there, a few raindrops still clinging to his forehead, his short black hair plastered to his face from the wet."Hi, I'm Mark," he said with a slight smile, revealing a set of white teeth. "Could I borrow your bathroom? I got my clothes dirty on the way here."Irene hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Of course, it's over there."Mark thanked her and headed straight for the bathroom. Something about his silhouette stirred an inexplicable feeling in Irene. She closed the door and returned to her room.Just as she was about to pick up the magazine again, her phone rang. It was her roommate, Sarah. "Irene, you won't believe this—I found a strange notebook in the attic. Want to check it out?" Sarah's voice buzzed with excitement."Sure, I'll take a look when I have time," Irene replied, setting the magazine aside. She followed Sarah up to the attic.The attic was cluttered with all sorts of old junk, dust drifting down in soft clouds. Sarah stood next to a wooden chest, its surface coated in grime. "This is it," she said, opening the chest and pulling out an ancient-looking notebook.Irene took the notebook. Written on the cover in fountain pen were the words "Time Guardian," accompanied by some odd symbols. She opened it to the first page, which was filled with intricate charts and writing. She couldn't decipher the symbols, but they felt like an ancient script.As she studied it intently, a breeze swept through, flipping the pages with a rustling sound. Something tugged at Irene's hand. She looked up to see Mark standing in the doorway, his expression grave."This book is dangerous," he said in a low voice, a trace of worry in his eyes. "You know, this isn't just a book—it's a key to different times and spaces."A chill ran up Irene's spine. "Are you serious?" she asked.Mark nodded. "I have to take it with me, or something bad will happen."Irene hesitated but ultimately handed the notebook to him. "Alright, take it."Mark accepted it, a flicker of gratitude in his eyes. He turned and left, leaving Irene standing there, her mind swirling with doubt and unease.