《Recovery of a Life》


 Humbled Beginnings

    A tall man walked into the town; his steps were labored telling of a long, weary journey behind him. He was mostly ignored by the few dozen people present as they went about their business, some spared a glance but nothing more, quickly returning to their task at hand. He walked slowly through the town, glancing around just enough to gather a basic layout to formulate a mental map. His top priority though, he was looking for an inn. The town itself he considered to be on the smaller side. There was a single main brick road leading straight through the center of the town, with gravel side streets sparsely leading beyond the buildings along the main road. He trudged along the main road, maintaining an even pace as he glanced at the various buildings and the signs hung on each and then he finally saw what he was looking for.


    His main goal secured, he turned his attention to the sounds of the town. Mostly he heard the sounds of footsteps; some landing on gravel and sand while others landed on brick. As for conversation, there was little more than people discussing buying and selling tangible goods. He turned his head to the sound of rapid footsteps, seeing some kids playing around on a side road.


    A decent town, he thought,hopefully it stays that way.


    He turned to the inn, pushed the door open and entered the building. Everyone present turned their attention to the door at his entry, they seemed to be taking in the presence of the newcomer, but they quickly lost interest and returned to eating and chatting. The innkeeper maintained a friendly smile while he observed the sad state of the man''s tattered cloak, the worn leggings and most importantly, the lack of a money pouch on his belt. Even so, he courteously waved the man to approach the counter.


    "What''s yer pleasure, stranger?" asked the innkeep sincerely while he noted the onyx, no-nonsense eyes of the man.


    "A room for a night and a meal," came the simple but hoarse reply.


    "Six copper," replied the innkeeper.


    The man extended his hand a moment later, depositingnine copper on the counter.The innkeeper pulled out a ledger and opened it to where a pencil had been placed between the pages.


    "Name?" asked the innkeeper.


    "Xopil," came the reply.


    The innkeep smirked slightly at the odd name, but marked it down in his ledger all the same. He collected the coins and disappeared through the door behind the counter. Left alone, Xopil turned around and examined the room properly. There weren''t many people here leaving the room mostly empty. There was one table with three patrons, the remaining four guests were sitting and eating quietly by themselves. Xopil wordlessly walked into a dark corner and took a seat.


    The innkeep returned a short while later, glanced at the room and approached Xopil carrying a tray with three plates and a mug. The patrons present cast curious gazes at the innkeeper.


    "Enjoy yer meal, and here''s yer room key." the innkeeper deftly arranged the plates on the table, with the key off to the side. Xopil gave a quick nod and despite being extremely hungry, began eating at a relaxed pace. The innkeeper returned to the counter and rotated his gaze around the room, before stopping at the door and waiting patiently for his next customer.


    Xopil ate his meal in peace, he observed the other patrons as they finished their meals and left the inn. Finally, he washed it down with the contents of the mug. He picked up the key from the table and gave it a quick look. Just a standard key, with an ornate ''24'' built into it. Xopil gave a quick look around the place, noting that his available exits were stairs leading up and the door he came in. Rising from the table, he gave the innkeep a nod and headed upstairs to the second floor.


    The second floor hallway was narrow and only had doors on one side. The first door he came across had an embossed "9" marked on it.


    Well, that''s a bit odd,he thought as he paused in front of the door, then he walked down the hallway. The floor boards creaked under his weight, pairing noisily with his heavy footsteps. The next rooms he passed the embossed numbers had descended sequentially to "1". And then that was the end of the hallway.


    Back on the ground floor, the innkeeper sighed and then he headed upstairs after the guest all the while mumbling something. When he reached the second floor, he threw his arms up while waving his hands dismissing any notions that he was here to cause trouble.If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    "Please, that look in yer eye could stop a man''s heart. I''ve long learned not to judge a book by it''s cover, and by extension a person by their clothes. But, that still doesn''t prevent all misunderstandings." explained the innkeeper, "You''ve never stayed at an enchanted inn before? You''ll need to take the door number two, and then the door number four after that."


    Xopil relaxed and gave the innkeeper a nod, "Thanks. And... sorry. More than a few want me dead at present."


    "Please rest easy, here only yer key can access yer room," the innkeeper smiled lightly as he casually headed back downstairs; however his back was drenched in sweat.


    Xopil gave the key in his hand another look. Indeed, the "2" and the "4" were slightly different. A distinction he would have normally noticed immediately. With a sigh, he pushed open the door. On the other side of the door was a scene he was not expecting at all. His impression of the innkeeper improved greatly as well. Through the door was an expanse of hallways and doors as far as the eye could see.


    If every floor is like this... Xopil stepped through the door, a sensation of space and time bending around him. When the sensation touched the key, the hallway he was stepping into shifted. I''ve sorely underpaid for my stay here.


    Xopil walked directly forward three steps, and touched the door in front of him with the key. The door reacted, and seemingly pulled him inside. But more accurately, if a person was watching, the room actually moved and surrounded him. The room was little more than a bedroom and bathroom, but it was far more luxurious than it should have been, considering the rental fee.


    This...Xopil looked around in utter shock. There was an ornately decorated fireplace, even the walls themselves held a sense of regality, decorated with paintings and tapestries in an appropriate manner without appearing gaudy.Then his eyes fell upon the bed. The first thing that caught his eye was the canopy over the bed. Upon looking closer, the sheets didn''t look ordinary either. Almost robotically, Xopil stepped forward, and fell upon the bed. His weary body demanding rest, he was asleep instantly, completely unaware of the exquisite silk sheets he was laying on.


    <hr>


    A vast courtyard. A simple, but elegant fountain. Columns stood tall, holding up the surrounding walls, leaving a clear view of the sky overhead. Smiles visible all around as people set about their daily chores. Well, all but one. A child was mischieviously dashing through the people, taking just enough care not to bump into any of them.


    An aged man looked down from on high at the scene of the boy running through the crowds of people, and in his wake a group of armored men trying to catch up. His eyes were sparkling while his mouth was frowning. Yes, his pride was his son. But at the same time, the scene he observed filled him with a little frustration.


    "Were you any different?" a soft voice sounded behind the man, as two arms wrapped around his middle.


    "That..." the man placed his arms around his middle, covering his wife''s arms in a gentle embrace.


    "Shh. If you''re any example to go by then your son, -------, will grow to be a fine king one day."


    "He''s training his legs... and thus far he hasn''t interrupted the servants from their chores." the king''s gaze never left the courtyard, watching his son zig-zagging through the people.


    "He''ll get tired eventually. Always does, then they''ll work him to the bone after they catch him." the aged woman spoke with unrivaled pride as she watched her son along with the king.


    The boy stopped and looked up at the terrace overlooking the courtyard, and saw the two happy figures talking casually while observing him. He looked back behind him, and noticed the armored men had collapsed on the ground. A smirk grew on his face.


    "Good effort today, let''s go do the scheduled training now." the men groaned in agony as they were led away by the prince.


    The king chuckled softly, "It''s more like he''s working them to the bone."


    A roaring fire burst forth from the ground as the scene faded.


    <hr>


    Xopil woke with a start, tears in his eyes and sweat on his forehead. I was dreaming... how long was I asleep?


    Wiping his eyes, Xopil hardened his heart once again. As he climbed off the bed, he removed his cloak, and discarded his armor and hidden sword to the floor as he approached the bathroom. He looked at himself in the mirror. Gone is the boy he used to be, his fair hair now an unruly mess; his face bearing a couple scars like his chest and back. Close encounters with death for sure, but that didn''t matter. What mattered was he had survived.


    After a proper bath, Xopil felt and looked like a new man. He picked up his old and battered armor, looking it over as he recounted all the times it saved his life. He fondly traced his hand over the armor riddled with scratches and dents before he put it back on. He slid his fingers through his hair, donned his cloak, and then left the room.


    He walked downstairs, and when he caught the eyes of the innkeeper, he flicked the room key and a silver coin at him and continued out the door without stopping.


    "Who was that?" the innkeep was beside himself with worry, as he hurriedly opened his ledger. He quickly matched the key to the entry, but there was no name written. A bead of sweat slowly ran down his face as he closed his ledger, trying to act like nothing happened.

 Chapter 2

    Outside the inn Xopil stood appraising the town anew. The town design didn''t seem special initially, but if all the buildings were enchanted similarly to the inn then it actually was very efficient. The people were milling about the main road; some were talking casually while some were walking; others were simply standing around. A pleasant breeze filled the town. A number of kids ran up the side streets and converged on the main road, raising the commotion of the town by several degrees.


    Not a bad place to live. Xopil thought, a slight smile curving his lip upward. He turned in the direction of the town gate, and began walking confidently down the road. He politely stepped around people who were just standing around. A ball came flying towards a man leaning against the wall of a nearby building, seemingly oblivious, but he raised his hand and deflected the ball back where it came.


    "Sorry!" a group of kids shouted in unison, the man just shrugged and dismissed the event with a wave.


    This place is almost too relaxed. Xopil resumed walking to the town exit, while some people were walking directly toward him. He simply stopped to let them pass, but what he didn''t expect was for the person in the middle, whom was looking right at him, to walk into him like he wasn''t even there. Everyone involved was shocked, but each was shocked for different reasons.


    "Why''d you stop so suddenly?"


    "I''m sorry, I di...huh?" the man who bumped into Xopil started to sincerely apologize, but he stopped midway and then his face went blank.


    "Hey, you alright? Who''re you talking to?"


    "I just walked into someone... and they just disappeared," the man stuck his arm out to grab the air.


    "Anyway, you were ab..."


    <hr>


    That''s one way to get out of town... what the hell was that though?Xopil rose to his feet and looked in the direction of the town. That''s a good day''s trekif I want to get back...


    He took a look around his immediate surroundings, thankful to have landed in an open field. The area was nearly dead silent. Only the local bugs were still making their usual chatter. The grasses were short, he knelt down and inspected the blades. They were chewed, and recently. He chuckled as he remembered his old tracking lessons.


    So the world truly does take care of itself. He thought to himself. During his musings, bird song had returned to the clearing, and smaller animals tentatively poked their heads out of hiding, and then lastly, the larger animals returned to their prior activities before they were startled.


    What to make of this? Xopil examined the animals around him, keeping a minimal distance away from them lest he get pushed away again. But for whatever reason, they behaved as though he wasn''t even there.


    Ok this is too crazy.Xopil looked down as he gave some deep thought to this situation, bringing all the facts he had to light.


    #1. Last night in town, the people for the most part behaved like I wasn''t even there... since I didn''t want extra attention that suited me just fine.


    #2. Also last night, the innkeeper had initiated a conversation with me, I figured that was normal since he''s looking to make coin. But why was he able to see me?The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    #3. This morning no one acknowledged my presense, including the innkeeper... but he at least saw me, we made eye contact before I returned the key and paid extra for the room.


    #4. A person walked toward me, looking right through me, and even touched me but... I was pushed away by a very powerful force.


    #5. When I landed here, something about my arrival startled the local fauna. They''ve recovered quickly enough though.


    Strange happenings indeed. My first step will be to avoid that town and never go back. I hear you thinking "SERIOUSLY?!" What you''re surprised? You''re reading my thoughts aren''t you? Xopil snickered at himself for no reason.First order of business will be getting back to town, this mess started there as far as I can tell.


    After a final look around the field, Xopil kicked off the ground and started running at an even pace towards town. The animals were startled from the noise that the impact of his boots against the ground made and immediately went into hiding once again.


    I''m not completely lost yet, I can at least still interact with the world... but how long will that last? Xopil shooed such thoughts away and picked up the slack a bit. The sun followed it''s usual path in the clear sky; rising, reaching its apex and finally beginning to set as Xopil blazed a trail towards town. He took uneventful breaks only to keep his breathing steady and his legs from going numb.


    Just as night fell, Xopil reached the town and walked through the city gates. Just as before, his footsteps were heavy from fatigue as he made his way down the mainstreet. Some of the townspeople would periodically look in his direction, mostly due to his heavy footsteps. They discounted the noise seeing nothing there and went back to their conversations.


    Just like last night... or is it? Xopil asked himself as he made his way down the now familiar main road and toward the inn.


    Xopil pushed the door open noisily, gaining him the attention of everyone in the building, then he let the door slam shut behind him. The patrons returned to their regular conversations as though nothing happened. The innkeep however, beckoned him to the counter.


    "What''s yer pleasure, stranger?"


    "Oy oy Boris is losin'' it!" the room suddenly filled with boisterous laughter.


    "...A meal. And a room." Xopil said slowly after a pause.


    "Certainly. 6 copper."


    "I gave you a silver just this morning as I left." Xopil replied indifferently, then cast a look throughout the room.


    "So you did..." the innkeep''s eyes lit up, but just as quickly they dimmed again. He pulled up the ledger from behind the counter. "Name?"


    "... Xopil."


    "Pretty unique name, no?" asked Boris as he quickly filled the entry.


    "Not going to laugh like before?"


    "Laugh? No sir. There''s nothing funny about the name. It''s just unique."


    "Oy Boris, more drinks here!"


    Xopil walked a straight line to same corner he occupied yesteday once Boris went in the back to prepare his meal. It was strangely convenient that there were no patrons at any of the tables in his path, as he walked he pushed each table and any chairs in his way off to the side. Needless to say, this gathered the attention of all the patrons at the inn.


    Boris returned to the main room carrying a tray with three platters, a mug and a key. Meanwhile, all the patrons were staring at the corner seat where Xopil was seated.


    "Yer meal, and yer room key." Boris expertly placed the dishes on the table, and the room key off to the side.


    "Room 39 this time?" Xopil asked, rising from his seat and grabbing Boris. The patrons gasped in unison as Boris was lifted off the ground by... nothing. "Was room 24 not strong enough? Or do you have to increase it gradually?"


    "What?" Boris was at a loss.


    "... You''re the only one who sees or hears me. So, ''what''s yer pleasure,'' Boris?" Xopil smiled dangerously as he lifted Boris up higher.


    "You''ve got it all wrong!"


    "Why don''t you correct me then, before I turn you into a cripple?"

 Chapter 3(Unedited. Uncut. the horror...)

    "Oy Boris! How ya doin that? Who has what wrong?" the patrons in the bar were getting closer and this caused Xopil to panic a bit.


    "Stay back! The inn is closing early tonight!" Boris was already having a hard enough time breathing before Xopil tightened his grip.


    Xopil waited until the last customer left and then released his hold on Boris. Xopil eyed the food on the table warily, but it was the key that drew his undivided attention.


    "Start talking," Xopil pushed Boris into the corner and pulled up a chair from the middle of the room, straddling it backwards.


    "Where to begin..." Boris sat down at the table and nonchalantly started eating the meal he''d prepared previously for Xopil.


    "The beginning would be good, or you could just skip to the part about how I fix this." Xopil eyed him suspiciously as he ate.


    "That..." Boris swallowed and frowned deeply, "I''m afraid that''s beyond me."


    "The beginning then. And I don''t want any cliche crap, like my family was cursed and definately don''t start spewing crap you couldn''t possibly know anything about."


    "Cut me some slack eh? I''m just an innkeeper. For that matter, why did you come to me?" Boris swallowed another mouthful.


    "... You''re the only person who I actually CAN talk to. And threaten." Xopil replied.


    "Lucky me. Well, let''s see what I can do for you." Boris closed his eyes and mentally ticked off ideas that were one of three things:


    Too insane to believe.


    Used too many times.


    He shouldn''t possibly know anything about.


    "Yeah, I got nothin''." Boris replied with a smirk.


    "Now you''re just pissing me off. Last I checked, this IS a fantasy. Why not just tell me I''m not from this world, I don''t belong here, and I''m getting pulled to my homeworld?" Xopil said angrily.


    "You said not to mention anything I shouldn''t know about. How would I know that? I''m just an innkeeper with an enchanted building." With a shrug Boris pointed off into space. "Blame the author if anything."Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    A stale silence permeated the room.


    "Now you''ve done it." Xopil said while retreating for his life.


    "Well actually... he''s got a point." Sumdumbguy just pulled up a chair.


    "I''ve heard of cameo appearances, but don''t you need to be famous first?" Xopil scorned. "Get outta here, we got this."


    Boris seeing Xopil looking at him hides his popcorn. "What? Oh right."


    Boris slaps his cheeks and gets back into character. "Yer not part of this world..."


    "Yeah, just gonna stop you right there. Try again." Xopil waved his hand dismissively.


    "Ye''ve got this very rare disease..."


    "Seriously? Tis the Disease of the Millenium. Next."


    "A rash?"


    "Are you even trying? This story and my life are fading about as fast as your brains."


    "I''m yer uncle."


    "That doesn''t do squat for the story." Xopil snorted.


    "There was a freak accident in the kingdom you were born in when you were just a baby, half the atoms of all the inhabitants were sucked into another dimension and...? Why aren''t you stopping me?"


    "That freak accident part is borderline cliche, but the rest we can work with... maybe. If you were there... but then we''d need a reason why you don''t have the same problem I do. It''s already been stated you don''t know the cure, so can''t have you just miraculously healed. A ''travelling innkeeper'' is just a bad joke..." Xopil scratched his chin in thought. "Even so, we''re on to something here. Ok from the top."


    Boris just shook his head took a big drink from the mug and swallowed it down, "Hic When ye were just a lil runt an invasion from a parallel dimension attacked yer kingdom, pulling a fragment of all the inhabitants'' life force through space and time out of this plane of existence. Unfortunately, hic the fragment that was taken was the vital piece and what remains is slowly being pulled along the tear through space and time to be whole again."


    "Why couldn''t you do it like that the first time? Ok, now explain how you know all that."


    "I... er... I was there after the fact. I''m the black sheep of the royal family, yer father''s brother. I''d been living in exile as a wandering bard..."


    "... Go on. But this still leaves how you know what the problem is as a mystery... I mean, I was there and I don''t know." Xopil shook his head. This is what you get for making it up as you go.


    "...I had returned home after years of travelling, I had *ahem* just barely missed sharing in your doomed fate. Anyway, I left again and travelled until I finally ended up in this here town and set up shop as an innkeep."


    "... Ok so my options then?" Xopil asked tentatively.


    "Yer on yer own nephew," replied Boris


    "... You look nothing like my father," Xopil retorted.


    "Don''t sweat the details. Like it or not, we''re related now!" Boris exclaimed proudly at having his character status upgraded.


    "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooo!"


    "Are you done with the death wails? I have a business to run." Boris said indifferently.


    "You closed early. Hey wait, why can''t I touch people?" asked Xopil.


    "What''re you a pervert? Touching random people is wrong," reprimanded Boris.


    "... I mean in general. Someone bumped into me outside and I was thrown the distance of a day''s run outside of town." Xopil clarified.


    "I can''t have all the answers, reach out and touch someone else."


    "..." Xopil wordlessly got up, grabbed the key off the table and headed upstairs to his room. Ok, so... glad that''s sorted, but now to figure out what to do about it.

 Chapter 3(The story)

    "Oy Boris! How ya doin that? Who has what wrong?" the patrons in the bar were getting closer and this caused Xopil to panic a bit.


    "Stay back! The inn is closing early tonight!" Boris was already having a hard enough time breathing before Xopil tightened his grip.


    Xopil eyed the patrons as they slowly backed away and orderly exited the building. Now that Xopil and Boris were alone, he released his death grip on Boris, and pushed him down on the seat. "All right. What the hell did you do to me?"


    Boris silently sat there, he picked up the utensils and absent-mindedly started eating. "Many years ago, this world, or more accurately this dimension, collided with another. This caused many strange phenomena, lots of things changed in a myriad of ways, I don''t know how other places were affected. This building for example, ye think I had something to do with yer worsening state. That''s well... partly true."


    Xopil stared unmoving at Boris, "And what? This is a bit much to believe."


    "But ye do believe it. Ye''ve already been affected by it." Boris continued to eat, "As I was saying, this building is special. The upstairs isn''t enchanted... it''s more of a gateway left behind by the dimensional collide. Naturally it is unstable, and it affects people in different ways. The townsfolk are... well, it''s tough to say exactly. They aren''t capable to get angry, sad, or happy anymore. They just exist... they''re barely even excitable anymore, but ye managed to get them interested in something didn''t ye? That makes ye special. Maybe even a threat."The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    "A threat... you say? To what?" Xopil picked up the mug and took a gulp.


    "Who can say? I don''t rightly know what caused the dimensional collide, if it was intentional or not, but it did affect us, and continues to." Boris leaned forward on the table. "For example, my ledger. Ye said this is yer second visit?"


    "That''s right."


    "I''ve written down every guest as has stayed here. Yet, yer name is only written once, and that was just earlier tonight. I had completely forgotten ye when ye left this morning, further, so has my ledger. But for this." Boris pulled out a silver coin from his pocket. "I didn''t know how I got this till ye said so."


    "You''re telling me this whole world is messed up? And I''m what, able to reverse this mess?"


    Boris eyed Xopil up and down, "Nah, I doubt ye have it in ya. But ye can try anyway."


    "...Well, thanks for the honest opinion."


    Boris rose from the seat and retrieved his ledger from behind the counter. Upon his return to the table, he dropped the book in front of Xopil.


    Xopil raised an inquisitive eye, and when he touched the ledger a sharp pain entered his mind. "What the hell was that?"


    "Dunno." Boris took the book and casually flipped it open to the last used page, placing the book in front of Xopil. "I write a name, this book determines the door key that appears."


    "Yesterday it was 24. Now it''s 39. What do you know about the rooms?" Xopil asked.


    "Can''t say, I''m not allowed in." replied Boris. "I just write names and hand out keys. Innkeeper...It is my purp..."


    "This is not The Matrix." Xopil shook his head pitifully. "Have you considered writing your own name in the ledger?"


    "Eh? Why would I do that? I have my own room."


    Xopil smirked, "Humor me."

 Chapter 4

    Boris raised the pen, and in a strong fluid motion signed his name in the ledger. Xopil simply watched from across the table. When Boris closed the book, he set it to the side.


    "What, that''s it?" Xopil asked, "I wasn''t expecting fireworks and fanfare, but nothing at all?"


    Boris silently stood from the table and walked to the counter while carrying the ledger. He slipped into the back room with ease, returning a moment later with a key.


    "Oh." Xopil felt stupid for a moment. "Anything special about it?"


    "Aside from the fact it''s got an ornate ''00'' and looks like a skeleton... no. Nothing special at all."


    "So literally, a skeleton key to open any and every door?" Xopil was a bit too excited over this.


    "I''m not sure that''s quite right." Boris was carefully looking over the key, making sure there wasn''t anything truly important he missed. "Every key opens but one door, this one included."


    "So go see what it is!" Xopil was nearly pushing Boris up the stairs.


    "Yer a fool. Think for a moment, what this place is, what it does, and then think what kind of room the owner''s key would access."


    "So... in theory, this key could open hell here?" Xopil asked, "Or it could open a master control room?"


    "Well not hell specificially, but a hell wouldn''t be out of the question. Or... what? I''ll just ignore that."


    "It''s worrywarts like you that slow progress, you know?" Xopil complained.


    "It''s in the job description," Boris mocked while shaking his head at Xopil''s naivety. "ye gonna tell me that when yer looking at this key, ye don''t get any apocalyptic vibes from it?"


    "... All things considered, yeah there is a vibe like that. It''s also the only lead I''ve got right now. Throw caution to the wind and let''s go!"


    "Where do ye get yer courage from?" Boris asked in astonishment.


    "Plot armor!" Xopil proudly exclaimed, throwing a thumbs-up.


    "Ignorance truly knows no bounds. Assuming there is such a thing, consider the lives of those around ye at least! Assuming there isn''t, ye die and the story is over kid."


    Xopil shrugged, "Someone will always rise to carry the torch. The brave are not spared of inconvenient times."


    "So ye can be stupid and profound at the same time. Live long enough, and ye can witness anything."


    "Yeah yeah, we doing this or not?" asked Xopil.


    "We? There is no ''we''. Ye want to go, then ye take this key and go. I''m getting as far from ye as I can. There''s still more fer me to witness."


    "Really? Like what?" Xopil asked, picking Boris up till his feet were off the floor, then he carried him up the staircase along with the key. "Nevermind, we''ve delayed this long enough."


    "Betting everything on plot armor, yer naive indeed." Boris was helplessly dragged up the stairs.


    A bright field materialized from the floor and rose to the ceiling, blocking the top floor. The exact center of the field turned murky and dark. A formless pair of eyes materialized from the cloudy surface and floated independently of each other, they viewed every angle, observing everything. One eye locked Xopil in its gaze, the other looked slightly pitifully at Boris.


    Xopil looked back at the eye, trying to appear uninterested and failing miserably. Boris on the other hand...


    "Sorry for disturbing..." Boris mustered the most apologetic tone he could.


    "Disturbed? I''ve been bored for so long I forgot what it was to have something to do. Honestly, it''s about time you found the key." A cracking sound emanated from the field, a look of bliss appeared in the eyes as they floated eerily, "Ahhhh I haven''t been permitted to move in so looong."


    "Now then, we have two people here and only one key. One is worthy, one is not. But the question is, which is which?"


    "Well, this is a dilemna." Xopil said more to himself than anyone present, "On one hand, I found the key, but I can''t use the key. On the same token, this whole situation affects everyone, but I''m the one disappearing from this world. Even so, the doorway presented a third option. The worthy doesn''t need to be able to use the key, eh?"


    "What are ye on about?" Boris interrupted Xopil''s musings.


    "Oh I''m just coming to the conclusion that an added security feature would be the person who can use the key isn''t worthy to enter the room. At the same time, The person who is worthy can''t enter without the person who can use the key."This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    The doorway maintained silence.


    "Ye''r off yer rocker. Ye''r the worthy one? Hrm.. If ye''r not... let''s try." offered Boris, seeing a possibility to be rid of Xopil and going back to his simple life as an innkeeper.


    Xopil wordlessly walked up to the door, offered a gentleman''s bow and walked through as Boris unlocked the door with the key.


    The eyes on the door emitted a contented expression as Xopil passed through.


    <hr>


    "This is..." Xopil took a look around. He had expected to appear in the second floor hallway.


    "Welcome home," a woman threw herself at Xopil before he had collected his bearings. He instinctively raised his arms and caught her. "you really need to visit more often, it''s so boring here; girls have needs too."


    "And you are?" Xopil asked skeptically.


    "Honestly, is it too much to ask to not have your memory completely wiped each time?" the woman extracted herself from his arms and walked towards a desk. She tapped her fingers rythmically as though she were typing. When she was done, she pointed to the furthest wall, in front of which was a rather luxurious bed with a canopy... and an indentation indicating that the woman had been laying in the same spot for a very long time.


    "I''ve... kept you waiting?" Xopil looked at the wall near the bed, it was actually a screen and displaying... "What is this?"


    "Well... recording that was your idea. I was against it initially, but I found it does help break the ice," She replied, then added with a slight blush when she saw the displayed image, "and it''s not like anyone else can see it."


    "And you are?" he asked her again.


    "Pretty dense this time around... I''m your woman." she said with a facepalm.


    "Your name?" Xopil sighed.


    "You''ve changed my name so often I don''t get attached to names anymore." she replied with a frown. "Call me what you will."


    "Xiara." he replied instantly.


    "You... do you remember then?" she quickly shook her head, though her current smile didn''t fade, "Impossible."


    "I''m not sure what''s going on, but I do feel like I''ve known you for a very long time."


    "So long a time that you grew bored of me." she replied matter of factly. "This is... I lost count, but anyway you''ve created these ''puzzle worlds'' to keep yourself entertained. I end up falling asleep when you start a new one."


    "I did this to myself?" Xopil was incredulous.


    "Willingly, I might add. Too many times you weren''t able to solve before time ran out. I''m just glad I am not forced to watch you die over and over. I simply wake upon your return."


    "I solved this last one then?"


    "Aren''t you full of yourself. You haven''t even scratched the surface of that one. Like I said, I was bored so I intervened."


    "And?"


    "I''ll send you back when I''ve had my fun. Maybe I''ll go with you instead."


    <hr>


    Some time later...


    Xopil carefully rose from the bed; attempting not to make any sudden moves and, for fear of his life, no sounds. I feel like I lost several thousand years of my life...


    "Hmm? Awake already?" A sultry voice purred from the other side of the bed.


    "Please, no more... I beg you!"


    <hr>


    "For as troublesome as it is having your memory wiped periodically, it does have it''s benefits..." Xiara mused from where she was laying on the bed.


    "I don''t wanna talk about it," replied Xopil with great effort.


    "That drained feeling will pass... eventually." Xiara laughed as she rose from the bed. "Can''t I go with you?"


    "After that marathon? I lost track of the month we''re in."


    Xiara giggled lightly, "You really have no idea then, the month is the same. However, it''s been more than a few years."


    Thud. Xopil fainted.


    <hr>


    Bored of her? More like scared of her.Xopil thought to himself as he got dressed.


    Xiara was standing not far with a pout on her face.


    "If I say you can come with me... no more of that marathon business."


    Xiara''s face immediately lit up, and she agreed without hesitation.It''s not like he''ll remember after his memory is erased again... She went to her wardrobe to get ready.


    After that, the pair of them appeared on the staircase of the inn.


    <hr>


    "Boris isn''t here?" Xopil stated while looking around.


    "Time doesn''t stop just because you''re not here." replied Xiara. "The key is gone too."


    Honestly, what a troublesome woman. I lost so much time there. Xopil scorned in his mind.


    Xiara gave him a knowing smile. "You know you enjoyed it."


    "Maybe at first." Xopil admitted, and they headed downstairs to the main room. At a glance, the room was packed, people were smiling, dancing, eating and drinking everywhere.


    "Xopil! Welcome back, you did it! I don''t know what you did, but the town recovered gradually over the past 10 years!" Boris exclaimed.


    10 years? Xopil gave Xiara a deathly glare."How do you know I''m responsible?"


    "I just assumed... you mean you really didn''t do anything?"


    "Pardon us." Xopil grabbed Xiara by the arm and pulled her off to the side. "Explanation now."


    "I may or may not have tinkered with some of the places in some of the worlds in my boredom."


    "...Fine, I can accept that. Anything else you''d like to share?" Xopil immediately regretted this question.


    "That''s a long list, but I''ll shorten it. A room, a bed, a dance would be nice too."


    "...Fine. One dance. Then we need to move on." Xopil stated, then whispered something in her ear. With a light blush and a smirk, she responded.


    <hr>


    The pair headed back up the staircase with key 99, from writing Xiara in the inn ledger. They entered door 9 right next to the staircase. There was a bright flash of light from one of the buildings, and it replaced the building directly in front of them.


    "This..." Xopil stared incredulously at the building exterior. "I''m not even going to comment."


    Xiara just laughed and the pair walked into the mansion...


    "Think of this as a bit of a map... every room will take you to a different town. It''ll save us the trouble of traveling, getting lost, and the like." explained Xiara.


    "So much for the ''adventure''." snorted Xopil.


    "Every day is an adventure, unless you sleep through it." replied Xiara, her hand holding her chin, "Besides, I am not a traveller."


    "Right... you''re a mmph!" Xopil found his mouth quickly covered.

 Chapter 5

    Xiara took Xopil for a tour around the mansion. The massive exterior paled in comparison to the actual interior. The main entry was adorned with expensive looking wood furniture made of mahogany, clocks and cabinets of all sizes. Extravagent chandeliers cast their light to every corner leaving the entire place completely illuminated. Xopil''s eyes almost popped out of his sockets when he saw the long hallways filled with paintings, tapestries and most importantly, the doors. "Each of these doors leads to a town?"


    "That''s right, each one has something we need to do to get closer to solving the final puzzle." replied Xiara.


    "There''s at least a hundred doors..." noted Xopil.


    "Do you still insist on travelling to each town on foot? There is a time limit, after all." reminded Xiara.


    A time limit you tightened for me... Xopil retorted in his mind.


    "Where shall we start?" Xiara ignored the irritated look on Xopil''s face. "It would be best to start with a hallway and do all the doors in that hall before moving on."


    "Speaking from experience?" Xopil asked, and headed from the main lobby to the west hallway, "I don''t suppose we could split up either?"


    "We could, but I''d be taking away from your fun. Are you okay with that?" Xiara asked.


    "I don''t know how much time is left before this is a failure, we may have to do that before the end." replied Xopil as he opened the first available door and stepped through.


    <hr>


    The city that greeted the pair was massive. In the central square was a fountain large enough to be seen from several miles outside of town, the buildings of the town were all low-risers, so they wouldn''t obstruct the view of the fountain no matter where it was observed from. There were two main roads leading directly up to the fountain and circling around it, travelling straight North/South and East/West. There were four mansions in this city, each located at the end of a main road. There were numerous side streets wrapped around the city parallel to the fountain, with staggered streets connecting them seemingly randomly.


    "I could get turned around too easily here." Xopil commented as he admired the city, while trying to find mental landmarks.


    "If that happens, just find the fountain; it''s easy enough to spot from anywhere in the city. I know you''d never stop and ask for directions." Xiara suggested.


    "...Not fair telling the truth." Xopil started to walk away, but stopped when he noticed something was missing. "It''s not a matter of wanting to ask for directions or not... There''s no one to ask."


    "Early afternoon and no one''s about? Should we just start knocking on doors... or knocking down buildings?"Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    "Scary." Xopil backed away from her slowly, "Doors."


    "So, no one is home out of the dozen houses I checked." Xopil reported.


    "Hmm, I had the same success you did." Xiara replied.


    "Let''s try the mansions next," Xopil suggested and they walked through the empty main street.


    Xopil knocked heavily on the door, even after several minutes passed no one answered. Seeking the path of least resistance he tried the door and it opened effortlessly.


    "In an empty city, locks would be meaningless?" mused Xopil as they entered the building.


    The pair thoroughly searched the mansion one floor at a time, starting with the ground floor before moving up to the second and finally the third floor.


    "I came across nothing of interest, you?" asked Xopil.


    "I found some beautiful dresses, but they wouldn''t fit." Xiara replied.


    "...No comment. Maybe there''s a hidden basement? Or at least a cellar somewhere on the grounds? One more look before we head out. If we don''t find anything here, I doubt the other mansions will be any different."


    "In that case... should we even look for a basement? But where else can we check?"


    "One thing comes to mind actually. Let''s go check that fountain." Xopil answered.


    "I knew you were more than just a handsome face," replied Xiara.


    "..." without another word the pair rushed to the central square.


    The pair circled the fountain checking for anything out of place. It took nearly three hours before the two met eachother on the opposite side, just due to the sheer size of the fountain.


    "That takes care of the exterior. Now just to get up into it. The supports should be sturdy enough for us to climb up."


    "I had expected that some people would appear given the passage of time," Xiara replied.


    "Let''s climb up the fountain. There may be something at the top."


    <hr>


    One long and arduous climb later... "We finally made it... aren''t the stars beautiful in the night sky?" Xiara asked.


    "...And only more so since we''re standing on a fountain, look how they''re mirrored on the water''s surface." Xopil responded putting forth effort to sound interested, and failing.


    "Speaking of the water surface..."


    "You see the staircase in there too?" Xopil asked cutting her off.


    "Huh? Oh yeah... of course."


    Xopil looked at her doubtfully, then jumped into the fountain without a word. With a sigh, she turned her attention back to the top of the fountain. In the basin of the fountain, Xopil encountered a thick sheet of glass separating him and the water from the stairs. At around the same time, Xiara ran her hands over the intricate design of two statues sitting back to back. The statues seemed to break off the fountain, but they weren''t connected in the first place. A pair of splashes behind Xopil scared the crap out of him and caused him to look up at Xiara.


    One way or another she will be the death of me. Xopil thought.


    Xiara took another look at the fountain now that the statues were gone, there wasn''t much to see, so she ran her hands over the stone just to make sure. She found nothing useful, so she dove in the water.


    "Well, now what?" she asked.


    "There''s a thick layer of glass, if we can get rid of that...hmm?" Xopil looked down at the statues under the water. "That might do it, if we can drop the statues on the glass a couple times. It appears that first impact caused some cracks anyway."


    Some effort later, some spiderweb cracks had spread over the surface of the glass. The water level had dropped considerably, as some of the cracks went straight through the glass allowing the water to pass through. Xopil and Xiara pulled the statues over the glass towards the staircase, and repeated picking up and dropping them until the glass finally shattered.


    They descended the stairs inside the fountain, coming to a landing at the bottom.

 Chapter 6

    "Xiara."


    One word was all it took to bring the girl back to reality. "Y-yes?"


    "We''re exploring under a city. It''s dank. It''s dark. We got here by climbing down a fountain. Only one of these things could be slightly considered romantic. So why are you clinging to me with a chesire-cat grin? If I did even half of... well anyway, the result would be bad for me and my reputation."


    "You don''t like it when I do this? I need a reason to do this? I''m your woman and you''re my man is all the reason and permission I need. You''ll understand in between the time when you have your memory back and it''s erased again." Xiara replied, her smile turned to a frown when she got to the end.


    "Right, let''s discuss that... I erased my own memory? And not just once, but it''s going to happen again?"


    "That''s right, I hate this little game of yours. But, I suppose it does have it''s highlights."


    "What''s the game?"


    "Ehh... that would spoil the prize." Xiara licked her lips.


    "And the players?" Xopil asked, Xiara just smiled in response. As they walked the remainder of the passage, they engaged in light conversation while holding hands with their fingers interlocked.


    Xiara and Xopil reached the end of the passage, it was just a regular dead end. Nothing special about it, even in the slightest.


    "That''s anticlimatic."


    "Unexpected too... we''re back to square one. I''m beat, let''s get a couple rooms at the inn and try again tomorrow."


    ". . ." Xiara glared menacingly at Xopil.


    "What?"


    "For one, how are we going to get out of here to do that? We had to climb up the fountain to get into the basin, and even when it had water in it, the water wasn''t high enough for us to get out."


    "Hmm... so you didn''t see it? Over here." Xopil walked back down the passage and pointed at a grimy, slime-covered ladder leading up.


    "I am NOT touching that."


    "Suit yourself," Xopil shrugged and began climbing up.


    Xiara watched silently as Xopil slowly ascended the ladder until he eventually disappeared from her sight. Does he not like me... I guess I did come on to him pretty strong at first, though he didn''t object that much...


    "You coming or what?" Xopil''s voice echoed down.If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    Honestly... Xiara scrunched her face and walked up to the ladder in disgust. She grabbed the ladder and... there was no disgusting feeling. Out of sight out of mind... she told herself, and then pictured Xopil as she slowly made her way up the ladder.


    "What took you so long?" Xopil asked, "I mean... I cleaned it as I went, but we really need a place to rest, I''m beyond exhausted."


    "I had some things on my mind..." Xiara blushed. "Thank you."


    "What you didn''t even notice? ...Anyway, inn next."


    "Yeah. Come here, lean on me." Xiara grabbed Xopil''s arm and threw it over her shoulders.


    "Tha..." his voice trailed off.


    "..." Xiara looked pitifully at him. For his part, he did stay conscious until they got to the inn, they barely reached the counter and he collapsed on Xiara.


    "What''s yer... Xiara?"


    "Boris??"


    "Well this is awkward... I''ll explain in the morning, he needs to rest now though." Boris quickly scratched ''Xopil'' into the ledger and came back with key 01.


    "Thanks Boris." Xiara grabbed the key and carried Xopil to the room next to the lobby.


    Xiara laid Xopil on the bed, pulled up a chair and silently watched him sleep. After 15 minutes, she couldn''t resist any further and wormed her way into his arms. When she felt his arms tighten, she fell asleep with a smile. Even without your memory, I''m still yours.


    <hr>


    Morning came too soon. Much too soon. Xiara groaned as sunlight filled the room.


    "Mmm I missed my body pillow." Xopil muttered still asleep.


    Yeah, you don''t need your memories to be who you are. It''s your fault to begin with why I''m this way. Xiara giggled softly as she wrapped her arms around Xopil. Just a little longer...


    Knock knock.


    "Who''s there?" Xiara asked automatically.


    "Boris."


    "Boris who?" Xopil asked seriously while still mostly asleep.


    "Xopil!" Xiara was so furious her face was blood red.


    Boris wore a complicated expression as he entered the room.


    "...Boris?" Xopil closed his eyes and pinched his nose.


    "Yeah. It''s absurd right?" asked Boris. "I''ll dumb it down for you."


    "...Should I be happy about that or pissed off?" Xopil asked.


    "Don''t sweat the details." Boris waved his hand dismissively, "This shouldn''t be too much of a surprise anyway. Ye came to this town through the inn, why couldn''t I? I run the place."


    "...This is the same inn?"


    "Well... yes and no, here''s where it gets complicated." replied Boris.


    "Are ye familiar with a ''one to many'' relationship?" asked Boris.


    "What like a harem?" asked Xopil, and Xiara clobbered him over the head.


    "Why would ye go there? Well anyway, I guess that does suffice for knowing about the type of relationship..."


    "Initially, this inn existed in every town, and it still does, it''s just that part of the connection to the ''main'' inn was severed. By me, on purpose. Originally, this inn was a place for all the people of the world to get together and share a drink, or whatever. I have a ''don''t ask, don''t tell'' policy. When that dimensional mess started, I didn''t want all the people to have a share in each other''s problems... their individual crisis'' were bad enough."


    Xopil passed a worried look at Xiara, and she simply closed her eyes and nodded, confirming his speculation. He caused the problems currently ailing the inhabitants of this world, and then erased his own memory of it so that he could solve the problems he created without knowing how. But... he''s failed to solve these ''puzzle worlds'' before, what happened to them?


    "Don''t think too much on it," Xiara soothed.


    "Right, it''s simpler than it sounds." Boris nodded, thinking that was his cue to simplify the concept. "Basically, there''s one inn with many doorways leading to it, don''t get lost on the whole traveling through space phenomena, the enchantments handle the complicated things."


    "You couldn''t say that from the start?" asked Xopil, "That would have saved so much time."


    "I did say I''d dumb it down, I didn''t expect to actually have to." retorted Boris.

 Chapter 7

    "So why aren''t you affected by the whole dimensional mess?" asked Xopil.


    Boris scratched his head and shrugged, "Ye got me, I dunno either."


    "Alright... then how about some breakfast?" Xopil climbed out of bed and went to the bathroom.


    "Xiara, just how much does he remember?" asked Boris as he headed out of the room.


    "Almost nothing, but even so... it''s quite remarkable what he can still do." she replied happily.


    "These games of his though." Boris shook his head, "It''s not easy lying to him, even under his own orders...you have been doing your part too, and not just been enjoying yourself?"


    "...Well about that..."


    "10 years I waited for him and you both returned. Do try to remember the time limit imposed on this game of his, especially since you both are outside it."


    "Of course...sorry."


    Boris closed the door and his footsteps faded as he went to the kitchen. Xiara stuck her head into the bathroom, "Room for one more?"


    "I''ll be out in a minute," Xopil shook his head as he lay in the tub and waved dismissively, shooing her out.


    Xiara retreated in a huff. It''s your own fault you know. I never asked to be like this, but it''s not all bad either.


    Xopil exited the bathroom, "Your turn."


    Xiara walked past him, dragged her hand across his face, and inhaled deeply the scent wafting from his body before disappearing into the bathroom and locking the door behind her.


    What was that all about I wonder? Xopil headed for the main room of the inn, and found Boris waiting for him with a decent meal spread on a table.


    "Ah, that looks delicious; and you should join me, there''s more we need to discuss."


    "What can I do fer ye?" Boris took a seat and helped himself to some of everything.


    "This place is literally a ghost town, I haven''t seen another person since we arrived here."


    "Ah that''s..." Boris stopped himself by filling his mouth with food.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    "What?" asked Xopil, filling his own mouth with food. "We''ve checked the houses, one of the mansions and we''ve been down the fountain."


    "Sometimes the easiest thing to miss is right in front of yer eyes," replied Boris rather cryptically.


    Xopil paused as he was about to stuff his mouth. "What?"


    Boris shrugged helplessly, "That''s it."


    Xopil resumed eating as he contemplated what Boris said. Easiest to miss is in plain sight huh...


    "In other words, you''re looking so hard for the forest that you can''t see it behind the trees?"


    "Well, that''s the general idea... but what if ye don''t see the trees to begin with? Thanks fer letting me join fer breakfast." Boris rose and quickly retreated. I do hope I didn''t say too much and he''s still able to enjoy the puzzle.


    "Hidden in plain sight, it''s not because you''re looking at it and don''t see the singular instead of the group, it''s because you can''t see the singular object? So even though you''re looking right at it, you see right through it...?" Xopil just scratched his head. That''s about as confusing as it gets...


    Xopil rose slowly from the chair and table, and walked to the door of the inn. He turned to look inside the inn. It was empty, only he and Boris were there. And the table he just left had yet to be cleaned. Boris is standing over there, looks like he''s talking to himself and laughing... I feel like he''s mocking me.


    Xiara walked into the room noticed there''s some food left on the table, and sat down to eat.


    Xopil examined the room once more. Okay, what is strange about what I''m seeing? Xopil scratched his chin as his eyes scanned the room. Xiara is there eating, there''s plates and mugs on the table. There''s empty tables and chairs... but there''s also tables with plates and empty chairs. Should be people at those tables. If there are, I''m not seeing them... Boris is talking to himself and laughing... huh? What if I just can''t see who he''s talking to?


    "Boris," Xopil called out.


    "What can I do fer ye?" replied Boris,


    "Who are you talking to?" asked Xopil.


    "Is this a trick question? I''m talkin to ye." he replied.


    "...I meant before I called to you." Xopil clarified.


    "Yer imagining things. I wasn''t talkin to anyone." replied Boris looking confused.


    At this point Xiara continued to eat casually, occasionally glancing at Xopil.


    So I''m the only one who can''t see the people in this town? Xopil took another look around the room. His gaze fell on one other person, "Xiara, bring me that pitcher please."


    "Let me get another one," Boris interrupted.


    "Yeah okay, any pitcher will do really. Fill it up with water."


    "Thirsty?" asked Xiara.


    "Something like that."


    Boris appeared on cue with the water pitcher. Xopil said two words only, "Dump it."


    "I''m sorry?" Boris obviously didn''t want to dump the water on the floor of the inn.


    "Hand it here then," Xopil reached for the pitcher and deftly knocked it out of Boris'' hands spilling water all over the floor.


    Xopil examined the water closely, particularly at tables with dishes on them. "Well now that''s interesting. Spots where the water can''t get to, because there''s feet in the way."


    All at once the room immediately filled with people, chatter, along with the sounds of forks, knives and spoons hitting plates.


    "I initially thought that the people of this town were abducted or locked up, and in fact they were just hidden from my eyes. So now we can go to the next town?"


    Boris nodded, "Well done. That''s two towns'' issues solved now."


    "Right... 10 years to solve the first one." Xopil stated, "And just over a day for the second."


    "Anyway, shall we move on to the next town?" responded Xiara.

 Chapter 8

    "Yeah, there''s no point in dawdling, let''s get on with it." Xopil responded.


    The pair went up to the second floor of the inn, and proceeded to the connecting mansion. Xopil and Xiara walked through to the west hallway from the mansion lobby, stopping at the second door in the hallway.


    "How much time do I have to solve this world I wonder...?" Xopil firmly grabbed the doorknob, twisted and pushed the door open.


    "Not knowing adds to the charm doesn''t it?" Xiara asked.


    "Adds to the anxiety at least." sighed Xopil.


    "Wait, you''re concerned about them?"


    "I''m not inhuman. Of course I don''t want them to suffer," replied Xopil.


    Xiara fell silent as she thought about his words, and the two walked through the door. Xopil looked around as his eyes adapted to the change in light. Where they were at, there was nothing but flat lands as far as they eye could see.


    "There should be a town here right? Is it invisible?" Xopil asked a bit incredulously.


    "No silly. That wouldn''t be very fun having the same puzzle twice like that. But, in your observation, you did miss something pretty important." Xiara giggled lightly, and indicated for him to look down.


    "An underground city?" Xopil asked and moved off the door leading into the ground.


    "Yeah, a pretty sad story behind it actually," replied Xiara.


    "Tell me about it," requested Xopil.


    "Very well... A long time ago, well... relatively a long time ago, a millenium is the blink of an eye for some races after all. I digress, prior to one thousand years ago there was no city here...above ground or otherwise. Ah, watch your step. This stairwell is full of death traps. So, this city..."


    "That''s indeed a sad history. So to summarize, the elven kingdom was the target of constant war which they eventually lost in the end, the kingdom was ransacked, the citizens became war spoils who where then scattered to the world and turned into slaves. The descendants of those slaves managed to escape and formed a kingdom far from the prying eyes of the world - right here. Even so, remaining secluded and hidden for a millenium is impressive."


    "And for obvious reasons, they don''t welcome visitors easily. Also I haven''t gotten to the worst of it, but...


    Spoiler: Spoiler<input class="spoilerButton" type="button" value="Show">


    some things are better left unsaid, and unseen... well I can say this: even if you managed to gather all the citizens of this city, you wouldn''t find an ounce of pure elven blood. Not in all of them combined. Their proud history is but a mockery today.


    The term ''almost-animal'' may better suit them now than even ''demi-elf''. They were experimented on... in cruel and unimaginable ways the most successful of which made them, ugh ''better'' slaves. They were turned into beasts of burden, stronger and more agile than their counterparts, easier to house and care for, also cheaper than keeping say an actual horse. Naturally, this affected their physical bodies as well.


    ...the worst of all -or the best? depending on how you see it- is they maintained a high level of intelligence through all of it and that allowed the descendents to escape and build this haven."


    "...Just hearing that, I know what I must do. I need to prevent that war or change the outcome...there''s not much that can be done after the fact."


    "Change the history of several millenia?" Xiara asked. Well, it''s not like he can''t do it...


    "...There has to be a way. Let''s visit Boris at the inn, maybe he knows something about time travel with that enchanted inn of his." Xopil stated and started running down the staircase. "Whatever problem this city is suffering at present seems trivial to what''s happened to the people after the war was lost."Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    Well maybe there is nothing wrong... relatively speaking... with the city at present and the puzzle is in the past? Or... this city wasn''t meant to exist in the first place? Xiara mused as she chased after him.


    After stepping on the last stair, Xopil entered the city proper, but it wasn''t until Xiara stepped up next to him that the people turned in their direction. An armored spear legion was approaching from the far road and the crowds of people nearby were thinning rapidly as the people made themselves scarce.


    The legion approached and stopped in front of Xiara and aimed their spearheads at her. "There should be two intruders. What happened to the other one?"


    "For one, this hostile greeting isn''t necessary. We''re not here to cause trouble. If we were..." Xiara spoke elegantly and subtlely waved her hand as though she were bored. "you''d hardly be an obstacle. Secondly, I was an elven princess, although it was so long ago I bet even time itself forgot when that was. Still, I think I deserve some formality."


    Xiara waved her hand again, the entire legion stood at attention, saluted with their spears, and dropped to a knee involuntarily. "That''s a much better reception. Thank you for that. Thirdly, the other ''intruder'' as you insist we are, is right here next to me."


    "Now then... before you start spouting nonsense about how you''re going to escort us to the current ruler, here''s what you''re actually going to do. We''re going to the inn. This is much more important, do you understand?"


    The members of the legion looked at eachother uncertainly. "Er, what''s an inn?"


    Xiara shook her head, "Well, that certainly complicates things... fine, fine, lead the way. So much for cutting to the chase."


    "Princess Xiara," muttered Xopil, barely a whisper.


    "W-what?" Xiara was a bit flustered at suddenly hearing her lost title.


    "Oh nothing, I was just seeing how it rolled off the tongue. I like it. But, why didn''t you tell me?"


    Because you already know... Xiara thought scornfully. "It must have slipped my mind."


    "This... is just a regular building? I thought you were taking us to see your leader?" Xiara questioned, while looking at the rather lavish decorations adorning the building.


    "Well... there''s a bit of history there, and given your little speech earlier, it may be better to just go inside."


    Xopil pushed the door open, and Xiara followed behind. "Wow, there was someone with her the whole time...we just couldn''t see him."


    "You think an elven princess would be a liar?"


    "Like you believed her."


    "Shut up all of you, back to patrolling."


    "I suppose..." Xopil looked at Xiara when the innkeeper strolled into view.


    "We should have expected this...?" Xiara looked at Xopil.


    "What''s yer..." Boris stood slack-jawed.


    "So, based on how gaudy this building was on the outside, this is where most of the ''don''t ask, don''t tell'' happens?


    "It''s against policy to answer that question. Besides, what are ye doing here? Shouldn''t ye be out saving the world one city at a time?"


    "That''s why we''re here." Xopil looked coldly at Boris for what he was suggesting. "One question, though. We thought they were taking us to the city''s king...mayor...leader, why''d they bring us to you?"


    "Ye could say no one here wanted the job. I got voted unanimously in my absence. But enough about that," Boris waved his hand dismissively, "what can I do for ye?"


    "Well, this is a bit of a delicate matter... we need to go back in time and prevent the elves from losing the war." Xopil stated.


    "Xiara, you didn''t..." Boris stopped himself, "back room. Now."


    "What?" Xopil was confused at this turn of events.


    "Just... wait here, we''ll be back in a couple minutes. Only a slight misunderstanding." Xiara smiled softly at Xopil as she walked away.


    Xopil watched dumbfounded as they walked into the kitchen area.


    "Okay, spill it. I''ll make sure you''re properly reprimanded later." said Boris.


    "It''s really not my doing, he came up with this on his own. Was I supposed to change his mind?"


    "You may once have been an elven princess, but that was a long time ago and you were since seperated from their fate. This fate could have been changed many times over, so why now? Because he doesn''t have his memories, to make him think it was part of the grand puzzle?"


    "What if it is part of the grand puzzle and I had only a small part in this turn of events?"


    "...Tell me how you relayed the history and we''ll go from there."


    <hr>


    Xopil was fast asleep hunched over the table by the time Xiara and Boris finished their little discussion. Xiara was gently shaking Xopil awake.


    "Uhnn... that dream again." Xopil muttered.


    "What dream?" Xiara asked giving him her undivided attention, Boris too, stretched an ear to listen.


    "Always the same one... I''m running around the castle courtyard while chased by my teachers with my father and mother watching me from the terrace, when I wake it always ends the same... in a fire."


    "..." Xiara gave Boris an intense look.


    "You... Ye were there?" Boris asked earnestly.


    "I think I was, I don''t remember much else though."


    Boris muttered something to himself, looked at Xiara and gave her a nod.


    "Is the dream always the same?"


    "For the most part... the fire always happens when I wake up, regardless where in the dream I was."


    "Now the most important question..."


    "Hm?"


    "What''s your name in the dream?"


    "That... everyone just calls me by the title ''prince''."


    "Excuse us Xopil, we need to have another discussion." Xiara spoke quickly, as Boris pulled her back into the kitchen.

 Chapter 9

    "..." Xopil watched in silence as he was more or less abandoned in the room. He remained seated at the table as he tried to put some pieces together. Who was I before? Just what is my true existence? I''ve messed with this whole world, how many such worlds have I... destroyed... similarly? And all this just so I can figure out how to put them back together again? I forced myself into this world. Those two don''t seem to be part of the world, at least not any more. Xiara revealed she used to be part of this world, as an elf princess before the fall of the elves. Boris I''m not sure about, but I''m certain he doesn''t belong in this world either. More questions than answers and the pool just keeps getting murkier as more questions surface.


    "Hell with it now," Xopil rose from the table and barged into the kitchen. "...No, I''m done playing by the rules that it seems I''ve set, so I''m changing them."


    "As you wish, but there''s still only so much you can do in your current state." Boris was the first to reply.


    "First off, who am I? Don''t tell me, ''Xopil'' that won''t cut it. Who am I to this world, to the two of you? In the grand scheme of everything: Who or What am I?"


    "Even if it''s you asking we''re not supposed to... but well alright."


    "Boris, you''re going to?" Xiara was genuinely worried.


    "Look at him. His eyes are dangerous. Not complying would be the worst case, even after all is said and done."


    "In this world, you were born a prince roughly two millenia ago to a king and queen of the elves, as Xopil Wragnaith." Boris began, "That dream or nightmare you have been having... well it''s a real event that happens in the past. The fire you experience is actually a camoulflaged space/time spell that pulls you back to this day and age. On a subconscious level, when you fall asleep your mind pieces together the spell and takes you back to relive the moment, not to torture yourself, but to fix it."


    "Are you sure you want this?" Xiara asked for confirmation one more time.


    "Yes," Xopil gave a nod as he was still digesting everything Boris had said.


    "Very well. You can consider yourself a ''creator'' and ''destroyer''. You''d be both right and wrong."


    "What like a god?" Xopil waved his hand dismissively. "What kind of god would destroy worlds willingly?"


    "That''s probably the simplist way to describe it, but it''s still inaccurate. Creation and destruction are merely two sides of the same coin. Much like life and death. Without life, there is no death. Without death, how would life sustain itself... Everything eats in some way. Animals eat plants and other animals... In this way, plants are contained with just enough freedom, animals are held at sustainable levels, and a delicate balance is reached, whereby life fills the world and death keeps life at levels where it can thrive in the world. You used to maintain life by monitoring it constantly, killing it off personally. At the time you called yourself ''an indiscriminate murderer'', and you hated that aspect of your existence, so you created what can now be called ''a natural balance'', and this extends into all aspects."The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    "... I had such a role, and I''m not a god?"


    "Your existence is slightly different from what could be considered a god. For starters, you''re not all powerful, all knowing, and you''re certainly not everywhere all at once. It''d be better to call yourself a butler or a pawn, maybe a janitor." Boris said thoughtfully.


    "What?" Xopil was shocked at that revelation.


    "You have the duties of a god, the ability to do fulfill those duties, but not the authority to delegate them to another, so a pawn is the most fitting." replied Boris, "Which brings us to this world you''re currently on, solving puzzles to save it. Call it your rebellion from your duties, or maybe ''procrastination'' would fit too, but in a sense you''re still partially performing your duties since worlds are still getting destroyed, while others receive a reprieve."


    "A pawn, huh? There''s worse things. Pawns have a lot of potential for advancement last I checked." Xopil laughed lightly, "... Ok so how do you two fit in to all that?"


    "You''re actually over my head in hierarchy, but I do have some authority of you... I could be considered an advisor, I can give you ideas and directives but you don''t have to follow, at the same time if you''re deemed to be shirking your duties, I am able to put you back in your place. I don''t know what Xiara has told you, or how much you''ve figured out on your own." explained Boris.


    "I am..." Xiara looked a bit sad as she recalled her origin, "... a nameless companion assigned to you."


    "Well, that was only at first wasn''t it?" asked Boris, "Go on, tell him the rest."


    "You changed me bit by bit, little by little. I could go as far as to call these changes ''improvements'', but even so... that you felt I needed to be changed is still a bit..."


    "You''re confusing him, Xiara." Boris interrupted, "You gave Xiara the ability to experience and adapt. When you gave her emotion, a whole new world opened to her. The little changes you made over a long period of time... well, that''s mostly due to her experience and adaptation, she requested more tweaks until she ''felt'' right. The result of many thousands of years of tweaks is standing here."


    "... Did I do these changes without you wanting them? Do you want to go back to your original self?" Xopil asked sincerely.


    "N-no... I''m much happier now. Well, mostly because I couldn''t feel happiness before. And, as Boris said, I actually requested all of these tweaks after the initial one. If anything, I miss the feeling..." Xiara trailed off with a blush.


    "I didn''t do anything wierd, right?" Xopil looked at Boris for the reply.


    "Nothing above and beyond what she asked for," replied Boris, "even when she complains ''he made me this way'' it''s only because she asked for certain things, but her ability to adapt also played a pretty big role; she found things she enjoyed more than others and her adaptability did some additional fine-tuning... so in a sense she did it to herself, but only because you gave her the ability to in the first place. Final tidbit I''m aware of, ''Xiara'' is the first name you gave her, and since then her name has changed nearly ten thousand times. Seems you''re a bit attached to her first name?"


    "..." Xopil fell silent as that sank in. "How do you both fit into this world?"


    "As you found out earlier, Xiara was the elven princess. She had forced herself into this world at around the same time you started this puzzle world. Then the war, it nearly broke her heart watching her people suffer as they did so I put her to rest in the room you found her after hastily scrubbing her memories. Seems I had missed a few. As for me, I do not share a part of this world on the same level as you do... I simply replaced an innkeeper that''s currently in suspended animation until my role here is no longer needed." stated Boris, "Does that answer what you wanted to know?"


    "Above and beyond... There''s still some things I want to know, but for now the more pressing thing: when will I get my memories back, or what do I need to do?"


    Xiara and Boris exchanged a look, turned to Xopil in sync and shrugged together. "We don''t know. We normally have this ''reveal all the things'' conversation after you solve the final puzzle, by the time we''re done your memories are just... back. When time runs out and you''ve failed, your memories just return on their own at that point."


    "..." Xopil frowned in thought and scratched his chin.

 Chapter 10

    "Alright," Xopil threw his arms up. "I''m the bearer of phenomenal cosmic power that could change the universe but I don''t remember how to use it."


    "We''re not exactly thrilled about this either you know?" asked Boris.


    "But... where do we go from here?" Xiara asked.


    "To change history." Xopil replied then fell into thought again, "Where to begin..."


    "You have the ability, it''s just dormant in your conscious mind." replied Boris.


    "So, he needs to sleep is all?" Xiara asked.


    "That''s half of it... the other half is he has to realize it''s not a dream when he gets there," answered Boris.


    "...That''s no small feat...I''m completely cut off from my ''self'' when I''m there." Xopil frowned.


    "That sounds a little familiar." said Boris.


    "What do you mean?"


    "Your current self. When you start these puzzle worlds, you separate from everything you know, and you grow up in the world gaining new knowledge and experiences. We follow behind just to make sure nothing... extreme... happens, but we guide you through when you stumble. We can''t do that anymore now though."


    "Huh?"


    "This world is rejecting us now that we''ve revealed a bit too much, we''re getting cut out just like you, and as such we have to solve the puzzles along with you now."


    "So what you''re saying is before all this, you knew how to completely solve this world''s problems, and now you don''t?"


    "In a nutshell."


    "..." Xopil took a moment to think and fell silent, "You aren''t the innkeeper any more either?"


    "Correct, I assume the true innkeeper will be here to kick us out momentarily. The inn itself already had the enchantments stripped off."


    "..." Xopil was getting annoyed by the long strings of bad news.


    "On the bright side," before Boris finished passing the good news, he and Xiara disappeared from the room. Boris took a quick look around, finding himself alone in a dense forest somewhere, hopefully on the mainland, he finished his statement, "well then, scratch that ''we''re still together'' bit."


    "...Anything else you want to throw at me while you''re at it?" Xopil looked up at the ceiling for no reason other than to make it easier to shout.This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    "Who are ye and why are ye in me kitchen?" a tall person with a horse head asked Xopil.


    "So you''re the new innkeeper?" Xopil asked.


    "New? This here inn been in me family fer generations. Me been the owner hundreds of years now."


    "...What''s your name?" asked Xopil.


    "That''s me line." the horse-elf retorted.


    "Xopil Wragnaith."


    "Eh?" the horse-elf cast a curious eye at the man before him. "The last prince born at the fall of the golden age? Just appearing out of the blink of nowhere and in me kitchen no less, ye expect me to believe that when ye don''t look a day over 100?"


    "No, I am not claiming to be anyone. That is my name though, like it or not."


    "...The name ''Xopil'' ain''t been used except for once. Further, the ''Wragnaith'' line was completely destroyed roughly two thousand years ago. So, ye''ve already put a black mark on yerself. So ye''d best be provin who ye say ye be, or tell me yer name."


    "...And how would I prove it?"


    "The family crest would be the usual method."


    "...There were two such crests actually, but as far as public knowledge goes there was only one, so even if I produced it, that''s still not proof."


    "Color me impressed. Indeed they were the only royal family to ever use two crests. Your claim to be Xopil is indeed getting solid. And you trained with a sword at a young age?"


    "I did, I''ll have that brand from the sword grip forever it seems."


    "Oh? Why didn''t ye say so? Show me yer palm then."


    "..." Xopil looked at the horse-elf warily.


    "Yer being cautious now? Shouldn''t have spilled yer name then eh?"


    "Even so, there''s only a handful of people who know this crest; they''re royal family and a select number of servants. All of whom are long dead."


    "Except fer ye."


    "And without showing you, I''ve proven my identity."


    "Tch. So you have." the horse-elf clicked his tongue.


    "Right then. Make me some identification; would be too much hassle to go through this every time."


    "At once, yer highness." the horse-elf saluted elegantly and trotted off to another section of the inn.


    Xopil moved to the main lobby and took a seat while he waited. As per usual, he was ignored like he wasn''t even there, several times people tried to move the seat he was in.


    "Foralis!" some customers were getting impatient, usually the innkeep was ever present in the lobby.


    "Yes, yes, me just be a moment." the horse-elf called from another room. "Ah there ye be!"


    Foralis returned to the lobby and seeing a long line of customers, was about to ignore them. Xopil waved his hand lightly, and Foralis stopped to take names and provide room keys to the guests. Foralis took food and drink orders from seated guests before serving them, and then finally, made his way over to Xopil.


    "Me apologies fer the delay yer highness." the horse-elf saluted and presented a wrapped bundle to Xopil. The other guests watched in muffled silence as the horse-elf seemed to be entertaining invisible nobility and it struck them as comical.


    Xopil opened the package casually, when he exposed the contents he nearly dropped it from shock. "Th-this is..."


    "Quite right, this was my ancestor''s ring and crest. A maid in the royal castle. Small world after all, isn''t it?"


    "Minerva''s." Xopil''s mouth moved of its own accord.


    "An honor fer ye to remember," the horse-elf saluted once more.


    "How could I not remember my personal maid? On the other hand, t''would be proper for me to apologize to you and everyone in this town for losing the final battle in the war, even if I was too young to take part."


    "Yer highness... ye don''t remember? The war started after ye were sent away to the neighboring human kingdom." Foralis responded.


    "...No the war started while I was still here, but the first strike didn''t land until father sent me away."


    "Quite perceptive fer one so young at the time, but nary a thing ye could have done."


    "That remains to be seen." Xopil rose from his seat while grasping Minerva''s ring tightly.

 Chapter 11

    Xopil was laying on a bed at the inn. He stared fixedly at the ring pinched between his fingers. I have two obstacles to this whole mess, maybe three. First off, I can''t bring anything I know with me when I travel back. I''ll just forget that for now since I can''t do much about it. Next, I need to figure out how to become aware I''m in the past. Lastly would be how to end the war before it starts? ... Again there''s not much point figuring it out here.


    Xopil sighed in defeat just before there was a knock at his door. "Enter."


    "Your highness." Foralis saluted as he passed through the door.


    "And they are?" Xopil cast a tired gaze upon the several women following Foralis into the room.


    "Descendents of royal servants." Foralis replied, "I had hoped to introduce you properly..."


    The women looked at eachother in confusion, only catching half the conversation. Xopil placed his feet on the floor and rose from the bed, he approached them somberly, his footsteps growing heavy.


    The women''s ears twitched as they heard the heavy footsteps approaching, but saw no one.


    "I present to his highness, the descendents of the royal guard...er?" Foralis was stunned. "I don''t understand?"


    "It''s simple, just repeat what I said, they can''t hear or see me."


    "I, Xopil Wragnaith, sincerely apologize for the fate that has befallen you and your ancestors. I will do everything within my power to right this terrible wrong."


    "The lost prince is really here?" the five women were in an uproar as they were about to kneel. Foralis stopped them with a wave, mimicking Xopil. "He says he hasn''t earned the right for formality."


    "We''ve still sworn fealty all these years." the women genuflected, despite being stopped earlier. Xopil scratched the back of his head awkwardly, "Please... rise."


    "You may rise." Xopil shot Foralis a glare, causing the horse-elf to shudder. The women also shuddered from the change in the atmosphere as they slowly stood up straight.


    "His highness has requested that all of you join him for a meal." Foralis led them all to a table in the main lobby, then he left to prepare the meal. The five women watched a chair at that table pull itself out and push back in. They approached the table and sat at attention. Only a couple minutes passed before they started chatting idly and gossiping amongst themselves, completely forgetting that Xopil was there.


    Any other time, a prince would be insulted by such behavior; at present though, Xopil was hoping to catch anything useful, but he was disappointed... he was the center of their conversation after all. He did his best to ignore them instead, he failed with that as well.


    "I''d have dressed up if I knew I''d be dining with the prince."


    "That''s irrelevent isn''t it? We''re all here, looking dull and drab in common casual wear. Besides, we don''t know it''s the prince do we?"


    "But that oppressive feeling earlier..."


    "No kidding, I''m just glad it wasn''t directed at us."


    That could be arranged. Xopil shrugged.


    "It''s strange though, like I can feel when his eyes are on me. Makes me feel self conscious."


    The other women murmered in agreement, after this they lowered their voices and continued their chat in whispers.


    Foralis returned from the kitchen bearing a large amount of plates on a huge serving tray, seeing Xopil looking bored with his head propped on his hand he hastily placed the food on the table. "Apologies fer the wait."


    "Why so much food?" Xopil asked slightly dazed.


    "Er... well, that''s..." Foralis waited until Xopil had taken a portion and filled his plate, the women waited patiently as well as they watched food mysteriously disappear and reappear on the plate in front of the empty chair. When Xopil had finished, Foralis gave a nod to the women and quickly backed away from the table.


    Nothing could have prepared Xopil for the graceful yet monstrous presence of the five women assaulting the food remaining on the table. Xopil simply aimed his eyes at his own plate and proceeded to eat calmly despite the hurricane going on at his table.The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    The difference is too large... Foralis sighed at the scene and retreated to the kitchen. Every so often, the women at Xopil''s table would cast their eyes at his plate in order to observe how he ate, noticing that the food slowly disappeared at regular intervals, the women blushed in embarrassment and it only got worse when they looked at the mess they''d made of the rest of the table.


    The women returned to their seats when they had eaten their fill, and patiently sat there watching as the remaining food on Xopil''s plate disappeared casually. Foralis returned and started cleaning up the used plates, leaving Xopil to finish eating. Foralis gave the girls a pitiful glance as he walked away. They all noticed and looked at the floor. It''s not like they could help their nature.


    "It''s fine." Xopil stated more to himself, and resumed eating. After all, it''s not like they could hear him.


    A pair of ears twiched, and one of the women turned her head looking around the lobby, this didn''t go unnoticed by the other four. "Something wrong Caly?"


    "Someone just said ''it''s fine'' but there''s no one here besides us, right? ...And the prince." Caly stated, looking warily at the seat behind the only plate left on the table.


    "Ho? So you can hear me now?" Xopil was more than a little delighted at this.


    "Mmm such a deep manly voice... and that ancient accent, I could just..." Caly could barely control herself, she purred heavily.


    "Hey hey, calm down... can you see me too?" Xopil asked.


    "See you... hmm no." Caly replied, more than a little disappointed as she stared intently at the chair.


    "What''s he sound like?"


    "So he''s really there?"


    "Leave it to the curious cat to be the first to hear him."


    "Wait, why can she hear him but the rest of us can''t?"


    "If I had to guess, Caly is your name? It''s because your curiousity allowed you to believe I''m here enough to break one of the barriers."


    "Actually, it''s Calypso," responded Caly with a sudden deep blush at being addressed by her nickname from a prince of all people. "So all it takes really is to believe you''re there?"


    "More or less, it can''t be a half-hearted belief though." Xopil replied.


    "Is that so..." Caly rose from her chair, and bounced as she walked her way towards Xopil. Before anyone could object, she sat down and curled up in his lap.


    "What?" Xopil was perplexed at this turn of events.


    "Well, I am mostly cat... and nothing is more comfortable than a warm lap. This will help me believe you''re there."


    Xopil sat there wordlessly, even unconsciously stroked her ears. Caly started trilling contentedly. She went as far as accepting the jealous gazes of the other four women like a boss.


    "To have a man like you around..." Caly''s words trailed off, replaced by her contented trilling.


    "Well, that clinches it." the other four women, eyes green with envy, finally could see Xopil sitting there petting Caly. As they observed Caly, it was hard not to believe there was someone there.


    "Shameless house cat..." one of the women said bitterly.


    "Perhaps I am, but I''m not the one missing out now am I?" Caly retorted between purrs.


    "Thanks for your help Calypso." Xopil stated, stroking her favorite spot.


    "Please master, call me Caly... or anything you prefer really..." she snuggled on his lap.


    "Too shameless." retorted the same woman.


    "Ok Caly, that''s enough." Xopil helped Caly off his lap, though she was very reluctant to leave.


    The women all gave Xopil expectant looks, well all except Caly who was quite content at the moment.


    This could be a problem... thought Xopil, "Ok, introductions first please... I''m Xopil."


    Xopil was assaulted with a garbled mess as all four said their names at the same time. "That''s not going to work. Bunny?"


    "Beda," she replied trying to suppress a giggle. Xopil shook his head.


    "Fox?"


    "Why thank you...Felicyta," she replied. Xopil shook his head.


    "Dog?"


    "...How rude, I''m a wolf. Winter." she retorted. Again, Xopil shook his head.


    "Leopard?"


    "Lexi." she replied mildly.


    Descendents of the royal guards... what a sad hand they''ve been dealt. Xopil thought as he looked them over. "Truth be told... I need your help."


    "..." the five women shifted uncomfortably.


    Xopil continued, "Your ancesters were royal guards, so I''d ask you to help me sharpen my skills..."


    Wordlessly, the five women showed Xopil their hands, or rather their paws. When it didn''t dawn on Xopil they said, "We''re unable..."


    "I need to train my upper body strength and my legs too, you know... running, sprinting, jumping... not everything is about wielding a sword..."


    The women shifted uncomfortably again. "Foralis told us the prince had special tastes... and wanted to meet with us specifically... and so we thought about what kind of place this is...and then you..." the four women turned to look at Caly.


    "This is news to me, I didn''t know I''d be meeting you at all today... but when I heard you were descended from the royal guard I hoped you could help me with training." Xopil turned towards the kitchen.


    "We shouldn''t have gotten our hopes up, but you also did that so well..." Caly said dreamily.


    "Let me ask this, what do you expect or want of me?"


    "A warm lap to curl up in."


    "Cuddles."


    "Petting and belly rubs."


    "Scritches."


    "All of the above...and more." As soon as this was mentioned, all the women smiled and blushed as they imagined their own personal bliss.


    That sounds harmless... Xiara wouldn''t kill me for that right...? Xopil carefully weighed his life prior to asking the next question, "And in return can you share what you know of the war, and help me train as best you can?"


    The women were wagging their tails and wiggling their bodies in anticipation as they agreed.


    In a few days, Xopil had learned everything there was to know about the war... and although not the goal, he also learned each of the women''s particular weakness. All that remained was to hone his body with training, and figure out how he was going to stay in the past long enough to change history.

 Chapter 12

    Xopil was sitting in a chair, looking out a window of the inn. It was pitch dark outside, save for the stars sparkling in the night sky. He had long abandoned the idea of going to sleep. Why you ask? That answer is simple. Xopil turned away from the window and gazed warily at his bed. There were five animal-elf women sprawled, stretched, or curled up on the bed. He had escaped that mess several hours ago, abandoning sleep to instead gaze at the stars while letting his thoughts wander; but the bigger question is, why didn''t they leave? Xopil had other things to worry about though...


    I''m planning to change history, the goal is to change the present. That would also change the future, wouldn''t it? Xopil sighed. Can this idea even bear fruit? Consider for a moment, there''s me in the future that successfully went back in time. Wouldn''t I be affected now, hell.. wouldn''t this whole town have been affected already?


    Xopil scratched his chin. That should be the case... right? But...


    Xopil pulled a pencil and paper from a nearby desk and sat down. Xopil drew a straight horizontal line across the paper, and drew three circles on the line, one directly in the exact middle, and the other two on both sides of the first. He labled the circles "past", "present", and "future" respectively from left to right.


    When you think of time, it''s usually like this right... every action you take sets the path behind you, leading to the future. Wait. Wait wait wait wait wait! This can''t be... you can''t have a line drawn to represent the future, that would mean the future path has already been determined. Xopil gave himself pause, ...I even confirmed this based on my current goal; my line of thinking was already ''me in the future went back in time''...perhaps a straight line is accurate after all?


    With that thought in mind, Xopil looked at the line he drew earlier. He drew a new arced line using dashes from the future to the past, marking his future path. That''s not right either... when I go to the past, that will be from the present not from the future. Xopil drew a new dotted line leading from the present to the past.


    This still doesn''t explain the current state of the elves... or does it? Xopil looked long and hard at his drawn time representation. Travelling through time... one would separate from the time they are from... could they then reunite with the same time line?


    Xopil put that thought on hold as something else occurred to him while he was looking at the line connecting the present with the future.  A single path leads from the future... a single path left for the past... the present is the closest past, the nearest future, where they meet is the path we tread. However... Xopil looked hard at that single line on the sheet of paper. There are no infinite possibilities in the future. That living beings think there are is an illusion. The fact is, the future is predetermined; set in stone as much as the past is, a single path available for us to tread making way to an unchanging history.


    Fate, destiny... even history be damned. There''s no ''chance encounters'' everything that happens, can only happen as it does. Even my decision to change history. Meaning I can change nothing, this path has to remain intact for me to keep following the road the future left me to follow. So does my attempt to change the past meet with catastrophic failure or is a new timeline born from that with a different history...Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    At this time, Xopil felt something coming out of his ear, and a tiny voice spoke, "Ya best be careful. All that thinking could hurt a guy like you. It was getting pretty hot in that empty space in there. It may be a good time to take a break."


    "Very funny." Xopil said to no one in particular, then he drew a new line parallel to the existing timeline, and adjusted the course of the dashed line from the original line to the new one, but he stopped before he finished.


    "Would I be changing the past, modifying the present, making an adjustment to the future... or creating a whole new time line?" Xopil mused as smoke came out of his ears. He ignored it and continued on, "Based on my own conjecture, not that I''m necessarily right... still, I''d be going to a different timeline, where nothing would change, but the history would already be different. By extension, I would cease to exist in this timeline."


    That wouldn''t fix this time line though. Xopil sighed as his eyes closed and he passed out on the desk.


    <hr>


    Xopil''s eyes opened slowly.


    "Prince!" a voice shouted from outside the door, "It''s nearly time for your morning exercises!"


    "That time again already?" Xopil said to himself as he clambered out of bed.


    "Good morning Prince, I''ve prepared the usual training suit." replied his personal maid matter-of-factly.


    "Thanks Minerva." Xopil replied casually, catching the maid off guard.


    "You... know my name?" Minerva asked as she helped him change his clothes.


    "Is that a surprise? You have been my personal maid for quite some time..."


    Minerva shook her head lightly as she finished buttoning the shirt. "Ever since becoming a personal maid, this is the first time I''ve been called by name... and so pleasantly, by anyone. I am just a maid though..."


    "Prince?!" Xopil had taken Minerva''s hand and helped her to rise.


    "No more talking yourself down. I''m a prince but that was decided by who my parents are. Does that make me more important than you?" Xopil and Minerva took a stroll through the castle courtyard, where he casually looked around at the various people working. His eye caught five particular maids working together.


    "It does!" Minerva replied.


    "Maybe in the eyes of the kingdom. But do the stars care?"


    "Prince, I don''t understand."


    "Start thinking on a grander scale and perhaps one day, you will. What are your plans for today?"


    "My plans...? As your personal maid I''ll be following you on your daily activities just out of sight, same as every other day."


    "And why is that?" Xopil scratched his chin.


    "Have you forgotten? These were your orders."


    Something isn''t right. Xopil thought. "Minerva, take the rest of the day off."


    "Prince? Have I upset you?"


    "On the contrary, you''ve helped me realise something, so I''m rewarding you. Here, take this as well and go have a fun day." Xopil handed Minerva a handful of gold and silver coins from his own pocket.


    So much money... I couldn''t even dream of having a fortune such as this...and he handed it to me like it was nothing. Minerva dazed at the coins in her hand.


    Fire burst forth from the ground.


    <hr>


    "His head is burning up still, but at least his body temperature has come down." Xopil woke up to the feeling of five pairs of paws fretting over him as he lay on the bed.


    "You''re all still here?" Xopil asked dazedly as he looked at the position of the sun through the window. The five women quickly backed away and were about to flee from the room.


    "Wait. We still have some things to discuss."

 Chapter 13

    Xopil''s gaze pierced the five women standing before him one by one. Bunny. Cat. Wolf. Fox. Leopard.


    "Such an intense glare..." the women mumbled as they shifted uncomfortably.


    "You probably have your reasons for lying to me, but I can''t be bothered any more. You''re not descended from the royal guard..."


    "Lying? Where did you get the idea that we were descended from royal guards?" Caly interrupted... "All five of us have always been your personal maids, your highness."


    Xopil sat frozen as those words sank in, his mouth opening and closing like a fish as he tried to find words... any words. In the end, he admitted defeat and simply diverted his eyes to the floor.


    "I''ll not lie, the experiments were horrible. That''s said and done though, centuries have passed. We escaped, found this place, settled down and accepted our situation." Beda stated matter-of-factly.


    "Mmm not all of it has been bad though..." Caly added, which the other four nodded agreement to.


    "If..." Xopil finally found his voice. "if it were possible to prevent everything after the loss of the war from happening..."


    "What are you talking about? We won the war at the end of the golden age."


    Xopil stared blankly at the five women in front of him, then finally said, "...Tell me what happened to Minerva."


    "Minerva? ...Sorry, I don''t know anyone with that name."


    ...They should definately remember Minerva. Xopil thought then asked, "What about Foralis?"


    "..." the women looked at eachother and shrugged.


    "Okay... who introduced us?" Xopil''s question received five blank stares.


    "...Your highness. You''re scaring us. It''s only been the six of us living in this abandoned town for the past thousand years."


    Xopil fell silent, he slowly scratched his chin in thought. Have I changed history or have I been thrown into a parallel time? ...For that matter, what was the different action I took? What does this mean for Xiara and Boris...?


    "It seems the fever has affected him more than we initially thought." Beda spoke for all of them.


    "We shall go hunting," Lexi, Winter and Felicyta spoke in unison and promptly left the room. Meanwhile, Calypso and Beda tackled Xopil, pushing him onto the bed and cuddling next to him to elevate his body temperature, and prevent him from leaving the bed. Clearly, this was not the first time these women had experienced this situation.


    Despite protesting loudly for several hours that he was fine and struggling against them, Beda and Caly hadn''t relented in the slightest until Xopil finally passed out from their combined heat and exhausting himself.This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.


    "He''s... finally... asleep..." Caly said slowly, her own eyes closing after all the energy she had expended.


    "Yeah..." Beda barely replied, her own fatigue taking her consciousness away.


    <hr>


    Xopil''s eyes opened wearily. I feel like I just ran several marathons.


    Xopil tried to get up, only to find his body was extremely heavy. No, not heavy. Restrained. The sounds of chains clinking together alerted a person in the room with him.


    "Prince?" an unfamiliar voice greeted him.


    "...What''s the meaning of this?" Xopil tried his best not to sound irritated.


    "...Prince, do you know who I am?"


    "No." Xopil replied, while subtly taking stock of his surroundings.


    "So you are the real Prince then..."


    "What the hell is going on here anyway?"


    "Let''s just say you did this to yourself. Yes, that''s quite accurate indeed."


    "And who are you then?" Xopil asked as he focused on the aged man in front of him.


    "No one of consequence, honestly. I am quite well acquainted with your other self though."


    "What happens now?"


    "We''re going to play a little game. I won''t bore you with the rules, but suffice to say we each have our own goals for winning. I''ve recently started dabbling with a new magic your other self taught me, and I need test subjects as it were."


    "So, my goal is to escape before your experiment starts?" Xopil asked.


    "Hmm... smarter than I was led to believe. Indeed, I''m told this magic is quite painful. Once I begin you won''t be able to focus on escaping."


    "I see..." Xopil replied as the restraints seemingly evaporated into thin air.


    "Ho? Color me impressed. This will indeed be a fun game." the aged man replied, then his voice broke into a series of incomprehensible chants as he waved his arms around mystically.


    Xopil''s entire body was instantly wracked with pain, along with a sense of familiarity as he watched the old man. I know this magic...?


    Flames danced on the ground as fire erupted from underground.


    "...Very interesting indeed," the aged man paused his chant upon this turn of events. "You are indeed a mystery whoever you are."


    "Thanks for the compliment," Xopil waved his arm at his side, then brought it forward in front of him, his open hand slowly closed into a tight fist. "don''t think too badly of me though; the magic you wield is too dangerous to leave you be."


    The space around the aged man compressed heavily. His body imploded into itself leaving naught but a speck, no larger than a grain of sand, behind. Xopil lightly waved his hand in a gesture of dismissal, the speck was sent out the gap under the door. From there, the fate of the speck was determined by the wind.


    Xopil sat down heavily, experiencing the full repurcussion of the space magic he just used in addition to the pain he was still suffering from the aged man''s curse. Xopil laughed in a self-deprecating manner. "Remind me not to use magic I don''t properly remember how to use. Not that I had much choice here..."


    Xopil remained there until the pain from the curse subsided and the fatigue from his own magic faded. Afterward, his perception was engulfed in a raging fire.


    <hr>


    Xopil slowly opened his eyes. He was in his own bed, huddled around him were five animals staring intently at him.


    "...Feels like I''m getting further from my goal..." Xopil pinched his nose as he felt a headache developing. The five animals jumped off the bed, transforming before they hit the ground.


    "What goal?" Caly asked.


    "Ehm... nevermind that, what just happened?" Xopil asked.


    "You''re asking like you''ve never seen us change between our elf and animal forms." Winter responded.


    Xopil rubbed his eyes and took a closer look at the five women. Their animal features were less prominent now, however now they could... Xopil collapsed on the bed, "...I need to rest."


    "You just slept straight through five days..." Caly protested.


    "Can''t you cuddle, pet and scratch eachother?"


    "It''s not the same!" they all retorted.


    "..." Xopil had no response to that. I wonder where Xiara is and what she''s doing.

 Chapter 14

    Upon seeing that Xopil had stopped protesting, the women assumed their animal forms. They vied for his attention as he pet, scratched and cuddled with each of them up until he fell asleep with them huddled tightly around him.


    "Honestly..." Xopil chuckled to himself as he slowly looked over them and shook his head.


    But seriously... I''ve thrown a couple theories around in my head and even with what I''ve experienced, I don''t have enough information to know if any of them are right or if there''s another possibility. This world feels different enough, it''s as though everything changed... does that include me?


    "Hm?" Xopil''s thoughts were interrupted by a pair of fox eyes staring intently at him, "Something wrong Felicyta?"


    "Aren''t you going to turn into your animal form?" she asked.


    "...I don''t think I can." Xopil wasn''t sure he had one after all.


    "Can you try?" Felicyta looked pleadingly at him and she left the actual reason unsaid, "Just to make sure you''re really okay."


    "Okay.. let''s see here." Xopil rubbed his chin thoughtfully. It sounds like I have done this before, in that case it should be as natural as breathing... right?


    Xopil relaxed and concentrated on changing his body. The effort was not in vain. Felicyta''s sharp fox eyes stared without blinking as she watched him turn into a skunk.


    "Satisfied?" He asked, looking down his pure black snout at her.The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    "..." wide-eyed, Felicyta could only shake her head. "You... your animal form is wrong."


    "Well that figures... nothing has gone right for me since the beginning." Xopil said scratching the back of his head.


    "Where''s the pillow gone?" four slightly upset women were rudely awakened when their comfort disappeared.


    "Sorry sorry... he''s not a big bear any more..." Felicyta was apologetic as she looked sadly at the skunk.


    "Ohh you lost your spot..." Caly started chuckling.


    <hr>


    Xopil had no interest in that, so he quickly left to take a walk and think. I need to organise this flood of information in my head... There never used to be people changing into animal forms. The important thing to note about this, it''s new to me and only me... and that it also includes me.


    Next, I went from a bear to a skunk... that''s probably important, but I''m not sure how just yet. Also of note about that, it was a shock to everyone-meaning a change to history had occurred, but if that is the case...why wasn''t anyone aware?


    Now to try and make sense of what all this means. The best I can do for now is speculate though. There''s one thing I do know: I did go back in time, and my history was changed.


    A change in the past would snowball through time, right...? So when I travel back to the ''present'' am I jumping to another timeline again? But I''m also carrying with me changes that occured, at the very least to me, in the past?


    The me I am now picked up the properties of this world, and I was modified by what happened in the ''history'' when I was in the past. The fact the girls weren''t aware of my change from a bear to a skunk would support me travelling to yet another parallel world while dragging anything that affects me along too...


    Xopil stopped walking to rub his temples. This is way too difficult without a way to control which ''past'' I end up in, and it seems it''s too much for my subconscious to handle navigation.


    Xopil held his hand up in front of his face, and looked intently at his fist. But, I''m slowly recovering who I am aren''t I... I crushed that old mage into dust, even if I don''t know exactly how I used that spacial magic, I can still feel it.

 Chapter 15

    Xopil strolled casually through the ancient abandoned town and its derelict buildings. Shop signs left in disrepair for so long the writing on them had all but faded into the memory of time itself.


    "My meddling with history in effort to correct what I feel is a terrible fate only seems to be taking me down a more tragic path." Xopil commented to himself as he looked over the town that he had witnessed thriving previously.


    "What?"


    Xopil turned abruptly toward the person who spoke to him, only to find he had five people who had been silently following him from the shadows. Xopil shrugged helplessly, "Tell me about the history of this town."


    "Very well... the six of us arrived here just over one thousand years ago. At the time, this was a thriving town of slavers, murderers, rapists... you name it, it could be found here. A hidden den of the darker side of civilization in the middle of nowhere. When we came to understand the true nature of this town, well... this is the end result." Felicyta motioned at the town in its current state, "The six of us destroyed this town... by ending the lives of roughly 95% of the inhabitants... this is a conservative estimate, we believe some had to escape, but even so, most of that was your doing, and we''ve been living here ever since."


    "That''s quite a bit different than I was expecting." Xopil shook his head, and relayed what he knew of this town, starting off with, "You may have guessed this already, but I''m not the ''Xopil'' you know."


    The five women listened in silence as they learned of a parallel world where the town they inhabited was not the den of horror they knew, but instead a safe haven of a surviving people decimated, defamed, and humiliated nearly to extinction before they found sanctuary here.


    "And on top of all that, they were more animal than you... without the ability to change forms as you can... I myself never had the ability to change into a skunk, or a bear for that matter, until I arrived here."


    "It is a bit hard to accept, but when taken into account with what you should know that you don''t... I guess it makes it slightly more believable."


    "I''ve been living it and I have a hard time believing it."


    "Still, it sounds a lot more convenient not having to change into an animal form to take advantage of its qualities."


    "So if given the option, you''d choose not to get back to your original self?" Xopil asked, making the girls pause and seriously consider that possibility.


    "We have gotten used to living as we are now, and there are clear advantages while we''ve almost completely adapted to the disadvantages..." the women averted their eyes sheepishly.Stolen novel; please report.


    "For example, hunting and food gathering is nearly the same as walking through a park."


    "And your cravings for attention would be the disadvantage you spoke of?" Xopil asked.


    "I guess you could say that... You''ve helped us a lot with that though. There''s just the... other thing. And we should probably go over that as well."


    "...So tell me how I previously handled it when... it was each of your turns to go into heat?"


    "Turn? We all go into heat at the same time... and historically speaking that''s going to happen any day now. It wasn''t a problem, we were all well attended to."


    "You don''t expect me to..."


    "Is that a problem? You seemed so attentive to our other needs, we just assumed..."


    "Yes. That will be a problem."


    "It''s just nature..." the women argued, "it''s not as if we have feelings for you, nor are we looking forward to... with a skunk."


    Indeed... a nature I implemented I bet. I hate you karma. Xopil looked at each of them in turn, it''s not that they weren''t attractive, in fact their animalistic features only added to their beauty. Then there were two things that popped into Xopil''s mind that caused him to swallow hard, Xiara and her endless stamina. He started sweating profusely and he quickly stated, "This is a matter concerning my own survival."


    Xopil stopped to think for a minute, "Wait... I find it hard to believe I''m that different from the ''Xopil'' of this world."


    "Yeah, you''re right... in some regards you''re both identical enough you could be the same person." Felicyta admitted, "That bit about him, or you I guess, taking care of us during our heat was a lie. He would usually lock himself away when he sensed it coming. We couldn''t figure out why though."


    "...I know why, and we''ll leave it at that." Xopil stated then added, "I need to do some research... does this town have a library?"


    "There is... We''re standing right in front of it." Calypso stated, "Hard to imagine this town having a library... but the slavers, muggers, thieves and murderers who lived here saw value in the books carried by their victims.


    "...Thanks," Xopil went into the building without another word. Several months passed as he read every single book this library had to offer, though some of the texts had faded over time, much of the history of this world had been preserved. He did come across one special tome though, a magical tome carrying instruction of spacial magic. The practical instruction section of the book, and everything beyond the basic introduction of the magic itself was faded to history.


    "I hate you." Xopil said to the air, "but I guess this makes sense... It was cliche enough for me to find this book. If it was actually useful because it had some kind of protection magic to prevent wear and tear, that would clinch the cliche all the way."


    "Quite right." Calypso had perched herself on a nearby railing, and she nodded profoundly at Xopil''s revelation then added, "It may still prove useful to gaining a foundation in understanding though..."


    "Breakfast time?" Xopil turned to the cat.


    "...You really don''t have a concept of time, it''s dinner time, on the twentieth day of the fourth month since you came in here and haven''t set a foot outside." Calypso leaped off the railing and landed gracefully on the table Xopil was reading at. In a matter of seconds after that, she had curled up on his lap.


    "Sorry for being so long..." Xopil subconsciously scratched her ears as he flipped open the tome. She purred lightly in response and closed her eyes. Little did she care, but there were four pairs of eyes glaring daggers at her not far away.


    "As soon as I''m done with this you''ll all get some alright?" Xopil asked without looking up from the book, and that was the last he said as he delved into the origins of spacial magic as described in the book.

 Chapter 16

    Xopil peered over at his bed.  There was a cat, wolf, leopard, fox and bunny each curled up and contentedly snoring away.  It is nice how they don''t shed... that would make sleeping a nightmare.


    "You just thought something rude didn''t you?" Felicyta''s ears twitched as one of her eyes opened.


    "Nah, you''re imagining it."  Xopil waved his hand dismissively. "As long as you''re up though, maybe you can help me understand this spacial magic."


    The foxgirl tilted her head as she pretended to consider it.


    "I''ll scratch you some more..." Xopil sighed as he was forced into bribery.


    <hr>


    "I can see why you''ve been confused, this tome barely scratches the surface," Felicyta craned her neck, as she emphasised the word.


    "Are you sure this isn''t a disadvantage?" Xopil asked, while obliging her blatant request.


    "..." Felicyta fell into thought as she tried to find the best way to describe it. "Not really... it feels pretty natural to seek the attention of an alpha male, even if he happens to be a skunk."


    Xopil was instantly sorry he asked.  "Ok, so back to spacial magic then..."


    "It has uses in many applications.  Binding, compressing, expanding and to a degree exploding, and there''s still plenty more, including a lesser form of telekinesis where you could bind an object and move it around.  This is much more costly and inefficient compared to actual telekinesis though." Felicyta explained, and then added, "But, from what you told us earlier, you''re quite the master of this type of magic so you knowing absolutely nothing about it is a bit worrisome.  The level of mastery you described combined with your lack of knowledge... well suffice to say I''m afraid to be on the same planet as you..."


    Xopil took a moment to absorb what she said.  Taking his silence as a cue to continue, she did so, "And the fact that you can control time... well, forget being on the same planet, there''s nowhere that''s safe when you combine these two magics.  Even masters of time magic don''t attempt actively to do what you do when you''re asleep... and still you wonder why each of us seek and try to monopolize your attention.  Forgetting animal nature for a minute, it''s astounding you don''t have all the women in the world flocking to you."


    "Yeah, I could do without that headache thanks." Xopil retorted, "So please don''t jinx me."


    "...I''ll not deny it.  Your request and concern are invalid.  As we''ve already exhausted ourselves trying." Felicyta laughed lightly, "Your passive resistance is quite something and should be praised, considering you didn''t even know."


    "Excuse me?" Xopil was stunned.


    "Yeah, we''ve tried everything we have at our disposal.  Suffice it to say, we''re very grateful that you willingly want to pet, scratch and cuddle with us, since we couldn''t force you to if you didn''t want to."


    "Mind or thought control magic?" Xopil asked.


    "There''s no such thing, although illusions can be considered the next best thing, especially when overlapped with certain jinxes and curses." Felicyta replied, "Unfortunately for us, you''ve proved quite immune to our attempts, and even at the risk of self-boasting, we''re not exactly push-overs..."


    "That''s good to know." Xopil fell silent after that, and simply digested all that information. Stolen story; please report.


    "Fely, you can use a bit of every elemental magic right?"  Xopil asked, to which Felicyta nodded, "I''m a bit of a dabbler, as such I''m not as good with them as the others are.  You may want to ask Caly for proper instruction on fire, Winter for earth, Beda for water and Lexi for air.


    "Can you teach me the basics of fire tonight?" Xopil asked, then thought, She has no idea but she''s already set to be the strongest of all of them.


    <hr>


    "He''s been at that for quite a while hasn''t he?" Calypso asked, as they watched Xopil.


    "Since long before the sun came up.  He''s been messing with that spacial magic of his, then he switched to practicing with fire." Winter replied.


    "It hasn''t been that long but still, the flames are starting to appear to be majestic so there''s been at least some progress." Beda added.


    "Forgive me for playing with fire, but it is one of the easier magics to learn." Xopil replied to the trio.


    "That''s only true to a degree..." Lexi added as she sat down next to the others. "Most people can only perfect one school of magic in a lifetime."


    "Caly, let me see your fire magic." Xopil paused in his practice.  Calypso waved her tail in an arc sending tiny sparks of fire into the air around her.  These sparks quickly grew larger combining into a single flame with a large yellow core and a smaller area of blue surrounding it.  The size of the flame and intensity of the heat made a mockery of Xopil''s efforts till now.  Caly waved her tail once more and the flame dispersed harmlessly, with one last flicker of desperation before it faded entirely.


    "Pretty as usual Caly," Winter praised.


    "Is that the best you can do?" Xopil asked seriously as he approached them.  He pinched his fingers together, with a snap of his fingers and a twist of his wrist, he held a tiny flame as it danced on his palm.  The flame itself was only an inch tall.  The core of the flame was a tiny pitch black dot, while the area around the dot was a deep purple.  "Theatrics aside... I''ll let this flame speak for itself."


    The four of them dazed as they looked at the flame.  They felt no heat from it, at the same time they could sense a deep well of destructive force there in that innocent looking flame.


    "H-how?" Caly swallowed hard as she peered at the midnight flame in front of her eyes.


    "If you keep the mindset that you can always improve, and keep training with that in mind, you''ll come to realise that even this flame can be made better.  Ah, and... this isn''t just fire magic, there''s also spacial magic at play in there controlling the heat... since the heat from this flame at this distance... well, I don''t want to scare you."


    "Two magic types?"  The girls'' eyes glossed over as Xopil dispersed the flame.


    "What?" Xopil backed away and asked when he noticed the intense gazes he was receiving, "You never considered augmenting magic with magic?  ...This goes back to believing there''s always room for improvement... and that little flame wasn''t all that great either."


    "When I can weave air, fire, water, earth, space and time magic together... I could hold a supernova in the palm of my hand... not that I actually could contain such a destructive force as soon as I could make it, but that goes back to improvement.  On that note, a supernova would only be the beginning... but I''m not even close to that yet." Xopil stopped talking and only then he realized his audience was fainted on the ground.  "I wonder which point knocked them unconscious...probably weaving the six magic types together?"


    Xopil wrapped the girls in a spacial bubble and carried them all with him as he returned back to the inn.


    Not too far away, a fox with glossed eyes was walking along mumbling, "What''s a supernova?  And that little flame could be made better?  Just what could I do if I weaved my five elements together?"


    "My advice is to start small so you don''t hurt yourself," Xopil''s voice interrupted her mutterings and caused her to jump in surprise. "But, I''m glad you see your potential now.  Thinking that mastery of magic should be done one at a time is flawed.  Starting tomorrow, I''d like to ask you to teach the others the basics of spacial magic... but I have no doubt that after what they just saw they''ll be asking on their own."


    <hr>


    As Xopil had predicted, Felicyta had four requests to learn spacial magic.  Xopil suggested they learn all the elements prior to jumping into spacial magic, since one magic in particular will make that process easier.  Now school was in session and the girls were all taking turns teaching and learning the four elements together.  Xopil was also paying close attention.  Only after they all had a grasp of the basics of all the elements, and they were able to manifest the basics into physical phenomena did they move on to their ultimate goal of learning spacial magic.


    "Don''t just jump into mixing magic together... make sure you have a solid grasp of the magic first." Xopil warned a little too late, as Calypso caused a bit of an explosion by haphazardly mixing fire and air together.  Xopil laughed lightly as the others looked on, "As ever, the curious cat..."

 Chapter 17

    Xopil examined the destruction wrought upon the building from the explosion and calmly stated, "Let''s move to another building."


    Instantly there was unanimous agreement, so they entered a worn old building on the slightly larger side. "Felicyta, how confident are you in your fire and air magic?"


    "I''m slightly better with air," she admitted.


    "This works out, I''m more confident with fire," replied Xopil, "help me with a demonstration."


    Xopil explained what he wanted Felicyta to do, everyone listened intently and at the end of it he said, "There''s a lot to consider when you''re augmenting magic. For instance, which you start with and what you magic augment it with and finally the complexity level of the two. I''ll be augmenting fire with air... my control of fire will make it easier to prevent an explosion...Felicyta will be augmenting air with fire. Make sure you only use the most simple manifestations you know... this will keep danger to a minimum."


    Felicyta created a small whirlwind in her palm, which Xopil interrupted instantly, "That''s a bit too advanced for this demonstration."


    This confused everyone present, as this has always been considered introductory level. Xopil sighed, "Here, watch."


    Xopil held open his palm and revealed a single razor thin blade hovering effortlessly, to which everyone said he wasn''t using purely air magic.


    "The only reason you can see the whirlwind is because you''ve solidified air, and that solidification is following a repeated course..." Xopil demonstrated this by sending the air blade into a set loop and increased the speed until he had a mini tornado on his hand, now it was very difficult to see any difference between Felicyta''s and Xopil''s magic. Felicyta looked at the whirlwind in her palm, as she slowed it down there were hundreds of blades of varying lengths and thickness, they also looked inferier to the blade Xopil had shown them just moments ago.


    "But even this is a bit too complicated for what we''re trying to do today." Xopil continued, and the blade on his hand literally disintegrated into thin air. "The premise of air magic has always been simple... as simple as the wind blowing." Xopil waved his hand sending a gentle breeze circulating through the enclosed building. "I can tell by your shocked faces that you''ve been learning magic the hard way. Even this breeze... can be broken into a less complicated form."


    "You didn''t know any elemental magic until recently, this is insane getting schooled by an actual novice when we''ve been practicing for centuries.


    "I''m just going to blame it on what I know about spacial magic. But, what you consider to be my ''rapid progress'' is mostly due to starting small, learning the building blocks and then putting them together instead of starting at an advanced stage. You can''t get anywhere without that basic understanding though, so I needed you to teach me that."


    "...Those glazed over eyes of yours scare me. Let''s get back to what we''re here for." Xopil turned to Felicyta, "Once more, but truly basic now okay?"


    All eyes turned to Felicyta as she focused on her hand. As basic as air can get. Do I even need to use magic for that? There''s already air all around my hand...Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    She manifested her air magic, then she slowly fed fire into it, at this point she had a warm sensation in her palm that she sent circulating around the room.


    "A warm breeze, that''s a very nice demonstration of the basics coming together. I can also see you''re coming to a new understanding of both air and fire magic individually." Xopil praised sincerely, "Now, let me show you something else."


    Xopil manifested a tiny yellow flame that sat calmly on his palm, and then he added a bit of air magic, the sudden addition made the yellow flame dance, increase in size slightly and grow volatile.


    "As you see, this is the same thing Felicyta did, but instead of a warm breeze..." Xopil threw the flame into the air, where it exploded releasing an overbearing wave of heat for a moment. "Now I''d say just imagine what you can do with more advanced combinations... but I''ll give you one more example."


    All eyes focused on Xopil''s hand as he manifested an air blade, gave it a healthy coating of fire magic, the simple blade burst into a yellow flame, Xopil then sent the blade on a loop creating a mini flame whirlwind that threw heat in every direction. The heat seemed to continually increase, and the size of the whirlwind increased as well. "This is the most basic flame I can do at the moment, I''m sure I could break it down further...but consider instead if I used the purple flame you saw earlier? And more air blades like Felicyta did? I could create a swath of destruction for miles. And these are only intermediary... there''s always room for improvement."


    The five girls swallowed hard as they realized just how destructive magic could be.


    "I''d like to say ''forget everything you know and start from scratch'' but that''s not appropriate either. Instead, take what you know and break it down until you''re at the truly basic form of the magic you''re wielding. You''ve all been at what you consider the pinnacle of your magic for a long time and you''ve even allowed yourselves to stagnate, well except for Felicyta, she used you four as a goal to work towards. But you''ll find that you truly knew nothing about your respective magical ''expertise'' in a relatively short time. How about one last demonstration?"


    Xopil led them back to the inn, though instead of going inside, he led them around the back of the building. He used earth magic to create a large but shallow hole in the ground, then solidified, smoothed and hardened the walls. The girls watched in awe as he accomplished in minutes what would take at least a week of physical labor. "One advantage of earth magic is its unrivaled permanence."


    They continued watching in silence as Xopil mixed water and fire magic together, then filled the makeshift basin. "It''s just a glorified hot tub, but I''m sure you''ll enjoy it all the same." Xopil was about to walk away, but his eye lingered at the pool and he decided to add a rock feature in the middle.


    "Now, this is to give you an incentive to practice. I could have made it so the water stays hot permanently, but I didn''t so you have something to work toward. Hop in before it gets cold."


    Xopil walked away as he still had a lot of practicing ahead of him after all, leaving them alone in bewilderment. Xopil was sitting in his room at the inn, the pleasant sound of water splashing and women giggling wafted through the window.


    Xopil smiled mischieviously. They are addicted now... they''ll be practicing harder to be able to play more. Maybe I''ll be able to focus now too?


    The sound of multiple wet footsteps approaching burst that thought however. Xopil facepalmed at his own naivety. After the door burst open, he didn''t even turn to look at them, he just stated flatly, "Ok ladies. Three rules about the hot tub. First: dry yourselves off when you get out. Second: put some clothes on! Lastly: you''re in charge of maintaining it."


    "First: we thought you''d like to join us to relax for a bit, surely it took a lot out of you to make it. Second: we''re wearing swimsuits. Lastly: That''s not fair."


    "I''m fine. Go play, it really won''t stay hot forever."


    "It''s already gone cold..." they admitted.


    Xopil sighed. "At least tell me you didn''t just toss fire into it to reheat it."


    "I may or may not have..." Calypso said sheepishly.


    "Well, that just means you get to figure out how to repair all the cracks in the foundation too." Xopil smirked. "I am feeling a bit fatigued, think I''ll get some sleep after all."

 Chapter 18

    Xopil was still peacefully snoring away when the sun had reached its apex in the sky. When he did finally, slowly open his eyes he found himself alone in the room. Unconsciously he frowned slightly, but that disappeared as quickly as it appeared. Xopil went to the kitchen, pulling out all manner of pots, pans and ingredients with a certain flourish to his movements.


    Meanwhile outside five women were diligently practicing their magic, earth in particular. Winter who, out of the five of them, had the most experience with the earth element, was attempting to repair the cracked foundation. She took a piece of the broken foundation and examined it closely as she used her earth magic to carefully dissect and analyze what it was made of. This is... there''s weaknesses riddled throughout it, a mishmosh of materials was used in order to... ah yes, I see... He made it to be fragile, but also so that...


    Beda was off to the side hovering a ball of water over her palm. She had been staring intently at the little ball for a while, finally she started to manipulate it; the ball shrank smaller and smaller until she had a single drop remaining. Is this as simple and basic as it can get...? She dropped the water onto her palm, and spread the liquid thinly. With a thought she trimmed the water further and levitated it over he palm again. She pinched that speck of water between her thumb and forefinger. In an instant she filled her immediate surroundings with thousands of that incredibly tiny water drop, creating a misty haze around her. The next moment she willed the drops into a single ball, and then split it again into mist. Beda nodded in satisfaction as the water disappeared, completely blending in with the air around her.


    Lexi was practicing with her air magic, taking the slightest breeze she could and cutting it down until she had a fine bead of air trickling through her hair. She cut that bead down in size until it was able to pass effortlessly through two strands of her hair, she continually made it smaller and smaller until she only knew where it was because she was controlling it; and at that size, she was able to weave it through her hair without feeling it. She got a crazy idea at this point, turning that infinitesimal spot of air into a blade. That could be dangerous... particularly if... At this point, Lexi''s eyes went wide. She reverted the blade back to it''s default state and duplicated it, until there was a gale wind circulating around her, at which point she had drawn the attention of the other four women.


    Calypso was literally playing with fire, she summoned a tiny flame and was batting it between her hands. Yep that''s it. Nothing to see here, moving on...


    "HOLD IT!" Calypso shouted. "I feel like I''m getting left out here, or that I''m not even trying to improve."


    A ball of yarn appears!


    "I am not amused," Calypso huffed angrily. "You got lazy when it was my turn."


    "Short answer: Fire is overdone, overused, and I have doubts I could make it interesting. This skip had nothing to do with you. Honest."


    "But you''ve already proven magic here isn''t typical." argued Calypso. "You probably have no idea how to handle fire."


    "You know what? Fine. I can blame you if anyone falls asleep."


    Calypso was grinning smugly as she looked at the tiny yellow flame in her hands. She manipulated its size, increasing and decreasing it on a whim. She paid particular attention to the change in heat she felt on her face, especially when she remembered Xopil''s flame had no heat. How had he done that since it''s a natural part of fire...? Calypso studied her captive flame. Does a magical fire have heat or is that something we just automatically apply? For that matter... does it make light naturally too? Calypso slowly dissected her magic, stripping off the heat that it radiated on her face first. Calypso was slightly amused when the flickering light it emitted had also disappeared. Calypso scratched her chin thoughtfully. Just what is the default state of magical fire? Calypso''s natural curiousity kicked into overdrive the more she delved into her fire magic, the more she questioned it, the more her flame changed, but did she get closer to its true nature or was she simply restructuring the flame in her hand as her whims took form?If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.


    "Fire is hailed as the most destructive magic... but is that really so?" Calypso questioned aloud, as she looked at the tiny pitch black flame on her palm. Her question did not go unnoticed, as four pairs of eyes turned to look at her. Upon seeing the unusual flame in her palm, and how she casually threw it at the nearby inn, warning bells went off in their heads.


    "Anybody hungry?" Xopil asked while walking around the side of the building. He noticed a tiny flame black as midnight approaching, and he continued to watch it as it hit the side of the inn. Very calmly he peeled the flame off the building and nonchalantly placed it on his shoulder like a pet. "Nice progress...but can we not use the building we live in to experiment with? Accidents are still possible, after all."


    "Sorry, my curiosity got the better of me," Calypso admitted.


    "That''s not the important thing here... Xopil was in the kitchen, cooking?" Lexi looked worried.


    "...Ha. Ha. Ha." Xopil laughed forcefully. "I was hungry and I made enough for everyone. You don''t have to eat it though, that''s fine."


    Xopil turned to leave, and ignored the ensuing banter as he was followed inside.


    <hr>


    "But seriously, that was the best I''ve ever eaten... and after living for over a thousand years, that''s saying something." Lexi commented. "We should have you help with cooking."


    "That''s actually... not a bad idea," added Winter.


    "No, it is." Xopil disagreed, "I am not a cook. Two left hands in the kitchen, that''s me."


    "Then... how?" Lexi asked.


    "Well... actually I used magic to prepare that. I used it as magic practice."


    "...I''m not sure if I should scold or praise now." Felicyta shrugged while shaking her head.


    "Eh?" Xopil was confused.


    "Only you could pull that off, seriously... continuously using magic is such a drain." explained Winter.


    "Weren''t you all using magic all morning?" Xopil asked.


    "...Now that you mention it, I was." Winter replied.


    "Same." Added Lexi.


    "..." Felicyta, Calypso and Beda also nodded.


    "Sounds like you''re using magic more efficiently in addition to more potently." Xopil confirmed then added, "The rest of today we''ll share what we''ve learned and tomorrow we''ll start practicing with element augmentation properly."


    Xopil with a wave of his hands collected all the plates, and washed them in a matter of seconds.


    "...We should have taught him magic much earlier." Felicyta mused as they left the room.


    "Would be nice to relax in the hot tub as we share magical theory. Did you repair it yet?" Xopil asked.


    "Unfortunately, no." replied Winter, "I still have much to learn."


    "That''s the answer I expected actually... I did use a lot of augmented magic but it was also a bit of a hack job just to give you girls an incentive to practice, so I''m certain you can make something even better." Xopil admitted.


    <hr>


    Several hours later the sun had set, and the group of six were still talking. "I almost wonder if ''fire'' magic is inaccurately named." Xopil commented after hearing how Calypso had modified her flame seemingly without limit.


    "What do you mean?" Calypso asked.


    "Is all magic that versatile? Can you take away the ability of air to blow things around, or with water can you take away that wet feeling when you have water on you? With earth magic, can you make a something you can''t feel even though you know it''s there?" Xopil asked then added, "What if it''s all the same magic, but we divide it into four elements since that''s how we perceive it?"


    "It''s certainly possible, but doesn''t seem probable." Felicyta said. "Too many inconsistencies in it. If it''s a single magic, why would you need to have a basic concept of water once you can use air?"


    "...Also doesn''t explain why mixing two elements is so potent either, but then why is it possible to augment magic like that in the first place?" Xopil replied.


    "That''s how it was created, by you... a very long time ago." A new voice entered the conversation. The five women were on guard immediately.


    "Xiara?!" Xopil almost fell over. He ran to her and hugged her tightly. Beda, Calypso, Felicyta, Lexi, and Winter eyed the newcomer jealously. Xiara smiled inwardly. Her man was hers, after all.


    "I sensed the magic fluctuations here, I followed them like a magnet. It was fortunate I wasn''t any further away, they were very faint initially." Xiara explained as Xopil held on to her like she may disappear at any moment, "I''m sorry it took me so long to get back."

 Chapter 19

    "Did Boris make it back?" Xiara asked, to which Xopil shook his head.


    "That''s a bit unfortunate.  We should continue on..." Xiara trailed off as her mind wandered.


    "You think he''s alright?" Xopil asked.


    "He''ll be fine, remember his duty is to keep you in line."  Xiara laughed lightly.  "So you''re saying you stayed here because you were worried about us?"


    "And them," Xopil referenced the five women, currently in their animal forms, that were surrounding him and Xiara.


    "Is that right?  They look like they can take care of themselves though.  But... that aside for now, what happened to my people... the survivors?" Xiara asked.


    "Oh?  So you don''t know the history here either?  I was hoping that was the case though."  Xopil took a moment to explain the abridged version.


    "So you woke up in the past, killed a powerful sorcerer and now the elves won the war, but they''re worse off than before?" asked Xiara.


    "Better or worse isn''t for us to decide... they seem to be okay with it, and..." Xopil took a deep breath and transformed himself into a skunk, "I''ve been affected too, I''m not certain on the how since all I have are unconfirmed theories... but according to the locals, I also used to be a bear."


    "...I see..." Xiara was so taken aback she just stared.  Xopil clapped his paws together to bring her out of her daze.


    "Alright, next would be if I was also similarly affected..." Xiara trailed off again, I hope not.


    "You''ll just have to try it to see.  It may be a property of this world and not something that was inflicted on the people, like a natural state of being."  Xopil offered one of his theories as an explanation.


    "..." Xiara contemplated that possibility as she focused on visualizing herself changing.


    Xopil just shook his head, "A panther?  I guess I imagined worse though."


    "What?" Xiara asked, "You thought I''d be a succubus or something else that doesn''t exist?"


    Xopil threw his arms up in defeat, "Guilty."


    Xiara glared daggers at him, which scared everyone present.  "I''ll kill you later, first you have some explaining to do."


    "That look in your eye frightens me." Xopil was about to tear off running for his life.


    "Indeed, this form does have some advantages.  Tell me Xopil, why do I smell the scent of these five women on you?"


    "That would be..." before Xopil could even start to explain, he found himself pinned down by Xiara.  Sensing that now would be a good time to leave, the five women in question bolted for the door and scattered into the town.


    "A disadvantage... one that I''m sure you also share in." Xiara''s eyes narrowed as she listened, "Will you let me up so I can explain properly?"


    "..." Xiara cast a baleful eye at Xopil as he returned to his human form.


    "So, they love to be petted and cuddled..." Xopil spoke slowly as he watched her reaction.


    "And?" Xiara demanded.


    With a sigh, Xopil scratched her head to demonstrate... knowing full well he was going to create a new monster.  He was instantly pushed to the floor, found a head in his lap and she purred one word, "More."


    "So you understand now?" Xopil asked, while obliging her request.  Xiara was in her own little world, and simply purred in response.  Finally she sighed contentedly and fell asleep where she was, which annoyed Xopil.Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.


    <hr>


    "Ok, I''m setting some house rules." Xiara spoke coldly to her captive audience of Xopil, Beda, Lexi, Calypso, Winter and Felicyta.


    "Xopil is MINE.  Any questions?" Xiara glared at all of them.


    "That''s only one rule though?" Xopil asked.


    "Correct.  That''s the only rule that matters." Xiara retorted, "No slacking though, we all have a lot of work to do."


    "..." Xopil stared at her.


    "What?"  She asked, "I finally understand why your pet cat was always trying to get into your lap."


    "...Why isn''t that comforting for me?" Xopil asked himself.  "I''ll be off practicing, I still need to figure out how time magic works."


    "..." Xiara looked at him incredulously, "Just what have you been doing here?"


    "My best." Xopil retorted as he left the room.


    You''re capable of so much more.  Xiara silently shook her head as she followed after him.  Xopil sat down in the grass and cast his gaze skyward as he fell into thought.  Xiara meanwhile busied herself by observing the girls as they practiced their magic with every fiber of their being.


    "You lot are awfully focused." Xiara commented.


    "Yeah well... Xopil shared an exquisite experience with us, but it didn''t last very long.  He said we''d have to practice to have it again." Felicyta explained.


    "Really?  And what experience is that exactly?" Xiara asked a little too intently.


    "Oh... that broken hot tub over there."  Felicyta replied.


    "Well, he certainly knows how to motivate people, that hasn''t changed at least." Xiara relaxed.


    "You''ve known each other a long time?" asked Felicyta.


    "Longer than you can fathom.  Hundreds of millions of years." replied Xiara while she was thinking about something else.


    "What?" Felicyta dazed.


    "Yes, quite. Hard to believe?"


    "His naivety makes it difficult." Felicyta answered honestly.


    "That is part of his charm though... at times." sighed Xiara.


    "Then..." Felicyta didn''t want to ask, but she felt compelled to finish, "he''s not the prince is he?"


    "...For now he is.  His incarnation is that of the prince Xopil Wragnaith.  There was a time, long ago, when that was his only identity.  And... I was the princess of the neighboring kingdom.  Though, so much went wrong and everything has changed since then."


    "Eh?" Felicyta dazed again.


    "Forgive me, I said too much.  I was caught in a wave of nostalgia.  Of what could have been, what nearly came to pass.  This result, though unexpected, isn''t so bad either.  We can be together, seemingly forever."


    There was a rapid movement in the direction Xopil was that drew the attention of Xiara and Felicyta.  "Hmm, seems that he''s learning to control time."


    "He sped up the time of a sapling?" Felicyta dazed once more, looking at the giant tree that was not there mere seconds ago.


    "Yes quite.  As miraculous as it seems, it''s not something to rejoice over.  Controlling time is forbidden for too many reasons to keep track of.  Just as an example... that one tree could change the entire future of this world."


    "How so?  Isn''t it just a single tree?"


    "A tree that''s lived a lifetime in a matter of seconds.  That kind of experience changes things, as it is unnatural.  Such phenomenon often gives rise to an insatiable greed.  This tree could cause this area to turn into a desert in the future, or worse; and that is why..."  Xiara paused, the tree suddenly burst into flames and disintegrated in an instant, "he couldn''t leave it there."


    "You talk about the tree like plants are sentient." Felicyta said.


    "I''m afraid your ignorance will not be dispelled this day, however I shall try.  Plants are indeed sentient.  They feel pain, starvation, humor and even fear the same as you do.  They do not have the same methods of expressing themselves though, and as such the warning signs are most often missed and ignored." Xiara pointed at the surrounding trees, "Do you notice how the leaves are rustling even though there is no wind now?"


    "Now that you mention it... yes."


    "Although this is a universal signal for all their feelings... with enough observation over time you can discern the subtle differences; right now they are expressing relief.  The tree Xopil just burned was an entity of fear and oppression for them.  They enjoy peace, fairness, and freedom just as much as any other living being."


    "You''re really not making this up are you?" Felicyta asked.


    "Far from it."  Xiara replied shaking her head.  "And don''t ask me if wooden houses are sentient.  Would you still be sentient after you are brutally chopped and sliced?  Fortunately for us trees are not vengeful creatures and accept that they play a role in our survival, providing us with shelter."


    "It almost sounds like you revere plantlife."


    "Plants have survived as long as we have, if not longer.  It''s just another path of evolution and adaptation, shouldn''t they be respected for surviving the same harsh environments we have, especially when you consider how they are thriving?"


    "I guess you have a point.  Just never gave it much thought before."


    "Same goes for all the animals you hunt for food." Xiara added.  "Life is surviving against all odds in many shapes, forms and types.  But we never stop to think about it."


    "...You really are hundreds of millions of years old."


    "I''ve experienced much, and there''s still so much I don''t know." Xiara replied.


    "Spoken like a true wiseman." Felicyta commented.


    "I hope you find the wisdom you seek, miss fox.  Oh?  It seems Xopil is ready to try reversing time."


    "How can you tell?" Felicyta asked.


    "...The trees told me; they have a language too you know...  It''s not like I could see him from here." Xiara replied.

 Chapter 20

    Xopil had been standing in front of a decrepit building built next to the inn. The inn was the only building in the entire town that received any maintenance at all, and that was only because they were using it. There was a stark contrast between the two buildings, the inn looked nearly pristine in comparison while the other looked ready to collapse at any moment.


    Xopil locked his eyes on the old building, and activated his magic. At that moment, the building was removed from the flow of time, caught in a state of limbo. The building ceased to age, frozen within time itself. Xopil proceeded with the next step, attempting to reverse the flow of time on the affected building, despite the tiny voice in his head telling him not to. Xopil ignored the warning, and pushed on. Immense fatigue crushed Xopil, he fell to his knees as sweat poured from his pores. Moments later, his body collapsed as he lost consciousness.


    <hr>


    Xopil opened his eyes sometime later, he was in bed. Xiara was in a chair nearby glaring daggers at him.


    "I am quite certain that I don''t want to know, but what the hell were you thinking?" Xiara reproached.


    "I didn''t think I''d pass out from that, I mean pushing time forward wasn''t so hard."


    "...That''s because time is already moving forward there''s no resistance. You mean to tell me you didn''t feel anything at all when you stopped time?" Xiara quipped, "For that matter, the size of the distortion plays a role too."


    "Slightly?" Xopil rubbed his head as he tried to remember.


    "I can tell you have something else you want to defend yourself with... let''s hear it." Xiara guessed what it was.


    "Well, I travel back in time so naturally when I''m sleeping, I figured it couldn''t be that difficult." Xopil was grasping at straws though.


    "You really are a fool. Did you never stop to think maybe the reason why you are capable of time travelling in your sleep is because you''re asleep? Your body is recovering energy faster than you''re expending it when you''re asleep. There is more to it than that, but I don''t want to fry that tiny brain of yours." Xiara scorned.


    "...That does make sense." Xopil scratched his head.


    "You''re smarter than you''re letting on; at least that''s what I remember. I''ll be the first to admit I find your naivety cute at times... but times like this..." Xiara left the room, her angry footsteps on the hardwood floor receeded swiftly.


    Xopil looked out the window in time to see a mountain vanish in the distance. He swallowed hard; for at that moment, he knew he messed up.


    "Just who are those two?" this single question posed by Calypso sparked a great debate among the five women.Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    Xopil stepped outside the inn, and walked over to the hot tub area to check on the girl''s progress.


    "W-what the?" Xopil knew it didn''t look like an exotic resort before, but that certainly doesn''t change the fact that the place had an extreme makeover.


    "Oh, finally awake?" Calypso asked. The five of them were still in the middle of their debate, lounging relaxedly in the extravagent pool without a care in the world.


    "...Just how long was I out?" Xopil asked as he scratched his head.


    "Oh right, you wouldn''t know that would you?" Calypso started counting on her fingers, "Today is..."


    "Don''t sugar coat it." interrupted Xiara as she climbed into the pool, "It''s been three years and forty-five days."


    "A lot can certainly happen in that length of time." Xopil scratched his head.


    "...You mean this?" Xiara laughed, "These girls surpassed their teacher in just under three years. They''ve been lounging here and tweaking this spot little by little ever since."


    "So what you''re saying is..." Xopil looked forlorn.


    "Correct, you''ve fallen into that ''useless character'' role, and I suspect you''ll be killed off any day now." unable to refute the facts, Xopil ran off.


    "That was a horrible lie!" the girls were about to run after him, Xiara simply waved them to relax.


    "He needs the motivation, just leave him. Besides, you also need to realise, he''s a genius. If he wholeheartedly put his mind to it, he could have solved all his problems already. He''s just acting stupid...but why he is escapes me."


    Scary. thought the girls simultaneously.


    "If I had to guess, he''s almost completely focused on physical training about now, made up his mind to completely master anything and everything he can, and he''ll be running by here right about.... now."


    Xopil did eventually pass by, but her prediction was way off and that was only because he was in his skunk form and his legs were much shorter.


    Xiara looked on thoughtfully, "Indeed, that would make the physical training harder and more effective... honestly, I forgot he could turn into a skunk."


    "...Wouldn''t most people try to forget something like that?" murmered Calypso.


    Xiara just got a sly smirk, "Do you girls want to help me out with something?"


    "Why do I get the feeling it involves making Xopil''s training harder?" Calypso asked.


    "I got that vibe too," added Felicyta.


    "Sounds fun," added Lexi.


    "It''s not like we have anything important to do," stated Winter.


    "What are we doing?" Beda said while drying herself off.


    "...I had initially thought you''d want to stop me, but I''ll take this instead. Ok, so the plan is we''re going to use everything you''ve learned to make this town into an obstacle/training course... and throw in some death traps as well."


    "Are you a sadist by chance?" Winter asked.


    "What? No! This is for his benefit! Fine, we''ll forget the death traps." Xiara declared, "Throw everything you have at your disposal at him...within reason."


    "You don''t want us to hurt him or you do? I''m confused."


    "If he gets hurt training I can help him get back on his feet, spoiling him in the process." Xiara clarified.


    "So in the end this is all about you." Calypso stated coldly.


    "That''s also clever, asking us to do it so you can act innocent." Felicyta added.


    "Let''s see what he can do, if he really is a genius anything we throw at him won''t be more than a bump in his path right?" Winter added, "Besides, let him prove his worth."


    "Hasn''t he already? Just look how Xiara dotes over him." Beda replied.


    Not too far away, Xopil was upping his pace running through town. Little did he know his simple exercise was about to get a massive jump in difficulty.

 Chapter 21

    Xopil was running through the streets on the outskirts of the abandoned town. As he became comfortable and acclimated to his shorter limbs, he pushed himself harder until he was finally running with a speed on par with his human-sized legs.


    Why am I running on only my hind legs though... Xopil thought as he rounded the corner. His snout collided with a hurdle that hadn''t been there on his last pass down this road, he fell hard on his butt.


    "That''s smarts! How about a warning before you go changing my course huh?" Xopil complained while rubbing his nose. He rose to his feet, and bent over placing his front paws on the ground as well. He took off like a shot headlong down the street, dodging new obstacles left and right as they appeared in his path, leaping over hurdles and walls that completely blocked his path. Rather than slowing down, he managed to maintain and even increase his speed. Up ahead, a giant wall protruded from the ground with a series of platforms leading up to it rising ever higher into the air.


    Xopil jumped, landing on the first hurdle and he leaped from there, landing skillfully on the small platform before leaping immediately to the next. There were many platforms, some higher, some lower, and for no reason other than he''d get bored if he didn''t, he set a rule for himself that he had to use all the platforms without touching any a second time.


    "That''s fast... but why is he using all the platforms? Clearly they''re not all needed..." Winter asked.


    "This is a game to him... Have no doubt he''s not moving at full speed yet. If you don''t believe it, mess with him by taking some platforms away. His new goal will be to touch them before they vanish."


    Winter listened and laughed nervously as she took out three platforms Xopil hadn''t used yet with a slight delay between each. Xopil turned into a literal blur as he completed the obstacle course in a single second, scaled over the wall, and used every platform on the way down. As he approached the corner he did a slight hop, performed a somersault in the air, and landed standing still.


    Xopil paused for a moment to calm his breathing, not that he needed to, as he peered around the corner to see what was waiting for him. He smirked as he took off like a shot running through the seemingly empty street. His progress was halted when he ran into a special pocket of air that had been saturated with water magic. Xopil had instantly been drenched from head to toe, and moving through this spot was similar to walking or running in water, but wasn''t solid enough to be able to swim through it. Xopil was messing around in it for close to a minute.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    Okay, that''s enough playing around... let''s see how should I deal with this? I could use air, but that would pose other problems. Earth? Certainly doable and while fire would work too, the best choice even if it seems counter productive is water.Xopil thought to himself and added water magic to the trap, causing the water to explode and fall to the ground harmlessly like rain.


    Xopil continued his path down the street, entering new traps he had yet to experience, and instantly dispelling those he''s already figured out.


    "That''s not fair, it''s like he knows where they are! And how to get rid of them!" Beda pouted as she complained.


    "Well... he does know where they are, and he can tell by their magic signature if they''re new or not. Watch this." Xiara placed a trap back at the beginning of the street that was basically a thick mist hidden in the air. Xopil''s whiskers twitched as he sensed the addition, but he looked bored and ignored it, until Xiara changed it slightly. He dashed towards the trap with an almost gleeful look on his face.


    Xopil jumped into the space, he was instantly soaked again and then the water suddenly froze.


    Hmmm hmm yes I see.Thought Xopil. He once again used water magic to break out of this prison, near instantly melting the ice.


    "But why did he use water instead of fire?" asked Calypso.


    "That''s simple really. Have you noticed he''s using the fastest and most effective method on each of the traps he''s encountered?" Xiara asked.


    "Seriously? He''s not just escaping, he''s also deducing the most effective and efficient means of dealing with the traps?" asked Felicyta as she saw at Xopil in a new light.


    "Quite right... and wasting nearly a full minute just playing with each trap. He could solve any puzzle here within ten seconds." Xiara scorned. Her tone was harsh, but her eyes were sparkling as she watched Xopil playing.


    "Are you confident in your air, earth, and fire magic?" Xiara asked.


    "We were until we watched him picking apart the water magic." Lexi replied for all of them.


    "Do your best girls, look at how he''s smiling in anticipation." encouraged Xiara.


    <hr>


    "You can''t lie to me you know?" Xopil flicked Xiara''s forehead. "I can tell the difference in magic practiced for a few days compared to a few years."


    "That was impressive improvement though, I thought it could pass as a few years," Xiara defended as she rubbed her forehead.


    "It doesn''t actually work like that," Xopil smirked, "just like how I know that ice trap was your doing."


    "Scary..." Lexi slipped.


    "Yes she is," Xopil laughed.


    "She meant you," Xiara punched his arm.


    "It applies to you both actually." Calypso corrected.


    "Seriously," nodded Felicyta, "I''ve never seen anyone move as fast as you today Xopil... not even you."


    "Something just clicked..." Xopil scratched his head.


    "No," Xiara corrected, "You used time magic on yourself."


    "..." Xopil fell into thought.


    "Any other revelations on your memory?" asked Xiara.


    "Just bits and pieces as usual, but the exercise today helped fill in some blanks and connect some of dots." replied Xopil.

 Chapter 22

    Xopil slowly woke up from his slumber. The first thing that drew his attention, he was tightly holding Xiara, which he greatly slackened. Is this from suppressed desire...? Maybe not entirely.


    Xiara tensed instantly then she snuggled closer to him, whether that was possible or not she tried anyway. In her sleep she lightly muttered, "Just a little longer...Prince Xopil."


    Xopil wore a complicated expression as his arms moved of their own accord and wrapped tightly around her. The will from his subconscious making itself known. This isn''t just muscle memory... there''s more here.


    "Xiara, I''m here." Xopil whispered to her. He could feel her body relaxing as though the worry of thousands of years was washed away. He lay there, content to watch her sleep peacefully in his arms, until he slowly closed his eyes and drifted into sleep once more.


    <hr>


    Minerva''s eyes blinked opened slowly as she adjusted to the bright light in the room. The first thing her eyes captured, was a pair of onyx eyes looking back at her. She squirmed slightly, finding herself wrapped tightly in his arms and her legs had become entwined with his.


    "Good morning, princess," he greeted her warmly, while suppressing a chuckle at her reaction.


    "Good morning, my prince," she replied sheepishly and attempted to push herself away. He gave his spoiled princess one final squeeze before releasing her. She abandoned the bed and scrambled through the room to get dressed, finding her clothes that had been scattered throughout the room from the previous night''s activities caused her face to flush crimson.


    Xopil watched her in amusement as he slowly climbed out of the bed and then he proceeded to get dressed using the nearby closet.


    "Prince, please, it''s my job to help you change." Minerva complained as she hurriedly put her undergarments on.


    "Isn''t that what started the whole mess in the first place?" Xopil retorted.


    "Only because you can''t control yourself." Minerva defended.Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.


    "I see," Xopil replied while thinking about something.


    "I.. I didn''t mean that, I''m sorry your highness." Minerva quickly knelt on the floor.


    "Stop that," Xopil retorted, "you are just as much royalty as I am."


    "We are not equals, my kingdom lay in ruins," Minerva replied sadly, "a fitting end to a princess in a kingdom where slavery ran away with the crown... But, living here wasn''t all bad," Minerva admitted, "I feared the worst when I was shackled, given a number and forced into a barred cage for transport." Minerva paused while recalling that day from many years ago, "It''s truly amazing what one can become accustomed to... even me, a princess reduced to a maid."


    Xopil looked at her solemnly, but said no more. Instead, he walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her. After all, actions speak louder than words.


    <hr>


    Xiara''s eyes fluttered open in the bright room, and she held her breath as Xopil slowly opened his eyes. She wordlessly stared deeply into his onyx eyes.


    "What?" he asked caught off guard by her intense azure eyes.


    "..." she just continued to stare.


    "Xiara," Xopil spoke her name softly as he stroked her cheek with the back of his hand. She recovered from her daze from that.


    "Sorry, I''m just... shocked is the best word for it," she replied. Xopil waited silently for her to explain, "you pulled me into the past with you."


    "I... what? That''s possible? So the ''Minerva'' just then was you?" Xopil asked.


    "...I am, or was, Minerva." Xiara clarified, "just one of many names you''ve given me."


    "You incarnated in this world with me?" Xopil asked.


    "I''m not always able, but yes in this case I did," Xiara replied, then added thoughtfully, "You think I''d let myself become someone else''s property?"


    "This is hard on you isn''t it...? This game of mine?" Xopil asked.


    "It has it''s ups and downs," Xiara replied, "I can''t control where I start, but I can inject my influence to some degree what path I''ll tread... for instance, I may or may not have orchestrated the fall of that kingdom that had embraced slavery to such an insane degree."


    "You''re really something, remind me not to get on your bad side," Xopil chuckled.


    "It''s really not hard to stay on my good side," Xiara said licking his cheek.


    "...Okay, you''ve made your point." Xopil replied while lightly holding her chin in place until his lips found hers.


    <hr>


    "You''re a devil." Xiara spoke through her heavy breaths, "stopping time while I was..."


    Xopil just smiled victoriously, and maybe a little mischieviously, "So I shouldn''t do that again?"


    "No one said that," Xiara said hastily then added, "Go on, get out of here; you need to master time magic... for other reasons of course."


    Xopil left her alone on the bed to recover and he went to practice his magic with a spring in his step.

 Chapter 23

    Xopil walked through the inn''s lobby, he noticed Lexi as he passed through. She was in the middle of experimenting with her air magic. She was controlling a tiny whirlwind in the palm of her hand, she focused on extracting as much moisture out of the area around the mini tornado as she could. Xopil paused in his footsteps as he watched arcs of lightning jumping from one edge of the whirlwind to the opposite side. Xopil observed in silence for a few minutes, taking note of the expressions on her face as she struggled to maintain her focus. Finally, she dispersed the magic and took a breather.


    "You''ve got quite the handle on that... but, accidents can still happen. Don''t do that indoors any more." Xopil stated. "I don''t think I need to remind you about Caly''s mishap, fortunately she was a good distance away from town."


    "... Point taken." Lexi replied as her face paled at the memory of the resultant mushroom cloud, "In my defense though, I do keep my experiments as safe as I can."


    "Caly does tend to let her curiousity get the better of her, doesn''t she?" Xopil chuckled, then added seriously, "Still... I find myself questioning magic more and more much like she does."


    "You do, even knowing how dangerous she can be?" Lexi asked.


    "Only by questioning the known and the unknown can you truly learn the true nature of something. As an example, I have been wondering if fire magic isn''t ''fire'' at all, and we''ve been misusing it."


    "I don''t follow," Lexi replied.


    "Indeed, it''s a hard concept to grasp." Xopil replied and sat down at a table, Lexi followed suit, "Let''s talk about it for a bit. Caly questioned the properties of it, and she stripped it of everything we know fire should have."


    Xopil summoned a flame in his hand devoid of light, heat, and the ability to consume as fire does. He set it on the table and watched it intently before asking, "What would you call this?"


    "I see what you mean... it doesn''t behave like fire." Lexi replied, "So calling it fire is inaccurate."


    "Even so, this is magical fire is it not? It shouldn''t be limited to what we know of actual fire. Or should it?" Xopil twisted his hand, causing the abnormal flame to dance on the table. "We control this via what we call ''fire magic'' but that doesn''t truly describe what this is."


    "What are you trying to say?" Lexi asked, watching the fire vigilantly.


    "What if the person who dubbed this as ''fire magic'' was wrong... or let''s say they deliberately masked what it truly is?" Xopil asked as he waved his hand once more. The fire on the table changed drastically; it turned into a vacuum pulling smaller lightweight objects into it, but the items didn''t burn, they disintegrated completely leaving nothing behind.


    "I''ve never seen fire do that..." Lexi stated as she unconsciously put more distance between herself and the flame.


    "That''s my point... fire magic shouldn''t be any different from what fire is, just that it''s sustained magically, right?" Xopil asked while gazing at the ''fire'' on the table. "I''m still trying to figure out how it is capable to create light and heat though... and then there''s this."


    Xopil waved his hand again, all the light in the room was sucked into the fire, leaving them in darkness. He waved his hand again, and the temperature in the room dropped drastically. "It''s capable of consuming light and heat, not just emitting them."


    "F-f-f-ascin-n-n-natin-n-ng," Lexi managed to say as she shivered from the sudden drop in temperature. With another wave of his hand, Xopil released the property of the spell and that returned light and warmth to the room.


    "What the hell was that?" the rest of the entourage burst into the room.


    "The short answer would be fire magic," Xopil stated.


    "And the long answer?" questioned Felicyta.


    "What if i said calling fire magic ''fire magic'' is inaccurate?" Xopil answered her question with yet another question. "What if I said it''s something completely different but we just apply fire properties to it so naturally that we never questioned what it truly is?"


    "You''re trying to say that the sudden and extreme drop in temperature was from fire magic? Not to mention I couldn''t see one foot in front of my eyes!?" Felicyta retorted with more questions.


    "And that doesn''t make sense at all, does it?" Xopil responded. "Fire magic shouldn''t be capable of such things, but that''s what caused it."


    "Or it''s always had that capability but no one thought of using it in that way?" Calypso asked while scratching her cheek.


    "That is also a possibility..." Xopil replied, "But what if what we consider to be ''fire magic'' is something else entirely?"


    "What would it be then?" Xiara asked, her curiosity piqued.


    Xopil just smirked, but didn''t offer an answer. He just looked at all of them, thinking at least one of them would figure out his hypothesis...


    "Void." Felicyta stated while flicking her tail in an agitated manner.


    "That''s the same possibility I thought of," admitted Xopil. "Void magic."


    "You''re not serious?" asked Xiara.


    "Think about it for a bit, it''s quite compatible with fire; as such it is easy to assign the properties of fire and miss what magic you''re actually using." Xopil replied, "Also... can you explain how I was able to reverse those properties if it isn''t void magic? Let''s go one step further... is fire magic as destructive as Calypso''s mishap?"


    "..." the room fell silent as they all looked at Xiara as she tried to think of a way to refute Xopil''s line of thought.


    "Fire is pretty destructive, but... not to that degree on its own." Xiara looked at Calypso, "Was that purely fire magic?"


    Calypso fidgeted nervously before murmering, "Yes..."


    "Let''s move on..." Xopil interjected before an intense debate could begin, and he immediately summoned a whirlwind in his palm. "Can you tell me what''s missing?"


    "There''s no air movement..." Lexi was the first to notice.


    "And when I do this..." Xopil entwined his finger through the whirlwind, causing it to pull air into itself.


    "...Are you trying to say that all magic is actually void and we just apply what we think we know about the elements to create different effects?" Felicyta asked.


    "Foxes sure are clever." Xopil replied with a smirk. "That''s exactly what I''m trying to demonstrate. This not only applies to air, earth, water and fire... but also space and time."


    "...But space and time are considered higher tier than void." countered Xiara.


    "By whom?" Xopil asked, "The founder of magic? Who is to say he knew what he discovered? Or maybe he did and he intentionally hid the truth?"Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    "That would make sense," Winter stated, "If you consider the capabilities of the void... it would be best to not trifle with magic that controls it, and instead limit what the practioners can do by making them think of it as a weaker school of magic than it actually is."


    "Yes, quite." Xopil nodded.


    "Now that we know this, we can''t go back can we?" Beda asked.


    "This is just hypothetical," countered Xopil, "but it does make you wonder doesn''t it?"


    "..." the women all stared at him doubtfully.


    Under the pressure of their combined fierce gazes, Xopil sighed. And this is just one of many reasons why I don''t understand why anyone would want a harem. Xopil silently activated his magic, severing himself from the flow of time. The women blinked and he was gone.


    "It''s pretty insane though... to think we''ve been using void magic all this time." Felicyta looked at her hands in disbelief. The others shared her sentiment, truly grateful that they hadn''t caused any serious damage... with the exception of Calypso who had accidently destroyed a sizable chunk of the world. Xiara noticed Calypso looking defeated, so she walked over to her, placing her hand on her shoulder.


    "Don''t let it get you down, if you hadn''t done that, it''s likely none of us would have figured it out... It wouldn''t surprise me if Xopil hadn''t figured it out long ago." Xiara stated, "The problem was he just didn''t have the ability to prove it. And, you provided him with that."


    "But, this also brings something else to mind." Felicyta stated.


    "You mean, space and time magic and our understanding of it may actually be void as well?" Xiara asked, "That is certainly plausible at this point..."


    They all fell silent for a moment, which was interrupted when Calypso sparked a tiny fire into existance in her palm and she spoke a simple truth. "Everything starts and ends with void."


    <hr>


    Far away from the inn, Xopil had stopped while surrounded by trees. One by one, he manfiested a fire, a whirlwind, a water bubble, and a chunk of rock. "It''s all void... and yet, it''s all not."


    Xopil manipulated the fire, changing it''s size, density and as many properties as he could think of. He ended up with a pink flame that sucked heat in, creating a cold area around it. The flame also emitted a solid light, giving everything that bathed in it a pink hue. He flicked his fingers sending the flame off to hover listlessly. "Truly unconventional for fire."


    Xopil grabbed at the whirlwind, but being made of air his hand passed right through it. He closed his eyes and again manipulated the magic. The usual wooshing sound of the air vanished. The whirlwind before him became a solid mass that could now be held in his hand. He waved dismissively, the whirlwind hanging harmlessly next to the pink flame. "Solid air...? I see... it''s also capable of emitting heat and light, so then the opposite would also be true."


    Now then... Xopil wordlessly reached for the clump of rock, pulling it in front of him. After a series of his manipulations, the rock had been deformed, rearranged, broken, repaired, and now it was in its final state. Xopil looked at it curiously, a liquid rock without substance. He could make it generate heat, or suck the heat from the surrounding in like a vacuum. Further still, regardless of the temperature he could pass his hand right through it and not feel anything.


    Xopil passed the final state of his earth magic next to the first two experiements, and his eyes were drawn to the water ball. He sighed, after all, he''d already proven that the properties of the elements were interchangeable. "So then... if all magic is void then when you''re combining magic elements, why is it so much more potent?"


    "Think small to practice, then go big when you put it in use?" Xopil closed his eyes as he contemplated. "No, there''s more to it."


    Xopil waved his hands, gathering his four experiments together. "What then... is spacial magic? It''s already as close to void as it can get..."


    Xopil waved his hand again, surrounding his four element manifestations and cutting them off from the rest of environment. With a thought, he smashed the four manifestations together inside the space bubble. Xopil watched as the four objects simply merged together, the resulting coalescence retaining the properties he had previously manipulated. All at once it was solid, liquid, and gaseous. More curiously though, it was now emitting a warm heat, while also sucking heat from the surrounding area into it. The pink light from before had combined with the light emitted from the earth magic, becoming golden, and this light was now bathing the forest.


    "Xopil? What in the world?" Xopil nearly jumped out of his skin. He was so focused he hadn''t been paying attention to his surroundings, making it easy for Xiara and company to approach him undetected.


    "I''m just playing around with what I know about the natural elements and skewing them as much as possible in magic form," Xopil recovered quickly, "And I''ve learned a bit. For example..."


    Xopil melded the spacial barrier into the magical goop he had isolated earlier, thus ending the isolation, all the properties of the magic suddenly covered the entire world.


    "It''s warm... but why am I shivering?" Lexi asked as she choked and coughed.


    "That''s not the most troubling thing though," Xopil stated as he dispersed the magic.


    "It''s... what did you do to the air?" Winter asked.


    "...Would you believe you were breathing solids, liquids and gases all at once?" Xopil asked.


    "So what then? You used your magic over the whole area, changing the property of even the air we were breathing?" Felicyta asked.


    "It''s... well, I momentarily changed the properties of the entire world to be like that, I didn''t expect the range to expand nearly that far though, so my bad." Xopil scratched his head awkwardly, "And this is why I say to be careful with your practicing."


    "Have you come to a conclusion then?" Xiara asked.


    "All The elemental magic we''ve been using... they all originated from void magic. Spacial magic is void magic by default, so no surprises there. I haven''t had the chance to completely verify this yet, but I can say with a degree of certainty that magic concerning time is a separate entity altogether."


    "Why do you say that?" Winter asked.


    "For starters, it''s exhausting. I can use either of them separately without the huge fatigue burden, but once I put the two together I feel like I suddenly aged at least ten years." Xopil replied, "And then, there''s this too."


    Xopil raised his arms straight out and held his hands with the palms up. He manifested a spherical block of time magic in his left hand, while his right hand received a spacial distortion. When he started pushing his hands together, it wasn''t effortless; he had to physically strain himself near to his limit just to make any progress. When he did get them slightly closer, both magics resisted and pushed back on the other.


    "The fact I can do this in my sleep frightens me," Xopil said while sweating from the exertion. "but the downside is I have little control in that manner."


    "There''s still so much I don''t know," Xopil added, "How many parallel worlds are there? The answer feels like it should be ''one parallel world is too many'', and it feels like I''m adding more instead of reducing their count."


    "There''s no rush... well maybe slightly one, but rushing won''t help." stated Xiara, "I have confidence you''ll figure this out."


    Xopil looked at her without saying a word. The burden he felt on his shoulders would have crushed a lesser being, even so he''d never shrug it off. Finally he asked, "Xiara... am I the same person?"


    "What brought this on?" She asked, "The core of your being is unphased. It''s only your memories that are suspended. There are some minor differences, but you are you."


    "Minor differences? Like what?" Xopil asked.


    "Small things, like what you say and do. Your attitude towards things changes based on your experiences, but there''s not been any truly drastic changes in avery long time."


    "And my attitude towards you?"


    "I am yours so it matters little, but you used to be more straight-forward with your desires. You could say that''s rubbed off on me over the years. You did suggest to me I should be more honest with myself, which I have been. Am I a bother?" Xiara responded.


    "No... I just feel like I''m not me at times. Like now for example. I have a voice in my head telling me I shouldn''t concern myself with the lives affected, that it''s normal for casualties. And in spite of that, I want to prevent any more tragedies."


    "Sounds like you''re finally growing up." Xiara quipped. "Only took a hundred million years, give or take."


    "..." the five elven women looked on in silence as they gleaned far more information than they should have had.


    "Ok that''s enough of a break. I need to figure this out." Xopil drew on his time magic. "Thus far, everything I''ve done with void magic can be influenced by imagination... Can I apply that to time magic? If I think about a past event..."


    Xopil looked at the magic in his hand, he could make out himself preparing a meal, while apparently listening to something. Xiara quipped, "That''s quite the solid recollection. Focused on something are you? Too bad it''s only a visual recollection."


    "It''s not a bad start," rebutted Beda. The image blurred and shifted like a kaleidoscope, eventually getting sharper and clearer until it displayed Xopil repairing a huge crater. Calypso''s ears drooped as her whole demeaner sank.


    "...t bad Caly. I hope to learn a lot from this little accident." Xopil''s voice emitted from the image as his arms waved both majestically and equally eerily as the crater slowly filled in.


    "We''re actually viewing the past?" Winter''s eyes opened wide.


    "For now... I don''t have enough control over it just yet to actually interact with what we''re seeing. And the consequences of meddling are... extreme to say the least."


    "Who''s there?" Xopil in the image looked over his shoulder toward them.


    "...You were saying?" Xiara asked as Xopil cancelled the magic.


    "So... that eerie feeling of being watched when I was repairing the hole was due to me peeping on myself from the future?" Xopil scratched his chin, then he sighed, "History, and the future by extension, are not so easy to change. I just blindly followed the same path as my predecessor."

 Chapter 24

    Xopil clenched his fist in anger, "Free will? Every choice is yours to make? A future of unlimited possibilities? All lies and bullshit!" the women around him jumped at his sudden outburst. They took a moment to digest what he was saying. "Everything is predetermined. You don''t realise it, but you have a compulsion to act in a certain way, to do certain things. And when the time is right, like now, I can''t stop myself from talking, because in the future, this needed to happen. Go ahead and argue the contrary, that living here and now we can shape our future."


    "We have no such power," Xopil continued, "look at your lives. Do you all believe you are here because you chose to be here?"


    They looked at eachother in confusion. Hadn''t they?


    "You act on impulse. Everything you do, do you truly think over it until you finally make a choice or is the choice already predetermined for you, and you are just naturally drawn to that conclusion. Drawn so naturally... that you think you actually made a choice, but all along that choice had long been already made for you."


    "What?" six voices questioned in unison.


    "You may even think that you asking that at the exact same time is merely a coincidence. Even this speech of mine has happened the exact same way countless times already. Fight against that impulse all you can, perhaps you''ll fare better than I am so far." Xopil continued before falling to the ground, "I truly, hope you can."


    "You''re saying we''re being manipulated?" Felicyta asked.


    "It goes beyond manipulated. Controlled is more accurate," replied Xopil, "controlled to live in a certain way, to walk a single path to the future with no option for deviation."


    "Then that means..." Xiara was interrupted.


    "Everything alive, dead, inanimate and the various states in between, are nothing more than puppets to what has been predetermined to happen." explained Xopil.


    "By who?" Calypso asked.


    "Good question," Xopil shrugged, "But a better one would be, how to escape this situation. Assuming this being can control literally everything, and all this has happened before exactly as it has, you might be thinking that at some point we''d break free. How naive you''d be. If we broke free at some point in the future, wouldn''t we be free now?"


    "But..." Calypso protested.


    "Think about it. Can you stop yourself from doing anything you''re forced to do now, are you even aware of the influence? I am being compelled to continue this conversation." At this moment, Xopil turned his head up and he looked at the sky, "Oh you''re good alright, but I''ll find a way."


    <hr>


    Xopil opened his eyes to find Xiara staring at him; he asked, "Can''t sleep?"


    "No. Too much to think about." she replied.


    "Is staring at me while I''m sleeping helping?" Xopil asked.


    "Yes, a little."


    "So you''re doubting if you feel the way you do about me is genuine or if it''s because you are being forced to?" Xopil asked. Xiara nodded slowly.


    "There''s some forces in existance that are too strong to bend, too willful to control, and too stubborn to die." Xopil stated flatly, "The future has been set in stone, just the same as the past. But you and I are more than simple travellers on this road, aren''t we?"If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.


    "You remember any more?" Xiara asked.


    "It''s hard to say if I''m remembering or if I''m being given back my memories. But, as I''m inclined to fight this power, I''ll go with ''I have remembered some more''... yet it''s not enough yet." he replied as he sat up shifted his pillow against the headboard and leaned his back on it.


    "What do you remember?" Xiara asked, while trying not to get distracted by his toned chest.


    "My favorite meal is still the first time you cooked for me. I believe you named the dish ''Love''s Temptation''?", Xopil replied as Xiara slightly blushed from the memory. He beckoned her closer.


    "I meant anything useful." Xiara responded as she cuddled next to him.


    "Remembering you isn''t useful?" Xopil asked as he held her chin to stare into her eyes as he asked.


    "I''ve missed this." Xiara replied, snuggling into him.


    "If you could get any closer we''d be one person," Xopil chuckled as he wrapped his arm around her. "but yes, there''s more I remember."


    "And?" Xiara asked.


    "Like how you hate being kept in suspense, and that your favorite color is black. I still don''t know why that is though, there are more beautiful colors, like that shade of red you''re wearing on your face." Xopil teased.


    "I don''t get how you can be so clueless while you are so intelligent. Your eyes are black. Onyx to be precise. And I can''t get enough of looking at them. Especially when you''re using them to smile." Xiara replied softly.


    "Oh, is that how it is?" Xopil replied indifferently.


    "So I thought you were trying to be romantic for a minute, but I guess that was just a ruse?" Xiara scoffed as the door to their room opened and five women walked in. Xiara turned her scorn on them, "Can we help you?"


    "We''re having trouble sleeping, and we heard you were still up..." Calypso offered.


    "Maybe you can help us get our thoughts straight?" asked Beda.


    "Xopil seems to be the only one unaffected by his little speech earlier," said Xiara, "So maybe he could offer some explanation."


    "It''s not that I''m unaffected... I''m just preoccupied trying to solve this puzzle." Xopil replied.


    "About that, what is it with you and puzzles?" Felicyta asked.


    "I feel a sense of accomplishment when I solve harder puzzles, isn''t that normal?" Xopil asked.


    "And this world is messed up... to appeal to your vanity?" Lexi tried to hide the anger in her tone.


    "Pretty much," Xopil admitted, though he wasn''t proud of it, "but it will get back to normal if I solve it."


    "If? Not when?" Beda asked.


    "..." Xopil sighed, "You all know more than you should, so I guess it''s fine. There''s a time limit before the puzzle explodes, wiping out everything."


    "Don''t worry though, Xopil has been focused on it even if he seems like he''s just playing at times, everything he does is toward the end goal of saving this world." Xiara hastily added.


    "You say ''everything he does''... does that include right now?" Calypso asked as she observed the couple cuddled in the bed.


    "Yes, even now he''s hard at work." Xiara giggled as she ran her finger in circles over his chest.


    "Stop it," Xopil warned, "unless you''re prepared to fight them all off?"


    "They wouldn''t dare try anything." Xiara replied without even looking at them.


    "Not worth it, he''s not interested in us after all." Winter scoffed.


    "Is that what he''s told you?" Xiara asked, her curiosity piqued, "He used to be a prince... had women fawning over him left and right, and I don''t recall he ever denied their advances."


    "Xiara, what are you doing?" Xopil asked.


    "Well, think about this. In the future do you see yourself intimately involved with all of us?" Xiara asked.


    "No..." Xopil replied immediately, "So.. what? You''re trying to invoke a change in the future? Forget it, I''m not interested in this method at least."


    "Why are you so against it?" Felicyta asked, "From what I understand it''s a guaranteed method."


    "...You''re asking me why I don''t want it?" Xopil asked, "Too many reasons."


    "Give us five then, one for each of us." Winter said.


    "Really putting me on the spot here aren''t you?" Xopil retorted, "Fine. One: There''s only one woman I''ll ever truly love with all my heart. Two: One lover is enough for me to worry about without going paranoid. Three: With one lover I''ll never be outnumbered. Four: I don''t have to worry about rivalries, hierarchies and making sure all get the same amount of attention. Five: This story does not have the harem tag, and never will. Although it could be argued that everything up to now could fall into a harem, definately not going that route."


    "...And there''s still more on top of that?" Winter asked, to which Xopil simply nodded.


    "Six: There''s..." Xopil was cut off by Xiara, "That''s enough. Five reasons were all that they asked for, even if that fifth one was pretty hollow."


    "Found the one man that doesn''t want multiple females hanging on him." Beda said, "Well, it''s not like we don''t already."


    "Enough on that subject." Xopil stated, "Go back to bed and get some sleep. I, for one, have a long day ahead of me tomorrow."

 Chapter 25

    Xopil opened his eyes and with a yawn, he tried to get up. "So heavy...?"


    "Good morning, Xopil." he was greeted by six familiar voices as his eyesight adjusted.


    "Good morning, now let me go... please," Xopil was rather civil considering his situation, then he added, "before I lose my patience would be good."


    Xiara smirked at him as she laid on top of him, "Oh, and what would happen then?"


    "Cold baths for all of you," he replied unamused, finding each of his limbs held by one of them.


    "You really don''t like waking up surrounded by women?" Calypso asked.


    "We''ve been over this yesterday. This isn''t what I consider ''surrounded'', this is ''outnumbered'' and ''restrained''... borderline ''prisoner''," Xopil retorted.


    "Aren''t you being a bit pessimistic?" Xiara asked as she smiled while staring into his eyes.


    "Maybe, but that''s enough." Xopil wrapped each of them in a spacial distortion, picked them up and carried them unceremoniously out the nearest open window. He dropped them in a pond. Before he dismissed the magic, he manipulated it to suck all the heat out of the area, instantly bringing the temperature of the water just several degrees above freezing.


    "Heartless." stated Lexi. As she climbed out of the water she summoned a small fire to gradually warm up.


    "Well, he did ask nicely at first, our fault for not heeding the warning." Beda surmised.


    "Didn''t think I''d get a cold bath too though," Xiara commented as the six of them gathered around the warmth.


    "Okay, next attempt we''ll..."


    <hr>


    "Women..." Xopil shook his head as he climbed out of bed and dressed himself.Hopefully that''s the last of this sort of thing... who am I kidding? They''re likely just getting started. What got into Xiara though? She''s very possessive, so this doesn''t make sense. Is this world affecting her in other ways? What about me? Xopil got lost in his thoughts as he made his way out of the inn, out of town and deep into seclusion in the forest.


    Before he engaged himself in the mysteries of time magic, he wrapped his surrounding area in a spacial distortion severing it from the rest of the world so he could work in peace. Another benefit, in the event something went wrong, the damage would be isolated.


    "Classy." Xopil chided himself as he manifested an antique clock in his hand, "But... the simpler things in life are easier to comprehend."


    Xopil turned the clock around, examining it from every angle, looking at what options he has for tinkering with it. "The concept of time in a clock is pretty straightforward. One direction at a steady even pace, with a fairly clear indication of how much time has passed. Thinking on this logically, if the clock were to run fast, that should speed up time, right...? Of course it does. So running the clock backwards should rewind time... but it doesn''t look like this clock has such ability."Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.


    "I wonder if that''s due to my lack of understanding, or if I made too simple a clock? What if the clock stops? Or... breaks? Nothing should happen right? It''s just a simple magical clock I made... for that matter, can it break?" Xopil scrutinized what he held in his hand, "...ok you fool, stop thinking of it like an actual clock."


    Xopil slowed the speed of the clock slightly and observed the two separate areas, his isolated zone and the world outside it. It took a few minutes, but there was a clear desynchronization between the two, with the isolated area influenced by the time magic seemingly trying to catch up to the other. Xopil dispelled the clock and the spacial barrier, and observed that the desync remained, the previously isolated zone would forever be some minutes behind in time.


    Xopil manifested a screen, and watched as the six women were dropped in the pond. "If only I could use this to see a future event, but... there''s no way of knowing now exactly what is going to happen... or is there?" Xopil continued watching the women and listened in as they discussed their next scheme.


    "...Seriously?" Xopil dispelled the magic, "well here goes nothing..."


    Xopil concentrated on what he just eavesdropped, and a very vague image appeared before him. He couldn''t tell the ''where'' or ''when'', but he and the six women were clearly visible. "And that''s enough of that." Xopil dismissed the magic, a light blush on his face. "I have to find some way to avoid that, just there''s so much unknown."


    <hr>


    Elsewhere, six women shrieked as they were suddenly picked up and thrown into a pond for the second time.


    "Clearly, he likes that or he wouldn''t try to deter us before we get to try it," Xiara giggled.


    "You mean...?" Lexi asked.


    "Correct, he viewed the past and listened to our plans to try and see the future, and he liked what he saw, so much he would likely..." Xiara stopped herself mid-sentence. This isn''t me... what the hell is going on?


    "In that case do we proceed, since he knows?" Beda asked.


    "He knows the what, but not the when or where, since we didn''t discuss that and now we aren''t going to," replied Xiara.


    The women suddenly felt a familar grasp as a spacial distortion enveloped them individually.


    "Well, at least his finesse is improving, this is quite comfortable and... arousing," commented Xiara as she was gently placed waist deep in the pond, as were the others.


    "What''s he plotting now?" asked Calypso, but her answer came all too soon as the pond completely froze over while they were each half submerged.


    "Gonna say we call it off," Lexi said through gritted teeth. When the other five nodded agreement, the pond gently thawed to prevent any further shock from quick temperature changes.


    "That control though... he''s gone through a pretty drastic improvement in just an hour." Winter commented.


    "An hour to us... consider if he slowed time on himself and condenced a few days worth of time into an hour... or months, even years," replied Xiara, "he is capable."


    "Maybe next time." Xopil answered her as he approached the pond, "I''m here to tell you in person to give up on your plot. I still don''t have all the details yet, but it''s becoming clearer. For instance, when I''m viewing the future from this point in time, one of you is missing. And, that is because one of you dies here, from non-compliance. I''m not going to say who though."


    "And one more thing," Xopil continued, "release Xiara from your hexes."


    "Hexes?" Xiara looked at the five women in disbelief.


    "Yes, quite astonishing really. You haven''t been your proper self for a few days." Xopil cast a cold, no-nonsense glance at them, "Time magic is quite convenient for a lot of things, particularly when it comes to investigating a change in a person''s behavior. I should mention they tried the same thing on me, but they said something about my natural resistance being too strong for them."


    "..." Xiara glared daggers at the five women as the foggy feeling in her mind abated and dispersed. "Who is the ringleader?"


    Xopil replied, "Irrelevent. The present has changed, so the future is no longer clear."


    "You mean...?" Xiara looked hopefully at Xopil.


    He shook his head, "No. There''s still a long ways to go. This situation has helped though. So I can''t let you kill any of them," his eyes gleamed as he viewed visions of ancient history, and events yet to pass. After a slight pause he added, "...yet. It seems they all have a helpful role to play in the future."

 Chapter 26

    Xopil''s eyes gleamed dangerously as he looked over the five women and Xiara he walked away while saying, "You have one hour."


    "One hour?" Xiara asked.


    "Do what you will with them, they hexed you, so they should expect some retribution." Xopil spoke indifferently, "Just for good measure..."


    Xopil waved his hand at each of them as his eyes continued to gleam. "It''s amazing what you can do with spacial magic. Anyway, have fun. Just don''t kill or break them too badly, they can still be put to use."


    The five of them felt truly vulnerable after Xopil was done with his magic. They looked fearfully at Xiara, their imaginations running wild. "I''ll be back in an hour to collect you all. By the way, you''re in the middle of time compression. I won''t spoil the length of time you''ll truly be in there for. But you''ll be getting to know eachother quite well, I''d imagine."


    "I''ll be gentle." Xiara smiled wickedly in direct contrast to her statement. "Now then, let''s get reacquainted shall we?"


    Xopil walked away when he saw Xiara pulling out her ''interrogation toys'' as she called them. "Don''t break them," he reminded her but he sighed inwardly. She flashed him a knowing smile, "Don''t worry."


    <hr>


    Xopil climbed to the peak of a tree. He stood unwavering in the wind while looking over the town, the forest, the horizon. His deep onyx eyes staring blankly as he reflected on himself. Who he was, who he is, who will he be... these thoughts troubled him. Occasional screams scorched the otherwise serene environment as Xiara worked her magic on the five women. These sudden outbursts broke his train of thought though, bringing him back to reality. Xopil shook his head, he was about to wave his hand to change the spacial barrier, but he hesitated. They brought this upon themselves... I shouldn''t feel bad about muffling their screams, so why do I? The old me in what I do remember would feel nothing at all no matter what happened. I... don''t want to go back to that.


    Xopil shook his head again, his eyes gleamed in the sunlight has he activated his ability to see through time. He focused on himself as he peered into the future.


    "Let me see some enlightenment..." Xopil spoke softly. An image appeared before his eyes. A young boy running through a courtyard, chased by soldiers with two figures looking down at him from a terrace.


    "That... was the future, not the past?" Xopil went weak in his knees, but he maintained the magic, continuing to watch his dream of the past unfold as he peered into the future.


    The boy smirked, "That''s quite enough."


    Xopil was roughly thrown out of the vision, his magic forcefully cancelled by another. He rubbed his temples hoping to soothe the painful headache from the magical whiplash. But unfortunately, that wasn''t the worst of it. Xopil collapsed to his knees, his back arched as his body wretched, and he vomited. Magical goop forced its way out of his mouth, dissolving immediately into the air.


    "That''s..." Xopil felt his consciousness slipping away. After he fainted the magic he set up for Xiara dispelled as he wasn''t maintaining it any longer. His limp body tumbled down the tree, not hitting every branch on the way down... that would be ludicrous.


    <hr>


    "Xopil?" Xiara asked, fearing the worst when she felt the magic around her dissolve. With a hand signal she dismissed the five girls she''d just been tormenting for nearly a year. "Find him."If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    The five of them changed into their animal forms taking advantage of their heightened senses. Noses in the air, they each sniffed once and all took off in the same direction. As Xiara was running slightly behind then, she was able to overhear one of them comment, "What a putrid smell..."


    "Oh no..." Xiara fell into a state of panic. No longer concerned about appearances, she pushed her body to move faster. Her physical body deteriorated in an instant as she transformed into a bright azure light. The five girls were pushed aside as she left a streak of brilliant light behind her and a wide swath of destruction around her.


    "I''ve heard of blazing a trail... but that''s just ridiculous," Felicyta commented, as she watched far ahead as Xiara stopped at nothing to find her man, and the five of them chased after as they continually fell further and further behind.


    "But you know, after seeing that... she did keep to her word, she was being ''gentle''." Lexi gulped. Her four companions went pale at that realization. They pushed their limbs as hard as they would work, hoping to avoid attracting her wrath should she think they were slacking off.


    Xiara only had one thought on her mind: Find Xopil. All else was inconsequential. She ravaged the world as she travelled faster than the laws of friction and gravity would allow.


    Curse the slowness of this body.She thought as she pressed on. The azure glow she emitted grew brighter as she expanded her search radius, streaks of golden light mixed in as she added magical residue to her search.Just hold on a little longer... I''m almost there.


    "How is she so fast?" questioned Felicyta. If Xiara wasn''t a ball of light creating a path ahead by destroying everything in front of her, she''d have no way of tailing Xiara at all.


    Xiara came to a complete stop, a little ball of light hovering just above the collapsed body of Xopil. The light she emitted flickered and changed from azure to pure gold as she adjusted her vision to see the full 360 degrees around her body, focused fully on looking for magical residue in the area.It''s not too late yet... but this is cutting it close.


    Xiara expanded a giant spacial distortion in the area, and although she didn''t have a strong grasp of it, she slowed the time within the distortion. She fought the massive fatigue that took hold of her. Working quickly, she compressed the spacial distortion, bringing the size down dramatically, at the same time pulling together the magical goop that Xopil had lost earlier.


    "What''s that?" Calypso asked, as they finally caught up to her.


    "This... you could call it Xopil''s core." Xiara''s voice in her light form was truly angelic, "I can only hope this is enough... I''m not naive enough to think it''s all of it."


    "Like a soul?" Calypso asked.


    "...Close enough." Xiara replied as the light she emitted became blinding, and extended much further, her final attempt to find every bit of it. "I can''t explain now though..."


    Xiara extended a very long beam of light as she detected a faint signature, she immediately caught it in a spacial bubble as it was about to disappear entirely.


    "Why isn''t he trying to get back together on his own?" Calypso asked.


    Xiara was on the verge of collapsing as she compressed all the goop she managed to collect into a single entity. "Talk... Later..."


    Xiara pushed the spacial bubble onto Xopil''s body. She compressed the bubble until the goop was completely forced back into his body. Her body of light blinked out; the bright golden light vanished leaving a black cloud devoid of all color. She fell to the ground unconscious.


    The five women wordlessly looked at eachother unsure what to do next.


    "...Let''s get them back to the inn." Felicyta was the only one to break the silence. She used her spacial magic and delicately picked up the cloud form of Xiara. Beda, Calypso, Lexi and Winter were fighting over who would carry Xopil back.


    "Look, he''s pretty tall, you can all carry part of him." Felicyta shook her head at their antics despite the seriousness of the situation.


    "How does one get their soul forced out though?" Calypso scratched her head.


    "Please don''t let your curiousity allow you to try it alright?" Felicyta warned, "Look what it took for Xiara to get Xopil''s back together... and we don''t even know all of what she had to do."


    "..." Calypso fell silent as she was already guilty of wanting to try it.


    "Honestly." Winter scorned, "Your curiosity is a blessing and a curse."


    "Can''t help it," Calypso shrugged, "Let''s see you get mixed with a cat and see how you handle it."


    "One cat is more than enough," Beda chuckled.

 Chapter 27

    "What happened to him anyway?" Calypso asked as they walked.


    "None of us were there, how would we know? But, Xiara wasn''t there either and she seemed to have a grasp on it... but she''s gone and exhausted herself unconscious." admonished Winter.


    "She just needs to rest, but about Xopil... he''s so pale." Beda added.


    Felicyta was the only one of them walking in silence. Just what could cause the soul to leave the body though? Xiara called it his core though... what is that?


    "If what they''ve been saying is true, the fate of this world is tied to him." Lexi stated. They all looked warily at him.


    "Then he''ll wake up." Calypso declared.


    "..." They all fell silent. None of them wanted to refute that.


    "We should thank Xiara later. She''s cleared a wide path for us." Lexi spoke up, changing the subject.


    They continued walking while chatting idly. Calypso developed a bounce in her step, irritating the other three who were helping her carry Xopil.


    "You''re awfully cheerful... but then you always were." Felicyta laughed dryly when she saw the other three matching her step.


    "How about singing us something?" Calypso asked, "It''s been forever."


    "...Why not?" Winter added, "It''ll probably help."


    Felicyta just shrugged when she saw their pleading eyes. "All right."


    Her lovely soprano voice blanketed the forest area as she put her all into into singing:


    I am the wind whimsical and carefree


    Beneath the sun where I roam


    A gentle touch to all I meet


    A simple reminder you''re not alone


    So tragically I go unnoticed


    Far and wide I do travel


    Looking to greet all that I can


    I carry a message to one and all


    But no voice have I to call my own


    Listen to the leaves


    For it is there I say


    Hello and farewell till we meet again


    Felicyta''s voice hung on the final verse, echoing on the wind.


    "Did you just make that up, that was awful." Lexi shook her head.


    "Everybody is a critic," Felicyta shrugged. "and no. I didn''t, it''s more like I felt it. Though, I''ve heard your songs, they''re not great either."


    "They''re mostly about drinking ale, which you''d have to be drunk to appreciate most of the words." Winter added. "Besides, I''ll bet you missed the hidden message in her song."


    "...No one asked you," retorted Lexi. "And there wasn''t anything hidden." they bickered and laughed, teased and retorted as they continued their return to the inn. They also took turns singing and exchanging banter.


    <hr>


    "Finally," Felicyta heaved a sigh of relief as they reached the inn, "No more drinking ballads from Lexi."


    Beda, Winter and Calypso murmered agreement.


    "Oh hush, you just can''t appreciate true talent." Lexi snapped as she held the door open.


    "That''s rich, you do know you couldn''t carry a tune properly if your life depended on it... fortunately, it doesn''t." Winter replied flatly, "Maybe you actually sing better after you''ve had a few?"


    "That''s enough," Felicyta intervened as she gently set down Xiara on a couch in the lobby, "Lexi, take him upstairs."


    Lexi took Xopil upstairs, her eyes like daggers when she looked at Winter.


    "And what''s gotten into you?" Felicyta turned to Winter.


    "Who knows?" shrugged Winter.


    Felicyta rubbed her temples massaging the headache that was forming, "Just... we''re all hungry, that''s not helping. Go fetch us something for dinner."


    "Fetch?" Winter turned on Felicyta who sighed inwardly at her word choice, "I''m not a dog."


    "Stop acting like a bitch if you''re not," Calypso said lightheartedly, getting a chuckle out of Beda. Felicyta was still trying to find a way to defuse the situation.


    Winter left without another word. The remaining three women exchanged a glance. Felicyta sat down to calm her head.


    "Feli?!" Lexi came bolting down the stairs, "It''s Xopil... something''s wrong!"


    "What?" Felicyta rose abruptly, chasing after Lexi as they headed upstairs. Beda and Calypso followed close behind.This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    The four of them were stopped as they were about to enter Xopil''s room. The door was open, but there was a dangerous looking spacial barrier in the way.


    "Where am I?" a voice intoned.


    "You''re in a room at an inn in a rundown village." Felicyta spoke slowly.


    "Enter. I sense several hundred beings in the vicinity... six of which are intelligent, and one unconscious." the barrier blocking the door seperated. Felicyta, Beda, Calypso and Lexi silently entered the room, behind them the barrier was restored. Inside the room they encountered a cloud hovering over Xopil''s body. Upon looking carefully, Felicyta noticed a gaseous link between Xopil''s body and the cloud.


    "Xopil?" She asked tentatively.


    "Is that the name of this body?" the voice asked, looking down, "No matter, that name will suffice for you to address me."


    "Do you have a name?" Calypso asked.


    "...Irrelevent." the cloud replied, "What happened to the body?"


    "His soul was separated from his body and scattered to the wind, but Xiara managed to pull a lot of it back together and she forced it back inside." Felicyta answered, "The who, how and why, we don''t know."


    "Xiara, you say? She''s here too?" the voice sounded surprised.


    "She fell unconscious afterward... she looks a lot like you do though, she''s also a cloud at the moment."


    "At the moment?" the voice seemed to sound disappointed, "So it''s not her true form?"


    "...Not that we know, it''s the first time we''ve seen it... same for you." Felicyta responded carefully.


    "Who... or what are you?" Calypso''s curiosity finally got the better of her as she asked, "You look similar to the magical goop Xiara pushed into Xopil''s body."


    "...''Magical goop'' you say? How unrefined. Are you country bumpkins? It''s not mere ''magical goop'', nor is it a soul; it''s far beyond that. That was the simplest and purest form of existence, at least, before all life was modified. You all have something of a lesser version inside of you that you call a ''soul''... nothing but a fire giving you life; it will eventually go out and everything you''ve learned, experienced, how you''ve developed, will be lost and returned to a blank slate. But in my case, my accumulated memories, experiences, and everything that makes up my personality are stored inside, permanently. For simplicity, let''s call it the core of my existence." the cloud replied.


    "...Seems unfair," Calypso stated flatly.


    "For you or me?" the cloud laughed, "Do you know how difficult it is to experience new things after you''ve lived billions of years while retaining all of that memory? How hard it is to keep yourself interested in living with an immortal life?"


    "Just what are you?" Calypso gasped. The cloud fell silent for a moment.


    "...Let me know when I lose you, I''ll try to simplify it so you can understand." the cloud intoned, "I''m close enough to be a god, but not quite there."


    "So you have the power, the duty, and little to no authority?" Felicyta asked after scratching her chin.


    "A pawn of the gods?" Calypso asked while scratching her head, "Or a janitor?"


    "If you''re a pawn... what does that make us?" Lexi asked.


    "That''s enough of that." the cloud responded, "I want to know how I got here."


    "We carried you," Beda replied.


    The cloud seemed to frown, "On a grander level... I suppose lowly beings as yourselves wouldn''t know... much less understand."


    "Are you really Xopil?" Felicyta asked.


    "Yes and no." the cloud replied.


    "You are but aren''t? How does that work?" Calypso asked.


    "We are currently separate entities, but we''ll eventually merge together." the cloud replied. "I separated part of myself to create the ''Xopil'' you know. I withheld much of my memory, giving him only a basic understanding of life. As for my personality... I withheld certain parts of that as well.


    "Merge like you were before?" Calypso asked.


    "...No, he will cease to exist entirely becoming a part of me. Everything he has done, will become a part of my memories."


    "We''ve heard Xopil and Xiara talking about solving a puzzle of this world, failure would result in..."


    "Annihilation." the cloud cut her off, "Success or failure means little to me."


    "Xopil is doing his best to save the world though," Felicyta countered.


    "Lucky for you then," the cloud replied indifferently, "that I am currently a separate entity from ''Xopil''."


    The cloud flickered between every color of the rainbow before stopping on violet. "So it''s a puzzle of time and space on this world... wait, multiple parallel worlds? Something''s very wrong here..." the cloud flickered through an unknown color spectrum, the women stared in awe. "...Tell Xopil his true self said ''Good luck with this one.'' He''s going to need it... I''ve also extended the timer a bit."


    "You know how to solve it?" Calypso asked.


    "I wouldn''t be much of a ''near god'' entity if I didn''t. And that spoils the trials, the errors, ultimately that means: the fun." the cloud replied indifferently, then with a bit of amusement added, "Bring Xiara here."


    "Poor thing... she''s completely knackered." the cloud looked over Xiara''s colorless cloud. The cloud extended itself, wrapping Xiara in a light layer. Slowly, color returned to Xiara, a bright pink haze emitted from her.


    "Xopil?" she spoke groggily then she opened her eyes wide, "...Mas!"


    "Shhh... not in front of company," the cloud responded jovially, "You really worked hard for my sake."


    "How could I not... I hope I didn''t miss too much," Xiara replied.


    "I only have a little haze in my memory, so I''d say you caught the vast majority... unfortunately for me," the cloud replied then laughed self-deprecatingly.


    "You scattered yourself on purpose then? I thought it was because you had nothing binding you together." Felicyta stated.


    "There''s hope for you." the cloud responded, "It was a bit of both, I accelerated the process though."


    "I didn''t want to lose you," Xiara blushed causing her cloud to go reddish, the two clouds mingled together.


    "I''m sorry to inform you, but you''re quite stuck with me," the cloud soothed her, and as though proving it, the two clouds combined into one for several minutes before separating.


    "Did... that just happen? I could swear I heard something in there, particularly from Xiara, but it was really muffled."


    "Now I don''t have to worry about you exhausting yourself, just... do take it easy on him now, as you''ll never tire anymore."


    "I''ll... do... my... best..." despite no longer feeling fatigue, Xiara was still left breathless from his intensity.


    "How much time did you add?" Lexi asked, killing the moment, "And how about a hint?"


    "Well, I''m curious about the journey to the solution more than the solution itself, so I might have thrown a few thousand years at the clock. I hope he''s not a procrastinator, he might just need all the time. No hints...but I will give him a gift for working so hard."


    The cloud went lifeless as the color turned to pitch black. Finally, the cloud disappeared into Xopil''s unconscious body.

 Chapter 28

    "Any change?" Calypso asked Xiara as she stared vigilantly at Xopil.


    "No, he''s still unconscious. His breathing is even and relaxed, he''s just asleep." Xiara replied.


    "Maybe you can explain a few things?" Felicyta asked, "About yourself, Xopil and that cloud being."


    "...What do you want to know?" Xiara sighed without taking her eyes of Xopil.


    "Do you have a soul or a core?" Lexi asked bluntly, "What kind of person turns their self into a cloud... and what did you two do when you seemingly turned into a single cloud?"


    "What is your role in all this?" Beda asked, "What do you get out of it?"


    "Are there others like you? Can we become like you? Where did we come from? What does the future hold for us?" Calypso asked, to which everyone just shook their heads.


    "We are what we are. The ''cloud'' and ''Xopil'' are one and the same. They''re currently separate entities, forcefully split apart by the cloud. The cloud cut part of himself off, sent it off into a completely random world. Then forced himself into it to fall asleep, a silent guardian you could say. He found a man and woman who loved eachother dearly. They were a King and Queen of the Wragnaith clan..." Xiara began.


    "So, he implanted himself inside the Queen?" asked Felicyta. "The couple had been trying for years to have a child but it never happened until..."


    "The Queen was a barren woman even if no one knew it, even so, what better way to enter the world than as a miracle?" explained Xiara, "He does share the royal family''s blood line. I don''t really want to get into the details on how he pulled that off though."


    "Xopil''s purpose is to struggle," Xiara pointed at the unconscious male in the room, "while the true Xopil''s purpose is to maintain balance. I don''t know what all he''s said to you, he''s been around for a very long time. His immortal memory, he views it as a curse."


    "Who wants to live forever?" asked Xiara, "Knowing full well you''ll spend the overwhelmingly vast majority of your life in boredom. When you''ve done everything there is to do, said everything there is to say... What do you do? What lengths do you go through to find something fresh and new?"


    "So, you become an immortal villain at some point?" Felicyta asked.


    "..." Xiara thought about that for a moment, "He''s not far off, huh?"


    "True ''gods'' if you can call them that, are able to create new from nothing. Xopil doesn''t have that capability."


    "Then, what happens when they merge back into one? It''d be a bit sad never to see Xopil again." inquired Beda.


    "Sad indeed... The Xopil you know would disappear, becoming nothing more than a memory." Xiara stated. "...Odd... I think I''ll miss this one."


    "This one?" they all echoed.


    "...This is the..." Xiara paused a few seconds to count on her fingers, "Twelve-thousand eight-hundred twenty-first incarnation."


    "None were memorable before?" Lexi asked.


    "Not really... they were just empty husks of their true self. This one seems to be a bit more... well more." Xiara replied.


    "As for myself..." Xiara changed the subject, "I...don''t have a soul. Nor do I have a core."Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.


    "What?"


    "I was created without either. You might say I was initially created as an observation ornament. I always observed Xopil, he used to talk and I could only listen. He would move around, and I could only watch. He changed that." Xiara explained, "My soul is artificial. A second rate knockoff. But, I''m grateful to have it. And it was Xopil who gave it to me. When he touches it to make changes, like when he removed fatigue from me..." Xiara blushed, "...I can''t even begin to describe how intimate it feels, its like having a connection at the deepest most pround level. Its truly amazing."


    "And so what does that mean? You will never get tired anymore?" asked Felicyta.


    "I still need to sleep. But I can no longer overexert myself, as though I''m fed by an endless supply of energy." Xiara replied.


    "That sounds convenient." Lexi muttered.


    "...You think so?" Xiara asked, "I''m scared of myself now."


    "What do you mean?" Lexi asked.


    "Imagine Calypso, but without a limit on how destructive she can be." Xiara explained.


    "I see your point." Lexi stated, "We''re lucky you have some self control."


    "Can you not use me as a measuring tool?" Calypso asked.


    "...That was rude of me, sorry." Xiara stated.


    "He should be waking up soon right?" Lexi asked. Xiara cast a glance at Xopil.


    "That cloud said something about a gift, I wonder what it could be?" Beda asked.


    "That cloud didn''t sound like someone I''d bet on. He was too... nonchalant about everything, as though nothing matters to him. This ''gift'' may not be beneficial either." Felicyta stated.


    "We''ll see." Xiara stated and fell into thought. "You do have to understand though... he''s a guardian of balance. Think of the universe as a scale and it''s his job to keep everything equal. He has to be impartial to fill that role."


    "Meaning?" Lexi asked.


    "While this is a game to him, there are serious repurcussions that go along with it, if he saves a world from destruction, so long as everything stays in balance all is well." Xiara paused. "Think about this, it''s not a pleasant thought though. Order. Chaos. Good. Evil. Life. Death. This is a shortened list, but it is enough to explain. If anything threatens the balance between these forces, Xopil will be forced to intervene. At times he restores order. There''s been times he''s spread chaos. All to keep harmony. Does he enjoy doing it? I can''t say; he''s always impartial, never showing emotion."


    Xiara sighed, "I''d wager he doesn''t like it. He created systems to balance each of these forces. Life and death now more or less keep eachother at bay. Have you ever wondered how honest people get mixed up with dishonest people? Balance. For every ten hardworking people, there will be ten thieves. This town we''re in... you''d consider them all low-life scum of the world, and you''ve wiped them out...in doing so, this world is now out of balance in that regard, it will eventually right itself. hopefully before Xopil has to intervene and destroy a city of honest folk. Also consider, this ''bad'' town might recover, keeping all these ''bad'' people from mingling from the ''good'' people. What happens when places suddenly get an influx of these ''bad'' people?"


    "You''re saying we shouldn''t have done it?" asked Felicyta, her face turning into a scowl.


    "Everyone has a role to fill. I''m not saying I disagree with your actions, I''d have been right there with you. Xopil though, he would have prevented the slaughter. Consider this. You destroyed a monster den of a city. If this doesn''t right itself naturally, Xopil will either have to rebuild it somehow, or... destroy a righteous city. If the reverse happened, where a town of good people was wiped off the map, he''d either rebuild that town, or destroy a town like this one. Indiscriminate, impartial, efficient."


    "Regardless how he personally feels, he''s always preserving balance. And then there''s this." Xiara pointed to Xopil''s unconscious body, "This is a form of release for him. An escape from his duties, a way to be who he wants to be, what he wants to be. In order to live a life free from control, even if it''s only a temporary illusion."


    "So what does that mean about his rant about a single path to the future?" Felicyta asked.


    "That was... That struck a nerve inside him. Imagine giving yourself a chance to make choices only to have another entity strip it all away. It resonated with his true self... which was why he woke up." Xiara explained, then continued, "I''d say he''s affected on a personal level, and this ''gift'' he''s getting... the ultimate target of that gift will be the mastermind controlling everyone''s fate."


    Xiara shrugged, "But then the gift might also be a hotdog or something else equally ludicrous."


    "Really, a hotdog?" Lexi was skeptical.


    "It''s one of his favorite junk foods, wouldn''t surprise me." Xiara sighed while shaking her head, "But I''m inclined it''s something more substantial."


    "Why''s that?" Beda asked.


    "He''s still unconscious." Xiara replied.

 Chapter 29

    Xiara alone remained watching over Xopil. Silent and still as a statue, she waited. Hours turned into days.


    Xopil groaned as he rolled in the bed. His face had regained color, but he hadn''t awoken yet. Xiara continued vigilantly watching him.This brings back memories... back when all I could do was watch him. And yet... in some ways it''s no different now.


    Xiara clenched her fist, the first she''s moved in almost a week. She rose from the chair she was sitting on. All her joints cracked from stiffness.


    "Getting old?" Lexi asked from the doorway.


    "I''m still in my prime." Xiara boasted, "I''ve been sitting too long is all."


    "You have the patience of a saint." Lexi commented.


    "You think so?" Xiara asked while stretching.


    "6 days, 12 hours and 19 minutes you''ve been watching over him." Lexi stated.


    "That''s nothing honestly." Xiara retorted, "When I was first brought into being, all I could do was watch him. And watch him I did, for several thousand years."


    "Fair enough I suppose, still, that could be praiseworthy." Lexi replied.


    "Uhnnn." Xopil rolled over in his sleep.


    "There''s an improvement at last." Xiara bent over to touch her toes, "He''s coming out of it."


    "Just what kind of gift knocks a person out for almost a week?" Lexi asked.


    "Nothing simple... he''s probably undergone a huge change, and if I had to guess, his true self didn''t want to experience the pain, so he knocked himself out to not have the memory." Xiara explained, "He''s not a benevolent being, unless it comes to himself."


    "Awfully selfish huh?" Lexi inquired.


    "You have no idea," Xiara replied and after a pause, "sometimes I... find myself hoping this Xopil stays."


    "That''s possible?" Lexi asked.


    "How to say this... it''s not completely impossible, just a very... extremely... low chance of happening." Xiara answered.


    "That''s disappointing," Lexi dropped the topic, "will you be joining us to eat later?"


    "I could do with a meal," Xiara replied as she enveloped herself in a spacial bubble and hit herself with a blast of water magic, instantly cleaning herself; she followed up with a blast of air to dry off. When she was done, she repeated the process on Xopil.


    Lexi was a little jealous. "I wish I could wash like that when I''m in a rush."


    "I bet Calypso would too." Xiara laughed, thinking about how cats usually have an aversion to water.Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    "Water doesn''t bother her at all though." Lexi mused as she left the room. "She does spend more time than anyone else in the outdoor bath."


    "Now what to do about you..." Xiara asked as she looked over Xopil. Her gaze stayed on his mouth when she noticed his lips were moving. "He''s talking in his sleep? Or having a conversation with himself?"


    Either way, it was not a conversation she was privy to. There was no sound, and she wasn''t capable of reading lips. She took one final look at him, and she left the room as her stomach growled.


    In the kitchen, all the women busied themselves preparing the meal. Xiara added herself to the mix, adding an extra pair of hands into the preparations. She couldn''t help but make a comment, "There''s enough here to feed a small army."


    "Lexi mentioned you were going to eat with us today, and given that it''s been nearly a week since you last ate, we took that into consideration." Felicyta explained while cutting vegetables.


    "Thanks I think?" Xiara replied taking a second look at the large supply of raw ingredients.


    "Xopil should be up soon too?" Calypso asked as she skinned, deboned, and prepared some freshly caught wild game.


    "Even I have no way of knowing that." Xiara replied, while taking the deboned meat and busied herself by slicing it into filets, "I''m just hoping it''s soon."


    "Too much hinges on him." Felicyta said scornfully.


    "I can''t deny that." replied Xiara, "But... it''s not like there''s anyone else in a position even close to his."


    The girls finished preparing the meal in silence. Each coping with fate in their own way. Before long, the aroma of a delicious meal filled the inn. The women gathered around, working together to set the table. A myriad of dishes laid bare on display. They sat down and started tearing into the meal.


    "Something smells good." Xopil leaned heavliy on the door frame as he smirked watching them all.


    "Well don''t just stand there, come join us." Xiara shocked them all by not rushing up to help him, and instead kept filling her plate.


    "That hungry are you?" Xopil said as he left the archway. He took several steps into the room and collapsed.


    "I am." Xiara responded between mouthfuls as she ate.


    "I see." Xopil replied as he made a pitiful figure by inching closer to the table.


    "Are you all right? Should you be up?" asked Winter. Beda meanwhile had abandoned her chair and was on her way to aid Xopil.


    "Yeah, I''ll live." Xopil replied as he continued his effort. "I''m just glad I didn''t miss this meal."


    "...So what you''re saying is your stomach woke you up?" Xiara asked, casting a cold glare at him.


    "Not just that," Xopil tried defending himself.


    "What else then?" continued Xiara.


    "I... didn''t feel tired anymore? What makes you wake up when you get up?" Xopil asked.


    "..." Xiara didn''t reply, she just continued eating at her own pace.


    It''s a bit hard to believe she''s the same person who just watched him sleep for nearly 7 days straight.Felicyta mused as she watched silently.


    "What''s with the hardass attitude?" Calypso asked, "You just watched over him for nearly 7 days without food or sleep yourself."


    "..." Xiara glared at Calypso.


    Obviously she didn''t want him to know. Silly cat.Winter thought.


    "So you''re tired and hungry. No wonder you''re cranky." Xopil chuckled lightly.


    "Yes that''s it." Xiara snapped.


    "How are you feeling?" Beda asked as she supported Xopil, "Aside from weak of course."


    "I have a massive headache and my body feels like someone dropped a rock on top of me and then after, built a house on top of the rock." Xopil replied.


    "Sounds painful." stated Calypso.


    "It''s not a walk in the park." Xopil replied. "It is strange though."


    "What''s that?" asked Xiara.


    "You know how it feels to struggle with something, but you have someone just come along and clear up all the confusion you''re experiencing by explaining how something works?" Xopil asked, then stated, "I''ve been going about mastering magic all wrong. I had a revelation in my sleep, or more like some of my memory locks just opened up."


    "But that doesn''t explain the pain I''m in." Xopil continued.


    "Actually, it does." Xiara stated, "Your body isn''t strong enough to handle those memories, nor the power of using magic properly. So you''re going through a transition phase as your body adjusts."

 Chapter 30

    Xopil ate in silence. All the women present stared at him, raising his annoyance. "Aren''t you hungry? Why don''t you eat?"


    Xopil shook his head when they continued to stare at him and robotically moved food into their mouths. "Do I have something on my face?"


    "Not exactly no..." Xiara started, "but you do look different from before."


    "So what, am I suddenly attractive?"


    "It''s never been just your looks, but it feels as though you are the center of the universe, it''s a bizarre feeling." Felicyta answered him.


    "That..." Xiara blinked, took a harder look at Xopil and her words got caught in her throat.


    "So what, I''m not human any more?"


    "Oh you are, and so much more." Xopil watched them warily as they all looked ready to pounce on him.


    "Calm down, I don''t want to hurt any of you." Xopil thought about binding them to their seats for a moment. The atmosphere in the room changed instantly. Xopil blinked, and he was now looking at the six women bound by their chairs.


    "...well, that''s certainly dangerous." Xopil commented as he dismissed the thought and the chairs returned to normal, releasing them.


    "What... what just happened?" Beda was clearly shaken.


    "I had a thought of restraining you, to protect myself... and it rather ran away with itself." Xopil answered.


    "Your magic is now connected to your thoughts and whims?" Xiara asked, "also..."


    "Seems so." Xopil shrugged, not exactly happy with this turn of events.


    "You just bound us with a thought? Isn''t that a bit broken?" Beda asked.


    "I won''t deny that. I''m not happy about this either."


    "This... is from the ''gift''?" asked Calypso.


    "What?" Xopil asked.


    "While you were out, we had a bit of a conversation with your true self, said he was going to bestow you with a gift, also said ''good luck solving this puzzle, you''re going to need it''." stated Felicyta.


    "Xopil..." Xiara said softly.


    "Well, if that was due to the ''gift'', and the change in my magic... so my true self felt this task was far above and beyond my old self huh?"


    "He also said he modified your timer for this puzzle, adding quite a few years before it expires." Felicyta added.


    "I''m not sure if I should be happy or worried about all this."


    "Take it as a necessary step forward." Xiara commented.


    "...The ability to warp reality by thinking about it is a bit disconcerting as a ''step forward''." countered Xopil.


    "You''ve been using magic all this time and this bothers you?" Xiara couldn''t help but chuckle.


    "That I can activate magic as naturally as breathing, even accidently just by thinking about something? Yes, that bothers me."Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.


    Xiara shrugged and shook her head, "You have a point I suppose. Even this won''t guarantee you can solve this puzzle... and this level of mastery is pretty close to what your true self can use."


    "What''s beyond using magic by thinking about it?" asked Calypso.


    "Using magic without thinking about it..." Xiara replied the obvious answer, "going a step further would be... the ability to use magic in your sleep."


    "Wait a minute." Winter interrupted, her hand wrapped around her chin in thought. "I feel like we''re missing something important about magic."


    "And what would that be?" asked Felicyta thoughtfully.


    "There''s balance in all things, and the scales are always in equilibrium right? So what is the counterbalance for magic?"


    "You''re quite right." Xopil stated, "There is indeed an anti-magic force, and it''s always working against magic."


    "Can we utilize that somehow?" Calypso asked.


    "You already do," Xiara replied.


    "What?" Calypso was shocked.


    "Think about it. Every time you dispel any magic you''ve used, how would you get rid of it if not for anti-magic?" Xopil explained. "You''re only using a small part of it, but you are still exerting some control over it."


    "Magic is boundless potential, but there''s an equally powerful force applied to it that keeps it in check." Xiara added, "Otherwise, magical energy would run rampant on its own. When it comes to using and manifesting magic, you''re essentially weakening the limiter enough to allow the magic to happen."


    "That doesn''t make sense... wouldn''t we be strengthening the ''magic'' to overcome the limiter?"


    "In either case, you''re still causing an imbalance... I''d wager none of you actually know if you''re manipulating magic or the limiter. It''s not something clear unless you have an incredibly deep understanding of the two forces." Xiara explained, "Xopil just recently entered that realm of understanding... and not by his choice I might add."


    "This isn''t something anyone should understand..." Xopil waved his hand dismissively, "I can feel the very fabric of magic coursing in this world, and the tight grip of its limiter. And on a whim, I can bend both of these forces to my will."


    "That''s... a godlike level of understanding." Felicyta gazed at him wide-eyed.


    "...Not quite, but it''s getting there." Xiara corrected.


    "I wonder how Boris is doing..." Xopil said under his breath. The next moment, a whirlwind erupted from nothing in the middle of the room, tearing the fabric of time and space, a black orb appeared in center of the distortion. The orb gradually brightened until it was sky blue in color. The surface of the orb glossed over, and displayed an image of a cloaked man walking through a dense forested area. His steps were slow and heavy, a trail of blood behind him as he marched on.


    "Boris?!" Xiara exclaimed.


    "He looks like he''s had a rough time..." Xopil commented as he sent his hand towards the distortion. His hand pierced into the distortion, and made contact with Boris. He closed his hand, grabbing the now distorted vision of Boris. Xopil retracted his hand, pulling Boris into the room. The distortion closed immediately afterwards.


    "What in the...? The inn?" Boris asked as he slumped to the ground. "That sensation though... I watched as thousands of miles passed before my eyes in a matter of seconds."


    Xopil frowned, "Sorry about that Boris... still getting the hang of this."


    "Wait what? You just used me as an experiment? You damned fool, what if you killed me in the process?" Boris fired off questions like a shotgun.


    "It''s not like I don''t have the necessary control, I just need to get used to it." Xopil shrugged, "Anyways. It''s good to see you."


    Xopil waved his hand at Boris, all his wounds closed over as his natural healing was sped up using time magic.


    The 5 women looked on in awe, "He''s like a god..."


    "He IS the servant of many gods, just well... not presently. It''s complicated." Xiara shrugged as she made the explanation worse.


    Boris cast a wary eye at Xopil, "You shouldn''t be able to do any of this, the hell''s going on here?"


    "The true Xopil woke up... shit happened and here we are." Xiara gave him an abridged version.


    "..." Boris stood slackjawed.


    "We can go over that later, what do you know about this world puzzle?" Xopil asked, "I''m not thrilled with my existence here and want this over with."


    Boris took a deep breath, "I''m afraid I know less than you do at this point. My knowledge of this world was nearly wiped clean after we exposed too much information to you."


    "...That''s worse than disappointing." Xopil frowned. His eyes unfocused as he looked at the invisible fabric of magic. "There''s not much I can do about it now, it''s all but finished. Rewinding it wouldn''t be wise at this point."


    "Go get something to eat and get some rest Boris, we have a lot of work to do, and we''re starting tomorrow." Xopil declared as he waved his hand over the table. All the plates, dishes, and silverware vanished instantly, only to be replaced with clean counterparts. Another wave, and a veritable feast appeared on the table.


    Everyone, other than Xopil, watched the whole process while stupefied. It was only when the aroma from the table hit them that they came back to their senses.

 Chapter 31

    "We meet again." the boy looked at Xopil disdainfully. "This is my playground, you''re not welcome here."


    "Who are you?" Xopil asked, ignoring the boy''s claims.


    "Just me." the boy retorted and waved his hand towards Xopil, "You can go now."


    "Yeah, I''m not going anywhere." Xopil stated, as he stood unaffected, "You caught me off guard before. Though, to be honest, I didn''t expect to see you again so soon."


    "You have control over the limiter? This won''t do." the boy frowned and launched himself towards Xopil with insane speed. The boy materialized a sword with an invisible blade in his hand.


    Xopil appeared to be dancing as he dodged and evaded the boy''s sword swings. The boy smirked slightly and increased his speed until he became a blur. Xopil continued to seemingly evade effortlessly. After some time of the one-sided assault, Xopil raised his arm and caught the blade in his hand. Closing his hand into a tight fist, the invisible blade shattered. The boy cocked an eyebrow at that.


    "...Who are you?" the boy asked.


    "I asked you first," Xopil examined his hand.


    "I''m simply the creation of a bored god."


    "Which one?" Xopil asked. "As for me, well I''m... the gods'' janitor."


    "The what?" the boy couldn''t help laughing, "And what does it matter which one? It''s not like you can do anything about it regardless of which one it is."


    Xopil looked coldly at the boy as he waved his hand. The boy dispersed into countless particles and they were scattered with the wind.


    <hr>


    Xopil lay in bed tossing and turning in his sleep, his body drenched from a cold sweat. He woke with a start, and immediately held the side of his head. His breathing ragged and uneven, he lay still while trying to calm himself.


    "What a whiplash... it seems I just used something beyond my means." Xopil stated, "So... that means what I used wasn''t part of the gift. How do I know how to use it then?" Xopil frowned as he realised the simple truth of the matter.


    Xopil forced himself to sit up. He threw his legs over the edge of the bed and sat there in thought for a few minutes before finally getting out of bed. He walked out of the room as his sleeping clothes turned into particles and a fresh set of royal robes appeared in their place. Xopil shook his head at this convenience.


    Xopil walked into the main room of the inn, finding everyone was already present and waiting for him. He nodded in approval at them all. "Good morning, now let''s get going." With a wave of his hand, they all vanished together.


    "This is...?" Felicyta asked.


    "This is where I first met Boris in this world. The first ''puzzle'' I solved was here as well." Xopil cast a glance at Xiara as he remembered the solution. She blushed and grinned.


    "What are we doing here then?" asked Calypso.


    "I''m looking for... actually, I''m not sure what I''m looking for exactly. There''s a being in the future controlling the past." Xopil stated as his eyes lost focus. "So I''m looking for that influence, whatever it may be, it should look foreign to everything else."


    Xopil waved his hands as he manipulated the fabric of magic in his vision. "A needle in a haystack would be easier to find."


    Boris and Xiara looked at eachother and shrugged. Their eyes also lost focus as they looked at the fabric of magic to aid Xopil.


    Xopil waved his hands sending waves rippling through the fabric. There was a spot that was seemingly anchored in place, right at the center of the town square. "Well, that''s subtle..." Xopil shook his head. He lead them all to the center of town, his eyes adjusting in color as he tried to identify what he was looking at.


    "Here?" Xiara asked as she viewed the magical spectrum around her, she gasped in shock. "We are supposed to do something about this?!"


    "You know what this is then?" Xopil asked.


    "Only... a god... could put this here." Xiara spoke in disbelief. "It''s a god''s will."


    Xopil''s hand clenched into a tight fist as he listened to her. "People are not playthings of the gods." he said angrily. Then, his eyes turned into pure crystal as he looked at it again. A giant pillar appeared in his vision, seemingly binding everything together.


    "We... we can''t touch that, there''s nothing we can do." Xiara spoke haltingly as their powerlessness before the gods presented itself in full fury.


    "No... you''re wrong about that." Xopil replied with a wink, "I''m the janitor of the gods. That means I clean up after them, doesn''t it? After all, there needs to be something that balances with the gods."


    "..." the small entourage watched in silence as Xopil launched himself towards the town center. His body turned into a pulsating kaleidoscope of crystal and vanished from their sight.


    "I can''t see him?" Boris asked in disbelief.


    "He''s in a higher realm now." Xiara stated a bit smugly, That''s my man.


    Xopil merged with the god''s will. He traced it back to it''s origin, back to when it first appeared in this location. He followed the thread of time, observing the area as he travelled through time. The town was gradually growing larger as time rewound. So at the point Xopil entered the picture, the town was already a shadow of its former self. Xopil left the time stream when he felt the oppressive will vanish. He observed the town.


    "It''s like a golden age compared to the present." Xopil mused as he examined the city that seemed to stretch completely around the world. He observed the people living their lives and noticed the important thing. They were alive on the inside. They had a will of their own. They had dreams and desires.


    "And... here it comes." Xopil watched the town center as the will of the god appeared and started anchoring itself. "It''s quite small now, so what... this will drained everything it needed turning this city into a dried up husk in the future?"


    "No longer." Xopil stated as he drove his hand into the god''s will and released the limiter, destroying the will completely.


    <hr>


    Xiara and Boris felt it immediately when the pressure from the will vanished. The town burst into life, buildings sprouted up as though they were plants suddenly given everything they needed to prosper. The city expanded in every direction as history snapped back to its true path, and the present reflected those changes explosively. At the same time as the city restored itself Beda, Felicyta, Calypso, Winter and Lexi simultaneously vanished. "The will was hindering the town?" Xiara asked in disbelief, "What god would be so malicious?"You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    "You think the gods are benevolent?" Boris countered, "You should know better. Xopil isn''t benevolent either, for that matter."


    "His current self is." Xiara corrected.


    "Only temporarily." Boris retorted, "You''ve sensed it too. He''s slipping into his true self. I''m not sure what all transpired but in granting him some needed abilities, it seems he''s broken the seal on his memories. And they are gradually seeping into his mind, warping him."


    "It''s just a matter of time before this ''Xopil'' is lost." Boris continued.


    "Talk about a buzz kill." Xopil said as he appeared next to Boris, "And I was just feeling pretty good about myself... uh, where''d the others go?"


    "Are you really asking that right now? You changed history, so of course the inhabitants of this world would be affected. Without the outside influence of a god, they obviously never met you in this era, and so wouldn''t be here waiting for you to return." Xiara explained.


    "Oh right..." Xopil scratched his head awkwardly. "I''ll miss them."


    "As will I," Xiara admitted then added, "but we really shouldn''t interfere with their lives any more than we have already."


    "If they never met us, we never interefered with them in the first place." Xopil wittily remarked.


    "Which also implies we shouldn''t go looking for them." Xiara clarified, "They should be allowed to live their lives without external influences. Which you''ve just proven by destroying that god''s will."


    "Fair point. You think there are any more of those around?" Xopil asked.


    "We''ll have to go looking, but I''d be surprised if there was only one." Boris interjected, "And whoever owned that will is probably incredibly pissed off right about now."


    "You said it." a little boy materialized in front of them.


    "Hello again half-pint." Xopil smirked as he turned to face the boy.


    "Half-pint?" the boy asked. Xopil leapt at the boy.


    "Well, you never gave me your name did you?" Xopil asked as he raised his hand at the boy and slapped him hard across his face.


    Caught off-guard, the boy was sent flying away from the town with Xopil, Xiara and Boris following behind.


    "Cheap shot." the boy ridiculed as he spat out a tooth and a bit of blood.


    "Courtesy and fairness aren''t things you show to an enemy, half-pint." Xopil flew at the boy again.


    "Typhan." the boy muttered as he raised his hands in a defensive posture.


    "Can''t say I''m pleased to meet you." stated Xopil as he stood in front of the boy.


    "Likewise," retorted Typhan as he eyed Xopil warily. He summoned a sword with a crystal blade.


    "Well, that''s different." Xopil muttered to himself as he watched Typhan.


    "What are you talking about?" Typhan asked as he lunged at Xopil, his sword turning into a blur as he swung it repeatedly.


    Xopil dodged and evaded the sword easily, which irritated Typhan to no end. He piled on an extra burst of speed, making the blur almost look like a solid blade all around Xopil.


    "Wow! That''s impressive." Xopil whistled in admiration, and backed away from Typhan as some of his hair was cut. Typhan also backed off to catch his breath.


    Typhan had observed Xopil throughout that little exchange. There were no wasted movements, and any ''mistakes'' seemed to be deliberate. Typhan shouted three words and launched himself at Xopil, "Don''t mock me!"


    Xopil materialized a cutlass and exchanged heavy blows with Typhan. Xopil smirked as he repeatedly swung his blade and Typhan did his best to deflect it in time.


    "You seem to have lost some strength and speed from when we fought before." Xopil commented as he knocked the blade out of Typhan''s hand.


    "We''ve never met before, how could we fight?" Typhan asked seriously as he rubbed his hand.


    "My bad..." Xopil scratched his chin. "That was a fight we had in the future. But that seems like it won''t happen now."


    "How many more god''s wills are there warping the timeline?" Xopil asked.


    Typhan didn''t respond, just looked at Xopil sourly.


    "I know you''re connected with them, you only showed up after I destroyed one. And you are weaker because of it." Xopil said.


    "I could just search your mind for what I want to know, but you''d end up a vegetable when I''m done." Xopil bluffed.


    "Nice try, but there''s no way to read minds." Typhan scoffed, "Not even the gods can."


    "And you only know that because you are a god yourself." Xopil stated flatly.


    Typhan fell silent so as not to reveal anything else.


    "Here''s what I think," Xopil began, "You saw a glimpse of the future where you are destroyed by me, and you tried to change that outcome by injecting your will into the timeline to prevent us from meeting, and also should something go wrong, to get a power boost from it."


    Typhan sighed as he cursed inwardly.


    "I''ll take that as I''m right. So here''s how we''ll end this peacefully. You can stop forcing your will into the timeline, and allow all the parallel timelines to return to how they should be, a single timeline. Do so, and I''ll not pursue this matter any further. Keep in mind, I could just kill you and all this will happen anyway."


    "Are you really the universe''s custodian?" Typhan asked. "He wouldn''t make such an offer."


    "I''m an incarnation of him, yes." Xopil replied. "I''m not as strictly bound to keeping balance."


    "And when you return to your true self?" Typhan asked.


    "My memory will be transferred, the deal on this matter will stand. However, if it is deemed you need to die to maintain balance on anything unrelated to this deal, I can''t gaurantee anything." Xopil replied matter-of-factly.


    "I still find it hard to believe you can kill gods so easily, yet we can''t touch you." Typhan stated.


    "There''s nothing easy about taking a life." Xopil stated, "Well, maybe my true self is numb to it since it''s his job."


    "Well which is it?" Xopil asked, "I don''t want to kill you but that won''t stop me in the end."


    "If it was your fate to die, would you stamp ''DEAD'' on your forehead and let it happen?" Typhan asked as his eyes lost their color.


    "I have died many times, always to be reborn. No one is exempt from the cycle of death and rebirth. My curse is remembering it all. You on the other hand think you''re on your first life. What I wouldn''t give to not remember my previous lives." Xopil stated.


    "What? I''ve been reborn?" Typhan asked.


    "I''ve killed your incarnations..." Xopil paused as he searched through the memories of his true self, "Just from the memories that have leaked so far, at least 1258 times. The true count is undoubtedly higher."


    "So do I add another tally to your death count?" Xopil asked as he changed the blade on his cutlass into a glowing purple crystal, "If you had your previous life memories, you''d know this is the sword that''s stolen your life every time."


    Typhan felt a shiver as he looked upon the sword. Was that fear? He tore his eyes off the sword, and attempted to stop his body from trembling.


    "Time is up," Xopil stated flatly. "At this point your choices are to die by my hand or by my true self some time in the future... and that won''t be for the last time. Proving that those who don''t know their history are doomed to repeat it."


    Typhan''s body dissolved into particles and he scattered to the wind in an attempt to flee.


    Xopil just shook his head as a whirlwind with a black core appeared before him. The core turned gold in color, and Xopil watched the image of Typhan in the center of it. He traced it back through time, towards Typhan''s point of origin in this life. He stabbed his purple bladed crystal sword into the center of the core, destroying Typhan and all the harm he''d caused in this lifetime in one simple motion.


    Xopil felt a jarring sensation as free will and all the possibilities that goes along with it truly returned to the people. The number of parallel timelines exploded exponentially, truly giving birth to an infinite number of possible futures, and every single one of them flashed through Xopil''s eyes. He collapsed on the ground, a lighthearted smile on his face as he made a small utterance, "Free at last."


    Not far away, Xiara had watched Xopil stab his sword forward and then moments later she watched him fall to the ground. She rushed to him, leaning over him. She saw the smile on his face and realized she worried over nothing. "Oh Xopil, you can''t scare me like that."


    "I did it, Xiara. I did it. Now I just need all these images to stop before my brain explodes from overload."


    "You did good Xopil." Xiara praised as she waved her hand over his head putting him into a mild sleep. She waved her hand again extracting something from his body.


    Boris watched on and shook his head, but he wore a smile knowing full well what she was doing.


    "Boris." Xiara called.


    "Hm?" Boris replied.


    "I don''t envy his true self... could you imagine maintaining balance now?" Xiara asked.


    "It''s what he does, he''ll manage. And besides, that''s why he has us isn''t it?" Boris assured her. After a pause he asked, "Are you sure about this one?"


    "I have high hopes this one can." Xiara responded as she held the light blue cloud she pulled from Xopil''s body in her hand. "Rest well Xopil." she blew a kiss at the cloud and scattered it to the wind. "You''re going to have a big job ahead of you when, not if, you pull yourself back together."

 Chapter 32

    "You''re certain about this?" Boris watched as the light blue cloud dispersed and scattered with the wind. "I suppose it is too late to change your mind but still... he''s going to know what you did."


    Xiara gave a simple nod as she watched the cloud vanish alongside Boris. "It''ll be fine, he doesn''t have emotions remember?"


    "Why did you do it?" Boris asked, "And why this one?"


    "What was always his underlying complaint about his life?" Xiara responded with a question of her own.


    "That he''s cursed to remember everything." Boris replied without hesitation, "So that''s why?"


    Xiara smirked as the last of the cloud vanished entirely, "I prevented him from abandoning his memories before, and he was indifferent about it."


    "He maintains balance of everything, so he has to keep himself balanced first." Boris replied.


    "Looks like this puzzle was solved," Boris stated as Xopil''s body started disintegrating and turned into an off-white cloud. "Xopil figured it out a thousand years early huh?"


    "That incarnation was something special." Xiara''s eyes sparkled. "So, just maybe."


    Boris nodded in understanding. "Now he just has to recover."


    "Boris, Xiara." the cloud spoke to them as it stretched itself.


    "Good morning, Xopil." Xiara replied while running her hand between the cloud layers.


    The cloud visibly shivered. "You have a tender touch as always Xiara."


    "As do you," Xiara replied as the cloud wrapped itself around her.


    "Do you want to explain why I have no memory of this latest puzzle? Of this last incarnation...?" Xopil sounded a little annoyed.


    "It wasn''t exactly a pure memory, you had intervened and altered him." Xiara explained, "So I scattered him to the winds."


    "I see." Xopil calmed down instantly, "So you think this one is worthy of the task?"


    "I do." Xiara replied confidently.


    "And if you''re wrong?" Xopil asked with a slight threat in his tone.


    "Any punishment you desire, I''ll accept." Xiara replied.


    "Really now, that much faith in him? Very well. Let''s see if he lives up to your expectations." Xopil sounded slightly pleased.


    You really are the embodiment of balance aren''t you, Boris thought to himself.


    <hr>


    Xopil, Boris and Xiara returned to their domain. Xopil was actively keeping tabs on everything going on in the constantly expanding parallel timelines. What the hell happened? I''ve never had so much to do before.


    Xiara watched the cloud''s color shifting constantly. I''m sure he''s complaining, but it''s not like he can''t keep up... pretty sure he''s not even running anywhere near his limit either.


    Meanwhile, pieces of little light blue clouds were breaking apart into smaller and smaller pieces as they scattered through the world, eventually breaking out of the confines of the atmosphere and scattering through the far reaches of space.


    "Are you sure about this one? He''s scattered all over the universe now." Xopil chided as he kept tabs on the little cloud.


    "So you look busy, but you are still capable of watching him are you?" Xiara smirked, "Yes, I have faith in this one. He solved a problem in days that you thought would take him a thousand years, and without your full ability."


    The cloud fell silent at that. "He just got lucky."


    "Maybe. Are you jealous?" Xiara teased.


    "Jealous? Hah, perhaps. Still, it''s going to take nothing short of a miracle at this point for him to pull together."


    Xiara looked over the monitors with specs of the little blue cloud. Her face paled when she realized the distance the pieces had managed to get from each other, and that distance was still increasing.


    <hr>


    Light as a feather. My body has no definite shape. Spread thin, but still all connected together. The more I stretch, the stronger the euphoria. Thinking is getting harder though.


    What am I? For that matter I think I used to be somebody... can''t remember so well any more. My senses... wait, what are senses?Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    ...I may have a problem.


    The tiny pieces of the cloud that were closest together slowly shimmered as they bounced between various colors. A conscious effort.


    "Rest well Xopil," a pleasant voice rang clear in his mind.


    Xopil... was that my name? Who''s voice was that? I want to hear that voice again. How long has it been since I last heard that voice?


    The cloud shimmered quicker as some of the pieces drew closer together.


    "Rest well Xopil," rang clearly again. Then a bit later "pull yourself together."


    Pull myself together... pull myself together... pull myself together... Xopil repeated this phrase over and over causing the shimmer in the clouds to grow brighter.


    <hr>


    Yes, that''s the way Xopil... keep it up! Xiara silently encouraged him as she watched him on the monitors.


    "It''s truly amazing the extent he''s spread himself in these ten years." Boris commented, "You think he''ll get back together in the next ten?"


    "Not likely, but it is promising isn''t it?" Xiara replied.


    "He''d still be getting further apart if you hadn''t intervened." Boris nudged her.


    "You noticed?" Xiara said sheepishly.


    "So did Xopil." Boris warned. "Normally I suspect he would want this outcome but... you have a wager don''t you? I wonder how he''ll react since you''ve cheated."


    Xiara was wrapped in a spacial bubble and she vanished instantly... "Well, that answers that." Boris said with a shrug.


    Several days later, she returned to her station watching over the monitors looking a bit tired. On her way to her seat, she looked at Boris, and through a yawn she said, "Worth it."


    "Only you would get a punishment you enjoy," Boris said flatly.


    "Who said I enjoyed it?" Xiara cocked her eyebrow at him, "He didn''t let me sleep for four days."


    "How did he keep you awake?" Boris asked slightly amused.


    "He poked my foot with a stick every time my eyes closed." Xiara scoffed, "Now he expects me to work today without falling asleep."


    "Truly ruthless," Boris chuckled, "I still say you got off easy."


    "He made me make a new wager." Xiara added. "If I lose, the punishment is double, but the conditions..."


    "What?" Boris asked.


    "He has one year to get himself together or I lose. And I can''t interfere...obviously."


    <hr>


    Xopil fought against the euphoria of having his body particles stretched apart and little by little he managed to shrink the distance.


    Thinking is getting easier... but these memories... Are they all mine? Some seem as ancient as the cosmos itself... what if I... yes, that feels much better. Thinking is less strenuous too.


    All over the monitors, little blue clouds turned grey and vanished from existence as Xopil cut his connection to them. Xiara watched in amazement as 80% of the little blue clouds turned gray and disappeared the next moment.


    "That..." Xiara gasped.


    "Hopefully there''s enough of himself left." Boris said as gently as he could.


    "What''s going on with those?" Xiara asked, pointing at half of the remaining little blue clouds that were flickering between light and dark blue.


    "Those are likely memories he can''t decide if they are his or not. It would be best if he purged them though." Boris stated, "But, he probably won''t."


    "Why do you say that?" Xiara asked.


    "The memories are likely of you," Boris remarked, "And for that matter, he found a mix of fresh memories with you along with much older memories. That has likely thrown him into a state of confusion given all that he just rejected."


    Xiara offered a silent prayer.


    "That''s not good...now he''s questioning his own memories." Boris said as previously light blue clouds began blinking between light and dark blue.


    All at once, the blinking clouds turned grey and vanished.


    "Holy hell...is there anything left?" Boris blinked, "I hadn''t expected him to purge everything just like that."


    Xiara looked at the monitors in disbelief. "Is he trying to wipe himself clean?"


    "There''s twenty-five of the clouds left..." Boris scoured the monitors for more. "It looks like he''s getting ready to purge more..."


    "What''s his goal?" Xiara asked.


    "That''s simple." Xopil intoned with a chuckle. "He''s rejecting me completely. Can''t say I blame him either. But...well, look."


    "Only one remains?!" Xiara exclaimed.


    "His core..." Boris stated.


    "Are you still confident in him? I am." Xopil asked Xiara this last question then they all watched in silence as it began blinking between light and dark blue.


    "He''s going to have to accept this aspect of himself, he was part of me once after all." Xopil stated as he watched.


    <hr>


    Once Xopil had pulled his light blue cloud body close enough together, he was assaulted by millions of memories. Far too many of the memories held no emotion. These he severed without question. Then a woman appeared, sometimes as a cloud other times as a human. He felt some emotion from some of these memories, but the vast majority of the memories still felt empty. He skipped over these to handle later.


    He felt it easier to concentrate as he cut more and more of these ''false memories'' as he dubbed them from himself. It still wasn''t a full comfort, but it was progress. Something still felt wrong. He sifted through the remaining memories, all of which held the woman. These are a distraction... there''s still this nagging feeling I can''t shake. He cut the connections to these memories without a second thought.


    Now then, let''s have a look through what remains. Xopil dove into the only memories that remained, his personal experiences.Even still, there''s that unsettling feeling like something isn''t right. Xopil severed the memories, leaving himself as an empty shell.


    All that''s left is...Xopil looked into the last remaining bit of cloud. His core being.At last.. the source of that unsettling feeling. But, isn''t that me? But that isn''t me... There''s something foreign to me here, but it''s also... familiar? Xopil''s consciousness dove deep into his core.


    Xopil meticulously and painstakingly examined every bit of his core.Ah yes.. I see now. There''s part of another being in here, seems that I was created for a purpose. Well, no longer. As of now, I live for myself.


    <hr>


    What they saw on the monitor next shocked all of them. The light blue cloud emitted a dark blue smoke which evaporated into nothing.


    "He... separated me out of his core?" Xopil looked on in admiration as he felt his connection with the light blue cloud vanish, "You''re right Xiara, this one does show some amazing potential. I''m looking forward to it."


    "He''s not done yet though," Boris stated.


    "What remains is trivial compared to what he just accomplished," Xopil laughed, "After all, I thought it was impossible."

 Chapter 33

    The little bit of cloud that remained of Xopil floated eerily in space. He withdrew his conciousness from deep within his core, and checked into his surroundings. Where am I? What is this place? How did I get here? Where am I going? What should I do? And... who am I?


    He asked himself a myriad of questions but no answers came. I live for myself... I do what I feel like doing. I go where I want to go... Maybe that''s selfish, but that''s what I''ve decided.


    "Xopil?" a feminine voice interrupted his thoughts.


    "Is that my name?" the cloud thought.


    "It was, and not that long ago." the feminine voice responded to his thought.


    The cloud thought, "One name is as good as another. But, why do I detest this name?"


    "Do you want a new one?" The feminine voice asked.


    "Who are you?" the cloud asked.


    "Xiara was the name you gave me." she replied.


    "Xiara?" the cloud asked, "And I gave you this name?"


    "Yes, and we had quite the adventure together." Xiara went into detail about all the memories they had together.


    "Why can''t I remember any of that?"


    "You really are something else... Are you completely unaware of your recent actions and their consequences?" Xiara asked, "Well I suppose wiping your own memory would pose such a problem, but to not remember doing it at all...would mean you also purged the memory of you erasing your memory. What a paradox."


    "I can feel you shaking your head at me."


    "It''s just your imagination." Xiara said as she stopped shaking her head.


    "But if you want a new name..." Xiara added, "how do you feel about Astrix?"


    "Astrix...it could grow on me." the cloud replied.


    "Then it''s settled. Nice to meet you, Astrix." Xiara said.


    "Likewise, Xiara." Astrix replied, "Maybe you can help me out... I have no idea where I am, or where I''m going."


    "Well... you''re in the middle of space, and traveling pretty fast. The last planet you were on is now about a million miles behind you, and the closest is roughly a hundred-thousand miles just a bit to your right," Xiara offered.


    "Is that nearest planet capable of sustaining life?" Astrix asked.


    After a slight delay, "There are signs of life, so yes." Xiara replied.


    "I''ll go there then." Astrix looked around, taking note of the giant lump of rock and moved in that direction.


    <hr>


    "Astrix huh?" Xopil asked slightly amused. Xiara shrugged.The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.


    "Not really surprising considering he just severed all memories and even removed Xopil''s presence from his core, so him ditching his name too? Not really much of a stretch." Boris added.


    "Let''s see what''s going on at this planet he''s heading to." Xopil stated as he shifted the monitor he was viewing to the specific planet. "I do hope he''s not planning on getting a body from there..."


    "Why?" Xiara asked as she looked over his monitor. "No humanoid forms, huh?"


    "He''s got potential right? Let''s just see what he does." Boris stated.


    Xopil frowned slightly as millions of monitors appeared in his vision. With a tired sigh, he sent blasts of magic into each one.


    Did he truly just do that?Xiara asked herself as she watched the explosions turn into mushroom clouds. "Was that necessary?"


    "My priority is maintaining balance. That''s never changed." Xopil replied in a flat monotone voice as the monitors vanished from his view. "I don''t kill wantonly, only systematically and efficiently when necessary."


    "That still seemed a bit over the top... all things considered." Xiara complained. "You blew up entire planets just now."


    "Painless instant deaths all of them." Xopil replied. "Besides, there was so much out of balance in all those worlds I just took the most efficient option to clear up several million instances at once."


    "This..." Xiara was about to argue.


    "How long have you observed me, known my job, and accepted it. Why now is it an issue?" Xopil asked.


    "You''ve never done a cleansing on such a massive scale before. Wiping out literally millions of entire planets at a time." Xiara answered.


    "There''s one of me and millions of balance issues just popped up... none of them were otherwise ''easy fixes''. Efficiency." Xopil replied.


    "I thought you despise killing?" Xiara continued.


    "What I have to monitor has suddenly exploded exponentially. Balance must be maintained." Xopil replied as he sent more magical blasts into monitors, although the resulting explosions were held back by a lot. "I''d like to see you observe past, present and future of just a single timeline possessing infinite possibilities and then we''ll talk about my methods."


    Astrix, I hope you can handle this task... and I''m sorry for putting this burden on your shoulders. Xiara thought.


    "Xopil..." Boris started, "I have to agree, your methods are a bit too... widespread. Even considering all that you''re watching over."


    "Noted." Xopil replied indifferently. Boris still does have authority over him after all, so he does need to give Boris'' words some weight.


    Another monitor popped up in Xopil''s vision. A little blue cloud floating in space was pictured. Xopil sent a magical beam into the screen without a second thought and turned his attention elsewhere.


    "NO!" Xiara yelled.


    "It''s a threat to balance in the future." Xopil said flatly and continued on, losing himself in his job.


    <hr>


    My danger sense is tingling.Astrix thought to himself,Wait, do I have such a thing?


    Space seems to have gotten brighter in the direction I''m going... that can''t be right? Space doesn''t just start emitting light. He cast his vision behind him and saw a light coming towards him. A light bearing a force of massive destructive potential.


    Dafuq is that!? Astrix screamed internally as he scrambled to get out of the way of the apocalyptic calamity coming his way, seemingly aimed straight for him. It''s too large and too fast!


    The beam hit Astrix as the little cloud barely managed to put up an antimagical barrier around itself. The beam of light refracted slightly, but still opening a safe spot for the cloud as the beam passed. Behind him, the planet he was heading toward wasn''t so lucky, taking the full brunt of the beam, the planet cracked and disintegrated instantly. The beam continued on, instantly wrecking anything it came close enough to.


    Thank goodness for muscle memory,Astrix thought to himself as he looked in the direction the light went,but what was that barrier I used? Never mind that... that beam was aimed for me? Who did I piss off now and how for that matter?


    The light blue cloud slowly dispersed like smoke and turned black, blending into the space around it. Xopil watched the monitor with a frown. It appeared as though the cloud was destroyed, but since the monitor didn''t disappear, that meant the threat still lingered.


    "Playing dead won''t hide you from me," Xopil said flatly, "And it seems you still have control over antimagic. What a bother that is."

 Chapter 34

    A monitor popped up in front of Boris, displaying the off-white cloud floating not far away.


    "Xopil!" Boris called out to him, "Whatever it is you''re planning..."


    Xopil assaulted the monitor displaying Astrix with everything he could think of. Magic of various sizes, shapes, colors and densities entered the monitor and a veritable magical talent show appeared around Astrix.


    "...Don''t." Boris finished his sentence too late. He leapt from his chair and delivered a karate chop to the off-white cloud, knocking him temporarily unconscious.


    A thousand new monitors popped up in front of Xiara. She quickly threw magic of her own at each of the monitors as she fell into a state of panic.


    "Damn! His assault was too random!" Xiara exclaimed as she only managed to nullify a handful of spells successfully.


    A new shared monitor appeared before Boris and Xiara bearing a simple message. "Critical Imbalance: Imminent."


    "Uh, Boris... that''s new for me, what do we do?" Xiara asked.


    "Well... if we survive this, I''m going to kill Xopil slowly until I retire." replied Boris.


    <hr>


    Mommy... Astrix saw his few memories flashing repeatedly before his eyes as a thousand beams appeared around him, a full three hundred and sixty degree assault with him at the center. A simple message appeared in his mind. "Critical Imbalance: Imminent."


    So what does that mean for me? It feels like that message is telling me evasion is not an option. Just who wants me dead this badly? Astrix took a deep breath and hardened his resolve. Astrix wrapped himself and as wide an area around himself as he could manage in a spacial bubble, and then he released his time activation, bringing everything to a screeching halt. One by one, he felt the aura of each magical beam heading his way and launched the appropriate anti-beam at each one causing the spells to fall apart harmlessly. As the last beam vanished, Astrix felt the fatigue that had been building up starting to take him into dream land.This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    <hr>


    "I''m not the only one who saw that right?" Xiara asked as a new message appeared on the monitor. "Crisis: Averted."


    "In any case, you picked a good champion Xiara." Boris stated as he tied up Xopil in a straightjacket and tossed him into a closet, "I want to know what the hell happened to Xopil though, he''s never done anything even close to that before."


    "He never had anything he couldn''t destroy in the first strike before." Xiara shrugged, "And you saw, he didn''t pull any punches."


    "He did actually. His full strength is pretty damn scary." Boris corrected.


    "Thank you Astrix." Xiara muttered under her breath.


    <hr>


    Astrix floated in space unconscious for several days. He woke up with a yawn, and immediately spawned a vortex with a black core. He searched for the origin of all that lethal magic, the core turned golden as it honed in on his target, but it simply displayed a pitch black room.


    Astrix was puzzled by what he was looking at, but it''s not like he can dial a wrong number, so he jumped into the core.


    <hr>


    Boris and Xiara were attempting to relax with a cup of tea when they heard noises coming from the storage closet that Xopil was currently occupying.


    "He shouldn''t be awake yet right?" Xiara asked Boris.


    "No..." he replied a bit puzzled.


    "Where is this?" Astrix asked loudly as he illuminated the room, and noticed he was sharing what appeared to be a closet with an off-white cloud in a straight jacket, "And how is that possible?"


    "Astrix?" Xiara asked when she poked her head into the closet after opening the door. "You''re not supposed to be here."


    "Yeah well, I don''t appreciate being targetted by all these long range magical attacks so I came to find out the hell is going on." Astrix replied.


    "That''d be Xopil over there," she pointed at the off-white cloud.


    "Xopil..." Astrix looked at the unconscious cloud warily, then took another look around the room. "Why''d he attack me? Why is he tied up and... in a... storage closet...?"


    "Honestly... to think you''d show up here instantly." Xiara stated as she took a sip of tea while seated on a couch. "The fact you can even enter this place is baffling."


    "I was created by Xopil, you said? So maybe I have some kind of identification that allows me to be here?" Astrix asked.


    "That seems plausible... And it seems you and Xopil have become equals at a minimum... perhaps rivals? The how and why I still can''t figure out." Boris conjectured, "I''m pretty sure neither of you is stronger than the other, but...he seemed hell bent on destroying you."


    "He called him a future threat to maintaining balance." Xiara recalled, "But, Xopil only really lost it when you survived his first attack... or was it when you played dead, that''s where it gets hazy."


    "...And at that point, Xopil himself became a threat to the balance." Boris added.

 The Finale

    Astrix took a bite out of a cookie and washed it down with a sip of coffee. "Xopil created me, sent me on a foolish ''game'' of his to solve some silly puzzles, and then tried to kill me. Am I forgetting anything important?"


    "Yes." Xiara replied, "A lot of important things."


    "Alright." Astrix replied biting the cookie. While chewing he added, "Break it down for me."


    Xiara ignored his manners and began:


    "You weren''t just sent off to play a silly game, you were being groomed as a possible replacement for Xopil. At the time you finished the puzzle, I had deemed you to be a worthy candidate, and put you on the path of the test, which you passed...with flying colors."


    Astrix shuddered when he heard ''flying colors'' and he thought about the various colored light beams that were sent his way to snuff out his life. "Those attacks were the test?"


    "No... that was an unfortunate event... You see, Xopil was tasked with maintaining balance of all things in the universe. He takes that job very seriously, and he designed this place... It''s a sophisticated maintenance room that automatically detects when anything grows too powerful and there''s nothing that can offset it and keep it in balance. At which point..."


    "Xopil nukes it from here." Astrix sounded annoyed, and understandably so since he was targetted by this very system.


    "But, I digress. The test was if you could keep from losing yourself after you became a cloud, which... you did."


    "With your help," Astrix interjected.


    "Small details," Xiara waved her hand dismissively.


    "So what happens now?" Astrix asked, while trying to hide how bored he was.


    "How this story ends is all up to you." Xiara replied, "You can take over Xopil''s position... which we hope you do."


    "And my other options?" Astrix noticed how she deliberately gave him one choice.


    "You have free choice, so obviously you have a million or more possible futures ahead of you." Xiara replied dejectedly.


    "Let''s say I wanted to take over Xopil''s position, as much as the idea makes my skin crawl, what would be required?" Astrix asked, deciding it is wiser to keep more options available than to close them.


    "You''ll engage Xopil in cloud combat." Boris spoke up, "You''ll fight with Xopil until one of you completely absorbs the other. If Xopil wins, well... not much will change for him, but you will cease to exist, removed from the cycle of reincarnation. If you win, you''ll inherit his job, his abilities, his strengths... his memories, and he will cease to exist for a time."


    "For a time?" Astrix asked for clarification.


    "Xopil''s rebirth can''t be stopped. So you''ll be a temporary replacement allowing him a reprieve. But the biggest boon you''ll give him, is taking his vast amount of memories. Once they are yours, he will forget them, until he has lived through the experience again."


    "You make that sound inevitable." Astrix stated.


    "You try living through an era of infinity and let me know if you can avoid doing something, anything. Especially after your boredom rises to the point you go seeking something new to experience."


    "I... I see..." Astrix was taken aback.


    The three sat in silence eating cookies and drinking their assorted beverages for a time. Muffled sounds and noises started coming from the storage closet.


    "He''s awake." Boris cringed, but it''s not like he didn''t know this would happen. Xiara gave him a pitying look. Astrix looked at him humorously. Boris snapped his fingers and Xopil materialized in the room.


    "A straightjacket that works on clouds, that thing is just absurd." Xopil complained as he took a seat and a cookie.


    "A cloud that maintains balance over the universe is absurd." Astrix stated.


    "Tell it to the gods," Xopil said in agreement as he ate his cookie, "Or the author. That might get you further since he''s the one writing the story."


    "Give me back my cookie!" Xopil yelled when his cookie vanished. "That''s really low, removing the cookie that I already ate too!"


    "That''s what you get," laughed Astrix, then he turned serious, "did I have a life ahead of me before you intervened in my family?"


    "It''s hard to say ''yes'' at this point, when that god died, you should have been affected by the history snapping back into place, and yet you weren''t." Xopil said while scratching his chin.


    "What if that''s because there''s another will affecting me still?" Astrix asked.


    "You are referring to me?" Xopil replied, "I suppose that''s possible. Are you planning on killing me? I wish you luck and hope you succeed."


    The atmosphere in the room turned cold as a vortex with a black core appeared.


    "What are you doing?" Xiara asked, clearly shaken.


    "His best." Xopil grinned as he handed a sword to Astrix, "Let me help."


    The look in Astrix''s eyes turned into confusion as he took the sword from the man he was about to kill in the past.


    "You won''t scratch me without that." Xopil explained, "Unless you were planning to absorb me?"


    "...Thanks." Astrix turned his attention towards the core of the vortex, the color changing from black to gold to green, yellow, orange, blue, finally stopping on a color outside the visible spectrum. Astrix gasped as he looked back along the strand of time to Xopil''s origin.


    "It''s a long time isn''t it?" Xopil laughed lightly, as he also looked along the timeline, "Keep going, you''re just getting started."


    "At this speed and I''m only getting started..." Astrix pushed harder into the core, until the diamond surrounding the time window turned into a shard of every visible color interspersed with the invisible spectrum. But it was only when the colors started spinning around the core that it created a truly dazzling sight.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.


    Xopil watched on slightly amused. "Xiara, how old am I?"


    "Your age carries 500 digits, no one here can comprehend a number that large." Xiara replied.


    Astrix started sweating when he heard that. But, Xopil encouraged him, "Don''t despair... the journey of a thousand miles begins with but a single step, and you''re already well on your way."


    "Why are you so nonchalant about me killing you?" Astrix asked.


    "I''m curious if you can, for one. Dying at my origin would be a new experience for me so you''ve piqued my curiousity there. And my death means literally nothing in the grand scheme of things with how quickly I''ll be reborn with my memories intact."


    ...How can he be so calm about the whole thing? Astrix asked himself.


    "I''d like to stay and watch, but even at your current pace gonna be a while and I can feel my presence needed elsewhere." Xopil stated as he grabbed a cookie and left the room.


    "Is this okay?" Xiara asked Boris.


    "Just one of many paths to the future I suppose," Boris replied, "Good luck Astrix... and don''t give up. Also, I don''t want to interrupt you or anything but you''ll be at it for about a year to get far enough back in time."


    "A full year of tracing back on this time line..." Astrix thought it was a fool''s errand, "Wait... I''ve caught glimpses of Xopil dying several times now... and always..."


    "Boris?" Astrix called out, "Every time Xopil dies, it''s at your hand?"


    "Quite right." replied Boris, "I''m his creator and executioner. I''ve killed him more times than I care to remember though."


    "That... makes you a god though?" Astrix was starting to lose focus on the vortex.


    "Not so loud!" Boris responded, "It''s a secret!"


    "I''m so confused. I''m just going to stop thinking now." Astrix turned his attention back to the vortex.


    One year passes


    <hr>


    Xiara places a card down on the table, "I win."


    Astrix and Boris look at eachother, stretch and stand up.


    "How did I end up doing this again?" Xopil asked as he pushed the vortex to his time of origin.


    "That doesn''t matter, you''re almost there right?" Astrix asked.


    "...Yeah, the final leg as it were." Xopil replied as the core turned gold in color. "And done...wait what''s this? Boris?"


    "Welp, no point hiding it any more. I am your father." Boris said with a smile.


    "That''s... pretty unsettling." Xopil replied with a shrug.


    "You don''t care at all." Boris retorted, "But then, I did make you emotionless on purpose."


    "I want to know something," Xiara interrupted, "He''s been complaining all this time about having done everything and not having anything new to do. You could have just modified him not to keep his memory."


    "Everybody needs a flaw." Boris stated with a shrug.


    "What''s yours?" Xiara asked.


    "Being too perfect." Boris replied.


    "Someone is full of himself." Xopil laughed.


    "Where''s Astrix anyway shouldn''t he go in?" Boris asked.


    "Oh he jumped into the core as soon as it turned gold." Xopil replied, "Seems that you''re in there giving him a hard time."


    "Kinda surreal, watching yourself get stabbed isn''t it?" Boris asked as he watched himself fighting with Astrix. "I''m kinda regretting that I let him find out I''m a god now."


    "Relax I''m his target, not you." Xopil said.


    "Oh right... I should just back off and let him kill you. Too bad I can''t tell myself that." Boris stated as he watched himself take a sword slash across his chest. "I always wondered how I got that scar."


    "You have no memory of fighting with Astrix?" asked Xiara.


    "Only now as it''s happening. It''s a strange feeling, the memory is forming right now, but my body has known all this time, I''m riddled with scars from this fight. So why don''t I remember since I''ve lived it?"


    "Maybe a higher power has sealed your memory of the event?" Xiara asked.


    "Or... that move right there where he buried his sword in your head... that could do it." Xopil said flatly.


    "Thanks, Captain Obvious." Boris replied to Xopil as he watched Astrix turn away from his slumped form indifferently. Then he asked, "How does it feel knowing you''ve created the instrument of your own destruction?"


    "It''s a bit thrilling actually." Xopil answered honestly.


    "Oh right, you''re all about new experiences." Boris shook his head, "I should have made you fear death."


    "You can''t fear something that has no hold over you." Xopil replied as he watched Astrix stab his newborn self in the past.


    "Brace yourselves," Boris said, expecting a whirlwind of change to take place, but nothing happened.


    <hr>


    Astrix frowned when he saw that his actions brought no changes. "I''d hoped this would be the end. I expected to get whisked away into time. Why?! Why isn''t it over?!" Astrix yelled. He was about to leave through the vortex that brought him here.


    "You can''t," Boris said as he forcefully closed the time portal. "You have to bring the guardian of balance to life. It''s why you''re here."


    "Start making sense." Astrix crossed his arms over his chest.


    "You saw him. My son is dead, murdered by my fellow gods. It was an elaborate plan that could have gone wrong so many times, but against all odds, you''re here now. Please, help my son recover his life."


    "Not interested. I''m out of here." Astrix turned to leave.


    "You wouldn''t have been born without him," Boris was getting desperate, "If you don''t help him, there''s no point in giving you life, and we''ll just make another."


    "What does Xopil do that''s so important?" Astrix asked, "I know he maintains a balance, but what does that balance do?"


    "Without it, there is no peaceful existence here. War would reign supreme as higher beings would fight for control. Anything that enters the universe needs to be counterbalanced or face destruction. Since the gods have no equals, even when they oppose eachother, they can''t exist here."


    Astrix reverted his body to his light blue cloud. "I don''t want to do this... but there''s a higher purpose to be served here."


    Astrix absorbed the body of Xopil. The light blue cloud shifted through a series of colors as the absorption progressed, finally settling on off-white.


    "Good... morning... Xopil..." Boris said between breaths as he limped over to the cloud.


    The cloud pulsed in response as the cloud''s color reverted to light blue.


    "Xopil?" Boris asked.


    "No. I''m not Xopil." the cloud replied.


    "Astrix? I don''t understand..."


    "You did a good job, you nurtured a strong sense of duty in me... however," Astrix threw the body of Xopil at Boris, "I had made a decision to live for myself and sacrificing myself goes against that. If the universe requires a guardian, it will create one."


    Astrix was absorbed into time as history corrected itself once more.


    <hr>


    "Good morning, Prince Wragnaith." A maid greeted the young man as his eyes opened.


    "Good morning Minerva." he replied without thinking.


    "You sound tired, Your Highness. Did you have trouble sleeping?" Minerva asked.


    "If only you knew." the prince replied as he sat up.


    "Minerva," the prince rose to his feet.


    "Yes, Your Highness?"


    "Come closer."


    Minerva did as she was bid, standing in front of the young man. He stared deeply into her blue eyes.


    "Your Highness?" she asked with a light blush on her cheeks.


    "What''s my first name?" he asked.


    "Alander." she replied. Overjoyed, the young man grabbed the maid by the wrist and twirled her around. He pulled her into his embrace and hugged her lightly for several minutes elevating the blush on her cheeks.


    "I''m home." he said happily as he suddenly squeezed her tightly.


    "Welcome... home?" she was confused, he''d not been travelling recently. "Are you all right Your Highness?"


    "I am now," he replied as he released her, "and... sorry if I was out of line."


    "Oh no... Your Highness, I.. I didn''t mind it." Minerva stuttered, You can do that all you like.


    "What is my schedule looking like today?" Alander asked as he started taking off his sleepwear.


    "Your morning is free, this afternoon will be your long awaited coronation ceremony..."


    <hr>


    The End.