《Life Weaver》 Prologue: The Shattering of a World The void stirred. Deep within the formless expanse, where existence had yet to take shape, something new was coming into being. A world was forming. Swirls of cosmic energy spiraled and wove together, feeding the delicate process of creation. This was a place untouched by time, where the universe itself whispered a new reality into existence. It was a sacred process, governed by forces beyond mortal comprehension. And yet¡ªsomeone was here. A lone figure stood at the precipice of this celestial birth, an intruder in a place where no being should exist. He hovered at the edge of the forming core, watching the weaving strands of energy with tired, knowing eyes. He had not come to witness creation. He had come to steal from it. A sharp inhale. His fingers twitched, his breath uneven. His body was failing, unraveling at the edges. This was no ordinary theft. This was an act of defiance. His hand reached toward the forming world¡¯s heart. The response was instant. A violent pulse of rejection exploded outward, sending a deafening shockwave through the void. The forming world resisted, pushing him back with the full force of its unyielding will. Pain lanced through his chest as an unseen force slammed into him, throwing him backward. He spun through the emptiness, gasping. A cough. A grimace. His hand clutched at his ribs as he steadied himself.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. "Damn it," he muttered. The world was rejecting him. Of course it was. He exhaled sharply. He had expected this. But time was running out. His body was deteriorating. He was barely holding himself together. If he failed here¡ªthere would be no second chance. Gritting his teeth, he shifted his approach. If brute force wasn¡¯t enough, then he would break the flow instead. He raised a hand¡ªnot to crush, but to disrupt. The forming world thrived on balance. Creation energy spiraled in harmony, stabilizing its birth. And so¡ªhe shattered that harmony. A single, precise pull. The foundation fractured. A deep, violent tremor surged through the void. The core buckled. And then¡ªthe world collapsed. The luminous heart of the forming realm shattered into cosmic dust. The light that had once spiraled with purpose imploded, spiraling into nothingness. And from the ruin¡ªit emerged. A crystalline artifact, brilliant and untouched, floated amidst the wreckage¡ªa Treasure of the Universe, unclaimed and unbound. His breath hitched. He lunged. The moment his fingers brushed its surface, an unbearable pulse of rejection shot through his body. A scream tore through his mind. His very essence burned. His grip faltered. It refused him. His vision blurred. His limbs trembled. And yet¡ªhe refused to let go. Tendrils of his own energy lashed outward, anchoring him to the artifact¡ªnot forcing it into submission, but binding himself to it. This was no ordinary theft. This was a claim. A binding. The artifact pulsed again, resisting, pushing back, testing him. Pain. Heat. A silent war between man and object. And then¡ªit stopped. The balance of existence wavered. Something shifted. He had it. But the moment of triumph was brief¡ªbecause he was no longer alone. From the fractured veil of reality, they arrived. Entities of balance. Cosmic enforcers. Guardians of creation. They did not speak. They did not threaten. They simply watched. Waiting. His jaw clenched. He had no time. The tear in existence¡ªthe wound in reality, still raw from the world¡¯s destruction¡ªremained open behind him. It was unstable. It would not stay open for long. With one last glance at the silent watchers, he turned. And then¡ªhe stepped through the rift. The wound sealed behind him. And the void where a world should have been was left empty, swallowed by silence. Chapter 1: The Weight of Helplessness The scent of antiseptic and sterile air clung to Ethan¡¯s lungs, thick and suffocating. He sat hunched forward in a stiff plastic chair, elbows on his knees, head in his hands. His pulse was a steady, hammering beat in his ears. He should have been in there with her. But instead, he was stuck in this goddamn waiting room, staring at the clock as if time would spit out an answer. The fluorescent lights above buzzed faintly. The sounds of quiet conversations and distant footsteps barely registered. Everything was muted¡ªlike the whole world had tilted just slightly, like something was off its axis. Like she wasn¡¯t supposed to be in there. Ethan squeezed his eyes shut, inhaling deeply through his nose. This wasn¡¯t real. It couldn¡¯t be real.
¡°Ethan Voss, you absolute liar.¡± Eve¡¯s voice rang out over the soft chatter of the caf¨¦, playful and accusatory all at once. Ethan smirked over the rim of his coffee cup. ¡°I have no idea what you¡¯re talking about.¡± Her eyes narrowed, suspicious. ¡°Oh? So you¡¯re saying you didn¡¯t just tell your students that I was the one who canceled class last week?¡± ¡°I would never slander your good name like that.¡± Eve scoffed. ¡°Oh, please. Steven from my 9 AM section had the audacity to say ¡®thanks for the extra weekend, Dr. Hart.¡¯¡± She leaned forward, pointing a finger at him. ¡°You owe me an apology, you jerk.¡± Ethan grinned, resting his chin on one hand. ¡°I think I recall mentioning that we¡ªmeaning both of us¡ªmutually decided to give them an extra day.¡± ¡°Lies.¡± ¡°Selective memory.¡± Eve huffed and crossed her arms. ¡°You¡¯re the worst.¡± Ethan chuckled, watching the way the corner of her lips twitched upward despite herself. He had known her for years, and he knew that look. She wasn¡¯t actually mad. She was messing with him. And God, he loved it. Loved this. The banter, the easy back and forth, the fact that he could always make her smirk, even when she pretended not to. The moment stretched just a little longer. Neither of them said anything. And then¡ª Eve rolled her eyes. ¡°Ugh. I hate that look.¡± Ethan blinked, startled. ¡°What look?¡± ¡°That stupid, smug ¡®oh, I¡¯m Ethan, and I just won an argument without trying¡¯ face.¡± He couldn¡¯t help it¡ªhe laughed. ¡°I don¡¯t sound like that.¡± ¡°You do. It¡¯s insufferable.¡± Ethan took a long sip of coffee, smirking against the rim. ¡°I¡¯ll work on it.¡± Eve shook her head, but she was smiling. They always had moments like this. Little exchanges, little conversations that felt like they meant nothing but somehow meant everything. And if he had known¡ª If he had known that was the last normal moment they would have¡ª He would have held onto it longer.
Ethan¡¯s fingers clenched around his knees. The smell of coffee was gone. Replaced with disinfectant and cold air. She was in there. She was in there, and no one could tell him why. His breath came shakier now, shoulders rising and falling too quickly. He had to do something. Anything. The sound of footsteps made him jerk upright. Dr. Mercer had appeared, his white coat slightly wrinkled, his expression neutral¡ªbut something in his eyes wasn¡¯t. Ethan¡¯s pulse spiked as he shot up from his seat. ¡°Is she¡ª¡± ¡°She¡¯s alive.¡± The words should have been a relief. They weren¡¯t. Because Dr. Mercer¡¯s tone wasn¡¯t reassuring. Ethan¡¯s stomach sank. ¡°¡­But?¡± Dr. Mercer sighed, rubbing a hand over his face before motioning toward a quieter part of the waiting room. ¡°We need to talk.¡± Ethan followed, his legs feeling like they weren¡¯t fully attached to him. Dr. Mercer flipped open a file and exhaled slowly. ¡°We ran every initial test we could,¡± he said, his voice measured. ¡°Bloodwork, MRI, toxicology. We even tested for rare infections and neurological disorders.¡± Ethan¡¯s fingers curled into fists. ¡°And?¡± Dr. Mercer met his gaze. "Nothing." Silence. Ethan felt his chest tighten. ¡°What do you mean nothing?¡± ¡°No trauma. No toxins. No diseases. Her organs, her heart¡ªeverything should be functioning. But instead¡­¡± He hesitated. Ethan leaned forward, voice sharp. ¡°Instead what?¡± Dr. Mercer¡¯s face was unreadable. ¡°¡­Her body is shutting down.¡± The words hit like a freight train. Ethan¡¯s pulse roared in his ears. ¡°What?!¡± Dr. Mercer inhaled deeply. ¡°It¡¯s as if¡­ she¡¯s at the end of her lifespan.¡± The world tilted. Ethan took a step back, his throat tight. ¡°That¡¯s impossible.¡± Dr. Mercer nodded grimly. ¡°I agree.¡± His voice was calm. Too calm. It made Ethan feel like the floor beneath him was breaking apart. ¡°She¡¯s thirty-two. You don¡¯t just¡ªjust¡ª¡± Ethan gritted his teeth, unable to even finish the sentence. ¡°I know,¡± Mercer said. ¡°That¡¯s what makes this so strange.¡± A deep, horrible feeling coiled in Ethan¡¯s gut. None of this made sense. He needed answers. Now. Ethan¡¯s heartbeat pounded against his ribs. The words echoed in his skull, repeating over and over in Dr. Mercer¡¯s calm, detached voice. "It¡¯s as if¡­ she¡¯s at the end of her lifespan." "Her body is shutting down." "There is no medical explanation." Ethan sat rigid, hands clenched into tight fists. This was bullshit. This was utter bullshit. Eve wasn¡¯t some dying old woman. She wasn¡¯t sick. She wasn¡¯t weak. And yet¡ª There she was. Hooked up to machines. Fading. Ethan¡¯s throat felt tight. His nails dug into his palms. He didn¡¯t even notice the trembling in his fingers until Dr. Mercer spoke again. ¡°We¡¯ll continue running tests,¡± Dr. Mercer said. ¡°But Ethan¡­ I need you to prepare yourself for the possibility that we may not find an answer.¡± Ethan¡¯s head snapped up. ¡°No.¡± Dr. Mercer blinked. ¡°Ethan¡ª¡± ¡°No,¡± he snapped, voice sharp, barely restrained. ¡°You¡¯re the damn doctor. You¡¯re supposed to know how to fix this.¡± ¡°We¡¯re doing everything we¡ª¡± ¡°Then do more!¡± His voice echoed through the waiting room. A few passing nurses glanced over, but Ethan didn¡¯t care. Mercer exhaled sharply, rubbing the bridge of his nose. ¡°I know this is difficult, but there is nothing¡ªnothing¡ªindicating an external cause. If I had any other explanation, I¡¯d tell you. But right now, we have to¡ª¡± ¡°¡ªwhat? Wait for her to just slip away?!¡± Ethan¡¯s voice cracked. ¡°That¡¯s your plan? Just¡ªjust watch her¡ª¡± His chest heaved. His fingernails dug into his palms, leaving crescent-shaped marks. Dr. Mercer¡¯s face was calm, but his eyes softened slightly. ¡°I understand how you feel.¡± Ethan laughed, sharp and humorless. ¡°No. You don¡¯t.¡± The doctor sighed. ¡°I¡¯ll let you know the moment we have something.¡± He closed the file, gave Ethan one last unreadable glance, then stood and walked away. Ethan¡¯s legs felt numb. His hands were still shaking. This isn¡¯t happening. It can¡¯t be happening. His vision blurred as he buried his face in his hands. Eve wasn¡¯t dying. She wasn¡¯t. But the machines said otherwise.
"Tell me something." Ethan looked up from his laptop, blinking at Eve as she swirled her drink absentmindedly. ¡°Yeah?¡± Eve leaned her cheek against her palm, watching him with that look. The one where she was thinking about something way too deeply. "If you only had a year left to live¡­ would you want to know?" The question came out too casually. Ethan frowned. ¡°Where the hell did that come from?¡± Eve chuckled, shaking her head. ¡°A student essay, actually. One of those ¡®if you knew when you¡¯d die¡¯ thought experiments.¡± Ethan leaned back, eyeing her. ¡°¡­And?¡± She shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t know. I think I¡¯d rather not know. Feels like it¡¯d ruin everything.¡± Ethan hummed, tilting his head. ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯d mind.¡± Eve raised a brow. ¡°Oh?¡± ¡°I mean, I¡¯d do things differently, right? I¡¯d make sure the people I care about know how I feel.¡± The words left his mouth before he could think about them. Eve stilled for half a second, then looked away with a small half-smile. ¡°¡­That¡¯s kind of nice,¡± she murmured. Ethan watched her carefully, but she didn¡¯t say anything else. If he¡¯d known¡ª If he had known she¡¯d be lying in a hospital bed, slipping away without an answer¡ª He would have told her then. He wouldn¡¯t have wasted time.
Ethan stood. His movements felt stiff, robotic, like his body had decided for him before his mind could catch up. He needed to do something. Anything. If the doctors couldn¡¯t explain it, then maybe there was something they missed.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. Maybe it had something to do with where she collapsed. He turned toward the exit. He was going back to the last place she was okay.
The night air was colder than before. Or maybe it just felt that way. Ethan stood in the empty parking lot, hands shoved into his jacket pockets, breath visible in the cold air. This was it. This was the place where he found her. And nothing looked out of place. The pavement was still cracked in the same places. The streetlights hummed softly above, casting long shadows. A few leaves drifted across the lot, caught in the faint wind. He dragged a shaky hand through his hair. What the hell was he even looking for? It wasn¡¯t like he expected some magical clue waiting for him. But something in his gut told him he was missing something. He glanced at the spot where he had found her. Right there. She had been standing right there. And then she had just¡­ collapsed. His fists tightened. ¡°Eve¡­¡± His voice came out hoarse. Nothing. Just the wind. Ethan exhaled sharply. He turned, shoving his hands deeper into his pockets, ready to leave¡ª Then¡ªit happened. A strange pull wrapped around him¡ªweightless, invisible, unnatural. His feet froze in place. Then¡ª CRACK. The sound wasn¡¯t a noise. It was a sensation. Like something had fractured in the air itself. Ethan¡¯s pulse spiked as his body snapped toward the source. A hairline fracture hovered in the air. Thin. Small. Almost invisible. But it was there. It quivered, like a breath had been sucked inward. Ethan staggered back, heart slamming. The space around it rippled, distorting the air like heat rising off pavement. And then¡ª Something stepped through. The air tightened, like the world itself was holding its breath. His heart pounded against his ribs. His fists clenched at his sides. This was real. The man who had stepped through the fracture stood still, chest rising and falling unevenly. His stance was firm, but there was a slight tremble in his shoulders¡ªlike someone struggling to stay upright. Ethan¡¯s instincts screamed at him. Something was wrong with this guy. The world itself didn¡¯t seem to want him here. The faintest shimmer pulsed around him before fading¡ªlike static, like something rejecting his presence. His breath came slow, controlled¡ªbut not effortless. Ethan tensed. This man was in no condition to fight. Which meant he wasn¡¯t here to attack. But that didn¡¯t mean he wasn¡¯t dangerous. And Ethan was done with people showing up unannounced. His emotions were boiling over. And his patience was gone. ¡°Did you do this?¡± The man¡¯s golden eyes lifted to him. For a moment, he didn¡¯t answer. His gaze flickered¡ªsharp, assessing. Ethan saw the exhaustion there now. The tension in his jaw. The way he inhaled deeply, like someone trying to regain control of something slipping through their fingers. ¡°¡­Excuse me?¡± His voice was controlled, but there was something underneath it¡ªstrain. Ethan stepped forward, heat rising in his chest. ¡°Eve,¡± he bit out. ¡°She¡¯s dying in a hospital bed right now. No injuries. No reason. Her body just¡ªshut down.¡± His fists tightened. His breath was uneven. His throat felt tight, raw, suffocating. ¡°Was it you?¡± Silence. The man didn¡¯t react¡ªnot like Ethan expected. He didn¡¯t deny it. He didn¡¯t get defensive. Instead¡ªhis brow furrowed slightly. And that? That made Ethan¡¯s stomach twist. Because it wasn¡¯t guilt. It was calculation. Like something wasn¡¯t adding up. Like Ethan had just said something that hadn¡¯t been part of the plan. The man exhaled sharply. Not frustrated¡ªforced composure. ¡°Where is she now?¡± His voice wasn¡¯t gentle. It wasn¡¯t soft. It was demanding. Ethan¡¯s anger spiked. ¡°You don¡¯t get to ask questions! You tell me what the hell is happening to her¡ªnow.¡± The man stiffened. His golden eyes darkened. ¡°Then we are at an impasse.¡± Ethan¡¯s chest heaved. He wanted to grab him by the collar, shake the damn answers out of him. But the man looked just as tense¡ªjust as desperate. This wasn¡¯t just about Eve. This guy¡ªwhoever the hell he was¡ªwas looking for something. For someone. And Ethan could see it written all over his face. ¡°Then let¡¯s make this simple,¡± Ethan hissed, stepping even closer, his hands still balled into fists. ¡°Who the hell are you?¡± The man exhaled slowly. Something in his posture shifted. ¡°¡­Orin Valtheris.¡± Ethan swallowed. His throat felt dry. Something about that name settled inside him like a stone. ¡°¡­Ethan Voss.¡± Orin nodded once. Then¡ªsofter, but still urgent¡ªhe said: ¡°Tell me everything.¡± The silence between them felt thick, almost suffocating. Ethan¡¯s breath was ragged, his chest rising and falling too fast. Orin wasn¡¯t speaking fast enough. And every second he took to process whatever the hell was going on was another second Ethan felt like punching something. Eve was dying. And this man¡ªwho had literally stepped out of nowhere¡ªhad yet to give him a reason not to think he was involved. Ethan gritted his teeth, forcing the heat in his chest down. ¡°¡­You first.¡± Orin finally exhaled, his golden eyes flickering toward the empty lot behind Ethan before shifting back to him. ¡°I was tracking something,¡± Orin said, his voice steady now. ¡°Something that should never have been able to reach this world. The trace led me here.¡± Ethan¡¯s patience snapped. ¡°What the hell does that mean?¡± Orin didn¡¯t answer immediately. Instead, his fingers twitched slightly at his side before he raised a hand. The air around them shuddered. Ethan stiffened, a strange pressure brushing against his skin¡ªthere but not there, like something unseen had shifted around them. Then¡ªit vanished. Orin¡¯s fingers flexed slightly, his gaze darkening. ¡°There was a disturbance here,¡± he muttered under his breath. Ethan¡¯s jaw locked. ¡°No shit,¡± he snapped. ¡°Something happened here. Eve collapsed. And you? You showed up out of nowhere. So start explaining.¡± Orin finally met his gaze fully. Then¡ªwith quiet certainty¡ª ¡°She was drained.¡± Ethan froze. His chest tightened. His breath caught, like someone had just shoved a knife under his ribs. Drained. Drained of what? Orin exhaled, the weight of his own words sinking in. ¡°It needed energy to survive,¡± he said, his tone measured, controlled. ¡°She was there. It took what it could.¡± Ethan¡¯s stomach twisted. The air felt too thin. ¡°You¡¯re saying¡ª¡± His throat felt tight. ¡°She was just¡­ a source to that thing?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Ethan¡¯s hands shook. Everything inside him screamed to reject it. Eve wasn¡¯t just some random fuel source. She was real. She was kind. She was brilliant. She was supposed to have her whole goddamn life ahead of her. And now some thing had stolen that from her? His breath came faster, sharper. His vision blurred with rage. ¡°¡­So that¡¯s it?¡± he muttered, voice laced with something dangerously close to violence. ¡°She was just there, and it took what it wanted?¡± Orin held his gaze. ¡°Yes.¡± Ethan let out a sharp, bitter laugh. His fingers ached from how hard he was clenching his fists. ¡°That¡¯s just fucking great,¡± he hissed. ¡°So she¡¯s dying because she was in the wrong place at the wrong time?¡± Orin¡¯s golden eyes darkened. ¡°No.¡± Ethan¡¯s head snapped up. Orin¡¯s voice was lower now, calmer¡ªbut heavier. ¡°It wasn¡¯t random,¡± he said. ¡°It was desperate.¡± Ethan¡¯s pulse spiked. ¡°What?¡± Orin inhaled deeply, rolling his fingers absently¡ªlike someone replaying the sequence of events in his mind. ¡°It must have been wounded,¡± Orin said. ¡°Weaker than I expected. It should not have needed to feed so soon.¡± His gaze flickered, distant for half a second. ¡°That means it¡¯s unstable.¡± Ethan¡¯s breath hitched. His body felt cold. His fists tightened again, shaking slightly. None of this made sense. None of it. And yet¡ª His gut was screaming that every word was true. His voice came out raw. Hollow. ¡°¡­It needed her life force?¡± Orin¡¯s golden gaze held his. ¡°Yes.¡± Ethan¡¯s hands shook harder. Because that meant Eve wasn¡¯t just hurt. She was dying. Because something stole the very thing keeping her alive. Ethan¡¯s heart pounded against his ribs. His throat felt tight. And he wasn¡¯t sure if he wanted to scream or break something. But one thing was certain. He needed to know how to stop this. He needed to know how to fix this. His hands clenched into fists as he glared at Orin, his anger sharp as a blade. ¡°Tell me how to bring her back.¡± He had demanded an answer. And now, as Orin stared at him, golden eyes unreadable, something about the weight in his silence made Ethan¡¯s stomach tighten. There was an answer. But it wasn¡¯t going to be easy. Orin finally exhaled. ¡°You don¡¯t understand what you¡¯re asking.¡± Ethan¡¯s patience snapped. ¡°Then make me understand.¡± Orin¡¯s expression remained calm¡ªbut heavy. The kind of look someone wore when they knew the next words they spoke would change everything. ¡°She¡¯s alive,¡± Orin said. ¡°But she won¡¯t be for long.¡± Ethan¡¯s fists tightened. ¡°I know that.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t,¡± Orin countered, his voice sharper now. ¡°Her body is barely holding on. If nothing is done, she will fade, and nothing in this world will be able to stop it.¡± Ethan¡¯s stomach twisted. He already knew that. Every second that passed was another second closer to losing her. He inhaled sharply, forcing himself to focus. ¡°Then tell me how to fix it.¡± Orin hesitated. Not because he didn¡¯t have an answer¡ªbut because he wasn¡¯t sure if Ethan was ready to hear it. And that hesitation? That made Ethan¡¯s blood boil. ¡°You don¡¯t get to hesitate now,¡± Ethan snarled. His voice was hoarse, raw. ¡°You don¡¯t get to stand there acting like this is just some theory to you.¡± His throat was dry. His breath was shaking. ¡°I don¡¯t care what it takes. I don¡¯t care what I have to do.¡± His voice dropped lower, shaking, but steady. ¡°I will give anything to bring her back.¡± Orin¡¯s gaze darkened. And then¡ªhe spoke. ¡°You can¡¯t save her from here.¡± Ethan¡¯s breath caught. Orin continued, voice steady. ¡°Earth can¡¯t sustain her for long. Not in that condition. No medicine, no treatment here will stop what¡¯s happening to her.¡± He inhaled slowly. ¡°But there is something in my world that can.¡± Ethan¡¯s heart slammed against his ribs. Orin¡¯s golden gaze locked onto his, unwavering. ¡°You need to leave this world.¡± Silence. Ethan¡¯s fingers twitched. ¡°¡­What?¡± ¡°You heard me,¡± Orin said. ¡°If you want to save her, you have to leave Earth. You have to go where the cure exists.¡± Ethan¡¯s chest tightened. But before he could speak, Orin¡¯s voice cut deeper. ¡°And if you do¡ª¡± A pause. A long, heavy pause. ¡°Ethan Voss will cease to exist.¡± The world lurched. Ethan¡¯s breath hitched. ¡°What¡­?¡± His voice came out quieter than he wanted. Orin¡¯s expression was unreadable. ¡°You will disappear from this world,¡± he said evenly. ¡°No one will remember you. It will be as if you never existed.¡± Ethan¡¯s stomach twisted violently. He staggered back. ¡°What the hell are you talking about?¡± ¡°The laws of Earth do not permit outsiders,¡± Orin said. ¡°I am here, but I do not belong. That means the world is already trying to reject me. If I stay like this, I won¡¯t be able to act freely¡ªI won¡¯t be able to track what I came here for.¡± His golden eyes flickered. ¡°But if I take your place¡­¡± Ethan¡¯s breath hitched. ¡°¡­What?¡± Orin¡¯s tone didn¡¯t waver. "And in exchange," Orin said quietly, "I give up my own. My name. My past. Everything that I was." Ethan barely heard his own breath. "This is not an easy trade. You give up your world. And I¡­ will no longer be the man I was before." Ethan staggered back, the weight of Orin¡¯s words suffocating. ¡°No. No, that¡¯s¡ª¡± He dragged a shaky hand through his hair. ¡°That¡¯s not¡ª That¡¯s not how this works. You don¡¯t just¡ªjust erase someone.¡± But Orin didn¡¯t falter. His golden gaze remained steady, unwavering. "This world will not allow two of us. If I stay as I am, the laws will reject me. But if I take your place, I can operate freely." His voice lowered slightly. "And you¡­ will have a chance to save her." Ethan¡¯s throat tightened. Ethan¡¯s mind reeled. He had been ready to give anything to save Eve. Anything. But this¡ªthis was different. This wasn¡¯t just leaving. This was erasing himself. Gone. No memories. No traces. No second chances. The weight of it sank in, sharp and suffocating. If he agreed, the world would move on. No one would search for him. No one would even know he was missing. Except for one person. ¡°¡­You¡¯d be the only one who remembers me.¡± Orin exhaled slowly, his fingers curling slightly at his sides¡ªa rare sign of hesitation. His golden eyes flickered with something almost unreadable. Then¡ªslowly, quietly¡ªhe nodded. ¡°Yes.¡± A cold, suffocating silence settled between them. And for the first time since this nightmare started¡ª Ethan felt afraid. Not of dying. Not of losing everything. But of becoming nothing. Chapter 2: Borrowed Time The rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor cut through the suffocating stillness. Fluorescent lights cast a sterile glow over the room, making the woman beneath the white sheets seem even more fragile, as though the cold itself were trying to steal her away.. Ethan sat rigid in the chair beside Eve¡¯s bed, his hands clasped so tightly his knuckles had turned white. His breath came in slow, controlled inhales, but his heart was hammering against his ribs. She looked lifeless. Her chest barely rose and fell, the color in her skin drained. If not for the machines keeping track of her vitals, she could have been mistaken for a corpse. And he couldn¡¯t do a damn thing. Orin stood beside him, silent, his golden eyes fixed on Eve with something unreadable in his expression. He exhaled slowly, shifting slightly as if adjusting to the weight of the world itself. ¡°You said you could track what did this.¡± Ethan finally spoke, his voice low and taut. ¡°Can something be done?¡± Orin didn¡¯t answer immediately. He stared at Eve, his brows furrowing slightly, before finally speaking. ¡°Not entirely,¡± Orin said softly, a rare tremor in his voice. ¡°But... I can bring her back¡ªfor now.¡± Ethan¡¯s head snapped toward him, disbelief flashing in his eyes. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Orin¡¯s fingers curled at his sides. His voice carried an unusual weight. ¡°The damage has already been done, Ethan.¡± He turned his gaze to him, his golden irises reflecting the dim hospital lights. ¡°What was taken from her¡ªit¡¯s gone. Completely restoring her life force is impossible.¡± A hollow dread twisted through Ethan¡¯s stomach, his fingers digging into the armrest as if bracing for impact. ¡°Then¡ª¡± Ethan¡¯s voice cracked, raw with desperation, ¡°¡ªwhat the hell are you saying?¡± Orin inhaled, his gaze never breaking. ¡°I can return enough to wake her.¡± Silence. Ethan felt something inside him tighten, coil like a spring about to snap. ¡°Then do it.¡± No hesitation. No second thoughts. Orin gave a shallow nod, though tension tightened his jaw. He moved to Eve¡¯s side with deliberate care, each step weighted by the burden he was about to bear. His expression remained calm¡ªcontrolled¡ªbut Ethan noticed something else. A flicker of tension in his jaw. A deep inhale, like someone bracing for impact. Ethan almost questioned it. But before he could speak, Orin lifted a hand. And then the air shifted. Golden light sparked at Orin¡¯s fingertips, faint as a dying ember¡ªuntil it flared brighter, sending a ripple through the room, a pulse of something ancient and unspoken. Ethan¡¯s breath hitched sharply as the air thickened around him, a suffocating pressure pressing down on his chest. He could feel it¡ªsomething unseen, something ancient stirring in the room. The weight in the air. The sensation creeping against his skin, like something alive. Orin exhaled sharply, lowering his hand until his palm hovered just above Eve¡¯s chest. A soft whisper, almost too faint to hear¡ª ¡°This... will take more from me than I can afford to give.¡± The golden light sank into her. A pulse. Ethan flinched, a sharp static crackling at the edges of his perception. The heart monitor stuttered. Another pulse. Eve¡¯s fingers twitched. Ethan lunged forward, grabbing her hand. His breath hitched. ¡°Eve?!¡± Then¡ªher breathing hitched. Her lashes fluttered, a fragile spark of life. Then, finally¡ªblessedly¡ªher eyes opened. Ethan felt something inside him shatter. He had been holding his breath without realizing it. The flood of emotions slammed into him¡ªrelief, disbelief, something dangerously close to fear. But most of all¡ªhe had her back. Eve¡¯s gaze was unfocused at first, her pupils struggling to adjust to the light. Her lips parted slightly, her breath uneven. Her chest rose in a shallow inhale¡ªthen another. Then, slowly, her gaze shifted. To him. Her brows furrowed weakly. Her voice came out hoarse, barely more than a whisper. ¡°¡­Ethan?¡± His throat closed up. A million words fought to escape him, but he couldn¡¯t speak. His chest ached, his vision blurred, and before he knew it, he had both hands around hers, clutching onto her like she¡¯d disappear if he let go. ¡°Yeah,¡± Ethan whispered, voice cracking under the weight of relief. ¡°I¡¯m right here.¡± Her lips parted again, as if to say something. But no words came. She looked exhausted. Weak. Confused. But she was alive. Ethan¡¯s hands trembled around hers. He tried to steady them, tried to keep his voice level, but his emotions crashed over him in waves. He had almost lost her. Eve swallowed, her throat dry. She blinked at him, still trying to ground herself. ¡°¡­What¡­ happened?¡± Ethan opened his mouth¡ªbut no words came. Because he didn¡¯t know how to explain it. She exhaled weakly, confusion flickering across her features. Her eyes flickered between Ethan and Orin. ¡°¡­Why do I feel so¡­ strange?¡± Ethan¡¯s pulse spiked. He turned, as if to find the answer behind him. Orin stood still, his shoulders slightly tenser than before. His breathing was measured, but something had changed. Ethan¡¯s gaze narrowed slightly. ¡°That¡­ took something out of you, didn¡¯t it?¡±If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Orin exhaled, his fingers curling slightly before he forced them into a fist. ¡°¡­It¡¯s nothing.¡± Ethan wasn¡¯t blind. He saw it¡ªthe exhaustion etched into Orin¡¯s frame, the unspoken toll behind his guarded eyes. Orin had done something impossible. He had pulled Eve back from the edge. And it hadn¡¯t been free. Ethan turned back to Eve, swallowing past the lump in his throat. He forced a small, unsteady smile. ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± he said quietly. ¡°You¡¯re okay.¡± She didn¡¯t look convinced. But she was too weak to question it. The tension in her body eased slightly. Her eyes fluttered shut for half a second before blinking back open. Ethan exhaled shakily, squeezing her hand once more. He wouldn¡¯t let her slip away again. Ethan sat beside Eve¡¯s hospital bed, fingers curled into his jeans as he watched her breathe. Her chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm, something so simple¡ªso normal¡ªbut after everything that had happened, he couldn¡¯t stop watching. She was awake. And yet, he still couldn¡¯t shake the knot in his stomach. Dr. Mercer flipped through his notes, his expression unreadable. ¡°Your vitals are stable. No signs of lingering distress, no abnormalities in your scans.¡± His voice was calm, clinical. But there was something off in his eyes. Ethan had seen that look before¡ªa man who didn¡¯t have an answer but refused to say it out loud. ¡°You seem fine,¡± Mercer continued, ¡°but to be blunt, this doesn¡¯t make sense.¡± Eve frowned. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Mercer exhaled slowly. ¡°We ran every test available when you were admitted. You had no external injuries, no infections, no medical history that would indicate sudden organ failure.¡± He paused, flipping back through the pages as if expecting a different answer to appear. ¡°Yet your body was shutting down¡ªas if you had reached the end of your natural lifespan.¡± A silence stretched in the room. Ethan¡¯s grip on his knees tightened. Mercer set the file aside, folding his arms. ¡°And now, hours later, you¡¯re sitting up and talking as if nothing happened.¡± He glanced at her, voice even but measured. ¡°Can you explain that?¡± Eve blinked, caught off guard. ¡°I¡ª¡± She hesitated. ¡°No?¡± Mercer studied her, then sighed. ¡°Did you experience anything strange before collapsing? Any dizziness, numbness, flashes of light? Anything at all?¡± Eve¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°No¡­ I don¡¯t remember anything. I was just waiting for Ethan, and then¡­¡± She shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s blank.¡± Ethan clenched his jaw. She didn¡¯t remember. Mercer ran a hand over his face. ¡°I¡¯ll be honest. If I didn¡¯t see it for myself, I¡¯d call it impossible. But right now, there¡¯s no medical reason to keep you here.¡± His gaze lingered on her, his frown deepening. ¡°Still, I¡¯d advise taking it easy for the next few days. If you feel anything off¡ªeven if it seems minor¡ªcome back immediately.¡± Eve nodded slowly. ¡°Right. Understood.¡± Mercer exhaled, tapping his pen against the clipboard. He seemed to hesitate, as if weighing his next words, before simply giving Ethan a brief glance. Then, with a nod, he left the room. As the door clicked shut behind him, an uneasy silence settled between the three of them. Ethan turned to Eve. ¡°You sure you feel okay?¡± Eve gave him a small, tired smile. ¡°You¡¯re looking at me like I cheated death.¡± Ethan didn¡¯t answer. Because she did. Eve¡¯s eyes flickered to Orin, who had been silent the entire time, standing near the window, arms crossed. His golden gaze met hers, unreadable. ¡°Who¡¯s this?¡± she asked curiously. Ethan hesitated. What the hell was he supposed to say? Orin finally stepped forward, his expression neutral. ¡°Orin,¡± he said simply. ¡°A friend of Ethan¡¯s.¡± Eve raised a brow at Ethan. ¡°Since when do you make new friends?¡± Ethan let out a dry chuckle. ¡°Since recently.¡± She studied Orin for another second, as if trying to place where she¡¯d seen him before. But, of course, she hadn¡¯t. She let it go, stretching slightly as she shifted her legs off the bed. Then¡ªher body swayed. Ethan was at her side instantly, hands gripping her shoulders. ¡°Eve?¡± She let out a slow breath, blinking rapidly. ¡°I¡ª¡± She frowned, pressing a hand to her chest. ¡°That was weird.¡± Ethan¡¯s stomach coiled with unease. ¡°What was?¡± ¡°I feel fine... but it¡¯s like my body isn¡¯t convinced it should be.¡± Ethan¡¯s fingers dug into her arms. Because you weren¡¯t supposed to be. His eyes darted to Orin, who stood completely still, gaze sharp as he observed Eve¡¯s movements. He knew. Ethan¡¯s jaw locked, but he didn¡¯t press it. Not here. Not yet. Eve took a slow breath, then forced a small smile. ¡°I¡¯m okay. Maybe I just stood up too fast.¡± Ethan didn¡¯t believe that. Not for a second. But before he could push, she reached out and squeezed his wrist¡ªa small, silent reassurance. ¡°Let¡¯s go home,¡± she whispered, fragile but certain¡ªpulling Ethan back from the edge, even as the weight of what lay ahead clawed at him. Ethan exhaled, steadying himself before nodding. ¡°We¡¯ll take you home,¡± he said firmly. Orin gave a small nod. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± As Ethan helped her to her feet, he caught the way Orin¡¯s gaze lingered on her¡ªwatching. Waiting. And Ethan hated that he was doing the same. This wasn¡¯t over.
The quiet hum of the car engine faded as Ethan pulled up in front of the apartment building. He glanced over at Eve, who was leaning against the window, her eyes half-lidded with exhaustion. She was awake¡ªbut barely. ¡°Hey,¡± Ethan whispered. ¡°We¡¯re here.¡± Eve blinked slowly, lifting her head. She gave a soft, tired smile. ¡°Home sweet home¡­¡± Her voice was faint, but hearing it¡ªhearing her¡ªmade Ethan¡¯s chest ache in ways he couldn¡¯t explain. ¡°Let¡¯s get you inside,¡± he said gently. Eve tried to push herself up, but her body betrayed her. Without thinking, Ethan was at her side, his arm steadying her as he helped her out of the car. She didn¡¯t protest. She just leaned into him. As they reached the entrance, Eve¡¯s lips quirked in a faint smile. ¡°You know¡­ I always thought our first time going home together would be under better circumstances.¡± Ethan chuckled softly, more out of relief than humor. ¡°Yeah, well¡­ you always did have a knack for keeping me on my toes.¡± She tilted her head toward him, eyes warm despite her exhaustion. ¡°You¡¯re still here, though.¡± His voice was almost a whisper. ¡°Yeah. I¡¯m still here.¡±
The apartment was quiet, almost too quiet. Eve glanced around, her fingers brushing the wall as if grounding herself. ¡°This feels¡­ strange,¡± she murmured. Ethan shot her a concerned look. ¡°Strange how?¡± ¡°Like¡­¡± She hesitated, searching for the right words. ¡°Like I¡¯m out of place in my own home.¡± Ethan¡¯s heart clenched. He didn¡¯t know what to say, so he settled for the one thing he could offer. ¡°You¡¯re home now,¡± he said softly. ¡°That¡¯s what matters.¡± Eve¡¯s lips curved into a small, grateful smile. ¡°Yeah¡­ I guess it does.¡± She turned toward her room but paused, glancing back at both Ethan and Orin. There was a flicker of uncertainty in her eyes. ¡°Make yourselves at home,¡± she said lightly, though her voice wavered at the end. Her gaze lingered on Ethan. ¡°Will you¡­ still be here when I wake up?¡± Ethan¡¯s breath hitched, but he managed a soft smile. ¡°I¡¯m not going anywhere.¡± Eve nodded faintly, her shoulders relaxing as she finally retreated into her room.
Silence hung between Ethan and Orin after Eve¡¯s door clicked shut. Ethan let out a slow breath, running a hand through his hair. He glanced at Orin, his voice quiet but firm. ¡°Okay,¡± he said. ¡°Now tell me what¡¯s really going on.¡± Orin¡¯s golden eyes met Ethan¡¯s, the usual stoic mask fractured¡ªjust enough for Ethan to glimpse the burden he carried, the truth that would change everything. For the first time, Ethan noticed a flicker of something in them¡ªsomething fragile, almost human. ¡°I gave her back what was taken,¡± Orin said evenly. ¡°But it isn¡¯t hers. It¡¯s¡­ borrowed.¡± Ethan¡¯s chest tightened. ¡°Borrowed?¡± ¡°She feels it too,¡± Orin continued. ¡°Her body knows. And¡­¡± He hesitated, then sighed. ¡°It won¡¯t last.¡± Ethan¡¯s fists clenched at his sides. ¡°How long?¡± Ethan turned away, staring at the closed door where Eve slept. Three years. Time. But not enough. He exhaled shakily, his voice barely audible. ¡°¡­Then what do I have to do?¡± Orin¡¯s golden eyes flickered in the dim light. His next words were quiet, but they carried the weight of inevitability. ¡°You already know the answer, Ethan.¡± Ethan¡¯s breath caught¡ªbecause the truth had always been there, unspoken but undeniable. And it terrified him. Chapter 3: A World Without Me ¡°Why three years?¡± Ethan¡¯s voice cut through the quiet, rough and unsteady, cracking with frustration. ¡°If you have the power to bring her back, why limit it?¡± Orin¡¯s golden gaze didn¡¯t waver, but the weight in his eyes deepened. ¡°Because three years is all I could give before losing everything¡ªmy purpose, my strength, and any chance of stopping him.¡± Ethan clenched his fists. ¡°Why? What did you do?¡± Orin sighed, shoulders heavy with unspoken burdens. ¡°I gave her a part of myself¡ªmy life force, my essence. But not everything. Not without... consequences.¡± Ethan¡¯s voice sharpened. ¡°What consequences?¡± Orin¡¯s gaze darkened. ¡°Losing the ability to finish what I came here to do. Stopping the entity that did this to her.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not only about Eve, Ethan. If he isn¡¯t stopped, everyone¡¯s life will be at risk.¡± Ethan¡¯s breath caught. His knuckles turned white as he gripped the edge of his chair. ¡°And the cure?¡± His voice trembled. ¡°You said there¡¯s a way to save her.¡± ¡°There is,¡± Orin said quietly, his tone heavy with certainty. ¡°Not a simple cure, but an artifact¡ªone of the 7 Treasures of the Universe. It doesn¡¯t just heal; it restores what was lost at its very source. It¡¯s the only way to save her permanently.¡± Ethan¡¯s mind raced. ¡°If this treasure can restore her life energy, why not just find it?¡± Orin¡¯s expression grew grim. ¡°Obtaining it is nearly impossible. I tried¡ªand failed. The path claims even the strongest souls.¡± Ethan¡¯s voice hardened. ¡°So we give up now?¡± ¡°No,¡± Orin said firmly. ¡°There¡¯s no time. This world is rejecting me.¡± He paused, letting the weight sink in. ¡°The only option is to take your place, anchor myself with your origin energy. In return, you¡¯ll inherit my powers, my knowledge. But you¡¯ll start from nothing.¡± Ethan¡¯s heart pounded. ¡°So... I go there. Alone.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Orin replied. ¡°You¡¯ll have to survive long enough to find the artifact. But know this¡ª¡± He stepped closer, voice low. ¡°The entity is starting over too. Weak now, but growing stronger every day after using Eve¡¯s energy to stay here.¡± ¡°He stole another artifact¡ªone that feeds on life force. But no matter how much he takes, it can¡¯t restore what¡¯s lost. It can never give Eve her life back.¡± Ethan¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°If you can sense him, why not track him down and finish this now?¡± Orin shook his head. ¡°Even weakened, he¡¯s dangerous. My priority is stopping him from growing stronger and ideally capturing him to bring back to our elderly council. Yours is saving Eve. We don¡¯t have the luxury to wait. If he grows stronger faster than you do, none of this will matter.¡± The weight of Orin¡¯s words settled over Ethan like a crushing tide. Three years. The silence stretched between them, heavier than the weight of the world Ethan was about to leave behind. Ethan¡¯s voice was barely above a whisper. ¡°So that¡¯s it, then? I trade places with you... and disappear.¡± Orin¡¯s golden eyes, filled with the weight of centuries, met his. ¡°You won¡¯t just disappear. You¡¯ll be forgotten.¡± The words slammed into Ethan like a punch to the chest. Forgotten? His existence wiped clean, every shared moment with Eve erased as if it never happened. The weight of that truth settled heavily on him¡ªcolder than any death he could imagine. Ethan blinked, voice hoarse. ¡°Forgotten?¡± Orin nodded. ¡°Once the exchange is complete, the world will erase you. Every memory, every connection¡ªyou¡¯ll fade. The closer someone was, the longer it takes. But eventually... even Eve will forget.¡± Ethan froze. The words echoed in his mind, louder than his own heartbeat. Gone. Erased. Even Eve... Even her. His chest tightened, breath hitching as the reality of it clawed at him. Would it be like he never existed? Would she wake up one day, passing him in her memories like a stranger in a dream? A cold dread coiled in Ethan¡¯s chest. Eve. His mind screamed at the thought, but he forced his voice to stay level. ¡°She... she won¡¯t remember me at all?¡± ¡°Not in time,¡± Orin replied quietly. ¡°At first, her memories will blur, like a dream slipping away. And then... nothing.¡± Ethan swallowed hard, his fists clenching. ¡°So I¡¯ll save her... and she¡¯ll live her life never knowing I gave mine for hers.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The room felt suffocating. Ethan leaned back, staring at the ceiling, trying to steady his breath. ¡°Is there... no way to stop it?¡± Orin shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s not punishment, Ethan. It¡¯s balance. You won¡¯t belong to this world anymore. And in time, this world will correct that by erasing you.¡± Ethan¡¯s voice cracked. ¡°Even if I succeed?¡± ¡°Even then.¡± The weight of it pressed down on him. His mother. His friends. Eve. They would all forget him. What was left of him would vanish like smoke in the wind. ¡°And if I refuse?¡± Ethan asked, though part of him already knew the answer. ¡°Then Eve¡¯s time runs out,¡± Orin said bluntly. ¡°And I get pushed out of this world. The entity goes unchecked. Your world falls.¡± Ethan¡¯s head dropped into his hands. ¡°So no matter what I choose... I lose everything.¡± His mind spiraled. Save Eve and vanish from her world? Or stay, helpless, and watch the time he had with her run out? Both choices felt like a death sentence¡ªone for his heart, the other for his soul. Orin¡¯s voice softened. ¡°It¡¯s a choice no one should have to make. But it¡¯s yours.¡± Silence.This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. Ethan¡¯s voice, fragile but determined, broke it. ¡°If I do this... she will get to live her full life?¡± Orin¡¯s gaze softened, just a fraction. ¡°She¡¯ll live. And she¡¯ll have a chance to recover and live her full life, maybe even longer.¡± Ethan closed his eyes, a single tear slipping down his cheek. ¡°Then that¡¯s worth it.¡± Orin watched him quietly, the flicker of respect in his eyes unspoken but undeniable. ¡°It won¡¯t be easy. You and I will both become weak, near powerless at the beginning. The entity... it¡¯s weak now too, but it won¡¯t stay that way. We will both need to grow stronger. We cannot lose to him in growth. The moment he regains enough power, your world becomes his target.¡± Ethan stared at Orin, frustration simmering just beneath the surface. ¡°You keep saying I need to ¡®grow.¡¯ Into what?¡± Orin¡¯s gaze remained steady, unflinching. ¡°In Veyndral¡ªmy world¡ªI am one of many guardians.¡± ¡°Guardians?¡± Ethan echoed, narrowing his eyes. ¡°Yes. Each guardian is bound to a specific aspect of existence. Mine is life force¡ªthe energy that sustains all living beings. My duty is to monitor and, when necessary, redistribute that energy to maintain balance.¡± Ethan ran a hand through his hair, disbelief etched into his face. ¡°And you actually expect me to take on something like that?¡± ¡°No,¡± Orin said quietly. ¡°I expect you to do more.¡± Ethan¡¯s stomach tightened. ¡°More?¡± Orin¡¯s expression hardened. ¡°To save Eve, you need to surpass me. You need to become strong enough that the treasure¡ªthe one that restores origin life energy¡ªacknowledges you as worthy.¡± The weight of Orin¡¯s words settled over Ethan like a crushing burden. The path ahead wasn¡¯t just difficult¡ªit was near impossible. But when he thought of Eve... the choice was already made. Ethan¡¯s voice was a whisper. ¡°How do you expect me to surpass you? You¡¯ve had years, maybe centuries, with this power. I¡¯m just... me.¡± Orin¡¯s golden gaze held a glimmer of something almost sympathetic. ¡°You¡¯re not wrong. Under normal circumstances, it would be impossible. But the world you¡¯re going to isn¡¯t the same one I¡¯ve known.¡± Ethan frowned. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Orin¡¯s tone grew measured. ¡°There was a time when every bit of energy in that world had a master. A balance. My brother¡ª¡± his voice tightened on the word, ¡°¡ªwas the one who governed it. He controlled the distribution, the limits, ensuring no one could take more than their share.¡± Ethan¡¯s eyes widened slightly. ¡°Wait... you mean the bastard who did this to Eve?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Orin¡¯s fists clenched at his sides. ¡°He was once the Keeper of Balance. Every spark of life, every flicker of power, passed through him. But when he broke free and abandoned his duty, the balance shattered.¡± Ethan exhaled sharply. ¡°So, what now? Chaos?¡± ¡°Chaos, yes,¡± Orin confirmed. ¡°But also... opportunity.¡± ¡°Opportunity?¡± Ethan echoed, incredulous. ¡°With no keeper, the world¡¯s energy is untamed. Every bit is there for the taking¡ªif you¡¯re fast enough, strong enough to seize it,¡± Orin explained. ¡°That¡¯s why you can surpass me. The energy is finite, yes, but abundant. And with every step, every battle, you can take more of it into yourself.¡± Ethan ran a hand through his hair, overwhelmed. ¡°So... I just have to keep absorbing whatever I can?¡± Orin nodded. ¡°It won¡¯t be easy. Others will seek power. And the stronger you become, the more dangerous your enemies will be. But it¡¯s your only chance.¡± Ethan¡¯s jaw tightened. ¡°And what about him? Your brother.¡± Orin¡¯s eyes darkened. ¡°He has the treasure, yes. But he¡¯s weaker than you realize. Taking Eve¡¯s life force anchored him to your world, but it also drained him. He¡¯s starting from the bottom, just like us.¡± Ethan inhaled sharply. ¡°So, he¡¯s growing stronger too.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Orin replied grimly. ¡°But unlike you, he has an advantage¡ªthe treasure. Every life he takes feeds him. Every moment he grows stronger.¡± Ethan felt a weight settle on his chest. ¡°So, I¡¯m supposed to surpass you and keep pace with him... all at once?¡± Orin gave a small, bitter smile. ¡°Yes. Welcome to your new reality.¡± Ethan let out a shaky breath. ¡°Great. No pressure.¡± Orin¡¯s gaze softened, just barely. ¡°If there were another way, I¡¯d take it. But there isn¡¯t.¡± Ethan nodded, the gravity of the task pressing down on him. ¡°Then I guess living with the impossible starts now.¡± The quiet hum of the night seemed deafening in its stillness as Ethan whispered, ¡°How am I supposed to do this? You''re asking me to step into a world I know nothing about, to surpass someone like you, and to... to find this treasure that no one''s ever been able to claim.¡± Orin¡¯s golden eyes softened¡ªjust slightly. ¡°I never said it would be easy. But you won¡¯t be completely alone.¡± Ethan blinked at him, wary. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Orin exhaled slowly. ¡°When I transfer my power to you, I can¡¯t give you everything. But I can give you two abilities to start with. The rest... you¡¯ll have to earn.¡± Ethan leaned forward, tension knotting his muscles. ¡°Abilities?¡± ¡°Two core abilities,¡± Orin clarified. ¡°The first is Life Span Detection. You¡¯ll see the remaining lifespan of any living being. Plants, animals, humans... everything. It will be overwhelming at first, but you¡¯ll learn to control it.¡± Ethan¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°And the second?¡± ¡°Life Redistribution,¡± Orin continued. ¡°You¡¯ll be able to take life force from one being and give it to another. Including yourself.¡± Ethan¡¯s breath hitched. ¡°You mean... I could take someone¡¯s life to save someone else?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Orin answered bluntly. ¡°But it comes with limits. At first, you¡¯ll only be able to take from those who consent. As you grow, that restriction will loosen. But forcing it... it will come at a cost.¡± Ethan swallowed, the gravity of the abilities settling in. ¡°And you said I wouldn¡¯t be alone?¡± Orin gave a faint nod. ¡°I can¡¯t go with you. But I can leave behind a part of me.¡± Ethan¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°What?¡± ¡°A fragment of my mind,¡± Orin explained. ¡°A memory bank, embedded in yours. It will act as a guide. I¡¯ll be there to answer your questions, to help you navigate the world and your powers. Not me, exactly, but a part of me. My knowledge, my experiences... everything I¡¯ve learned.¡± Ethan let out a shaky breath. ¡°So... you¡¯ll be in my head?¡± ¡°Something like that,¡± Orin replied. ¡°Think of it as an interface. No complicated system, just... me, speaking to you. Guiding you when you need it.¡± Ethan closed his eyes for a moment. When he opened them, there was determination burning behind the exhaustion. ¡°Okay,¡± he said quietly. ¡°I¡¯ll do it.¡± Orin¡¯s lips pressed into a thin line, both relief and sorrow flickering in his gaze. ¡°Then we begin soon.¡± Ethan stood beside Eve¡¯s bed, the soft rhythm of her breathing grounding him, yet the weight of what was to come crushed him all the same. Her hand, delicate in his grasp, felt warmer now¡ªbut only because of what Orin had done. It wasn¡¯t hers. It never would be. His chest tightened painfully. Two days. It had only been two days since the world they knew shattered. Two days since the life they could have had together slipped through his fingers. Eve stirred, eyes fluttering open. Her gaze met his, and her tired smile pierced him deeper than any goodbye ever could. ¡°You¡¯re still here,¡± she whispered. Ethan forced a smile. ¡°Yeah. Always.¡± Her lips quirked in that familiar way that made his heart ache. ¡°Liar.¡± The word hit him harder than it should have. His throat tightened, but he kept the smile¡ªif only for her. ¡°Rest, Eve,¡± he whispered, brushing a stray lock from her face. ¡°I¡¯ll be here when you wake up.¡± Her brows furrowed faintly. ¡°Promise?¡± He couldn¡¯t speak. Couldn¡¯t lie. So he pressed a lingering kiss to her knuckles, letting the silence answer for him. She didn¡¯t need to know. Not yet. As her eyes drifted shut, Ethan squeezed her hand one last time, every fiber of his being screaming to stay. But staying wasn¡¯t an option anymore. ¡°She¡¯ll be safe,¡± Orin said softly from the doorway. Ethan exhaled sharply, nodding. ¡°I¡¯m holding you to that.¡± His voice cracked. ¡°If anything happens to her¡ª¡± ¡°Nothing will.¡± Orin¡¯s golden eyes gleamed with solemn promise. ¡°Not while I¡¯m still breathing.¡± Ethan¡¯s voice was barely a whisper. ¡°How do I get to your world?¡± Orin¡¯s answer was immediate. ¡°We return to where it all began. The place where the barrier is weakest.¡± The memory of Eve collapsing, of reality fracturing, cut through Ethan like a blade. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Ethan said, steady despite the storm inside him. The night air clung to them as they stood where everything unraveled. ¡°This is it,¡± Orin murmured. Ethan¡¯s heart pounded. ¡°What happens now?¡± Orin¡¯s palm hovered above Ethan¡¯s chest. ¡°This... will hurt.¡± ¡°Good,¡± Ethan replied with a faint smirk. ¡°I was starting to wonder if you cared at all.¡± A rare chuckle escaped Orin. ¡°Try not to scream too loud.¡± A sharp jolt surged through Ethan, stealing his breath. He collapsed¡ªbut wasn¡¯t falling. He hovered, weightless, flickering¡ªa dim orb of light. ¡°This... feels weird.¡± ¡°You get used to it,¡± Orin smirked. The glow at Orin¡¯s fingertips intensified as knowledge flooded Ethan¡¯s mind. ¡°Stay hidden,¡± Orin whispered. ¡°If you fail, you die. And so will she.¡± The rift opened, pulling Ethan toward the unknown. ¡°She¡¯ll be okay?¡± Orin nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll protect her.¡± ¡°I¡¯m trusting you.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have a choice.¡± The void wrapped around him, cold and infinite. ¡°Ethan,¡± Orin called softly, ¡°don¡¯t lose yourself out there.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t. Not while she¡¯s waiting.¡± Chapter 4: Echoes of Loss, Embers of Strength ¡°Don¡¯t go! Don¡¯t leave me!¡± Eve bolted upright, her breath ragged and shallow, a sob catching in her throat. Her chest heaved, the phantom ache of something¡ªsomeone¡ªbeing ripped away still lingering in the hollow space behind her ribs. Tears streamed down her face, hot and unrelenting, as her wide, frantic eyes darted around her dimly lit room. Her pulse pounded in her ears, deafening in the heavy silence that followed her own desperate cry. Without thinking, she stumbled out of bed, her bare feet hitting the cool floor as she rushed toward the door. Her trembling hand gripped the handle¡ªbut then, she froze. Who¡­ who am I chasing? Her breath hitched, confusion clouding her mind. She swallowed hard, her lips trembling. ¡°¡­Ethan?¡± The name slipped out before she could stop it. But it didn¡¯t make sense. Ethan? But we¡¯re not that close¡­ are we? She clutched at her chest, where the ache refused to fade. It felt like something had been torn away¡ªsomething precious, something vital. Her body remembered the loss even if her mind couldn¡¯t name it. ¡°I don¡¯t understand¡­¡± Her voice broke, barely a whisper now. ¡°Why does it feel like¡­ something important is gone?¡± The silence offered no answer. She sank to her knees by the door, her fingers curling tightly against her chest. Tears dripped onto the floor, unstoppable, endless. No matter how much she tried, she couldn¡¯t stop crying. And she didn¡¯t know why.
In the endless expanse of the void, a small, transparent orb of light glided through the darkness. Ethan, can you hear me? Orin¡¯s voice echoed gently within the quiet vastness. We¡¯ll arrive at Veyndral shortly. The orb flickered softly as Orin continued. Once we arrive, I¡¯ll use what little power I have left to bring you to a hidden, isolated location. There, your physical body will be formed, inheriting the abilities I¡¯ve granted you. A pause. It will take time, Orin admitted. You¡¯ll be placed in a deep slumber as the energy around us gathers to shape your new vessel. The light dimmed for a moment, as if weighted by the task ahead. When you wake up, I¡¯ll be drained. Too weak to speak or guide you. But when you¡¯ve grown strong enough¡­ when you¡¯ve gained more control over life energy¡ª His voice softened, almost a whisper now. Please, Ethan¡­ use some of that strength to awaken this fragment of me. Let me guide you again. The orb pressed forward, undeterred by the endless dark. Until then¡­ survive.
A sharp gasp tore from Ethan¡¯s throat as he broke free from the cocoon-like shell encasing him. His hands pressed against the rough surface, feeling the brittle fragments crumble away. His chest heaved, lungs dragging in unfamiliar air¡ªdense, thick, almost tangible. Is this¡­ energy? His mind raced as he inhaled again, the weight of the air pressing down on him. Was this what he was meant to absorb? What he needed to grow stronger? Where¡­ am I? Ethan stumbled forward, steadying himself against the rocky wall. He pushed through a narrow opening and emerged into a vast cavern. Jagged rock formations jutted from the ground and ceiling, shadows twisting across the walls. The space was eerily quiet, save for the faint echo of dripping water. Then it hit him. A sudden rush of information flooded his mind, relentless and unfiltered. Moss clinging to the rocks¡ªits lifespan flickered in his vision. Tiny insects skittering across the ground¡ªtheir fragile life energy counted down like a clock. Creatures high above, barely visible, clinging to the ceiling¡ªages, remaining life spans, total life energy. All of it. At once. Ethan staggered, clutching his head, overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information. He forced himself to focus, narrowing his gaze to a single flickering light¡ªthe life force of a small insect. Its age. Its energy. Its fragile existence. I can see it all¡­ Ethan took a shaky breath, forcing himself to focus as the wave of information gradually dulled to a hum in the back of his mind. His heart still pounded, but curiosity pushed him forward. Step by step, he began to explore the cavern, its vastness swallowing him whole. ¡°Orin?¡± he called out softly, the sound echoing against the jagged walls. Silence answered him. He frowned, trying again. ¡°Orin¡­ are you there?¡± Nothing. A pit formed in his stomach. I¡¯m on my own for now. Orin had warned him¡ªhe would need time to recover. But that didn¡¯t make the emptiness any easier to bear. Ethan sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. ¡°Okay¡­ so how do I get stronger?¡±If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. The thick air pressed against his skin, a constant reminder of the energy around him. He inhaled deeply, almost instinctively, trying to draw it in. Nothing changed. ¡°Great,¡± he muttered. ¡°Swallowing air isn¡¯t the answer. Good job, me.¡± A faint rustling drew his attention upward. High above, a bat-like creature swooped down, its leathery wings barely making a sound. It snatched a small insect from the cavern floor and devoured it in one swift motion. Ethan¡¯s vision flickered. The bat¡¯s life energy¡­ it just increased. Not by much, but¡­ it¡¯s there. His eyes widened as realization settled in. Consuming another organism¡¯s life force¡­ strengthens your own. It wasn¡¯t just the air. It wasn¡¯t about simply existing in this new world. Growth required more than that. A chill ran down his spine. Is this what I have to do to survive? Ethan paced through the cavern, eyes flicking between the moss-covered walls and the faint shadows of creatures skittering in the distance. ¡°Alright, so¡­ eat to get stronger? Seems simple enough.¡± He grimaced. His stomach grumbled, empty and protesting. With a reluctant sigh, he knelt down and scraped some moss off a nearby rock. ¡°This is stupid,¡± he muttered, eyeing the green clump with distaste. Taking a hesitant bite, Ethan chewed slowly, hoping for some miraculous surge of power. Seconds passed. Nothing. No change, no newfound strength. Just the bitter, earthy taste of disappointment. ¡°Figures.¡± He wiped his mouth on his sleeve, groaning. Then, movement caught his eye. A pale, wriggling larva, nestled between the rocks. Ethan¡¯s lips curled in disgust. ¡°You¡¯ve gotta be kidding me.¡± His stomach growled again. ¡°Fine. Fine!¡± He reached down, grabbing the squirming thing and swallowing it quickly before he could reconsider. He sat still, waiting. A faint warmth stirred in his core. Was that energy? Or just relief from putting something¡ªanything¡ªin his stomach? He frowned. ¡°I need something more. Something that actually works.¡± Determined, Ethan pushed forward into the cavern, eyes sharp and searching. There had to be something here that could give him a real edge. Ethan eyed the moss clinging to the cavern walls. It looked damp and stringy, with an earthy, almost metallic smell that made his nose wrinkle. This is ridiculous, he thought. I¡¯m really about to eat moss? But hunger gnawed at him, and desperation left him little choice. With a grimace, he plucked a handful and shoved it into his mouth. The texture was worse than he imagined¡ªwet, gritty, and bitter. He gagged, forcing himself to swallow. Silence followed. He focused inward, waiting for something¡ªanything¡ªto change. Nothing. ¡°Great,¡± he muttered, wiping his mouth. ¡°Guess being an idiot doesn¡¯t come with perks.¡± Then his eyes landed on a wriggling larvae near the wall. His stomach turned. No way. But the memory of the bat-like creature gaining energy after a meal pushed him forward. ¡°Please don¡¯t taste worse than the moss,¡± he whispered, grabbing the squirming worm and hesitantly biting down. A faint crunch, a burst of bitter fluid, and a wave of nausea hit him. But¡­ something else flickered at the edge of his awareness. Faint, almost imaginary¡ªbut there. ¡°Was that¡­ energy? Or just my stomach not hating me for once?¡± He shook his head. It wasn¡¯t enough. He needed more. Something substantial. There has to be something better, he thought, determination tightening his jaw. He glanced deeper into the cavern. The unknown stretched before him, dark and dangerous. ¡°Guess I¡¯m exploring,¡± Ethan muttered, taking a cautious step forward. ¡°Let¡¯s hope the next thing I eat doesn¡¯t kill me first.¡± Ethan pressed forward, deeper into the cavern¡¯s winding paths. Every step echoed softly against the jagged walls. He had no idea where he was headed¡ªonly that standing still wasn¡¯t an option. What am I even looking for? Food? A way out? Or maybe¡­ a sign that this wasn¡¯t all some cruel joke. The cave stretched endlessly, twisting in directions he couldn¡¯t track. Stalactites loomed overhead, and distant drops of water plinked into unseen pools. Ethan¡¯s breath was shallow, his eyes darting from shadow to shadow. There¡¯s gotta be something here¡­ but what? Suddenly, a scuffling sound echoed behind him. His heart jolted. He spun around, but nothing was there. Then¡ª A blur shot from the darkness. Ethan barely leapt aside as a small figure rushed past him, kicking up dust. It skidded to a halt, turning with sharp, beady eyes locked onto him. Ethan blinked. ¡°A¡­ boar?¡± he whispered. It was no larger than a rabbit, with coarse black fur, stubby legs, and tiny tusks protruding from its mouth. ¡°Okay¡­ kinda cute,¡± he muttered, tension easing slightly. But then it charged again. Wait, what is it¡ª? CRACK! The boar struck a rock, sending it flying across the cavern like a bullet. It smashed into the far wall with a deafening thud, leaving a spiderweb crack in the stone. Ethan¡¯s stomach dropped. ¡°Holy shit¡­ that thing can kill me!¡± The boar pawed at the ground, snorting furiously. Ethan stumbled back, heart hammering. I¡¯m not ready for this! ¡°Okay, okay, uh¡ªchill, little guy! We can just¡­ talk this out, right?¡± he stammered, raising his hands as if to calm it. It charged again. ¡°Guess not!¡± Ethan barely dodged as it barreled past him, its tusks grazing the edge of his pants. He stumbled, gasping for air. There¡¯s no way out. No escape. I have to face it¡­ The boar turned sharply, eyes glinting with primal rage. Ethan swallowed hard. ¡°Fine. You wanna do this? Let¡¯s do this.¡± The boar rushed him again. Ethan dove to the side, narrowly missing another bone-crushing impact. His mind raced. Think, dammit! It¡¯s small but strong. If it hits me, I¡¯m dead. I need an opening. He grabbed a loose rock and hurled it at the creature. It barely flinched. ¡°Of course,¡± Ethan muttered. ¡°Because why would that work?¡± The boar snorted, charging again. Ethan waited, panic clawing at him, then sidestepped at the last second. The boar collided with the cave wall, dazed for a moment. Now! Ethan lunged, grabbing it from behind in a desperate grapple. It thrashed wildly, almost throwing him off. ¡°Holy crap¡ªstop moving!¡± Ethan grunted, struggling to hold on. The boar¡¯s strength was absurd for its size. It bucked, slamming him into the wall. Pain shot through his side. ¡°I am¡­ not dying¡­ to a tiny boar!¡± Ethan hissed through clenched teeth. The boar bucked again. Ethan lost his grip, stumbling back. It snorted angrily, pawing the ground once more. Ethan panted, sweat dripping down his face. This thing¡¯s relentless. He glanced around, searching for anything to use. The boar charged, and Ethan ran. ¡°Shitshitshitshit¡ª¡± He barely dodged another charge, pressing his back against the cave wall. His eyes darted around. No weapon, no way out. I¡¯m screwed. Then he noticed a narrow gap in the rocks above. If he could lure it to charge into the wall again¡­ The boar snorted, preparing another rush. Ethan gulped. ¡°Okay, buddy. One last dance.¡± As it charged, Ethan sprinted toward the wall, leaping aside at the final moment. The boar slammed headfirst into the rock, and the impact sent loose stones tumbling from above. A large chunk fell, pinning the creature¡¯s back leg. It squealed in fury, thrashing to free itself. Ethan didn¡¯t hesitate. He lunged, wrapping his arms around its neck, straining with every ounce of strength he had left. The boar kicked and squirmed, but Ethan held on, gasping through the struggle. ¡°I¡¯m¡­ not¡­ dying here!¡± With one final twist, the boar went limp. Ethan collapsed beside it, chest heaving, hands trembling. His whole body screamed in pain. Ethan collapsed beside the boar, chest heaving, hands trembling. His whole body screamed in pain. Then¡ªit happened. A faint shimmer, barely visible, rose from the boar¡¯s lifeless body. Wisps of light, subtle and weightless, drifted toward him like smoke drawn to a flame. Ethan froze, eyes widening as the energy seeped into him. Warmth spread through his veins. The ache in his muscles dulled slightly, and his breathing steadied. It wasn¡¯t just relief¡ªit was something more. Am I¡­ stronger? He clenched his fists. There was a difference¡ªsomething deeper. More endurance, more clarity, a spark of strength that hadn¡¯t been there moments ago. His mind raced back to the games he used to play back on Earth. This feels just like¡­ leveling up. You defeat something, you gain experience. Or in this case¡­ energy. Ethan swallowed hard, realization sinking in. ¡°This¡­ this is how I survive here.¡±