Death Date

As I stared at my reflection with my long black hair draping over me, I saw something I’d never thought I'd see. My own death date, clearly visible in front of my forehead. It shined as brightly as my golden eyes, staring back at me.The goddess of death herself with a set end date. How does that make any sense? Gods don't die. We live for millennia wandering this earth and eventually lose our consciousness, but we don't die, so how…? Unless….

I got away from the pond and my own reflection, and ran towards the nearest tree. Luckily, Life still lets me use her network to get around. I poured some of my mana into the tree and the pathway opened through its roots. These tunnels are always so long, gotta be careful or I might get lost like last time.

I eventually emerged on the other side of the tunnel. The giant beating heart of the world was right in front of me, with Life’s giant tree roots entangled together with it. A massive orb of light bigger than anything in this world, and yet…it has started to dim. How can this happen? If the heart dies, we all die. Every remaining god in this world will…Fate, maybe I can talk to Fate about this. Although I doubt she'll really tell me anything. She's always so cryptic. Not that I can really talk, when I never tell folks about their end dates no matter how much they beg.

I opened another tunnel through the root network and made my way to Fate’s home. She's one of the few gods left, who has managed to hold on to her consciousness. Normally it all fades over time until only the body remains to maintain whatever duty we must fulfill.Like the sea, or like Life.

I left through the other side of the tunnel and saw Fate’s little cottage. If you wouldn't know any better, you’d think it's just a random old lady’s cottage in the middle of the woods just like any other, and yet a goddess lives here. I’ll never understand why she's always been so into the whole “Mysterious Grandma of the forest” act. But I guess we all get bored after living so long.

I knocked on the wooden door.”Fate, open up. It's me”.

“Come in, dear.” A pleasant, warm voice came from the other side. I guess we're doing this again. I opened the door and saw a little old lady weaving her threads by the window. A warm light from the fireplace lit the room.

“It's been a long time since your last visit, my dear. How have you been?” She said with a kind welcoming smile as she stopped weaving and looked at me. She really has been doing this for a long time, huh. “I would appreciate it if you could cut the act and answer my question. You already know why I'm here. I can see your date too.” A heavy sigh left me as I pointed at her forehead. I wish she would take things more seriously at times.

The little old lady stared at me, sighed, stood up and morphed into a young woman with long golden hair, olive skin and her usual flowy dress. She always liked the more flowery look. I guess it suits her given where she lives and all. “You're no fun” she says with a pout. “You never play along and always just wanna get to the point,and I thought we were friends. Come visit more often, damn it.” She sat down on her little crooked chair and continued weaving her golden threads.

“You know I don't have the time for that. The amount of souls I have to collect and send off never gets smaller.” I sighed as I came up to her.

“Says the goddess that can make as many puppets as she wants, to do everything she needs.” She sulked as she carefully checked each thread.” On the bright side, you won't have to worry about as many souls anymore as the end comes.” She smiled.

“You do realize that those souls will leave. WE’LL be the ones stuck here. WE’LL be the ones to actually die.” I felt irritated. She's the one with the power to see everything, she's the one who should have some kind of solution,but then again she also would have said something by now.

I stare at Fate for a while” Is there really no way?” Is there truly no way to stop any of this? Is this really…the end?

“If you can see the dates, then yes.” She stops weaving, and looks at me. One of those rare serious looks on her face. “When our parents created this world, it was never meant to last. Or at least, only meant to last for a certain amount of time, and now that time has come to an end. The heart of the world is slowly starting to dim. There is no stopping it. Not without the creators, who initially made it.”.

“Is there no future, where it's prevented? Stopped? Where one of the primordial beings returns? Are we truly just…left here to die?” I keep staring at Fate as she starts to look away, towards her little window.

“They only ever return in a couple of them, but it doesn't get to the point where you can see your own date. As for the others, most end this way, some in other ways. No matter the future, there is always an end for us. If you can already see the dates, then we probably have about a year at best, but I’m sure you already know that.” She says with a sad smile. “ I suggest you make the most of it.”.

A year? Yeah, I already know it's just a year. But I came here hoping for a solution, not to simply confirm my suspicion. What am I supposed to do now? What do you mean make the most of it?! What do I…” I’m going to see my sister.”.

I turn away and walk out of there as quickly as I can. “ Say hi to Life for me.” Is all that I hear as I leave, and as I open up the tunnel, for the first time in my long life, I’m forced to think about my own mortality.