1.2 - Small Gods

Timeline Alpha

Japan

Tokyo

2000.01.01

00:12:95 Japan Standard Time

After arguing over it for a few more minutes, Shirona and Rei followed their supposed cousin into his humble home.

They were greeted by gross garbage piles and the stench of long since decayed leftovers.

With a few magazines, dirty clothes, and other indescribable items mixed in between.

They didn’t exactly sit down.

“So you are telling me that the Hero of Time was reincarnated as a short, fat NEET in Japan!?” asked Shirona after hearing Kurono’s explanation so far.

“Yes, and that the world is going to end next week, on Monday the 10th at approximately 2:57 Japanese time,” answered Kurono, “and unfortunately my oldest save is from like 15 minutes ago, so we only have 9 days to find out why this world ends and to prevent it. Though we can use as many attempts as it takes.”

“But, what the hell happened to the real Kurono?” Rei asked in a distant disturbed voice.

The supposed Hero of Time, inhabiting the body of their cousin, just shrugged his shoulders. “Your guess is as good as mine.”

“Wait a minute,” said Shirona, “You said you can load a save, but do you actually understand the mechanism behind this power of yours?”

Kurono looked puzzled, “What do you mean? It's Maya. Magic, it just works. I have been stabbed, shot, sliced, poisoned, frozen, hung, electrocuted, burned, dissolved, dissected, digested, you name it. At any save point I reload without a scratch on me, not a dent in the fender: I. AM. AN IMMORTAL.”

“That sounds like you watched too much Groundhog Day,” said Rei.

“Groundhog Day?” asked Kurono. “That sounds familiar.”

“It should. Didn't you say you have at least some of Kurono's memories?” asked Rei, “He was obsessed with that movie a few years ago.”

“Well, it's still fuzzy,” said Kurono, “I have memories of him, then only vague remnants of memories of the world I was summoned to and almost no real fragments of the one I was before... and they are all mixed up. Nevertheless, we should have all the time in the world using my Dominion.”

“And that's where the problem lies,” said Shirona. “What actually happens to the timeline you leave and what exactly does it mean to 'load'?”

“Well, actually... I don't know.” said Kurono, “You see, it's not like I had much of a choice before... And mother told us that it would be fine.”

“Mother?” asked Rei.

“Mother. The world. God,” said Kurono, “That's the other thing, I can hardly feel her presence,” he said, “And not once did any of your deities ever answer my questions.”

“Our deities?” asked Rei.

“The ones that guide you.” said Kurono, “I did ask multiple people and tried to get into contact during my prior reloads, but none of them ever answered me.”

“I do not know about the world you come from,” said Shirona, “But here, gods don't talk back to you, and they don't grant miracles either. How does this Maya of yours work anyway?”

“There are 6 distinct colors of Maya with one hero holding dominion over each.” said Kurono, “The dominions are Time, Space, Energy, Matter, Body, and Mind.”

“People can only follow the heroes if they are compatible,” said Kurono, “and if all 6 heroes join forces they can awaken hidden, latent abilities in others. As for the dominion of time, the only power it grants me is the ability to reload. All followers reload when I do.”

“That is hardly an explanation. How many times have you reloaded up until now?” asked Shirona.

“Three,” answered Kurono.

“Three?” Shirona asked with barely regulated rage. “Do you have any idea what…” she shook her head. “Nevermind, we can argue the details later. I assume the world ends the same every time?” asked Shirona.

“Yes,” said Kurono.

“And how did it end?” asked Shirona.

Kurono paused for a second.

“In fire.”