EPILOGUE: THE DETERMINATION OF THE LADY OF TIME

***The Chamber of Time***

The Lady of Time had been staring at the spinning wheel of Chersea for a long while now, after Seirna left to join Kuro’s group in the city of Temun. Nevertheless, the uncomfortable feeling in her chest never dissipated, for she knew she had done something that could have consequences in the Black God’s fight against the Seductress.

“…”

As she was a being almost equal to the lesser gods, the Lady of Time was never bounded by her own power. She could always travel and ‘return’ to any points in histories at her whims. And she could still give to Kuro the god-power he desired. However, after countless attempts of the Black God, the Lady of Time was afraid. Although Kuro was a ‘different’ person, she didn’t want to lose him…her only remaining link to the person she loved.

“…”

In her mind was the memory of that moment when the Black God, standing at the entrance of her chamber, said his goodbye to her for one last time. His mind was resolute; he would gamble all his remaining power to allow his ‘other self’ to succeed him. All his life for that ‘Kuro’ who ‘came into terms’ with his past. He was the Black God’s ‘ace’, his last hope to stop the rampage of the Seductress, who already devoured nearly all of Chersea’s alternate universes…some of which the Black God witnessed its demise.

Yet as the Black God turned his gaze away from her, she saw through his heart. Though it was pitch black (in anger and desire for vengeance), in one of its corners, separated and hidden from all the chaos and madness he endured and suffered, was an image of herself. Somewhere amidst all those evil events and desires, the Black God still treasured the times they spent together, even when her chamber was all dark and dreary.

She is his ‘peace’, the only one who keeps his sanity.

Nevertheless, the Lady of Time knew that the Black God never loved her as much as those he lost. After witnessing their horrific deaths, the deity swore to destroy the Seductress, or die in the attempt. Still, he treated her as someone more than a friend, yet a level above a sister. And the Lady of Time loved him; if she could only choose, she would never let him go. However, she also knew that the Black God won’t be happy if she asked him to stay, and all that she could do was to support him from afar…

She can never bring his smile back…

As much as the Lady of Time wanted to call out to him, at the end, she had to smile and push the Black God to the right direction, where his heart was calling him. So…

“You do know that you’re bad in acting like a snob…”

“You say you don’t care, but you’re ready to jump into the fray. For what the Black God’s sword—the weapon that slays those who come from the Void—would be here? A decoration for you?”

“…you should interfere in Chersea. Seems like the Seductress is having a free rein in consuming worlds once again.”

Time almost immediately regretted saying those words immediately, and tried to lead the Black God back to her, in a final, desperate—yet happy—bid, telling him, “I love you”. Nevertheless, he would not be persuaded anymore.

“Are you happy now, Kuro?” she asked loudly, though she knew no one would answer her. She never hid the bitterness in her voice. “You’re being unfair! You made me love you so dearly, only for you to leave!”

Another moment of silence. The Lady of Time held sway over universes; she could scour histories and every part of all worlds, being an immortal. Of course, she knew where to find the last piece in Kuro’s ‘god-power puzzle’. But, she never trusted Seirna, for the Overseer Saint had her own designs for him.

“…”

Taking a deep breath, the Keeper of the Timelines stood up, and replaced the spool on the spinning wheel. She never doubted the Black God’s decisions, and through him, she also placed her confidence in Kuro. However, as he was right now, the ‘otherworlder’ was not worthy of bearing the god-power of the dwarf saint.

The ball is in her hands to help Kuro…

At that moment, Time held the old spool on her hand and uttered a spell. Then, she kept it in her dress’ pocket. Though she was under an agreement with the High King of the Gods to never interfere with the affairs of the worlds and their respective deities, this was a different matter. Love could move mountains, they said. And the Lady of Time would defy any agreement—even with the most powerful being—just to save the man she loved.

“…”

She’ll help the dwarf saint conceal her whereabouts until the opportune time…