Warmth

Prologue

ARTHUR LEYWIN

Walking through the sands, dust scattered around the realm, no life in sight. Winds were swirling around my body, motes of aether were in a halt as they came near and were absorbed by my body.

"How many years has it been, Regis?" I asked my only companion.

"It's been a week since we killed the Lizard, Grey."

"A week? I feel like it's been centuries. I've lost my touch with time."

"Grey..."

"In all the infinite possibilities that were in the tree of fate—none of them end with my family being by my side. All of them died, not a single life form can live in a world like this. Only us, me should I say."

Silence lingered around us, the buzz of aether as they got close to me accompanied the silence. Where are we exactly going? I've been walking, gathering aether for no apparent reason—it's not like I absorb aether because I want to.

Ever since killing Kezess aether hasn't stopped coming to my body, are these the consequences of my actions? After killing so many beings, is this my punishment?

My sins in the past life, my sins in all of the lives I'll ever live. Is this the punishment?

A chuckle escaped my mouth.

"It may not be over, Grey."

Suddenly, I felt my mood change. Regis may be dumb at some time, but he's helpful too, sometimes.

"I have an idea." Regis added.

"Oh, please enlighten me Mr. Weapon." I sarcastically said.

"Oh please stop that, you know... nevermind that, since you have control over fate and all of its possibilities. Why don't you make a new one? A new future... like making your own tree of fate, or placing your own branch IN the tree."

"That's not possible, even with 5 layers inside my aether core. I don't think that's possible. I can't return to the start with what I have. The aether my body is absorbing is not even going to my core, but to my body, they all come to me and just disappear. Unless I absorb them by my own intent they won't go to my core."

"You don't have to come back to the BEGINNING, only somewhere before everything begins to happen."

"So, like time traveling to the past?"

"Yes." He answered.

I pondered the idea, what he said could be made. By making a new tree... No, that's not possible—at least not now—at best, I can create my own branch in the tree.

Though, it'll cost me all of my aether reserves, and there might be a possibility that I die. But, I need to try.

I'd embrace the cold rather than live in warmth.

"We can try."

A pleasant emotion washed over me, as Regis nodded. I closed my eyes and focused my aether in all my god runes, warmth enveloped my body. A gold crown appeared around my head, and my hair turned white.

I opened my eyes.

In front of me was a translucent blue tree.

Walking towards the tree, the calm sea beneath my feet shifted. Waves formed with every step I took, the tree became bigger, and bigger. I arrived.

With the help of King's Gambit, I flew closer to the tree, placed my hand on the tree. Focusing on my abdomen, I channeled the aether from it to my hand, and to the tree.