The keeper of time

Chapter 4: The First Choice

Chapter 4: The First Choice

Anaya's Perspective

The silence of the chamber pressed against me like a tangible weight, thick and heavy in the air. My breath was shallow, each inhalation struggling against the invisible barrier of panic that enveloped me. I felt exposed, vulnerable, as if the walls themselves were closing in, waiting for my next move.

The amulet around my neck pulsed with a gentle warmth, a steady rhythm that matched the thudding of my heart. I lifted my trembling fingers to its surface, tracing the intricate symbols that glimmered in the low light. It felt alive, as if it were a part of me, whispering secrets I couldn't quite grasp. It was a connection to something greater, something ancient and powerful, and yet, it terrified me.

With a deep breath, I forced myself to step back from the center of the chamber, needing distance from the spot where the woman had stood. The stone walls loomed like sentinels around me, their carvings twisting and shifting in the shadows. The images seemed to watch me, judging my every move, the weight of history pressing down like a shroud.

I turned and made my way back down the corridor, the flickering oil lamps casting long shadows that danced across the cool stone. Each step felt like an echo in the silence, my sandals whispering against the floor. I tried to quell the rising tide of fear, focusing instead on the purpose I had been given. I was more than Anaya now. I was a keeper of time, a bearer of the amulet.

But what did that mean? What was I supposed to do with this power?

Emerging from the corridor, I found myself back in the bustling marketplace. The vibrant colors and sounds enveloped me once more—the shouts of merchants hawking their wares, the laughter of children playing in the streets, and the enticing aroma of spices and freshly baked bread wafting through the air. I blinked against the sudden brightness, the contrast to the dim chamber jarring my senses.

The crowd flowed around me like a river, oblivious to my presence. My heart raced, a mixture of exhilaration and terror coursing through me. I could feel the eyes of the people on me now, not just as a passerby, but as something other—an outsider in a world that felt both familiar and foreign.

I caught sight of a vendor selling vibrant bangles, their colors shimmering under the sun. A memory flickered in my mind—a vision of myself wearing these very bangles in another time. I walked closer, my fingers reaching out instinctively to touch the cool glass. The vendor, a middle-aged woman with a kind smile, caught my gaze.

"You have the look of someone who has traveled far," she said, her voice warm and melodic. "These bangles will bring you good fortune on your journey. Choose wisely."

"Thank you," I replied, my voice trembling slightly. I looked down at the array of bangles, each one more beautiful than the last. I felt drawn to a deep blue one, adorned with delicate silver filigree. It shimmered like the night sky, and I felt an unexplainable pull toward it.

As I reached for the bangle, my fingers brushed against another's. A young woman stood beside me, her features striking and regal. She wore a cream-colored sari that flowed elegantly around her, her dark hair woven into intricate braids adorned with jasmine flowers. Her eyes were bright and curious, studying me with an intensity that made my heart race.

"Are you a traveler?" she asked, her voice soft yet confident.

I hesitated, taken aback by her presence. "I... I suppose I am," I stammered, unsure how to explain my sudden appearance in this time and place.

She smiled knowingly, as if she could see right through me. "You carry a burden, don't you? I can sense it." Her gaze flickered to the amulet around my neck. "It holds great power, does it not?"