The Game Before the Fall

Chapter 60: Who I am and who I was. (Part 2)

I shivered, recalling the me after the Fall, the power she had used. A spark of acknowledgment grew within my heart. If it came down to it, if the world had become overrun by Rift Walkers, would I have thought the same, to wipe the slate clean? To reset everything?

"But that didn't happen," Vanter stated. "You're here now."

"Yes," Arvel smirked. "I passed the Core's trials and met the Witch of the End. We made a bet that there was a better solution, and I would find it."

"So you're travelling different universes, looking for a copy of your world that overcame the demons?" Vanter asked.

"That's about right," Arvel nodded.

I felt my hands clench tightly, "How many worlds?"

"This is my fifth. I spend a few months in each to figure things out. Hunt demons when I find them," he smiled, holding the glass of water in his hands, eyeing it as if it meant more than just what it was. "Which brings me to what I said before, how different this place is to any other world I've been."

"Is that a good or bad thing?" Endi asked before I or Vanter could.

"Good, I think," Arvel shrugged. "The other worlds I visited were peaceful. They had bad things happened but pushed through. Three were very similar to mine but branched off before the demon threat couldn't be contained and they were dealt with. One had different issues with Rift Walkers but not something severe. They were all insightful but none told me what I needed to know, how to reverse a situation already so far gone."

Vanter gestured for him to return to his point, "And why are we special again?"

"You know when I go to different universes, I usually end up in the same time as I existed. 10 or so years after the Merge." Arvel placed his glass on the table, the water now gone, "This is a really nice place you've got here. Not only that, but everyone here, they're close, like family."

"Is that a problem," I asked, frustrated at his words.

"No, it's brilliant but, how the hell did it happen?" he eyed me directly clearly thinking I was the cause. It was at that point we realised. Vanter shot a glance to me, and I back to him as we all shared the mutual understanding. This Ardent didn't know. He wasn't like Ardent, he hadn't returned from the future.

Don't tell him, not yet, I send the message to everyone aside from Arvel. I then spoke, "I can see how you think that this is my fault, me being different to your other worlds. I'm not sure the exact reason, but maybe if you explain what you know, it'll help."

Arvel tapped the table, "Don't think I didn't see all those shared glances and raised eyebrows. But sure, I'll play. My name is Ardent Friend, I was born to Arthur Friend and my mother passed away when I was young. I grew up in small city apartment, studied electrical engineering and after the Merge became a diplomat working in Areithia. During my time as a diplomat I met Vanter and Endi. The Endi in my world and I got married. We had-," he paused, hesitating before continuing, "we had a good thing going and then the demon started to become a problem. During the turmoil I discovered a talent of martial arts and the fact my mother was the Witch of the Void. It was also then that I lost almost everyone close to me. Endi passed away due to illness, Arthur to the demons, Vanter to the Core's trials."

Zen raised her hand, "What about me? Did you know me?"

Arvel nodded, "Yes, I knew of you. Your martial arts became the core of my learning. We never met in person however. You were known as the Demon Hunter, but after New York fell, no one heard from you again. The fact you're here and how you've been eyeing Arthur... I'm quite lost."