Lost

IV.

Before all times ⏳

A bright woman walked through white tunnel, to meet her fate. Her white dress glowed with white marble walls. As she walked towards the only dark thing in the corridor, she tried to keep her head as confident as possible, since she didn't know, who she will meet and what her quest will be.

Everybody here knew the door, but were forbidden to talk about what was behind them, who was there and what they were assigned to do. It was such a secret that only chosen people were allowed to go there and meet someone.

Two guards stood in front of the door. She finally reached them and they slowly opened the door, one of them looking her in the eyes and saying:

"He's been waiting for you." the woman nodded in response and walked through the big door, into a cosy room, with lots of animal furs, little glass coffee table and few chair around it. This room was much more different from the hall. This room wasn't white, it was more dark since the curtains covered windows. Of course there was a fireplace, carpet near it, and carpet everywhere in the whole room, even on the walls. Little souvenirs were all around, put where you could find a free space. Lots of books all over the place. There was even a clock, that showed time. But time didn't exist. Not yet.

"You came." she heard a voice come from other side of the room, where a man sat in a big chair. Her heart missed a beat but then started beating faster when she recognized the voice. She gulped slightly, making a little bow, not daring to look up. She heard him stand up and walk closer. The woman slowly raised her head to look at the man.

"You wanted me here." she spoke, her voice trembling, but sounding sweet, like an angel song. The man kept straight face. "Professor." she added. He slowly nodded and started walking around her.

"You know who we all are." Professor said, walking to the little table and taking his drink that was ready only for him. He glanced at her, waiting for a response.

"We are guardians, keeping the balance between all the worlds." the woman answered. She began to sweat a little bit, her forehead getting wet.

"That's right. We keep the balance. But, I can feel a Destroyer coming. It's coming and will be here really soon." he turned to her and offered one of his drinks, but she slightly shook her head.

"Why am I so special? I've done nothing to deserve this." The woman spoke, trying to find purpose, solution as to why she was asked to meet The Professor. He smiled in return and spoke:

"Not yet. But you will do." Professor said and turned to her. She breathed in heavily, when The Professor said: "My dear Natalina, you will be the one to stop The Destroyer." Cold shiver ran through her, as she looked at the Professor. Did she heard the words right? Does the Professor wants her to stop The Destroyer to keep balance?

"Pro-professor, y-you want me to-to stop it?" Natalina shuttered. This can't be true. She can't do it. Professor gazed at her.

"You think you can't, but you weren't raised the right way. I told them to raise you where you belong. You could have been a warrior, Natalina. But now you're weak. They were so wrong. They destroyed the greatest warrior of all." Professor turned disappointed from Natalina and looked into the fireplace, taking a sip of his drink.

"What about Katarina?" Natalina asked darting her eyes to her shoes that suddenly became interesting to her. The Professor scoffed and put his drink down. He turned to Natalina, his eyes burning.

"Katarina is good, but not good enough. She is strong, fast, wise, but she is missing the spark. And you have it. You think you don't, but you do. They just hid it from you, but I can wake it up again. I can make you a warrior again." Professor stood up, inspired by his own speech. Natalina slowly raised her eyes.

"I cannot do it." Natalina answered silently. Professor stood speechless, his hands slowly thinking if he really heard the right thing. "I just... can't." she said looking at the Professor.

"They brainwashed you." he whispered walking closer to Natalina and making her look at him. She looked at cold icy eyes, that had a soft look now.

"They didn't do anything to me." Natalina answered taking a step back, getting mad at The Professor. "I learned what I was meant to do. Not this. Not what you want me to learn." she answered, little voice in her head screaming for her to leave this place, but she knew she couldn't do it. It will just make everything worse.

"They changed your fate!" he shouted out the words. Everything around them fell silent, The Professor could hear Natalina's beating heart. She was trying to figure out the words he said. It was impossible and everybody knew it. But if it is possible, then why do it? Why change her fate? Was she that dangerous?

So many questions and no answers. Natalina felt dizzy of what she just found out. She sat down, trying to catch a breath. These few words made more questions appear. Natalina started questioning her whole life. Maybe it was all a lie. Who knew.

"Why... Is that even possible?" Natalina slightly shook her head and looked up at The Professor. He slowly sat in front of her, seeing how his words affected her.

"My dear, it actually is. I cannot do it, but They... They have power." Natalina darted her eyes to the ground again. "Sweetheart, I know it's hard to hear this, but this is true. Since I'm your... Since I'm The Professor, They told me. I tried to stop Them, but who am I before Them?" The Professor said disappointed, letting out a big sigh, remembering the day very clearly.

"Why would They do that?" Natalina asked, her voice sounding like lost child's. She felt lost. She just wanted answers, she wanted something, to show her that her life wasn't a big lie.

"I'm afraid, I don't know that, Sweetheart." the nickname made Natalina smile, as she remembered old times, when she didn't have that much of headache because of her so called, life. "But you need to start over. You need to forget everything you learned and learn what was written in your fate, before They changed it. At least you have a lot of time." The Professor sent Natalina a warm smile, when she looked at him, her eyes now shining from her tears. She smiled too, as if saying that she finally agrees and ran into him for a hug. He held her close as she cried into his shoulder. Just like old times.

"I missed this." she told him slowly, into his shoulder. The Professor smiled and held Natalina closer to him. "I missed you, father."

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A little glance into past. The one that happened a long long time ago.

Try to guess who Professor, Natalina and Katarina, and They are. Who do you think they could be? Any theories?

These little flashbacks are important for the story, there will be more. After this, we will get back to the present again :)

Don't forget to leave a vote if you liked this chapter and leave feedback in the comments!