Reprogrammed

Expiration

Eien-Rei was dying, he knew he was. The building was too hot to escape, the smoke to thick to breathe, and there was too much blood on his clothing.

The last breath of life, slipping from his lips left him. His comrades had fallen before him, lucky to have gone quick and painless. On the other hand, he had been watching his own clock reach its expiration date, now on its final seconds.

When he was young, he had devoted himself to Chronos, the Lord of Time. That gave him the ability to now watch himself die. He had already seen the clocks of his entire family stop. He was the only one hanging on.

"Lord Chronos...."

He coughed, the flames roared in the background.

"Thank you.... f- for not... letting t- them s-suffer...."

Darkness had washed over him by the time those words were said. After a while, a white space had then engulfed his vision, leaving him confused and worried.

He decided to look around, seeing if he could find anything.

Some wandering was required, but he found himself face to face with a giant, dark gray man, clocks embedded into his flesh. His hair flowed, white as the space with two black stripes, and many chains and more clocks wrapped around him like a toga.

His breath caught in his throat. He knew this giant, not personally of course, but he had seen plenty of depictions. This was the one he held highly. The one he had worshipped. When he realized this, he dropped to his knees in respect.

The mighty deity faced Eien-Rei, his face that of time itself. It could not be comprehended, the depictions nowhere near to his real form. He stared at him while gathering something else.

All he could think of to do was bow before the Lord he treasured.

Chronos kept analyzing fiercely, deep in thought until he uttered in a voice that vibrated in all manners of existence.

"Not yet."

"W- what?" Eien-Rei stammered.

"Your time must keep flowing."

He knelt there in shock. He couldn't believe what his Lord was saying.

Chronos ignored the shock and snapped his fingers, a green, transparent shard sprung from nothing into his hands.

"This will prevent discord from taking the reigns of the world."

"Just that...?"

No response was given as the shard vanished between his clap. Eien-Rei then felt a stinging in his chest, more specifically his heart.

He winced, and instinctively put his hand on the area.

"That will delete time associated expiration."

As if Eien-Rei wasn't shocked enough, this definitely increased the factor.

Chronos met his wide eyed face, seeing he had many questions on his mind.

"I cannot alleviate you with answers, I've done enough already."

"At least tell me what to do.... even just an idea will help." He pleaded.

Chronos thought long and hard, but only seemed to take a second.

"I will give you one word you must be aware of when you return to the living."

"I will take it gratefully my lord!" Eien-Rei gladly accepted.

"Gray"

"Gray...."