Chương 36: 036

Pushing through the lingering haze, I glanced down at the discolored sand beneath my boots and latched onto the first question that surfaced.

"Why does the sand I touch turn black?" It wasn't as dark as before, now closer to a sickly yellow, but it stood out starkly against the blinding gold stretching around us. For a moment, nothing happened. Then the sand at my feet stirred. Grains lifted and spiraled upward, gathering into a twisting column that grew until it matched my height. The motion accelerated, faster and tighter, until a sudden flash of light forced me to shield my eyes. When the glare faded, Time stood where the sand had been.

Not a single grain clung to him, despite the cloud still churning in the air. With a casual flick of his hand, it collapsed, settling neatly between us.

"Questions are easier to answer when I take form," he said, his gaze dropping to the sand.

"As for this, your answer is simple. This realm responds to emotion. Visitor or resident alike." His eyes lifted to mine.

"The sand darkened in response to yours." The nightmare flared behind my eyelids, my mother's voice, the crushing grip, the suffocating warmth turning wrong. Pain twisted low in my chest, sharp and familiar, and the sand at my feet deepened in color. I inhaled slowly and forced the memories back down.

"Right," I muttered.

"That… tracks." I gestured weakly at the ground.

"Sorry if I messed up your home." Time hummed, unconcerned.

"No damage has been done. Once you leave, the sand will return to its natural state." Good. I wouldn't be thrilled if someone emotionally vandalized my yard, either.

"I am nearly finished rewinding Nexus," he continued.

"When I am done, you will return." Then it would be time to move. Silas would be my top priority, and after him, there was the apocalypse to figure out, not to mention whatever that idiot summoned. This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. My head throbbed as the mental list stacked higher. I pressed my fingers to my temple, wishing the pressure away. Time's attention settled on me, heavy and deliberate.

When it didn't lift after several heartbeats, I looked up. He didn't avert his gaze. Didn't blink. Unease crawled up my spine.

"Is… something wrong?" Silence stretched thin. I shifted under the weight of his stare, discomfort mounting by the second, until he finally spoke.

"Karma saw something in you," he said evenly.

"Something that compelled her to take you in. To choose you." My skin prickled.

"She does not grant that trust lightly, especially not to a human. But she is wise." His eyes sharpened.

"I do not question her judgment."

"…Okay?" I said carefully. Why now? If this mattered, why hadn't he said something earlier, when he'd learned I was her Chosen? Time ignored the unspoken question. The tension thickened again before he continued, his voice quieter, but infinitely more dangerous.

"Know this, human. Karma is my highest priority. No harm will come to her. Not by intent. Not by negligence." His gaze cut like a poisoned blade.

"I will do whatever is required to ensure that remains true. Do you understand?" The message was clear. Hurt her, and you will not survive it. The air seemed to compress around my lungs. I swallowed, nodding once.

"Noted." Okay, so… a shovel talk from Time himself. That hadn't been on my bucket list, but at least his sudden intensity made sense now. He'd hauled me off the ground out of worry for Karma, so I probably should have seen this coming. Though…was it still considered a shovel talk when it's not about a romantic relationship? Meh, whatever. The pressure eased. His expression softened, severity giving way to something more neutral.

"Good. Then we have an understanding." He turned partially toward the shifting ocean of sand, his tone turning solemn once more.

"You have been chosen for a task that will decide the fate of Nexus. Do not squander the honor that has been placed upon you." No pressure at all. The corner of his mouth twitched as he glanced back at me.

"It is a heavy burden, but I believe you will bear it." A snort escaped me before I could stop it.

"Glad one of us has that kind of faith." Considering how my first visit had gone, optimism felt… premature. Time hummed, eyes returning to the horizon.

"You will not be alone this time. If something feels amiss–if you have questions–I will intervene. There will be no repetition of past failures." I still didn't love the idea of divine supervision, but… having him as a safety net beat another disaster like Silas. Letting the topic drop, I scanned the dunes.

"Is Karma here?" He'd said she was resting, but I didn't feel her presence the way I had on Earth. Did it go away when spirits slept? …Did spirits even sleep? Time exhaled softly.

"Spirits can sleep as mortals do, though we rarely choose to. Our power wanes during such rest." Interesting. It didn't escape me that he'd answered the second question without touching the first. Knowing full well he could hear my thoughts, I raised an eyebrow. You didn't dodge that by accident. His expression shuttered instantly, the earlier amusement vanishing beneath cold calculation. I sighed internally.

Working with him was going to be an absolute delight, especially if asking about Karma put him on edge every time.