Chương 64: 064

I waited until Dominicus and Dura had drifted off before confronting Time. At some point, he'd rolled up his sleeves. Dark bruises pooled beneath his eyes, shadows carved deep by exhaustion. I'd tried, more than once, to convince him to rest, but he'd refused every time. His stubborn resolve might've been admirable if it weren't going to bite us both tomorrow. Or later today, depending on how charitable one felt. I reached out and caught his arm, clearing my throat.

"We should call it a night." He looked, there was no kinder way to put it, like hell. Whatever questions I still had about Karma could wait. He huffed and shot me an exasperated look.

"I already told you how I met Karma. Why are you so fixated on this?" The words didn't register at first. When they did, I froze. Did you just hear my thoughts again? Time frowned, his head tilting slightly as his gaze dropped to my hand gripping his arm. … Apparently so. At least that meant we had privacy for the conversation I actually needed to have. He raised an eyebrow, mouth flattening into a firm line. I am not answering more questions about Karma unless you explain why this matters so much to you.

I waved a hand, resisting the urge to speak aloud. That's not what I'm asking about. Not entirely. With a weary sigh, he gestured for me to continue. Remembering what he'd let slip earlier, I chose my words carefully. You said the slime tried to force Karma into a marriage. How could a mortal even attempt that? She could just disappear into the Inbetween, right? Time went rigid. His eyes snapped to mine, a scowl curling his lips. Curse this blasted exhaustion. You did not hear that. Do you understand?

For the sake of your own well-being, you heard nothing. I barely managed not to snort. You can't just will me into forgetting something. He shook his head, irritation bleeding into self-reproach. This knowledge is guarded for a reason, Nikolas. No mortal is meant to know it. If word spread that you do, you could be hunted. Tortured. I raised an eyebrow. As if that wouldn't happen anyway. I shrugged. I came here expecting to face every bastard on the continent. I don't care.

And if you're worried about me talking, don't be. My pain tolerance is obscene. They wouldn't get a word out of me. Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. The memory surfaced unbidden. Cold stone. Steel biting into my chest. The stink of damp and rust. Eyes watching from the dark. My stomach twisted. At least now, the pain wasn't constant. At least now, there was a chance it wouldn't happen again. Time stiffened, alarm cutting sharp across his features.

"What was that?" I glanced around, half-expecting Dominicus to jolt awake, but the clearing remained still. The others slept on. Time pressed a hand to his mouth and shook his head, eyes rolling faintly. I was referring to your thoughts. Oh. So he could see memories too. And I'd just shown him the basement. Fantastic. Something slick and heavy settled in my chest. I shoved it aside and dragged the conversation back where it belonged. Don't dodge the question. How could a mortal force Karma into anything? Blackmail?

If that were the case, I'd hunt them down and gut them for her. A life as a cockroach would be too good for someone like that. Time's scowl softened, briefly illuminated by a flicker of vicious approval. Then he sighed and shook his head. No. Karma would never allow herself to be controlled that way… but she was not always the spirit you know. I snorted. That's hard to picture. People changed, I knew that better than most. But Karma? All fire and life and unshakable presence? She was a force of nature.

Time's mouth curved into a small, pained smile. She was like that long before becoming a spirit. Everything screeched to a halt. I whipped around so fast my neck protested. Wait, what? Before she was a spirit? Spirits didn't work that way. They were born into it. Time himself was. He cast a wary glance toward our sleeping companions, then dragged his gaze back to mine. The weight in it made my chest tighten. Near the dawn of Nexus, he said quietly, after the old gods shattered in their final battle…

Karma was mortal. And you cannot share this with anyone. I hadn't planned to. I was still trying to process the fact that spirits could even be mortal. Then again, Time was one now. Maybe it wasn't as impossible as it sounded. I focused on him. Spirits were mortal? He made a vague, balancing gesture. Most of them. But this knowledge must remain secret. Do you understand me? If it spreads, it would endanger everyone, spirits and mortals alike. A chill slid down my spine. I finally understood his paranoia.

If spirits had once been mortal, then there was a way to become one. People would tear Nexus apart searching for it. Some truths were universal, no matter the world. Those obsessed with power and immortality never changed. Time nodded. Exactly. That is why you must swear to me. I didn't hesitate. I swear. This stays with me. No matter what. It would put the spirits at risk, and even if part of me wanted to watch the world burn, I would never endanger Karma. Or Time.