Tethered to Fate

As time passes by, Kael walks into the nearby town of Alderwick with Zarik, Aubrey and Zarex. The somewhat large town seemed empty at first glance, but in the distance, Kael notices a large group of people huddling together at the town's plaza. Kael glances at the others, noticing their confused and worried faces. He takes the lead, walking towards the concerningly quiet crowd. He steps through the crowd, the other three saints following as Aubrey apologizes for their rudeness.

Once he reaches the center of the crowd, he sees a mechanical cube hovering above the ground at eye level. It glows with a dark purple energy as it slowly spins. The people of this village stare at it, and then at each other, and back at the cube. Kael walks up to the cube, taking a closer look at it. It's white, covered in golden markings with a symbol that shows a snake ingesting its own tail. After examining it a little longer, he says "I've never seen a symbol like this before…"

Kael stares at it with an intense look. Even in the previous timeline, he doesn't remember seeing anything like it. It seems like it was the result of someone's magic and engineering. If that's true, this would be the doing of someone from the Ormanthus kingdom. Kael continues staring at the cube, his thoughts meticulously intertwining with one another to find a probable conclusion. Though he could sense something familiar emanating from the cube. Zarex walks up next to him, carefully gazing at the object. "If Emilia were here, she could tell us if this is the work of dark magic or something else entirely. For now, we need to move the citizens away in case this thing decides to go off."

Kael, finally pulls himself out his thoughts as he glances at Zarex. Aubrey speaks up from behind the two of them but she isnt talking to us. She gets the attention of the crowd, telling them to back away and return to their homes. Of course, they listened to her, even if they were hesitant. She was a Saint of Persia after all.

From what Kael remembers, saints are one of the highest titles you can have in Persia. They also are symbols of the gods divine will, which is revered by most. Of course saints are only a term that is used in Persia, there are other continents that have people like the saints. Blessed by the gods, and looked up to by others. Zarik also helps with the dispersing crowd. And now, there's just us 4 and the mysterious cube.

I turn my gaze back to the cube as I reach out, covering my hand with a small amount of dark and reddish color. As soon as I touch it, there's a pulse of energy that blasts us back slightly. I quickly get my balance back, as I glance at the others. They're more cautious and worried now. I turn back to the cube, its rotation is increasing, getting faster and faster by the second. Purple electricity emanates from it, coming in contact with the ground as it sends small cracks through it.

I furrow my brow, staring at the cube. I'm not sure what's gonna happen but i don't think anyone will like it if this keeps going. The sound of electricity crackles in the air wind picking up and forming a typhoon around the cube. I can't let this continue. I draw my sword. And stab.

The cube stays in contact as it grinds against the tip of my sword, sending sparks flying and dust kicking up from its increasing speed. Damn it. Zarex leaps forward, drawing his sword and infusing it with divine energy in one smooth motion. He slices downwards, it doesn't slice through, but we hear a slight crack. Then another burst of energy ripples through us, stronger than the last. It pushes us back once again as the ground below us cracks even more.

Suddenly, there's a sound that sends a shiver down our spines from the pure noise. We all recognize the sound. A War Construct. Instead of a crystal, it formed from a cube? Is there a corrupted crystal inside? Possibly. but I've never seen one that glowed purple. And from the power its formation is emitting alone, it must be significantly stronger than the red core ones I've faced until now.

The ground crumbles and buildings collapse, but instead of falling to the ground, they all shoot towards the cube, liquifying as it comes into contact with it. The ground shatters as the cube continues to pour energy into the formation of the Construct. Buildings crumble, yet instead of falling to the earth, the debris seems to be sucked towards the cube, melding into a molten mass. Kael watches through blurred eyes as the rubble forms around the cube, coalescing into the shape of a massive War Construct. The creature's form is built of white and gold, but the energy surrounding it crackles with dark purple lightning, almost as if it's been corrupted. This is unlike any War Construct Kael has ever encountered.

As I begin to use more of my aura, pain shoots through my body. I drop my sword and collapse to the ground as golden and red light pulse through my veins. I try to stand up and fight but my body refuses, pain continuing to rush through my body.

Zarex quickly picks Kael up and jumps away from the Construct. He can barely see it from this angle but it's almost fully formed. Damn it, my body won't obey me!

Aubrey and Zarik quickly go to evacuate the citizens, keeping a close eye on the Construct. Zarex sits me down, leaning me against a building. I use every bit of strength to speak.

"Stop..it."

Zarex nods and turns towards the War Construct. Aubrey and Zarik return from moving the citizens away to a safer area. "Looks like we'll have to deal with this before we can get back to the city" Zarex says in a stern but focused voice, staring directly at the Construct. Aubrey nervously gazes at Kael's glowing and unconscious body. "Umm, will he be alright?"

"Unfortunately, we don't have the luxury to worry about him right now." Zarik starts walking towards the Construct. It has no weapon but it has a dark purple aura shifting around it. It's strong. He grips his sword, condensing the divine magic around it and his body. Aubrey and Zarex, in sync, sprint to the rear of the Construct. They both burst from behind, one aiming a strike at its torso while one aims a strike towards its helmet. Then suddenly, the Construct turns around and blocks both their strikes. It grabs Zarex's sword and attempts to throw it away, but Zarex holds firm as he presses harder. His teeth clenched.

Zarik comes from above, slashing downwards towards the Construct. It barely dodges, getting a shallow slash through its chestplate. Aubrey takes the chance to rush forward, aiming a multitude of strikes towards the Construct. But it dodges. After the last swing misses, the construct gets ready to throw a punch but Zarex comes from behind Aubrey. His blade clashes with its fist, sending sparks flying through the air. Zarex didn't realize it before but just now. It dodged. No War Construct was sentient enough to dodge. They were just aggressive and strong magic knights that had the intelligence of a raging bear.

The Construct slams its knee into Zarex's stomach.

Damn it, I got lost in thought for a second! He gets sent flying towards the bell tower, slamming into the large bronze bell as it lets out a deafening noise.

GONNNG!!

Aubrey, seeing this, quickly goes to check on her brother, panicking donning her face, but suddenly, the Construct appears behind her, swinging a destructive fist towards her head.

CLANG!!

The fist comes into contact with Zariks glowing blade. "GO..! NOW!" Aubry nods and rushes towards the bell tower, jumping up to the top to check on Zarex. He's alive, just stunned.

She sighs in relief and turns back to join the fight, only to see Zarik getting kicked in the stomach and getting sent back. He uses his blade to stop his sliding. He stands up, coughing slightly but determined. He races forward, clashing his blade with the Constructs arm. He spins, scrapping the blade against its arm as he slices upwards, cutting a chunk of its helmet off.

The Construct nearly slams his other fist against him, but Aubrey intercepts the blow with her sword. The force from it sends a ripple of uncomfortable and painful surges through her bones. She ignores it and quickly retaliates, slashing at its arm. It cuts off at its elbow. Zarex takes the chance to bring his blade down, aiming at the shallow wound on the Constructs chest plate.

As soon as he brings it down, the arm that Aubrey cuts off, explodes. They both get sent flying into buildings, some crumbling under the force. Zarex shoots down from the top of the bell tower, slamming into the Construct with enough force to create a small crater in the ground. He pierces his sword into the Constructs chest plate, but he misses the core. It grabs him by the face, slamming him into the ground, sending a web of cracks through it. Zarex gets dazed once again but snaps out of it, his eyes glowing a bright blue. His anger pushed him forward. He grits his teeth and grabs the Constructs arm and slices it in one swift motion. He quickly throws it into the air as it explodes in a dark purple aura, sending a shockwave throughout the area. The Construct lets out a deafening screech, but is quickly silenced once he pierces through its throat, slashing downwards through his core. His blade glowing a bright blue.

A final burst of energy erupts through the area as the War Construct crumbles into purple dust and gets blown in the wind. Disappearing. Zarex quickly runs towards Aubrey, who's groaning in pain but conscious. He then runs towards Zarik, seeing his broken armor pieces under rubble. A wave of despair threatens to wash over him as he pulls him out, taking his helmet off to confirm. After a second, he sighs in relief as he hears the shallow sound of his breathing. He quickly takes off his armor, leaving him in a thin layer of leather clothes. He carries him to where he put Kael, gently laying him down next to him. He turns to go get Aubrey but she's already slowly working her way over, limping slightly. He quickly moves over to help her. "Did you break anything?" he says, glancing at her leg that's dragging behind her. "No, but it definitely hurts to lean on it." she says, a slight nervous but accepting smile on her face.

He nods and sits her down next to Zarik. He quickly places a hand on her leg, focusing his divine energy into her leg, slowly healing it. "I can only heal it enough so that you can walk on it, itll still be in a bit of pain though" He stands up. "Are the civilians in another town?"

She nods before responding, "They're in the town of Kenith, took the shortcut through the woods, there weren't that many people so they should all be taken care of now." Zarex looks around, seeing a horse stable in the distance. "Wait for me." He quickly moves towards the stables, grabbing a horse. He moves around and pulls a cart towards the horse, attaching it to its reigns. He leads the horse back to the group. Aubrey stands up, using the wall to help her. She grabs Kael, moving him onto the cart. Zarex picks up Zarik, placing him on the cart as well. Aubrey gets on as he gets on the horse.

He looks back at the destruction. Collapsed buildings and a large crater in the ground from the explosion. He steels himself, knowing this isn't gonna be the last time they encounter something like this. He turns and moves the horse to the path that leads to the capital of Perisa, leaving the destroyed town plaza behind.

In the darkness, there's nothing—no light, no sound, no sense of time. Kael floats in a void, untethered, weightless. His body is gone, and yet he is still...aware. His mind is adrift, like a leaf caught in an endless current. There is no pain here, no crushing pressure, no fear. Just silence.

And yet he feels something. A presence.

He opens his mental eyes—does he even have eyes here?--and looks into the void around him. It's as if he's in a place that shouldn't exist, a realm beyond time and space. A familiar sense of wrongness wraps around him like a shroud, and he's not alone. There's something watching him. Something ancient.

"Who...?" Kael's voice echoes in the emptiness, though no sound leaves his lips. He doesn't know if the words are even his, or if they are the thoughts of some other being. He tries to focus, to bring his thoughts into sharper clarity, but they slip like water through his fingers.

A figure emerges from the void. A silhouette at first—faint and indistinct, like a shadow caught in a dream. But it sharpens, taking form. A figure cloaked in swirling robes of darkness, a crown of stars spinning above their head. Their face is hidden, obscured by a mask of shifting shadows that seems to warp and change with every blink. Yet, Kael knows—knows in his core—that this is a god.

The one who has always been there, watching, manipulating, judging.

The God of Fate.

"You're awake," the voice is soft, but its weight presses against Kael's very soul. It is not a voice he hears with his ears, but something deeper. In his bones. In his thoughts. It is a voice that does not need to speak to be understood. "I was wondering when you would finally notice."

Kael doesn't answer at first. He can't. His thoughts are tangled, his mind still struggling to understand where he is, what is happening. His hand rises instinctively, but it goes through the figure, as if the God of Fate exists not as a being, but as an idea—something that transcends the physical.

"What do you want?" Kael asks, the question slipping out more out of instinct than actual defiance. His will is flickering, weaker here, as though he's being drawn into something he has no control over.

"I want nothing," the god replies, their voice laced with a strange amusement. "You're the one who sought me out."

Kael doesn't respond to that. His mind races, fighting against the feeling of being lost in this place. He has been here before—this place of cold certainty, of unyielding fate. He recognizes it. This is not the first time his will has clashed with the God of Fate. But it is different now.

"You think you've freed yourself, don't you?" the voice muses, a gentle mockery in its tone. "But even in your defiance, you are still bound. You cannot escape me. I am not a force you can defeat. I am the inevitable. The end that comes to all things. Your defiance is merely a momentary distraction."

Kael's heart flares with renewed anger. His chest tightens as he pushes against the constraints that this god has placed upon him, even in this space of nothingness. "You can't control me anymore," he says through gritted teeth. "I've broken free. I've won. I killed you."

There's a pause. A silence that feels as if the void itself is holding its breath. The god before him does not respond immediately, but Kael feels a shift, a subtle change in the air.

"You believe you have freed yourself, yes," the God of Fate finally says, voice tinged with something almost like pity. "But freedom... freedom is an illusion. You cannot escape what you are. You cannot escape your purpose, Kael."

The words sting, but Kael refuses to let them take root. He clenches his fists, though the action feels foreign, disconnected in this space. "I will carve my own path," he declares with quiet ferocity, though even to his ears, the words sound distant, as if they're spoken by someone far removed from the man he once was.

The God's form shifts, the mask flickering in and out of focus. The stars above their crown pulse brightly, casting a faint glow. "You believe you can change fate. You believe your willpower is enough to rewrite the threads of destiny."

The space around Kael shudders. His chest aches with a cold, piercing emptiness. "I can," Kael says, forcing himself to stand, though his legs feel like they're made of mist. "I will change it. I don't need your permission."

For a long moment, the God of Fate says nothing. Kael can feel the weight of their gaze, even if they have no eyes to see him with. And then, finally, the god speaks again, the voice quieter now, almost a whisper.

"You cannot outrun your own nature, Kael."

The void around Kael is a storm of disjointed images—memories of his past, flashes of battles he fought, people he's loved and lost, and the twisted machinations of those who used him. His mind, once sharp and clear, now feels muddied, as though a fog has settled deep within him. It isn't the pain of the magic that causes this fog, though—it's something else, something far more insidious.

He tries to focus, to break free from the haze, but it feels like there's something else inside his head, something foreign, something... wrong.

"You think you've escaped me," a voice whispers, smooth and soft, a voice Kael knows all too well. It's the God of Fate, or rather, a part of him. The god's voice echoes not from the world around him but from within—inside his very mind. The voice is soothing, gentle, and terrifyingly familiar. "But you have always been mine, Kael."

Kael recoils, his mind fighting against the words, but they don't stop. They don't fade. They pulse through him like a heartbeat.

"No," Kael thinks, his thoughts burning with the desire to break free, to tear himself from this nightmare. "I killed you. You're dead. I freed myself."

But the god's voice only laughs, a sound that reverberates inside Kael's skull.

"Did you? Or did you simply become me?"

The words slide into Kael's mind like a whisper in the dark, a dangerous seed of doubt. He shudders as he tries to push the voice out, but it's no use. He feels the presence, the weight of it, pressing down on his very soul. It is not an illusion. It is real. The god is not gone.

In his mind's eye, Kael can almost see it now—this god, not as a separate entity but intertwined with his very being. It is within him, a parasite, a shadow that haunts his every thought. A twisted bond, invisible but undeniable, ties him to the god, making Kael it's vessel whether he wishes it or not.

Kael's breath comes in shallow gasps, his chest tightening with panic. The god of fate has burrowed too deep into his psyche, binding itself to the very core of his existence.

He tries to scream, to push the presence away with all his might, but the god is inside him now, wrapping around him, embedding its power in his very bones.

"Do you feel it, Kael?" the voice murmurs, threading through his thoughts, carrying with it a strange, cold comfort. "The power you've taken is mine, and you cannot escape it. You never could. You've been part of my plan all along. Your rebellion, your defiance... It's all part of the dance. A glorious illusion of freedom, when in truth, you have always been mine."

Kael's vision flickers, the edges of his thoughts becoming warped, distorted. A series of images flashes in front of him, his life playing out like a series of cruel, unchangeable moments. He sees himself making choices, decisions that felt free at the time, but now, in the god's voice, they seem hollow. The weight of destiny presses against his chest as his past self—every choice, every path he thought was his own—feels orchestrated.

He was never free.

Not once.

A wave of despair floods through him, but just as quickly, it is replaced with a burning rage. "I will not be your pawn," Kael thinks through clenched teeth, his mind fighting back, even as his body trembles in response to the god's oppressive presence.

"You already are."

Kael stumbles as a surge of power overwhelms him. He feels it—his will, but the god's power coursing through him. It's a flood, an endless current, pulling him in two directions at once. He is Kael, and yet he is not. The two forces are coiled around each other, pulling him apart from within. His every breath feels like an echo of something far older, far greater, and infinitely more dangerous than anything he has ever known. The god's essence spreads through him, like fire spreading across dry wood.

"I will break free," Kael thinks desperately, even as his body trembles from the force of the power inside him. "I will control this power. I will be free."

But the god's voice is soft, cruel in its finality.

"No. You cannot. You are not the master here. You never have been. I have always been with you, Kael. You have always been a part of my plan. You are my vessel. You cannot fight what you are."

Kael's vision sways, his mind caught between his burning desire for freedom and the crushing weight of fate. The god's words cut deep, and for a moment, Kael feels it—the truth beneath the lies.

The connection is undeniable. He can feel it in his veins, in his bones. He is tethered to the god now, bound to fate in a way he never imagined. Even when he fought, even when he killed the god in his domain, the power, the essence, the very core of Fate has never left him. It lives within him now.

Kael's hand clenched into a fist. He can feel the power—surging, demanding to be wielded. His heart hammers in his chest, fighting against the god's pull, fighting against the path that seems to stretch before him, already set.

His mind flashes to the people he's sworn to protect, to those who depend on him. And yet, he can't shake the truth that lingers within him: the god is right. He's always been part of the plan.

He gasps, falling to his knees as the pressure builds, suffocating him. His mind screams, but there is nowhere to run. The god is inside him, a force that can never be outrun.

But somewhere in the depths of his thoughts, a flicker remains. The faintest spark of resistance.

No matter how much the god manipulates him, Kael knows one thing for certain: He is not done yet.

Kael shoots awake, quickly sitting up to look around at his surroundings. He's inside a completely white room with large windows on the right side and a table to his left, a hospital. He notices the bed he's in, nothing that he has experienced before. It's much more comfortable than sleeping on the grass or a cot. He places his feet on the ground, standing up as he walks to the window. He sees the bustling and lively city of Persia's capital, oblivious to the destruction on the outside. I sigh as I turn away and head to the door,opening it and walking out. As I exit the room, I see Zarex, Aubrey, Lucian and Emilia walking down the hall. They were turned away from me, heading further down the hallway and into a room. I silently follow them, walking up to the room and looking in. It's Zarik and he's wearing some sort of mask over his face and his body is covered in white cast.

They all look at him laying in the bed with concerned looks on their faces. I silently stand at the doorway, feeling mentally and physically tired from what happened in the void world. Im either fighting for my life or being crushed by the weight of the world or both. And when I do get breaks I'm either on the brink of collapsing or severely injured. I internally sigh, turning around as I slowly walk away. He opens the door to the courtyard, stepping out into the cool air. The bench is a welcome relief, and he sinks into it, letting out a slow, exhausted breath. He leans back, eyes staring up at the clear sky above, but it does little to soothe him.

His mind swirls with the pressure of it all. The weight of every battle, every sacrifice, and every promise he's made. The god's presence is still there, a quiet pulse at the back of his mind, like an invisible hand guiding him, pulling him toward something he can't escape.

He's been fighting so long, pushing himself beyond the limits of his body and mind. But is it really my will? He thinks to himself, hands gripping the edges of the bench, as though trying to hold onto the last thread of his own identity.

His thoughts flicker between memories—of the people he loves, the ones who are depending on him. But then there's the god's voice, insistent, pushing him toward a destiny already written. You're part of the plan, Kael. You always have been.

He clenches his teeth, trying to push the thought away. I'm not just a pawn, he tells himself. I am not.

But even in his defiance, doubt seeps in. Are these thoughts my own? The question rattles him, like a splinter in his mind that he can't remove.

He feels the god, always lurking, always there, like a silent force wrapping itself around his will. It's a sickening feeling, and it makes his chest tighten. Every action, every decision, feels weighted by the god's unseen hand. Every breath he takes feels like it's on borrowed time.

Kael closes his eyes, exhaling slowly. I'm probably just tired, he thinks. He wants to believe that. That all of this, the fatigue, the pressure, the doubts, are just a product of exhaustion. That once he rests, he can clear his mind. But deep down, he knows that it's not that simple.

He's not sure if his thoughts belong to him anymore. Maybe the god's influence has already taken root too deeply. But if that's true, then how can he still feel this rage, this defiance? How can he still feel anything if the god has already claimed him?

The breeze stirs the air around him, but it does little to clear the fog in his mind. He rubs his temples, trying to force the confusion away. One more day, he thinks, One more moment of clarity. I'll fight through this, I have to.

For now, though, he just sits there. Alone, weary, and lost in his thoughts. There's a part of him that wants to believe in his own freedom, but even that feels like a lie.

"I just don't know anything anymore"