Chapter 14: Goren: Meeting Death

  Chronos’ Time Realm was endless – but at the same time…not really.

  Once, Goren had tried sprinting toward one of the edges, hoping to see what other locations existed beyond the glass table at the center. But when he stopped and turned around, he noticed the table was still the same distance from him as before.

  Still, he had been running. He felt the movement. So how had he remained in the same place?

  He tried to run faster, but nothing changed – the strange paradox held. When he tried running backward, the table simply switched places, appearing behind him every time.

  At one point, Goren became convinced the table was sentient – maybe another past Champion of Chronos from a world where everyone was some kind of furniture. It became an inside joke for him and Pixelle. They even gave the table a name – Glassy. Simple, but effective.

  Chronos never offered an explanation either.

  And apparently, Balthor and Pixelle didn’t know the answer either.

  Chronos just chose to keep everyone in the dark, encouraging them to solve the table’s mystery themselves. He once said something along the lines of “You’re going to be supporting me for eternity – I need to keep you curious somehow.”

  In his spare time – which they had in abundance, especially during the thousand years between Battles – Goren trained.

  But not just absentmindedly, or to stay in shape. No. Nothing like that.

  He was training to kill a certain someone.

  He was training to kill Dolos.

  Now, after the private talk he had with Aureon when he visited earlier, the moment was closer than ever.

  He had promised himself he’d be the one to take the Lying God out of the equation for good.

  How do you even kill a god? Goren had no clue.

  But he would do whatever it took to find out. To make sure Dolos could never interfere again. Never ruin another world. Never destroy another life.

  “Babe, you coming?” Pixelle’s voice pulled Goren out of his thoughts. “We’re leaving.”

  Balthor stood beside her. Every once in a while, Chronos sent them on what he called…snack runs.

  He would literally open a portal to a different world – one far removed from anything Goren had ever imagined. And there, in what he could only describe as a massive warehouse marketplace filled with too many lights and colors, they’d push around strange metal carts on wheels, and exchange green pieces of paper – with portraits of some old men on them – called cash for Chronos’ favorite food.

  The first time Goren saw the place, he thought it was a temple of sorts. The stacks of food feeling like a sacrifice to some god. Now, already knowing what it was, he just called it “The Massive Barn with the Endless Shelves.”

  He usually loved these errands. Visiting other worlds was always exciting, always surreal. But today…he wasn’t feeling it. His talk with Aureon earlier was still ringing in his mind.

  “I don’t think I’ll join this time.” He said, smiling at her. “Still not done with my workout.”

  “You’re already jacked enough. C’mon, come with. Pleeeeease.” She whined, making what she’d once told him was called a “puppy face”.

  But Goren couldn’t shake the unease pressing against his chest.

  Still, he didn’t show it.

  To keep her from worrying, he smiled back warmly. But before he could say anything more, Chronos – seated beside the glass table, eyes glued to a book – spoke without looking up.

  “I actually need Goren to stay.”

  Everyone’s eyes turned sharply to the God of Time. His gaze, however, remained fixed on the pages in his hands.

  “Don’t worry.” He added without lifting his eyes. “You’re not in trouble.”

  Pixelle, Balthor, and Goren exchanged glances. Eventually, Pixelle shrugged and turned to Goren.

  “I’ll get you your favorite – chocolate-coated blackberries.”

  Goren placed a dramatic hand on his chest. “Oh, I’m not worthy of your love.”

  Pixelle giggled, and then she and Balthor stepped through the shimmering blue portal. It closed behind them, leaving Goren and Chronos alone in the realm.

  Of course, Goren had already finished the workout earlier. And now, after Chronos had said what he said, the curiosity was almost killing him.

  'Had Chronos overheard what Aureon and I were talking about?' He wondered.

  He jumped up to his feet and sat on the chair across from Chronos. “So…why did you want me to stay?”

  “I didn’t.” Chronos said, turning a page in his book. “I just noticed you didn’t want to go with them, so I gave you a reason to stay.”

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  Goren’s eyes widened slightly in relief.

  ‘So Chronos doesn't seem to know…’ he thought. ‘Or…he's just pretending he doesn't.’

  Either way, Goren eased back into his usual playfulness.

  “Would you look at that? Two thousand years with me and you’re finally picking up on small social cues like this? Spellsword would be proud.”

  Chronos chuckled under his breath but didn’t respond. His gaze stayed locked on the book.

  “What are you reading?” Goren asked, leaning in.

  “A journal.” Chronos replied. “It’s about Solvane.”

  “Solvane?” Goren echoed, interest piqued.

  But before he could ask more, Chronos spoke again.

  “We’re going to have a visitor in a moment.”

  Goren raised an eyebrow. “Another visitor? Who?”

  “Thanata.”

  A chill ran down Goren’s spine at the mention of Lady Death’s name.

  The last, and first, time he saw her – back when he was still alive and in the cursed tomb of Gaelith – she had paralyzed both him and Aidan. She was ready and willing to reap their souls with her windmill-tall scythe. Until Chronos asked her to stop.

  Which, to his eternal shock, she did.

  Apparently, the two were friends – despite being opposites. Thanata governed death, while Chronos governed time – in many ways, life itself.

  “I wanted to ask for her help.” Chronos continued.

  “Help?” Goren echoed. “Isn’t she Erebus’ daughter? What kind of help do you expect to get from the daughter of you enemy?”

  “You know she doesn’t really take sides. She just is.” Chronos replied, casually brushing aside Goren’s concerns. “I wanted to see if she can help me observe Solvane more clearly. Viktor just started his third loop, and I could barely see anything he did on his second. That needs to change. Fast. Before too many loops are wasted.”

  Goren nodded slowly. He understood the need to ask for help, even if he didn’t entirely agree with who Chronos had invited.

  “One hundred twenty-three loops only sound like a lot…” Chronos went on.

  “It’s more than what Aidan had.” Goren pointed out.

  “Each world has its own complexities that justify the number of runs they're given.” Chronos said. “For comparison, this cycle's number of runs is still nowhere near what Pix had in her Battle.”

  Goren’s eyes widened. Pixelle didn’t talk much about her Battle against Erebus, and how she saved her world – so he knew little about it.

  Before he could try asking Chronos about it, the God of Time spoke again.

  “Thanata’s here. Stay at least three steps away from her at all times, unless you want to experience that petrifying paralysis again.”

  Goren nodded, swallowing hard at the memory of their previous meeting.

  And then, without a sound, a black portal tore open in the air in front of them.

  From within stepped Lady Death.

  But she was nothing like the towering, cloaked nightmare Goren remembered from their first meeting in Gaelith’s tomb.

  She was…a young woman.

  Her skin was pale and sharply contrasted with her big black eyes. Her hair was long, flowing, and ink-dark, spilling over her shoulders like liquid shadows.

  ‘I can see the family resemblance.’ Goren noted at the sight of her shadowy hair.

  She wore a long, layered dress made of stiff, overlapping fabric that reminded Goren of the noble ladies from Tepan – his home kingdom. It looked heavy, and old, but also regal.

  In one hand, she held her scythe. But it looked…awfully normal. Physical. Not the massive shadowy weapon that had stolen the breath from his lungs the first time he saw her. But even now, it looked like it absorbed light. Thanata herself looked like she did as well – the world around her just felt dimmer.

  Her expression was flat. Indifferent. But when her eyes briefly passed over Goren, he could’ve sworn he saw a flicker of disappointment.

  “Thanata, welcome. I’m glad you made it.” Chronos said, smiling softly and stepping forward.

  A third chair materialized near the table – far enough from Goren to obey the three step-rule. The glass table itself just magically stretched, reshaping into a long rectangle without a sound.

  “I thought we’d be meeting alone.” She said, her voice low, smooth…and bored.

  “I thought it would benefit Goren to join us.” Chronos replied, smiling warmly at her.

  She glanced at Goren, who returned an awkward grin.

  She sighed – sounding just slightly more annoyed than she already looked.

  “Delightful.” She said, making it sound the opposite of what the word meant.

  She sat down without another word, and Chronos returned to his chair as well.

  “Tea?” He asked.

  Before anyone could answer, three porcelain cups filled with steaming green tea appeared in front of them on the glass table.

  “You know, that’s not how I imagined you looked like under the cloak.” Goren said at last, unable to keep his thoughts to himself any longer. “And it’s definitely not how I imagined Death would look like if it had a human form.”

  “Rude.” She replied, lifting the cup to her lips and turning slightly away, disinterested.

  Chronos shot Goren a scolding look, then offered an apology on his behalf. “Sorry, Thana. I’m sure he meant it in a good way.”

  ‘Thana?’ Goren blinked. ‘Just how close are these two?!’

  “I’m sure he did. Delightful.” She turned back, sipping her tea gracefully before continuing. “Why did you call me?”

  Chronos took a slow breath, then began to explain. He described in technical, god-level detail how Solvane’s layered structure interfered with his vision.

  “I was wondering – “

  Thanata cut him off sharply. “I can’t help you, Chronos.”

  “I know you won’t betray your father. I’m not asking you to. I just want to know if there’s a way to – “

  “Still. I can’t help.” She said, her tone final.

  Chronos sighed, looking defeated. “Well, it was worth a try.”

  “Solvane is just one world, Chronos.” Thanata said. “Even if you end up losing it…it will be the last one.”

  Both Goren and Chronos raised an eyebrow.

  “What?” they said in unison.

  Thanata sipped her tea again, unbothered. “I haven’t been sitting idly for the past few millennia, mind you. I’ve long questioned Father’s purge protocols – how sustainable and justified they truly are in the grand scheme of things. Things must change.”

  Goren’s eyes widened in disbelief.

  ‘Darkness’ daughter wants to put an end to her father’s eternal purge?’ He wondered. ‘That sounds highly illogical.’

  “That’s why we’re working with Themis on – “

  She cut off Chronos sharply. “I don’t expect Themis or any of the other stooges to do anything. They are neck-deep in bureaucracy to be of any use.”

  Chronos leaned forward, his tone growing curious. “What plan do you have in mind?”

  She sighed. “Now is not the time to discuss it.”

  Chronos shook his head. “I’ve long searched for a way to stop Erebus for good. Such way doesn’t exist, Thana. Whatever plan you’ve come up with – I’ve likely tried it before. And failed.”

  She smiled.

  Goren blinked. It was brief, almost invisible – but it happened.

  “I assure you, my plan is unlike anything you’ve tried before.” She said. “It’s a new approach. One that will set a new natural order…and bring lasting peace to all. A peace where you no longer have to risk your godly soul every thousand years.

  “You’d be free of this burden.”

  “It’s not a burden.” Chronos replied, shaking his head. “It’s my purpose. That’s why he created me.”

  She looked at him for a long moment, then shook her head in return.

  “Each lost loop taints your soul with my father’s blight with everlasting effects. Your purpose will lead you to your grave eventually. And I intend to do everything in my power to make sure that doesn’t happen.”

  She finished the rest of her tea in a final, soundless sip. Then she stood, just as the black portal from which she had come reappeared behind her.

  Before stepping through, she paused – one last glance at Chronos.

  “When the time to act comes, I’ll be in touch.” She said. “But until then…stay safe, Chronos.”

  Her voice softened just slightly.

  “I do not grant you permission to die.”