It had been a month now, and every morning without fail, Aric was the first to arrive at the construction site. His eyes swept across each project, calmly assessing progress and pinpointing what still needed work.
By midday, sweat soaked through his shirt as he worked alongside the dwarves and townsfolk.
When dusk fell, most workers retired to their homes or the inn, exhausted but satisfied. But not Aric.
And, surprisingly, not Seraphina either—despite the fact that Aric had told her repeatedly to rest, to take advantage of the comfort he couldn't afford himself.
She stayed. Every single day. Watching silently as he tested new inventions or made final adjustments to completed structures.
This evening was no different. Aric was once again working past sundown, and Seraphina lingered beside him as they inspected the newly rebuilt Mira's Bakery.
A place once reduced to ash by Vayne's whims, simply because he claimed it lacked 'flavour'.
"What's your favorite cake?" Aric asked out of nowhere as he was adjusting the inner part of a conventional oven
Seraphina raised an eyebrow, "Cake? Why are you asking about something so trivial?"
He shrugged, adjusting the temperature dial on the oven,
"Just trying to make conversation. Humour me."
She sighed softly, "Chocolate. Dark chocolate, preferably."
Aric smirked faintly, jotting down notes mentally.
"Got it. Anything else? Frosting preference? Nuts?"
"No nuts." she replied curtly, "And well, maybe some flower patterns on the cake."
As they left the bakery and walked toward the inn, Aric continued making small talk, determined to bridge the gap between them.
"Do you think Mira will handle the bakery well?" he asked, glancing at her profile
"She seems capable enough." Seraphina replied,
"Though I doubt anyone will forget whose fault it was that Ashwick fell apart in the first place."
Aric nodded, accepting her words without argument.
"Fair point. But maybe someday they'll see it wasn't entirely me."
They reached the inn, its windows glowing warmly against the cool night air. Inside, laughter and chatter spilled out, a testament to the growing community.
"You did good today." Seraphina admitted reluctantly, pausing at the entrance.
"The townsfolk respects you and they're starting to trust you, even if they don't say it outright."
Aric smiled faintly, "Thanks. That means a lot."
Seraphina turned away, pushing open the door,
"Don't get used to compliments." she said over her shoulder.
"Wouldn't dream of it." Aric murmured, following her inside.
In the infinite expanse of Ivy's realm, she reclined lazily on her couch. She munched contentedly on a bag of chips. With each bite, tiny particles of seasoning floated off the chip, transforming mid-air into miniature stars that shimmered across the remnants of her chaotic galaxy backdrop.
One of the floating screens nearby displayed Aric and Seraphina sleeping side by side. Ivy leaned in slightly, watching the soft rhythm of their breaths as she replayed the audio of their conversation—word for word, tone for tone.
Ivy grinned widely, tossing another chip into her mouth.
"Look at them! Heart-to-heart talks! Three months in, and they're already skipping ahead to Year One milestones. My administrator is good."
But just as Ivy leaned back to enjoy another chip, a soft voice interrupted her blissful moment.
"Oh, Ivy." came the gentle yet teasing tone of her friend—the Being.
She was dressed in pure white robes and materialized gracefully beside Ivy. She held a delicate teacup filled with steaming tea.
Ivy nearly choked on her slushy, "What the fuck! You almost gave me a heart attack! What are you doing here? I thought I made it clear—I've got new galaxies to oversee, and I fixed the black hole incident, okay? Don't nag at me!"
The Being raised an eyebrow while sipping her tea calmly.
"My, my, aren't we responsible today? Fixing mistakes so quickly—you really are growing up."
Ivy rolled her eyes, "Yeah, yeah, laugh it up. But seriously, you're interrupting my moment. Can't you see? Aric and Seraphina are having a breakthrough! This is huge!"
Her friend tilted her head thoughtfully, glancing briefly at the screen,
"Hmm. Interesting, isn't it? He's speeding things up significantly. Almost unnaturally so."
She paused, setting her teacup down on Ivy's table,
"Speaking of which… you need to attend the meeting."
Ivy froze mid-bite, her chip hovering inches from her mouth.
"Wait, what? No way. Not now. I'm busy."
"He's waiting." the Being replied smoothly, unfazed by Ivy's protests.
"You can't keep avoiding these discussions forever."
"I'm not avoiding anything!" Ivy snapped,
"I'm just… prioritizing my responsibilities. And right now, my responsibility is making sure administrator Aric doesn't screw everything up."
The Being sighed deeply, shaking her head.
"Fine. Let me rephrase; If you don't come willingly, I'll drag you there myself. Your choice."
Ivy groaned loudly, slumping back onto her couch.
"Ugh, fine. But only because you're my buddy and I owe you one."
With a triumphant smile, the being extended her hand, and in an instant, both of them vanished from Ivy's domain, leaving behind only the faint potatoes.
They arrived in a lush, ethereal garden bathed in perpetual twilight. Golden lanterns hung from trees with silver bark, casting soft light over pristine pathways lined with blooming flowers. At the center of the garden stood a grand pavilion, its marble columns adorned with intricate carvings.
First, there was Nathaniel, the God of Inevitability. Clad in a tailored suit of pure black, his dark sunglasses obscured his piercing gaze, though his rich, velvety voice carried an unmistakable air of arrogance.
Beside him stood two other deities. The first was Lysandra, the Goddess of Love and the ruling deity of Narxiua, the world Aric now inhabited. Her flowing crimson gown pulsed with warmth.
The second was Aurelius, the God of Balance, his golden armour faintly glowing even in the dim light.
Also present were the maid and butler—both protectors of the purgatory plane. The maid, named Celestia, wore a sleek white uniform that accentuated her radiant beauty, while the butler, Orion, exuded quiet strength in his immaculate black attire.
Both nodded respectfully as Ivy and the Being entered.
"About time." Nathaniel drawled, "We were beginning to wonder if you'd forgotten how to teleport."
Ivy shot him a glare, "Oh, shut up, you man-whore!"
She gestured wildly at the Being. "You said there'd only be me, you, and that infuriating bastard! Who invited lover girl and scale master over there?!"
Lysandra giggled softly, covering her mouth with her hand.
"Relax, Ivy. We're just here to observe."
"And maybe offer some insight." Aurelius added diplomatically.
Ivy flopped dramatically into her seat beside the Being. Her form flickered slightly with residual anger.
"Well?" she snapped, leaning forward, "Are we done wasting time here? Or do you all want to sit around debating philosophy?"
"It's not about wasting time." Lysandra replied calmly,
"We're discussing the consequences of rewriting fate. An act that disrupts not only individual lives but entire realities."
Nathaniel smirked lazily, adjusting his dark sunglasses with one hand.
"Oh, come now, Ivy. You know better than anyone how delicate these threads are. Your little...experiment with the administrator Aric has already destabilized multiple timelines. And for what? A fleeting chance at redemption?"
"Fleeting chance?" Ivy spat, "Aric isn't just some pawn in your inevitability games, Nathaniel. He's rewritten fate once—something none of you thought possible and he'll do it again if given half the opportunity."
"And therein lies the problem." Nathaniel countered smoothly,
"Inevitability exists for a reason, Ivy. It ensures balance. Order. When mortals or even beings like yourself interfere too directly, chaos ensues. Need I remind you of the Callista incident?"
"Don't you dare bring that up!" Ivy hissed, slamming her palm onto the table between them.
"All I did was heal him before the confrontation and coach him about Callista. I gave him the original plan—the one all of you agreed to but he went and made his own decision. But honestly?"
"What's the harm, huh? Penelope lives because of him. Callista might still change thanks to the humiliation Aric put her through. Isn't that better than what was supposed to happen?"
"Better?" Nathaniel said sarcastically,
"You think sparing Penelope is 'better' when it disrupts the entire chain of events meant to unfold? Her death after the negotiation was pivotal—not just for Aric, but for everyone involved. It forced Callista to confront her own action, which ultimately led to her fall. Without that catalyst, she remains unchecked."
"And let's not forget the angel who was supposed to intervene on Callista's behalf. He never arrived, did he? Because your meddling altered the timeline. You've unraveled threads we can't simply tie back together."
Ivy fingers curled into fists,
"So what if the timeline changed? Maybe this new path is exactly what they needed. Have you considered that? That perhaps inevitability isn't as infallible as you claim?"
"You're gambling your position on this, Ivy!" Nathaniel remarked
"Do you truly believe Aric can defy inevitability indefinitely? That he won't eventually succumb to it?"
Her eyes narrowed. "Maybe he will. Maybe he won't. But don't act like Penelope surviving is some kind of tragedy. She deserves a chance, Nathaniel—everyone does. Even Callista."
"If Aric's choice allowed Penelope to live, then isn't that good? And even if he denied the angel that was supposed to come, Callista still has free will. That means she still has a shot at redemption."
"So yeah... the risk is worth taking, in my humble opinion."
"And what of the others?" Nathaniel countered,
"The countless lives tied to these events? Every action has consequences, Ivy. You've set off a chain reaction."
Ivy leaned back in her chair, her expression shifting from fury to defiance.
"Man fuck you. Watch him deny your bullshit." Ivy said while flipping him off.
The room fell silent for a moment, the weight of her threat hanging heavy in the air.
The Being placed a gentle hand on Ivy's shoulder, "Enough. This isn't helping anyone."
"Aric has rewritten fate once." The Being continued,
"Whether by accident or design, he's proven capable of altering outcomes deemed impossible. For better or worse, we must adapt to this new reality and craft a timeline that accommodates his actions."
"But at what cost?" Lysandra interjected quietly,
"Every action carries repercussions. If we allow administrator Aric to continue unchecked, the ripple effects could destabilize far more than just simple life and death. The world, Narxiua, might fall again."
"Exactly." Nathaniel chimed in, seizing the opening.
"Inevitability serves as a safeguard against such chaos. To disregard it entirely is reckless—borderline suicidal."
Ivy scoffed loudly, rolling her eyes,
"Spare me the doom-and-gloom speeches. We've heard them before. But let me ask you something, 'oh great' overseer of inevitabilities: did any of your precious predictions account for Aric stepping outside my safest passage?"
"Did they account for him humiliating Lady Callista and securing royal notes without breaking a sweat? No, because inevitability doesn't factor in raw determination or sheer dumb luck."
"My prediction cube may be cracked, but it's still accurate. According to it, Aric should've stayed within the confines of the safest timeline—one where survival was guaranteed without catastrophic consequences. But he didn't."
"He strayed. He broke free. And guess what? Despite everything stacked against him, he's still standing."
"So no, I'm not buying into your inevitability nonsense. Aric will make sure any supposed 'inevitabilities' are lessened—or outright gone. Because that's who he is. A fighter and a thinker. Someone who refuses to accept failure as an option."
Finally, Aurelius spoke up, "While I admire your faith in Aric. But we cannot ignore the risks involved. Should he fail—and statistically speaking, the odds are overwhelmingly against him the fallout could destroy everything we've worked to preserve."
"Anomaly or not, we must not let him keep disrupting the timelines."
"I'm aware of the risks." Ivy shot back, her voice unwavering.
"But I'm also aware of the potential rewards. If Aric succeeds, he won't just rewrite his own fate—he'll redefine what's possible for everyone and what we currently know. Isn't that worth fighting for?"
Nathaniel chuckled darkly, shaking his head,
"Sentimental nonsense. Mortals are fleeting, Ivy. In the grand scheme of things, Aric is nothing more than a blip on the cosmic radar."
"Then why are you so threatened by him?" Ivy retorted,
"If he's such a blip, why does he bother you so much?"
Nathaniel's jaw tightened, "Because order demands structure and chaos breeds ruin."
"Enough!" the Being said firmly, rising to her feet.
"Arguing won't solve anything. What's done is done. Aric has rewritten fate, and now it falls to us to guide him—not control him. Whether he succeeds or fails remains to be seen."
She turned to Ivy, "You've gambled your position on him, Ivy. Make sure it's a bet worth making."
With that, the meeting adjourned, leaving Ivy seething silently as Nathaniel disappeared in a swirl of shadows. Aurelius and Lysandra followed suit. Only the Being in white lingered behind, watching Ivy with a mixture of sympathy and caution.
"You really care about him, don't you?" she asked.
Ivy gaze softened, "He deserves a chance. More than most."
The Being smiled faintly, patting her shoulder one last time before vanishing into the twilight.