After leaving the cave, Emiren found himself at the edge of a new realm. Before him lay a vast valley under a silvery sky, dotted with trees unlike any he had seen before. Their branches were strange: some were smooth and gleaming, while others were covered in thorns or knots. From some branches flowed a bright liquid resembling silver, while others dripped a dark, ink-like substance.
At the valley’s center rose a towering structure—a great white stone tower entwined with roots. It was so tall it seemed to touch the clouds. Symbols glowing faintly adorned its surface, shifting and changing as if reacting to Emiren’s presence.
A sense of the unknown and the unknowable filled his heart. Yet within that sensation was something else—a call, deep and ancient, that would not let him turn back.
The Tower’s Entrance
Emiren followed a stone path leading to the tower. As he approached, a figure appeared near the entrance. It was a woman dressed in a long cloak adorned with golden patterns resembling branching trees. Her hair was white as snow, and her eyes glowed with a soft amber light.
“I have been waiting for you,” she said, her voice gentle yet filled with power.
“Who are you?” Emiren asked, feeling a strange familiarity in her presence.
“I am Aliana, the Keeper of the Branches. My role is to ensure the flows of time do not become tangled and that the branches remain in balance. And you, Emiren, are now part of this.”
Emiren lifted his gaze to the tower, its height and grandeur daunting.
“What is my purpose here?”
Aliana gestured for him to enter.
“This place holds the map of time. Here, you will learn how choices shape branches and the consequences they bring. But be prepared: knowledge is not just a gift—it is also a burden.”
The Map of Time
They entered the tower. Inside, it was far larger than it appeared from the outside. The ceiling stretched so high it disappeared into light, and the walls were covered with thousands of intertwined branches, each glowing faintly with its own light.
At the center of the hall floated a massive spherical object—a map of time. It was a web of countless fine lines intersecting, branching, and weaving into a complex, mesmerizing structure. The lines glowed in various colors: gold, silver, blue, while some were dim and dark.
“This is the map of all time’s branches,” Aliana explained. “Each line represents a choice, and every point of divergence marks a moment where someone created a new possibility.”
Emiren stepped closer, captivated by the sight.
“What am I supposed to do?” he asked.
Aliana approached the map and extended her hand, touching one of the branches. It began to glow brighter.
“Your task is to sense which branches need your attention. Not all of them are strong. Some are neglected or broken. They need to be restored—or allowed to fade.”
“How can I do that?” Emiren felt his heart tighten under the weight of responsibility.
“Listen,” she replied. “Every branch has a voice. It speaks of its needs, its pains, its dreams. Feel them.”
The Trial of the Branches
Aliana gestured toward one of the branches, which glowed with golden light but had small cracks along its length.
“Try,” she said.
Emiren extended his hand and touched the branch. In that instant, a vision filled his mind.
He saw a small village surrounded by dense forest. The people lived happily there, but the forest around them was beginning to wither. Their world was gradually losing its vitality.
“This is a world created many years ago,” Aliana explained. “But its creator abandoned it, and now it is fading. You can restore it, but to do so, you must sacrifice a part of your own strength.”
Emiren felt a pang in his heart. Restoring this world would mean giving up a part of himself.
“What happens if I do nothing?”
“The world will fade, and its branch will break. But the choice is always yours.”
Emiren took a deep breath. He couldn’t let this world vanish. Closing his eyes, he poured a part of his energy into the branch, feeling it mend and grow stronger.
When he opened his eyes, the branch glowed with a brilliant golden light.
“Well done,” Aliana said, her voice approving. “But remember, there are many branches like this. And you won’t always be able to save them all.”
The Mystery of the Tower
As they returned to the tower’s entrance, Emiren noticed one branch glowing brighter than all the others. It was red, shimmering as though aflame.
“What is that branch?” he asked.
Aliana paused for a moment before replying:
“That is one of the primary branches. It leads to a pivotal choice that will change the balance of everything. But you are not ready to touch it yet.”
Emiren felt his heart tighten. He understood that his journey was only beginning and that something far greater awaited him in the future.
“Time will tell if you can alter the fate of that branch,” Aliana added, her penetrating gaze fixed on him.
Emiren nodded silently. He knew his trials were only starting and that the path of a creator was one of difficult decisions and inevitable sacrifices.