When the bell of the Root fell silent, and the silence filled the space around them, Emiren and Aliana felt as though everything surrounding them had frozen. However, it was not an ordinary silence, but a deep, heavy one, carrying something greater than just the absence of sound.
The path before them began to change: the earth cracked, and glowing threads appeared between the fissures. They resembled spider webs, but each thread shone in its own color and pulsed with life.
— What is this? — Emiren whispered, bending over one of the threads that glowed pale green.
— This is the knot of possibilities, — answered a new voice, seemingly emerging from the very space.
Emiren and Aliana turned and saw an old woman before them, wearing a cloak made of fabric that changed color, as if reflecting all the possibilities of worlds. Her eyes were deep like an abyss, and her voice carried a tone of wisdom acquired through ages.
— You have come to the place where all possibilities converge. This place is the heart of the Root, but also the source of choice.
— Choice? — Aliana asked, stepping closer.
— Yes, — the woman extended her hand, and between her fingers appeared three threads: one golden, one black, and one silver. — Each thread is a possibility, each knot is a moment where your actions can change the course of time.
Nods and Fates
The woman waved her hand, and the space around them changed. They found themselves in a vast hall, its walls covered with billions of threads crossing and forming a complex network.
— Each thread here is a life, — she explained. — Each knot is a pivotal moment where a life changes.
— But how can we influence this? — Emiren asked, touching the nearest thread that shimmered blue.
— You already do, — the woman replied. — Your choice is a thread that weaves into others. But there are special knots that determine not only the fate of individuals but also entire worlds.
Aliana gazed at the network of threads, stunned by its complexity. One thread suddenly began to pulse brighter, and they saw a scene: a man standing at the edge of a cliff, hesitating whether to take a step.
— What is this? — she asked.
— This is a moment of choice, — the woman explained. — If you touched this thread, you could change his decision.
— But do we have the right? — Emiren felt the weight of responsibility that this possibility carried.
— That is a question every Creator must answer for themselves, — the woman replied.
The First Choice
The woman stepped closer and extended the silver thread, which shone brighter than all the others.
— This knot will determine the fate of your world, — she said. — If you touch it, you will be able to see all possible consequences, but only one choice will become reality.
— What will happen if we do not touch it? — Aliana asked.
— Then the world will go its own way, without your interference, — the woman answered. — But know that sometimes inaction is also a choice.
Emiren and Aliana exchanged a glance. Before them appeared a vision: their world, engulfed in chaos, with time fractures destroying entire cities. Another vision showed peace and harmony, but at the cost of great sacrifices.
— We cannot make this decision without knowing all the consequences, — Emiren said.
— You will see the consequences, — the woman replied, — but that will not make the choice easier.
Touching the Knot
Aliana extended her hand and touched the silver thread. In that instant, they were pulled into a flow of images, thoughts, and possibilities. They saw how small changes in one moment led to catastrophes or salvation in the future.