The silver sky of the Eternal Garden slowly cleared, but its tranquility was deceptive. Emiren stood at a narrow crossroads where paths diverged in different directions. The renewed branch he had saved continued to glow with golden light, as if thanking him for his decision. But this peace did not last long—deep within the Garden came a quiet yet relentless rumbling.
“The Garden has changed,” murmured Aliana, standing beside him, her gaze wary. “Your choice has affected the balance. Other branches are beginning to react.”
“What does that mean?” Emiren asked, carefully examining the intricate paths ahead of him.
“It means you must move forward,” she replied with resolute certainty. “Your path can no longer be neutral. You are a creator now, and the Garden awaits your decisions.”
The Journey to the Tower
The path Emiren chose led him through places where the trees no longer whispered in hushed tones but spoke openly. He heard fragments of words that troubled him deeply:
“Saved one—what of the others?”
“Time flows… too quickly.”
“A new creator, but does he have the strength?”
Emiren tried to ignore the voices, but they pierced deep into his thoughts. Around him, more and more often, he saw twisted trees, their branches resembling hands reaching out to him. The ground beneath his feet sometimes turned slick, as if the plants sought to entangle him.
“This is a test of your will,” Aliana explained, noticing his hesitation. “The closer you get to the center, the more the Garden will challenge you.”
Ahead, a massive structure began to emerge, resembling a tower. Its walls were woven from black stone that looked like solidified lava. The tower rose high into the sky, its peak seemingly touching the silver dome above.
“This is the Heart of the Tower,” Aliana said, pausing briefly. “Here, you must make your next choice.”
Voices in the Tower
As Emiren entered, he felt a strange sensation—time flowed differently here. Everything around him seemed frozen, yet at the same time, he saw thin threads of light moving through the air, reaching toward invisible points.
“This place is a nexus of time,” Aliana explained, following behind him. “Here, all possible branches intersect. And everyone who comes here leaves their mark.”
The walls of the Tower glowed with mysterious symbols that shifted depending on where Emiren looked. Each symbol seemed to reflect a moment in time, a choice made in the past or yet to come.
“What am I supposed to do here?” he asked, studying the strange inscriptions.
“You must choose a new branch,” Aliana replied. “But remember, every choice you make will affect not only this branch but the entire Garden.”
Before Emiren, three projections appeared.
1. The First Branch glowed with a soft blue light. It showed a world filled with harmony, where all living beings coexisted in peace, but this peace seemed fragile, as if any misstep could shatter it.
2. The Second Branch radiated a fiery red hue. In this world, strength and order reigned supreme, but it felt ruthless and unforgiving toward the weak.
3. The Third Branch shimmered with golden light. It revealed a world of endless possibilities, yet it was unstable, as every choice created new risks.
“The choice is yours,” Aliana said. “But every branch comes with a cost.”
The Decision
Emiren stepped closer to the projections. Each one drew him in with its energy, yet each forced him to confront the weight of its consequences.
“Harmony,” he said, gazing at the first projection. “But can it endure without conflict?”
“Strength,” he murmured, looking at the second. “But is it worth sacrificing freedom for order?”
“Possibilities,” he said, turning to the third. “But will this chaos tear the Garden apart?”
Closing his eyes, Emiren tried to feel with his heart which branch was the right choice. At last, he approached the third projection—the golden world.
“I choose possibilities,” he said, reaching for the light.
The projection flared brighter, and he felt a wave of energy surge through his body. But with it came pain, as if the entire Garden rebelled against his choice.
The Consequences
The Tower’s walls began to tremble, the symbols on them blazing with intense light. Time seemed to whirl, and Emiren saw the branches of the Garden begin to transform. Some flourished with new leaves, while others began to wither and crack.
“Your choice is made,” Aliana said, her voice calm but her eyes filled with concern. “But you do not yet understand all the consequences.”
As Emiren stepped out of the Tower, he felt something had changed—not only in the Garden but also within himself. The branch he had chosen was now a part of him. He knew that more trials lay ahead, but he felt ready to face them.
Ahead, the path led deeper into the Garden, where new challenges awaited. Emiren understood that he was no longer just a traveler or a creator. He had become a voice that would determine the fate of all eternity.