The silence in the Temple of Memories was almost tangible. The darkness that reigned here was not merely the absence of light—it had weight, pressing down and forcing them to confront their insignificance in the face of eternity.
Emiren and Aliana stood before the fragments of the clock, each piece radiating immense energy. The bas-reliefs on the walls depicted the cycles of time—its creation and destruction.
“We’ve reached this moment, but what now?” Emiren whispered, his voice muffled as if the room itself absorbed sound.
Aliana carefully touched one of the clock’s fragments, and instantly, a bright flash of light filled the space. Before them appeared a vision: a tree with countless branches stretching in every direction. Some branches glowed with a bright golden light, others flickered dimly, and some were black, as if dead.
“This is the Tree of Time,” Aliana murmured, her voice filled with awe. “Each branch is a path chosen by reality.”
“And what about the black branches?” Emiren asked, stepping closer to the vision.
Their guide, whose voice had previously echoed in their minds, now materialized as a luminous figure. It was the Creator—the very one who had led them here.
“The black branches are dead time streams. They were destroyed by wrong choices. But even dead branches do not disappear entirely. Their remnants poison the tree’s roots and threaten to destroy the entire Garden,” the Creator explained.
Emiren and Aliana listened intently, though the weight of his words only added to the burden they already felt.
“And what are we supposed to do?” Emiren asked.
The Creator raised a hand, and a glowing crystal appeared before them, radiating soft golden light.
“This is the Heart of the Clock. It must be joined with the fragments for the clock to work again. But there is one condition. You must decide which branch of time will be given the chance to live.”
The Question of Choice
“We? Decide the fate of time?” Aliana exclaimed, her heart pounding. “We have no right.”
The Creator gazed at her calmly.
“Rights are not always granted. Sometimes they are earned through trials. You have walked a path that others could not. That is why you are here.”
Emiren sighed and looked at the fragments.
“And how are we supposed to choose?”
The Creator stepped forward, and images of different branches of time began to appear around them.
“These are some of the branches that can still be saved.”
The first vision showed a world bathed in golden light. People lived in harmony, and cities were built among nature. Yet there was a hidden tension—an underlying fear of the unknown that maintained this stability.
The second vision was the opposite. It was a world of chaos, plagued by wars and poverty. But amidst the destruction, there were those who fought for change, striving for a better future despite immense hardship.
The third vision was mysterious. The world seemed incomplete, as if it were only beginning to take shape. Its possibilities were endless, but it was also the most dangerous, for it could become anything.
“Each of these branches has its value and its risks,” the Creator said. “Your choice will determine which one gets the chance to exist and which will be destroyed.”
Inner Conflict
Emiren and Aliana remained silent, their eyes fixed on the visions. Each one stirred something within them.
“The world of harmony seems ideal,” Aliana said. “But can we trust perfection? Maybe it hides an even greater danger.”
“And the world of chaos?” Emiren replied. “There’s a chance for change there, but could it lead to even more suffering?”
They both looked at the third vision.
“The world of possibilities…” Aliana whispered. “It’s the riskiest, but in risk, there’s life.”
The Creator remained silent, allowing them to make the decision on their own.
A Step Forward
Emiren stepped toward the fragments of the clock and carefully picked up the Heart.
“We can argue forever, but in the end, a choice must be made.”
Aliana approached him and placed a hand on his shoulder.
“Whatever we choose, we’ll do it together.”
They looked at each other and understood: their choice would not only affect time but also change them.
“The world of possibilities,” Aliana whispered. “Maybe it’s the riskiest, but it’s also where hope lies.”
Emiren nodded and placed the Heart into the center of the clock. The fragments began to move, assembling into a single mechanized structure. A brilliant light filled the hall, and they felt reality shifting around them.
A New Beginning
When the light faded, they found themselves in an entirely different place. Before them stretched a horizon filled with endless possibilities. The Garden of Time was beginning to heal, but this was only the start of their new journey.
The Creator reappeared, now in the form of an ordinary person.
“You have made your choice. Whether it was the right one will be revealed with time.”
Emiren and Aliana exchanged glances. They knew one thing: their journey was far from over. But now, they had become part of something greater—the creators of a new world.