Stone splits.
The floor rises.
Slow.
Heavy.
Something pulls itself from the cracked ground.
Aria steps back.
"…Kael."
Kael doesn't move.
His eyes fixed on the shape forming in the dust.
Tall.
Too tall.
A body made of broken clock parts.
Rust.
Glass.
Moving.
Alive.
Jonas whispers.
"Yeah I'm definitely quitting this timeline."
The creature's head tilts.
Its voice echoes from everywhere.
"The price."
Lena steps forward.
Calm.
Lena"You said someone must pay."
The creature turns toward her.
"You returned."
Lena"I did."
Aria looks between them.
"You know this thing?"
Lena"Yes."
Kael's voice low.
"…it's not a thing."
Aria"Then what is it?"
Kael answers quietly.
"The Keeper of Time."
Silence.
Jonas"Of course it is."
The creature lifts one arm.
Clocks spin inside its chest.
"You seek truth."
Its hollow eyes focus on Aria.
"You broke the order."
Aria shakes her head.
"I didn't break anything."
The creature speaks slowly.
"You survived."
Aria's voice rises.
"That's not a crime."
The creature's chest glows.
"For time… it is."
Kael steps forward.
"Take me instead."
Aria grabs his arm.
"No."
The creature studies them both.
Long.
Unmoving.
Then it whispers.
"Love."
The word sounds almost confused.
"You repeat the same mistake."
Aria frowns.
"What mistake?"
The creature lifts its hand.
Pointing at Kael.
"Saving him."
Everyone freezes.
Aria whispers.
"…what?"