The Realm of Fate stood in complete silence. Massive pillars towered endlessly throughout the divine expanse, each one radiating ancient power older than mortal existence itself. Red. Blue. Gold. Black. Purple. Their light reflected endlessly across the smooth glass-like floor beneath them while streams of glowing orange threads drifted throughout the realm like rivers woven from destiny itself.
Every thread represented a life. Every movement represented fate unfolding. At the center of it all floated Aevor, the God of Fate. His body hovered several feet above the ground in a seated position, legs crossed and eyes closed as orange energy spiraled slowly around him. The glowing threads drifted between his fingers while his consciousness stretched far beyond the realm itself, searching across the universe below.
Normally, fate spoke clearly to him. He could see every beings future, past and present at will. Since the birth of the Fate Breaker, fate is now undecided and clouds all of Aevor's omniscient power. Entire sections of fate simply vanished whenever he attempted to observe them. Threads that should have existed were gone entirely, cut away from destiny itself as though they had never belonged to it in the first place.
The Fate Breaker.
Even thinking about it disturbed the balance around him. The orange threads near his body flickered erratically before stabilizing again. Aevor's expression tightened slightly. Far below, he could sense war spreading through the universe. Valak's actions had already begun destabilizing countless futures. Worlds once connected through peaceful outcomes now drifted toward destruction instead. The Angelics prepared for conflict. The Arcadians continued their endless pursuit of power. Entire civilizations stood unknowingly at the edge of collapse and yet no matter how deeply he searched, he still could not see the future clearly.
It was as though something had begun moving outside the reach of destiny itself. Slowly, Aevor opened his eyes. Orange light glowed softly within them.
"That should not be possible…" he murmured quietly.
Then the realm trembled. A deep rumble echoed across the divine expanse. The floating threads around Aevor immediately scattered as the disturbance intensified. The pillars themselves vibrated faintly beneath the pressure building within the realm. Aevor turned sharply. The purple pillar had begun pulsing violently. Dark violet energy surged through its surface in unstable waves, illuminating the entire Realm of Fate with repeated flashes of purple light. Cracks of energy spread slowly upward across the massive structure while distortions rippled through the surrounding space Aevor immediately rose to his feet as his expression shifted from confusion to genuine concern.
"…What is this?" he questioned.
None of the pillars had ever reacted this way before, not once. The purple pillar pulsed again. A violent wave of energy exploded outward from it, strong enough to shake the realm itself. Several orange threads nearby snapped violently away from the disturbance as reality bent around the pillar's unstable power. A voice echoed faintly through the realm.
"…Aevor…"
The God of Fate froze, his eyes widened slightly as he noticed something about the voice. This wasn't just some random voice, he had heard this voice many times before. For the first time in ages, emotion broke through his composure. Slowly, Aevor began walking toward the pillar. The closer he got, the more unstable the realm became around it. Faint images flickered briefly within the purple light. Ancient wars, fallen worlds, Gods standing together before vanishing into darkness and then the voice came again.
"Aevor…"
This time the voice was clearer. Aevor lifted his hand slowly and placed it against the pillar. The moment his fingers touched the surface, everything vanished. Darkness swallowed him instantly then suddenly endless memories flooded through the void around him like oceans crashing against reality itself. Millions upon millions of lives unfolded simultaneously in every direction. Births. Deaths. Fear. Love. Hope. Despair. Every living being's memories drifted endlessly throughout the infinite darkness. Aevor staggered slightly as the overwhelming flood surged around him.
"What… is this place?" he said confused by what was happening.
The memories continued flowing endlessly before suddenly stopping all at once. Silence consumed the void as the countless visions faded away one by one until only darkness remained. A faint purple silhouette appeared in the distance which caught Aevor's attention. The figure walked slowly toward him through the empty void, violet energy flickering gently around its transparent form.
"…Is that…" he whispered.
The silhouette drew closer and finally, Aevor saw him clearly. Vaelor, the God of Destruction. Aevor immediately stepped forward, disbelief and relief colliding within him all at once.
"Vaelor…" His voice carried emotion rarely heard from the God of Fate. "I've been looking everywhere for you."
Vaelor stopped before him. Though faint and incomplete, his presence remained unmistakable. Purple energy drifted calmly around him while fragments of his form flickered slightly like unstable memory.
"Aevor," he said softly. "It is good to see you again, brother."
For several moments neither of them spoke. The silence between them carried what felt like centuries of grief. Aevor looked at him carefully, almost afraid the figure would disappear if he blinked.
"You're alive…" Aevor said with a sprinkle of doubt in his tone.
Vaelor shook his head slowly.
"No," he answered calmly. "Not truly."
He gestured toward the endless void surrounding them.
"This place is known as the World of Memories. Every living being leaves fragments of themselves here after death. Mortals. Gods. All of existence."
Aevor looked around again as faint memories drifted through the darkness once more.
"And you?" Aevor questioned.
A faint smile crossed Vaelor's face, "What remains of me now is only memory."
Aevor's expression darkened slightly, "That's impossible. I searched for your presence after you disappeared. There was nothing left."
"There wasn't meant to be," the answer carried quiet finality.
Before Aevor could continue, frustration surfaced across his expression.
"Lynassa is interfering with the mortal realm," he said. "She's disguising herself as you. Manipulating Valak. Influencing events directly."
Vaelor's expression shifted slightly at the mention of their sister. He was not surprise by his sister's action, instead only disappointment.
"And now another Fate Breaker has appeared," Aevor continued.
Silence followed, but Vaelor did not react to this news. Aevor narrowed his eyes slightly.
"You already knew," he said.
Vaelor nodded once, "Yes."
That answer unsettled Aevor more than anything else. The thought that his brother knew about the Fate Breaker and his sister's action had him questioning everything.
"Then explain this to me," he demanded. "What is happening?"
The World of Memories darkened around them as Vaelor lowered his gaze briefly before speaking again.
"…Then it is time you saw the truth," Vaelor stated.
Purple energy spread outward from his body as the void around them immediately changed. A ruined world formed beneath their feet. Ash drifted endlessly through a darkened sky while cities burned in the distance as countless mortals died below as war consumed entire civilizations.
Aevor looked around carefully, "This memory…"
"Mine," Vaelor answered quietly.
High above the ruined world floated Lynassa, emerald energy surrounded the Goddess of Creation while she observed the destruction below in silence. Her expression carried no sorrow nor no sympathy, only disgust.
"They beg us for salvation," she said quietly.
Vaelor stood nearby within the memory.
"They always have." Lynassa said as she continued watching mortals slaughter one another below. "And yet they never change."
The memory shifted rapidly to another war and another dying civilization that was consumed by greed and fear.
"She grew to hate them," Vaelor explained beside Aevor.
The visions continued changing endlessly as mortals betrayed each other and destroyed worlds. They repeated the same cycles of violence over and over again which angered Lynassa as her perfect utopia crumbled before her.
"She began seeing creation itself as flawed." Vaelor said to Aevor.
Lynassa's voice echoed once more, "They waste every gift they are given."
Her emerald eyes darkened as another civilization collapsed into ruin, "They poison existence simply by surviving."
Aevor watched silently as realization slowly settled within him before he spoke, "You believed she would interfere directly."
Vaelor nodded as he spoke, "She no longer wished to guide creation."
The memory shifted again, this time Lynassa stood alone within the divine realm overlooking the mortal universe itself. She was holding the universe in the palm of her hands looking deeper into it with her hatred growing every moment.
"She intended to reshape it." Vaelor stated.
Aevor's eyes narrowed, "That would destroy the balance."
"Yes," Vaelor replied. "And if the gods divided against one another, existence itself would collapse."
The memory faded briefly as darkness returned, suddenly a child's scream echoed through the void. The world reshaped itself once more, This time flames consumed the small village in waves of orange and black while smoke choked the sky above. The sound of screaming echoed through the streets alongside collapsing buildings and the distant growls of monstrous creatures tearing through anyone too slow to escape. Bodies covered the ground, from men to women and even the children were not spared. People who moments ago had still believed they would survive the night, instead there was only chaos.
Aevor stood silently beside Vaelor within the memory while the scene unfolded around them. Even knowing this was only a fragment of the past, the emotion within it felt painfully real. Then he saw two brothers. The older one could not have been older than sixteen. Blood ran heavily down one side of his face from a deep wound near his temple while burns covered parts of his arms. Despite that, he still stood protectively in front of the younger child behind him.
The younger brother was a twelve years old, his snow white hair was stained with blood that poured out of his head wound. The older brother's hands trembled violently as he gripped a broken farming tool like a weapon, desperately trying to keep himself standing between the creatures approaching through the flames and his little brother curled up behind him.
"Stay behind me," he whispered.
The younger boy coughed weakly behind him before collapsing harder against the ground. Blood spilled from his mouth as his breathing became uneven. The older brother immediately dropped beside him in panic.
"No… no, no…" he pleaded.
He grabbed his younger brother tightly, trying desperately to hold him upright.
"Stay awake. Please stay awake," he pleaded once again.
The younger child's eyes struggled to focus.
"Brother…" he whispered weakly.
The older brother's expression broke completely as Aevor watched carefully.
"He's terrified," he said quietly.
"Yes," Vaelor answered softly.
One of the monstrous raiders slowly emerged from the flames nearby. Its massive body dragged across the ground while glowing eyes locked onto the two children immediately. The older brother saw it and despite everything he stood back up even as the pain sent a devilish shock throughout his entire body. His entire body shook with fear so badly he could barely hold the broken weapon in his hands but, he still stepped forward anyway.
Aevor's eyes narrowed slightly, "He knows he can't win... right?"
Vaelor nodded, "He does."
The creature let out a distorted growl before beginning to approach. The older brother positioned himself directly in front of the younger child without hesitation. Even now his first instinct was to protect someone else, not himself.
Suddenly Vaelor appeared in the memory, however the mortals could not see him as watched the scene carefully, his expression unreadable at first. Vaelor's eyes changed slightly with purple energy flickered faintly within them, Aevor had immediately noticed.
"You're looking into his soul," he realized.
Vaelor said nothing for several moments. The older brother tightened his grip on the weapon despite tears running openly down his face now. Every instinct in his body screamed at him to run, to survive at all cost. He didn't move, instead he glanced back toward his dying younger brother and stepped forward.
"…Even now, he isn't thinking about himself," Vaelor finally spoke quietly.
The God of Destruction's gaze remained fixed on the child. Purple energy pulsed softly around him as he looked deeper. Aevor could see it too now. Fragments of the older brother's soul flickered briefly within the memory around them. Moments from his life, giving away food despite being hungry himself. Protecting smaller children from bullies and working himself to exhaustion so his younger brother would never have to. He chose others again and again, even when nobody asked him to. Even when it hurt him or would mean he had to go without.
Aevor slowly looked back toward Vaelor, "You saw all of that instantly?"
Vaelor nodded faintly, "He carries kindness without expecting reward for it."
The creature lunged closer through the flames as the older brother immediately moved to shield the younger child completely with his own body. Not because he believed he would survive but, because he had already decided his own life mattered less. Vaelor's expression softened for the first time.
"…A soul willing to sacrifice itself for another without hesitation," he murmured.
The older brother looked upward desperately toward the burning sky, not with anger or with hatred, only desperation.
"Please…" his voice cracked completely. "Someone… help him…"
The younger child coughed violently behind him which lead the older brother to grab him tighter.
"Please don't take him from me…" he cried out hoping for an answer.
Aevor looked toward Vaelor again and for the first time he understood the moment his brother made the decision. The God of Destruction revealed himself to the older brother. Purple energy erupted across the village instantly as the world froze. Fire stopped moving as ash hung motionless in the air. Time itself halted. The older brother's eyes widened as Vaelor descended before him in silence. Even frozen within stopped time, the overwhelming presence of a god shook the very world around them. Despite that power the older brother still instinctively shielded his younger brother behind him. He was willing to fight a God to save his brother. Vaelor stared at him for several moments.
Then finally spoke, "You would give your life for him."
The older brother hesitated only briefly before nodding, "Yes."
No hesitation or fear in the answer itself, there was only certainty and conviction.
Vaelor glanced toward the dying younger child, "He is close to death."
"Then save him," the older brother begged immediately. "Please."
Vaelor's purple eyes studied him carefully, "You don't even know what I am."
"I don't care what you are!" the older brother shouted desperately. "Just help him!"
Silence followed briefly before Vaelor knelt slightly in front of him. The older brother could feel the aura that was being emitted from Vaelor. The pressure was heavy but, there was a calming undertone to it that made him feel safe.
"If I save your brother," he said quietly, "his life will no longer belong to fate."
"I don't understand," the older brother said with confusion.
"One day," Vaelor continued, "he will awaken power beyond anything this universe has ever seen."
Aevor watched silently beside the memory as purple energy slowly began radiating around the younger child's unconscious body.
"That power will change countless lives," Vaelor said. "It will place the fate of existence itself upon his shoulders."
"He's just a kid…" the older brother looked down at his sibling in confusion and fear.
"For now," Vaelor's voice remained calm. "But when that day comes, he will need someone to guide him."
"Guide him…?" the older brother slowly looked back toward Vaelor while asking the question.
"The power he carries will draw hatred. Fear. Violence," his expression darkened slightly as he continued. "And if he walks the wrong path, the universe itself may suffer for it."
"What are you asking me to do?" the older brother's hands tightened slightly around his brother.
"When he gains that power…" Vaelor said quietly as he looked directly into his eyes, "you must make sure he remains himself."
The older brother stared at him silently trying to comprehend and process what was being asked of him.
"You must remind him what it means to protect others," purple light intensified around Vaelor's body as he continued, "You must guide him down the right path."
"I… I don't know if I can do that," the brother replied as fear overwhelmed him.
"Yes," Vaelor answered with a smile, "You can."
For a moment, the older brother said nothing, he looked down at his younger brother who was clinging on to life with the little energy he had left. The idea of not having his brother around tore him apart. The loss of his parents was already taking a massive toll on him but, to lose his brother would destroy him completely.
"…If it saves him," he whispered, "I'll do whatever it takes."
A faint smile crossed Vaelor's face and in that moment the God of Destruction made his choice. Purple energy exploded outward across the village once again. The entire world trembled violently as Vaelor's life force began flowing into the younger child's body. The older brother watched in horror as wounds across his sibling slowly healed while Vaelor himself began fading apart into particles of violet light.
"What's happening to you?!" the older brother shouted.
Vaelor's voice had already begun weakening, "A fair exchange."
The younger child's breathing stabilized completely as life returned to him while the God of Destruction slowly disappeared.
"Wait—!" the older brother's eyes widened in panic.
"Protect him," Vaelor looked at him one final time.
"I swear I will," the older brother clenched his fists tightly as tears streamed down his face.
Vaelor smiled faintly before the memory collapsed into darkness. The screams disappeared and the flames dissolved into drifting fragments of memory until only the endless void of the World of Memories remained once more. Countless faint visions moved through the darkness around them like distant stars, fragments of lives long gone continuing to exist beyond death itself. Aevor stood silently beside his brother.
The weight of what he had witnessed still lingered heavily within him. Even now, he could still see the older brother standing in front of the creature despite trembling in fear. A child fully prepared to die if it meant his younger brother could live one more moment. Now he finally understood why Vaelor had made his choice. Slowly, Aevor turned toward him.
"So that's why you gave up your life," he said quietly.
Vaelor's fading silhouette stood calmly within the void, violet energy drifting gently from his fragmented form. He looked weaker now than before, his body flickering slightly as pieces of memory slowly broke apart around him.
"Yes," Vaelor answered softly.
For a moment, he remained silent as though recalling the memory himself.
"In all my existence, I witnessed mortals destroy each other endlessly. Worlds consumed by war. Greed. Fear." His expression softened faintly. "But that boy…"
The image of the older brother briefly flickered beside them before fading again.
"He stood before death itself and still chose someone else over his own survival."
Aevor crossed his arms slowly, his glowing orange eyes fixed on his brother, "You saw his soul."
"And what I found was someone who carried kindness without expecting anything in return. Someone who protected others even when nobody would have blamed him for saving himself instead," Vaelor said with a smile, "That kind of soul is rare."
Silence settled briefly between them, then Aevor spoke again, "The older brother's name…"
"Zorben," Vaelor answered.
The name echoed softly throughout the void.
"And the younger child who inherited my power…" Violet light pulsed faintly around him. "His name is Mercuris."
"Mercuris…" Aevor repeated it quietly to himself.
The World of Memories trembled faintly around them.
"When my power fully awakens within him," Vaelor continued, "he will become the Fate Breaker."
Even now, saying the title aloud carried weight.
"Lynassa already knows the Fate Breaker exists," Aevor's expression darkened slightly.
"Yes," Vaelor replied calmly. "And so does Valak."
The silence that followed became noticeably heavier.
"But neither of them knows who he is," Vaelor continued. "That uncertainty is the only reason Mercuris is still safe."
"And if they discover the truth?" Aevor's gaze sharpened slightly.
"Then Orielia will become the center of a war far beyond anything its people could survive," Vaelor looked outward into the endless void surrounding them.
At the mention of the planet, an image briefly appeared within the darkness. A peaceful world bathed in silver light. Mountains stretched endlessly beneath massive skies while oceans reflected the stars themselves during the night. Vast forests covered much of the planet while scattered cities and villages thrived quietly across the landscape. Orielia, a world untouched by the larger conflicts spreading throughout the universe.
"That's where they live?" Aevor asked.
"Hidden among ordinary lives." Vaelor's voice softened slightly. "Exactly where they need to remain."
The image of Orielia faded slowly away, Aevor folded his arms tighter before speaking, "You're asking me to hide two mortals from the Goddess of Creation and a man powerful enough to threaten the balance of the universe itself."
"I'm asking because I know you're capable of it," Vaelor gave a faint smile.
Aevor looked at him carefully. Vaelor's form had become increasingly unstable throughout their conversation. Entire sections of his body faded briefly before reforming again from drifting violet particles. The fragment of memory sustaining him was nearing its limit.
Still the God of Destruction continued speaking calmly, "Aevor… this is my final wish."
The words carried unusual weight, even the World of Memories itself seemed to grow still around them.
"You must watch over them," he requested.
Aevor remained silent weighting up everything that he had just found out. Thoughts seemed to devour his mind as he searched for the answer he was looking for. What if I fail?... All of reality could fall and be destroyed if I can't protect them... It will be all my fault...
"Protect Zorben and Mercuris from Lynassa and Valak at all costs." Vaelor's voice weakened slightly. "Neither of them can learn the Fate Breaker's identity before Mercuris is ready."
"And when his power awakens?" the God of Fate's expression hardened.
"He will suffer," Vaelor looked downward briefly.
Purple energy flickered violently around his fading body for a moment before stabilizing again. His time was running out, Aevor was his final hope, Vaelor's will had now ben put on Aevor's shoulders.
"The power I gave him was never meant for a mortal vessel. It will challenge his emotions, his mind… even his humanity," Vaelor explained. "If Mercuris loses control of that power, entire futures could collapse before they are even born. All of reality, all of time and every multiverse will cease to exist."
"You want me to guide him," Orange threads briefly flickered around Aevor's hands at the thought.
"Yes," Vaelor stepped slightly closer.
"Help him understand what he carries." His violet eyes sharpened faintly. "Teach him control before fear or hatred controls him instead."
The image of Zorben briefly appeared again within the darkness, standing protectively beside his younger brother. Aevor look at the image again, the admiration he had for Zorben continued to grow.
"He will not survive this path alone," Vaelor continued quietly. "That is why Zorben matters."
"He is Mercuris's anchor," Vaelor's voice carried certainty now despite his fading state. "One day Mercuris will possess power capable of reshaping fate itself. But power alone does not decide what someone becomes."
The image of Zorben flickered again and once again Aevor's thoughts spiraled into a chaos frenzy. He knew that he had no choice, he was the only one who could keep them hidden until it was time.
"It is the people beside them who decide whether they become a savior… or something far worse," Vaelor stated.
The World of Memories suddenly trembled violently around them. Large cracks spread through the endless void while drifting memories began collapsing inward. Vaelor's form flickered heavily now, pieces of violet light continuously breaking away from him. His time was ending.
"Vaelor..." Aevor stepped forward immediately.
"It's alright," the God of Destruction raised his hand gently.
For the first time since Aevor arrived, genuine emotion surfaced fully within Vaelor's fading eyes. Aevor always looked up to his older brother, he might of been the God of Destruction but, he was the one God who showed compassion and love for all creation.
"I leave the future to you now, brother," Vaelor said with a smile.
"You always leave me with impossible responsibilities," Aevor's jaw tightened slightly.
"Yes," he admitted softly. "But you've always carried them better than I could."
The void cracked further around them, Vaelor's body had almost completely dissolved into drifting particles now.
"Aevor…" his voice echoed weakly. "Protect them."
The God of Fate stared silently at what remained of his brother, then slowly nodded.
"I will protect Orielia," Orange energy pulsed faintly around him as he continued, "I will protect Zorben and Mercuris."
Relief crossed Vaelor's face and then he smiled one final time before dissolving completely into violet light. The God of Destruction was no more, however his will would not only live on through Aevor, but through Mercuris as well. The World of Memories shattered instantly, Aevor's eyes snapped open back within the Realm of Fate. The purple pillar stood silent once more, only faint traces of violet energy drifted through the air around it now. The endless orange threads throughout the realm continued flowing peacefully once again, but Aevor no longer saw them the same way. Slowly, the God of Fate lowered his hand from the pillar.
"Orielia…" he whispered quietly.
Far below, hidden somewhere upon that distant world, the Fate Breaker continued living unaware of the destiny sleeping within him and now Aevor understood the truth. The future of existence itself no longer rested in the hands of gods, it rested in the hands of two mortals.
End of Chapter 13