Chapter 58: There Was No Way Back.

  Agonizingly, I had no means to reclaim my original timeline. Yes, while I did change it drastically, each time I returned to the present, it was still my timeline, just altered a bit. From the destroyed timeline, and to this one… I have now been completely cut off.

  The memories I shared with the family, Celia’s love for me… all of it was gone. Celia’s hug, while warm, was not the type of hug I remember. It held love, but greatly lacked the romantic or yearning that her embraces always have. Or… had, in this case.

  Celia: “I know that… you’re in pain right now. But, again, you need to calm down, and focus on the task at hand.” She said with a coaxing tone, a smile beaming on her face.

  Narrator Vulely: “…”

  Celia: “You’ll be able to grieve later, and I’ll help you through it, I promise. Look, just accept my memories, and then you can return.” She continued, about to put her hand on my head.

  Slash!

  Without another word or thought, I took out my sword, and attacked her. First, I cut off her arm, the remaining real one. Celia backed away, a look of pure horror on her face. But… I didn’t relent. I just kept stabbing and slashing at her. Clearly still weakened from a fight…

  Stolen story; please report.

  Drip!

  Celia: “…”

  Blood dripped down from my sword, and my body. My rage was so potent that… I didn’t even care about getting so drenched in blood. Celia was close to death, yet… she just stared at me, vacantly. And then… she smiled, before laughing up a storm.

  Celia: “Strange, strange… I did kill Celia, but I inherited all of her memories. After all… this vessel is absolutely perfect! Even with all this damage… I still live.” She mused, not seeming to care about merely being a torso right now.

  Narrator Vulely: “Her memories alone… are not even to fool me. So… whoever you are, I see that, once more… you managed to achieve your desired destruction.” I replied with a scoff, intentionally stabbing my sword into her, as a means of punishment.

  Eternanel: “My name is Eternanel, and I do not seek destruction.” She said with an oddly serious tone, whimsy instantly falling away.

  The charade was over, so the fake Home fell apart. In the end, despite seeing the smoldering ruins… I was happy. Home had the familiar designs, the crumbled buildings looking just as I remembered them as. Unfortunately, I almost fell for this ruse. It was simply that hug which told me all that I needed to know, with those words only adding to my suspicion. Celia wouldn’t tell her loved one something like that…

  Narrator Vulely: “And yet… everyone is dead, and you even planned on using me to harm the past versions of my family. How can your desires be anything other than apocalyptic?” I asked with a curious tone and expression.

  Eternanel: “Perhaps it goes beyond your understanding, child. You… and your family fail to see that I am helping. I want the best for my children, you see.” She replied with a solemn tone, before she…