Chapter 2

  “Who are you? What are you doing here!” demanded Fia.

  She had hoped shouting the words would make her seem more imposing, but they had come out as more of a squeal, resulting in the opposite effect.

  “My dear, I am a customer,” the man replied calmly.

  Fia was keenly aware that her staff lay behind the man, propping open the door to the backrooms. Not that it would be much use. She had been learning, but that was so long ago now.

  “We are closed, and besides, you wouldn’t be interested in what we have.”

  The man sighed, looking towards the sign out the window, “Is this not Twinveil’s? For all your potion, charm, and grimoire needs?”

  She stared back at him silently.

  The man carried on undisturbed, “You may call me Timor. I am a middleman of sorts, and as I said, I have a proposition for you. It is a rather unique business opportunity if I do say so myself.”

  “What are you doing here?” she asked again, this time softly.

  “Ah, yes, of course. Here I am, reveling in my own glorious triumph, and I have completely abandoned my manners. First off, I must congratulate you. A fantastic bit of spellwork on your part, and so fortunate, too. Although…”

  He paused briefly, and for the first time, Fia saw the confidence slip from his face.

  “It is unfinished, isn’t it?”

  His eyes turned back to Fia, and she felt their weight bear down on her. It was more than just their gaze. She felt as if he was looking through her, searching for something. It was unnerving, and for the first time in a long time, she remembered what it was like to lack her sister’s talent.

  Finally, Timor spoke.

  “Come, sit with me.” He motioned to the two cushioned armchairs by the mantle. Sophie’s favorite nook.

  They sat, and he took her hand in his. He looked kinder seated. Less foreboding. His pale skin seemed translucent in the dancing firelight, and Fia thought he must be much older than she had first assumed.

  “You did not cast these spells, did you?”

  “No,” she whispered.

  “Are you even aware of what is happening?”

  “It’s a loop.”

  He let out a deep breath, and she saw the relief wash over him.

  “Yes! Yes, precisely. A temporal loop. That is good, very good indeed.” He began muttering to himself in a strange tongue, lost in thought.

  When he spoke again, the excitement had returned, “I will need to ask you a few questions, is that alright?”

  Fia sat a moment pondering. There was something off about this man. But, of course, there would be. How long had she been here? She had lost count, but through it all, there had never been anyone who saw the loop like she did.

  “I will answer your questions if you answer mine.”

  “I would expect nothing less. We shall go one at a time. But first, you have my name, it is only fair that I know yours.”

  “Fia.”

  “A pleasure to meet you, Fia. You may ask the first question.”

  “Why aren’t you affected by the loop?”

  “I would think that would be obvious, my dear; I come from outside of it.”

  “From where?”

  “Oh, dear, but it is my turn now.” He smirked rather frustratingly. “Are you a sorceress, and how long have you been training?”

  “That is two questions.” She could be frustrating as well.

  Timor sat blinking for a moment, then he threw back his head and laughed. A deep, shaking laugh, one that did not match his look at all.

  “Fia, I hoped I would like you, and so far, you have not disappointed. Very well, let us agree that from now on, we will answer in the spirit of the question asked and not concern ourselves with the semantics of how it was phrased. Be generous, girl, and you will see that I shall repay you in kind.”

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  “Fine. I am a sorceress. I trained under my sister for two years.” She paused, “Though that was a long time ago.”

  “Not to worry. When I observed your magic earlier…” He gestured vaguely with his hand. “I did not find what I expected, but there is enough there, I think. Your turn.”

  “Where are you from?” she repeated.

  “I am from a world an unthinkable distance from your own and in an age countless centuries after. A land untouched by the God King Thalazan, unlike your own.”

  Fia frowned, puzzled. God King?

  “The King here is called Anselm.”

  “Indeed. My studies have revealed that most worlds were unaware of their assimilation into the Thalazan’s domain, but nevertheless, all you need to know is that while the God King never stepped foot on your world, many of his treasures were stored here. It is, in fact, what makes this world so enticing and your present circumstances so valuable.”

  “Is that so?”

  “Fascinating, isn’t it? And we shall return to it after a few questions of my own.”

  He leaned in eagerly, “Your sister, she created the loop?”

  “I think so.”

  “And where is she?”

  “She died.”

  He squeezed her hand. “My condolences.” But it didn’t look like it mattered to him.

  “You are the only one in the loop?”

  “As far as I am aware.”

  “Excellent.” He sank back deep into the armchair, and his face disappeared into the shadows.

  “What is this business opportunity?”

  The fire burned low. How long had they been sitting?

  Out of the darkness, he replied, “In my time, the God King is dead. It was a war of a thousand worlds. Most did not know what they truly fought for. All they could see was an unjust existence that they sought to end. But the true war was fought on Kalmar, the seat of the Imperial dynasty. A siege that lasted lifetimes.”

  As he spoke, Fia’s eyes were drawn to dying embers, and in the shadow and flame, she began to see it. A palace that extended past the horizon. Walls like the tallest mountains, and in the center, a tower spiraling up to the heavens. Lost in storm clouds. Around the tower flew great winged creatures cloaked in darkness, and from their jagged maws came black miasma and noxious fumes. Down below, the battle raged. Thousands, if not millions, of soldiers, slogged through the mud and the rain. A suffocating clash of two immense forces trapped between the walls. There was no room to swing a sword or raise a staff. To lose one’s footing was to be lost.

  “It was hopeless. For centuries, they had fought but still were no closer to the tower. That is until an army from this world broke in through the treasury.”

  The throne room. Made of obsidian with ruby veins cutting through its core. Vast treasure piled high and scattered across its floors. The ceiling was glass, and though the storm raged around it, the view into the cosmos was unblemished. At the end of the room, seated on a throne of precious stone, sat Thalazan. He was pierced by a dozen spears, staking him to it. His eyes were lifted, and he stared up as if to take one last look across his domain. Before him stood a figure clad in all white. In their hand, they grasped a golden staff beset with a great emerald stone. They seemed to be speaking. Then the God King fell, and as he fell, his throne splintered to its core.

  When Thalazan was slain, the stars of a thousand worlds died with him. Something I think his enemies did not expect. The worlds began to die. There is nothing left of them now, nor the treasures they held. I have been tasked with salvaging what can be saved. A task that I have admittedly failed at. But now it seems I have discovered a solution.”

  Timor stood, “Do you understand what I am asking?”

  “You want me to find you these treasures.”

  “Yes.” His voice wavered as he struggled to hide his eagerness.

  “And what will I get in return?”

  “Soon. I have one more question.”

  Fia nodded. She desperately wanted him to get to the point, but perhaps playing it cool would cause him to reveal more than he otherwise intended. Subtlety was not exactly her strong suit, but Timor, for all his bravado, was desperate.

  “How long is the loop?”

  “Three days.”

  He could not have looked more disappointed. His shoulders sagged as he collapsed back into his seat. He began speaking to himself furiously. Again, in a strange, unknown language.

  After some time, he composed himself. “There is no point in trying to hide it. That is much, much shorter than I had hoped for. And that was when I thought you were some powerful mage.”

  He sank back into thought. It was Fia who felt desperate now. This was something. No matter what it was, it couldn’t be worse than her life now. And besides, if it didn’t work out, she would just be right back where she started anyway. Really, the only way she could lose was if she didn’t seize this opportunity.

  Finally, just when she thought she was about to burst and fall on her knees, begging him for a chance, he lifted his head.

  “I have a task for you.” He nodded thoughtfully. “We’ll call it a trial run. Just to see.”

  “And what if I am uninterested? You still haven’t told me what you will be giving me in return.”

  For a second, she thought she saw a smile flash across his face.

  “Outside of the usual purpose in a meaningless world. Companionship where once you were alone. I have also taken the liberty of finishing the spell your sister placed on this shop. It really is quite an interesting spell. Almost as if she had intended for our chance meeting. I can tell you it would have been quite the treat to meet her. Oh, the conversations we might have had.”

  “Unfortunately, you are stuck with me. What did the spell change?”

  “It seems the shop was intended to be almost a haven from the loop. Your sister had a penchant for collecting the rare and unusual, if I’m not mistaken?”

  Fia nodded, thinking of Sophie’s private collection.

  “There is, in fact, a room in this shop that I have been unable to enter. Presumably, your sister’s personal belongings?”

  She nodded again, and her heart swelled with pride. The man was powerful; there was no mistake about it. But he could not have bested Sophie.

  “I believe your sister wished you to add to the shop. Now that the spell is complete, any item left in the shop will not be erased when the loop resets. This is honestly the one saving grace of our circumstance. I wasn’t sure how I would solve that little issue, but I needn’t have worried after all. Of course, if you refuse my offer, I will revert the spell to its previous state, leaving you to your own personal three days.”

  He must have seen the shock in her eyes because he smiled at her in an attempt to be reassuring, “That may seem harsh, but I assure you my intentions are pure. If you accept my offer but fail in the task, I will allow you to keep the shop in its current condition. But if you succeed, and our partnership extends until all treasures are accounted for…” He paused dramatically. “I will show you how to exit the loop.”

  Cycle: Timor 1-1