Chapter 393 Seed of Time, Split Blood
Spiral Cracked Land—a liminal space only accessible to those who have once denied their own destiny. The winds here do not blow in one direction; instead, they twist and swirl in invisible whirlpools. Time does not flow here; it stops, then rewinds, then advances, akin to a lost heartbeat. Every breath of wind carries whispers from the past, the histories of forgotten nations, unsatisfied wars, and protections lifted from ruins. The desire to change the boundaries of fate feels overwhelming, but it is only for those brave enough to step into the mystery shrouding this place, where the lines between time and space appear blurred and full of potential for self-discovery.
And in the midst of the whirlpool stands Joanna.
Her golden hair flickered like a frozen flame. Her black-and-white robe—symbols of Time and Chaos—gently trembled under the breath of a magic that could not even be named. Behind her, the clawed hourglass—glyph of the Codex Harmonia—was etched in the air like an unhealed wound. Every stroke of the glyph vibrated with tension, radiating a glimmer of light that held memories of a titanic battle among the nations seeking refuge under the aegis of time; all those struggles were to reclaim control over their destiny. Joanna felt the weight of that history, as if she were part of a story she had never written, hinting that the burden of historical responsibility and collective identity often rests heavily on the shoulders of the next generation.
She slowly opened her eyes as she sensed a presence that was unfamiliar yet deeply familiar.
Rui.
As the thick fog rolled around her, it seemed to contain many secrets ready to be unveiled. The air was enveloped in the aroma of distant cooking, a scent intertwined with hope and loss.
Joanna stood still as Rui approached through the fog of time. In that moment, it felt like the entire world had come to a halt. The boy—no, the young man—had changed. His eyes seemed to hold two conflicting worlds within them. There was an unexplainable wound, the remnants of battles he should never have faced. Yet, beyond that, there was a new strength, an undefined aura as if it were preparing to summon a greater power, emphasizing that within every trauma, there lies the potential for transformation and growth.
"I knew you would come," Joanna said softly, her voice flowing like a symphony that evoked longing.
Rui looked at her. There was no surprise on her face, just exhaustion, as if the long journey had worn down her hopes, leaving only a shadow of the person she thought she was meant to be.
"I can no longer walk my path alone. I want... to go to the Alpha world," she confessed, her tone laced with desperation, like a cry from the depths of her heart yearning for connection.
"Why?"