Time-Smith - Chapter 3: A Second Chance (Patreon)

Evan's eyes snapped open, the vivid memories of the timeline that had just reset still etched in his mind. The room around him buzzed with the priests healing and the soft light of their divine [Appraisal] skills, poised to ensnare those around him. His heart pounded, but not from fear. It was a rhythm of newfound understanding, a silent mantra that screamed, "Not this time."

Evan felt the priests' eyes on him, their gazes and outstretched hands like invisible threads trying to weave a net of mana around him. one priest murmured, almost to himself rather than to those around him."[Teleportation] & [Postcognition],"

A wave of panic washed over him as he realised his skills were being sensed and felt through mana. The priests would know if he used his hidden skill, and he couldn't risk being caught here. He tried to keep his breathing steady, his heart pounding in his chest as he fought to keep his fear under control. Despite his attempts at appearing calm, his pulse continued to quicken.

No, they were too close to discovering his third skill. He couldn't let that happen.

He reached for the sensation deep within, from one of the three suns of mana blazing within him. He flet a pulsing through his veins, filling him with a transcendent power that threatened to overwhelm him at any moment. He embraced it, desperate to escape discovery.

He shuddered as he sensed the sun of mana shifting through his core, sweat breaking out on his forehead as he struggled to control the raging inferno within.

And then, he felt it. A surge of energy, hot and bright, exploding from the sun in his body and propelling him forward in a blur of motion. his [Teleportation] skill activated and everything disappeared. The world around him dissolved into an abyss of blackness. He felt as if he were hurtling through a vacuum, a sensation that lasted only milliseconds but felt like an eternity.

Crash.

He collided with a stone wall, the impact jarring every bone in his body. The air whooshed out of his lungs as he slid to the ground.

A priest rushed over, her hands glowing with the soft light of a healing skill. Evan waved her away. He gestured, signaling he was fine, even if his body screamed otherwise.

His thoughts churned. How had he just seen the future? His [Postcognition] skill would allow him to see the past once he’d mastered it, not the future. Was it a fluke? Or was it a sign of something more, something hidden even from himself?

Evan's thoughts were a swirling vortex, mirroring the chaos he had just escaped. He knew one thing for sure: he had to leave, and soon. But where could he go in a world where even the gods had perished, leaving behind only their mana like an ocean waiting to drown him?

His eyes met those of the priest who had hurried over to heal him. Her gaze was filled with questions, but it appeared as if she bought his ruse at being unharmed. She turned and rushed towards an excited young girl waving a jet of pressurized water around like a childs toy, and not a dangerous whip that could dismember everyone around her.

I’m safe, he thought with a sigh. For now, all that’s left for me to do is get the hells out of here.

Evan glanced toward the chamber's entrance and moved, planning his next course of action.

***

Evan stood in the outer sphere of the chamber, surrounded by priests and other children. Note to self, never get injured while surrounded by killer priests! He chided himself for his lack of forethought. Dense mana filled the air, but it was dissipating quickly, the air dense and humid. It made Evan's skin crawl, and he could feel the weight of it pressing down on him. But he didn't dare show any discomfort. Not here. Not in front of the priests or guards.

The other children around him were practising their skills, some with more success than others. Evan watched them out of the corner of his eye as he spoke to the priest, trying to keep his attention focused on the man in front of him.

Evan found himself deep in conversation with Priest Alaric, who was investigating his newly acquired skills.

The priest, Alaric, was an old man with piercing blue eyes. He leaned in to examine Evan's face. Evan felt a shiver run down his spine at the memory of his attack, and had to remind himself that it hadn't really happened. The priest was a tall, chubby man with a sharp nose and stern expression. He wore a long robe of black and gold, the symbol of the Church of the all knowing Twins emblazoned on his chest. He peered at Evan through his spectacles, his eyes narrowing as he studied the boy.

“So” he checked the parchment in his hand, “Evan? You have demonstrated two skills. [Teleportation] and [Postcognition]. Most impressive. Can you explain your skills to me?" The priest's voice was low and gravelly, and he held himself with a quiet confidence.

Evan shifted nervously, his eyes darting around the room. Time to play dumb, he thought. He hoped this bozo wouldn't question him for too long, he wasn’t exactly a bad guy, but it was hard to have positive thoughts about someone you’d witnessed help chop your legs off, even if it was in another timeline.

I still need to figure out how the hell I time traveled. He made a mental note to experiment with his skills once he was safe and out of here.

"I don't know, Father.” Evan said, struggling to keep his face steady and composed. "They just...came to me. I didn't do anything to make them happen."

The priest nodded slowly, his fingers steepled under his chin. "I see. And have you noticed anything else? Any other applications or depths to them? We hold programs to help both youths and adults unlock their full skill potential, you know."

Evan hesitated for a moment, then shook his head. "No, Father. Nothing else."

"Nothing else, you say?" the priest mused. "Yet, we find there's always more than meets the eye.” The priest leaned closer towards Evan, almost eye-to-eye. “Some skills can be... multifaceted. We seek those with extraordinary potential."

Evan's heart skipped a beat at the priest's words. What did he mean by that? Did he know?

Evan's heart began to pound as beads of sweat formed on his forehead. He had to maintain composure, hide his true potential at all costs. He forced himself to look into the priest's eyes, and schooled his expression with empty confidence, "I am here to serve, Father, I wish I knew how I used it. But to be honest, I barely even know what I did." Well, he wasn’t actually lying. He didn't.

The priest held a warm gaze at Evans earnestness before responding, “those skills, there is a future in them. Now you’re of working age, and [Skilled], have you thought about what you plan to do?”

Evan's palms grew clammy as the conversation stretched on. Every passing second felt like an eternity, each word uttered a potential reveal of his hidden secret. And this guy was… persistent. Evan responded, a hint of his desperation to leave creeping into his voice. "Father, I appreciate your interest, but to be honest, I just want to live a quiet life. Maybe working the farm, or the forest. I wish to use them for the betterment of our city.” Well, that was half true, Evan thought.

The priest leaned back, a thoughtful expression on his face, "Living a quiet life. Indeed. But sometimes, silence can obscure something more... remarkable. You should be sure to choose a role that suits your skill."

Okay, does this guy just cryptically respond to everything, hoping some dumb kid will say he has [Soul Reaping], or something? And does that ever actually work? Not knowing whether he was being targeted, or if this was routine, was really starting to get to Evan.

He thought of the [Immortal] boys' screams and decided that perhaps, this was the priest's tried and true method of discovering desirable skills. It probably worked more times than one would think, if the priest kept using it.

Evan gulped.

The priest nodded slowly, making notes on a small piece of parchment. "Still, movement, & information. Interesting. And lucrative, once mastered. Truly, you must be blessed by The Twins.”

Evan shrugged, trying not to let his excitement show. He knew he had to keep his guard up, no matter how much he wanted to shout for joy.

"Thank you, sir," he said politely. "Is that all?"

The priest nodded. "For now, yes. But I'll be keeping an eye on you, Evan. You could be quite valuable to us."

Evan's heart sank at the words. He didn't want to be valuable to anyone. He just wanted to go home. He had to give them something.

“Thank you, father,” he muttered.

The priest studied him for a moment longer, then nodded. "Very well. Keep practising your skills, Evan. The Church will be watching your progress closely."

With that, the priest turned and strode away, disappearing into the crowd of children. Evan watched him go, his heart pounding in his chest with relief. It was a good thing the fully armoured guard had not appeared, Evan assumed he probably only came out for emergencies. With a skill like [Plasma Arc], he probably considered Testing Centre duty as something far beneath his capabilities.

As he left the testing centre and made his way back home, feelings of unease settled over him. The world was a dangerous place filled with dead gods and monsters both human and otherwise, and now he was even more of a target than before. Still, he was determined to use his new-found abilities to carve out a place for himself in this treacherous landscape.

He exhaled as he felt the afternoon sun warm his skin, and the breeze that accompanied it. Finally, he was safe and free.. Despite this, deep down, he knew it was only a temporary reprieve. He would have to be careful. He would have to keep his secrets close, and his [Skills] even closer.

As he turned the corner onto his street, he saw his little sister sitting by the entrance to their small home. Was she waiting for me? All this time? He thought, as the beginnings of a small smile crept onto his face and he hurried over to her.

The slight smile grew and spread across Evan's face into a full one as he approached her, his heart lightening with each step. He reached out and ruffled her hair, knowing full well that she'd retaliate with a playful punch later, probably when he was least expecting it, in his most vulnerable moments. Sibling rituals were not to be taken lightly.

"How was your day, Luci?" he asked, his voice filled with genuine curiosity.

Luci beamed up at him, her toothy grin proudly displaying a gap where she had recently lost a tooth, in the way that all children lose them. The wonders of childhood dentistry. She held up her prize, high in the afternoon light, for Evan to see "Good! I found a beetle!"

Evan laughed, feeling the weight of his responsibilities slide off his shoulders. The priests and guards, with all their pomp, circumstance and danger, faded into the background. And in the presence of his little sister and her beetle triumph, he found solace, a temporary escape from the complexities that lay beyond their doorstep.

For a moment, all he cared about were beetles.

Picking her up and heading towards their home, he closed his eyes, feeling the three suns within himself burning bright, their power ever surging towards a breaking point. The road to becoming an expert would be long and arduous, but he was ready to face the challenge. He would master his skills, all three of them. And he would keep his secret, himself and his family safe, or he would die trying.

No- actually scratch that. He thought with a sudden realisation. Other people will die trying, not us. We’ll live, and make it through this. We’ll thrive.

He clenched his fist and made a promise to himself.

***

Evan burst through the front door of his family's humble abode, a grin plastered across his face. The worn wooden floor creaked beneath his hurried steps. His mother and father looked up from their respective tasks, each one eyeing Evan curiously. He was practically bouncing with excitement, barely able to contain the news he had to share.

"I did it!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with wonder and excitement. "I unlocked my skills!"

His sister, wide-eyed with anticipation, leaned closer. "You have skills! What can you do?" she asked, her voice filled with innocent curiosity.

His mother, with flour-dusted hands, paused in her baking, while his father, hunched over a worn-out workbench, set aside his tools. They exchanged a glance, a silent understanding passing between them, both of them sporting a mixture of pride and concern. The world was a dangerous place for those with powerful skills, and they had suspicions about those who left the province. Many became wealthy beyond their dreams, living comfortable lives, and many more were simply never heard of again. Hopefully, their son's skills weren't too rare. Evan was too excited to notice their unease. He practically bounced over to his family, eager to share his newfound abilities.

"I can [Teleport]!" he exclaimed, as he approached them, his words tumbling out with breathless enthusiasm. "And I have [Postcognition]!"

And also Time-Travel, somehow, he thought inwardly.

His sister's eyes widened in awe as his parents looked on with a mixture of amazement and relief. The ability to teleport was a rare and powerful skill, but impractical. One use would leave its user out of commission, spent as if they had ran for miles without rest. Teleporters were usually retainers for the wealthy, in charge of transport and living lavish lives. This was good news. Postcognition was equally rare, and even weaker, but not to be underestimated. It offered a glimpse into the past, a tether to history and knowledge. One could peer into and relive the past as far as their body and mind would allow. Although usually not far at all, an hour at best for the most talented, and several for the strongest of mind and body in history. It was an invaluable skill. But the dangers of possessing such abilities were almost non-existent. They breathed a collective sigh of relief.

The sun was setting, casting welcoming rays across the sky. Its fading light seeped through the cracks in the worn wooden walls of Evan's home. He was trembling with excitement and fear, his hands fidgeting as he spoke. His mind whirred at the possibilities of what he could do with his skills and Time-Travelling.

And there were endless possibilities. It was overwhelming.

"I saw a boy get taken away by guards today," Evan said suddenly, his expression turning solemn. "He had a really powerful skill, and they just took him away. I can't stop thinking about it."

His voice quivered with concern, his words punctuated by the occasional pause as he struggled to find the right way to express his emotions.

His parents exchanged another glance, silently communicating their shared sadness at the state of the world they lived in. They both knew the risks that came with having unique skills, and the fact that some people would stop at nothing to extract them from others.

"It's okay, Evan," his mother spoke softly, her voice carrying waves of consolation. She placed a comforting hand on his quivering shoulder, her touch a gentle reassurance. "The gods will watch over him."

Evan's gaze hardened, his eyes flashing with fierce determination. "The gods are dead," he said passionately, his voice filled with a resolute conviction. "But I appreciate the sentiment, Mom."

His father nodded in agreement, a quiet pride filling his heart. Evan was rash, and reckless. His impulsive nature often left his parents on edge. But sometimes, he showed an insight that belied wisdom beyond his years, despite being an inexperienced teenager. Today was a pivotal day for his son, and the two skills he'd gained access to would dictate how he lived the rest of his life. Tomasz trusted Evans' judgment.

Evan’s mother placed a hand on his cheek, pinching them as if he was a baby, the indignation! "We may not know what the gods have planned for us,” she said, still wrangling his cheeks, “but we must have faith. Faith is what keeps us going in this world. Without faith, we are nothing.”

***

After spending some time with his family, Evan set out to test his powers. Dangers that flooded every corner of the world, but in that moment they meant nothing to him. Any fears or concerns were swiftly brushed away by the intense thrill that swept through his being as he teleported from place to place, hurtling through the air.

He really needed to figure out how to stop his momentum. And choose a direction. And land in that direction. Upright. And not feel like he’d climbed a mountain after every teleport.

And with each teleport, he’d found himself flung through the air as soon as he reappeared elsewhere, spinning uncontrollably, and crash-landing in unexpected places. As he rose from the ground, covered in dust, he wondered if this was how an alcoholic with [Flight] would feel.

No matter, he was still determined to master [Teleport].

He tried one more time as he tapped into the blazing sun of mana that moved through his core. He felt a strange sensation in his gut. A pull, dragging him away from his current location and into one of his choosing, he steadied himself and stared ahead, preparing to jump forward and land on the top of a small tree ahead of him.

His skill flung him backwards through the void.

His [Postcognition] proved to be just as useful, in that he had no idea what the past images and experiences of the forest meant. The images flashed across his vision, too fast and jumbled for him to understand, and no matter what he tried, he couldn’t peer into the past or future. But he would figure it out. Nobody else had experienced having a skill from childhood, except the legendary beasts & monsters of old. Maybe he was a legendary human? Heh. Of course he was.

As the sun began to set, Evan returned home, feeling invigorated and alive. His family greeted him with smiles and hugs, proud of the young man he was becoming. A life in the city plaza among the wealthy and powerful was dangerous, but lucrative. If he chose to be a porter, city traveler, enforcer of the law, or guard, he would live a life of luxury. As long as he avoided working for a megalomaniacal demigod, he would be fine.

***

The next day, Evan set to hunt in the city outskirts with the optimism only youthful ignorance could provide, because no seasoned hunter would be so cheerful when faced with the imminent prospect of potentially being dinner. Evan, a hunter by skill, and now [Skill], was about to attempt to learn to navigate a world where humans without exceptional Skills or resources were quite often prey. He covered his eyes against the rising sun as Tomasz offered some fatherly advice. "Remember, son, you miss one hundred percent of the shots you don't take, and ninety percent of the ones you do." In fact, he knew that Evan was a crack shot with a bow, but decided it wouldn't hurt to keep him cautious.

Evan said his goodbyes and set out into the forest, to hunt and face the unknown, unaware that the events that were about to unfold that day would alter the course of his life forever.