I opened my eyes, but this time, I wasn't in my room ،I was in the real world.
I stood on scorched ground as ash drifted through the air. Before me towered an ancient volcano reaching toward the sky.
Beneath it stood a temple of obsidian, tall and proud.
"Looks like the fog sent us straight to the temple."
I looked around for the others, but no one was there.
"Did the fog separate us? … That's going to be annoying."
I took a step forward, but a sudden sharp pain struck my head.
"Ughhh…"
I fell to my knees, clutching my head, twisting in agony. Little by little, new memories surfaced—
things I had long forgotten.
I remembered the doctor's experiments…
and the truth about my parents how they pretended everything was fine, how they sacrificed themselves, and how I ended up wandering the streets.
"So that's… the truth."
After several minutes, calm washed over me like cold water poured over my mind.
The memories were shocking, but I had seen too much already. I didn't have the strength left to react.
With heavy steps, I started toward the temple. The best way to find the others
was to go there they'd gather naturally.
When I reached the gate, it was shattered.
That made me wonder were all the gates destroyed? And why? The flower shouldn't be able to enter due to the barrier…
"I hate mysteries. Why do I keep finding things I don't understand?"
I entered the temple, annoyed. It was empty lifeless no trace of anyone.
"Has no one arrived?
What if they're still trapped in the illusion?
That would be troublesome."
I climbed the long staircase and entered the main hall. Its design resembled the Temple of Courage, except this one was built entirely of obsidian.
In the center stood an altar, and atop it a softly glowing blue crystal.
"The crystal's here… but there's no sign of the others. That' concerning."
I left the crystal behind and began searching for old books. The temple should contain one about Adam's meeting with the God of Truth.
"The God of Fire was the God of Courage…
so who's the God of Truth?"
I searched every corridor and chamber
until I finally found the library. It was ruined more destroyed than the one in the Temple of Courage. But I found the book I wanted.
Its title was written in ornate letters:
[The Blessing of the God of Time]
"Looks like… the God of Time is the God of Truth. makes sense."
I opened the pages and began reading the truth within:
---
Adam wished to know the truth.
To him, truth was a right for all for all were born into this world and thus deserved to know everything. So he began his journey across wondrous realms in search of the God of Time.
Meeting the God of Time was the hardest encounter Adam sought.
The God existed sometimes in the past,
sometimes in the present, sometimes in the future and sometimes in all moments at once. Finding Him was nearly impossible.
Adam searched for a hundred years—
which were thousands in other worlds,
for time flowed differently there.
He despaired, but the flame of courage in his heart purified his hopelessness and pushed him onward.
During his search, Adam heard a strange voice calling his name.
He turned and saw a small angel floating in the air no larger than his palm, made entirely of light, wearing robes decorated with stars.
It looked gentle and pure, and Adam felt warmth toward it.
The angel smiled cheerfully.]
[Adam, would you like me to lead you to the God of Time?]
Its voice was that of a child playful and full of contagious joy.
Adam blinked in surprise.
[Honored angel… why do you want to help me?]
The angel circled around him.
[I admire your courage. I've been watching you ever since you began your journey.]
Hope bloomed in Adam's heart.
[Oh, blessed angel… then please, lead me to the God of Time. But can you truly find Him?
Even gods struggle to do so.]
[Hehehe! Of course I can! After all— the God of Time is my father.]
Adam was stunned. He never imagined the God of Time had children.
The angel bowed gracefully.
[Allow me to reintroduce myself.
I am Moment, the Angel of Moments.
My father created me to aid him,
so I am, in a way, his son.]
Adam bowed back
[I'm honored to meet you, Moment.]
Moment laughed happily, took Adam's hands, and said:
[To find my father, you must leave time itself.
Only there will you see him directly.]
He grabbed Adam's hand, and in an instant, the world shifted. Adam felt submerged underwater, dragged deeper by Moment
until they emerged into a vast expanse.
Beneath them flowed a golden river—
the River of Time. It streamed from the silver past, colliding with itself in countless places.
Adam realized these distortions were caused by powerful beings—like gods.
He watched the river in awe. Curious, he looked to the past and future and was shocked. The distant past the beginning of all was horribly distorted.
So was the future.
[Angel… why are the past and future like this?]
[I don't know. Father avoids the topic whenever I ask.]
Adam didn't press further. He knew gods had secrets. They arrived before a sphere of silver threads woven, tangled, alive. Adam knew immediately this was the God of Time Himself.
[You're here again, Adam.]
Adam froze at the words. Moment chuckled beside him.
[To Father, you've already met him—in the future. He's… complicated. Anyway, good luck!]
Moment waved and vanished, leaving Adam with the God of Time.
Adam bowed deeply.
[My god, I wish to know the truth.]
[Hm… and what do you think truth is, Adam?]
[Truth is what never changes. It is absolute.
It's the cause, the result, the meaning of everything. Even gods cannot alter it.]
The God of Time sighed softly.
[Adam… truth does not truly exist.
Truth is what people believe it to be.
Tell me what color is the sky?]
Adam hesitated but answered,
[It's blue.]
[Then why is it yellow at dawn, red at dusk,
and dark at night? Does that mean its blueness is a lie?]
Before Adam could reply, the God continued:
[It's hard to know truth, Adam. We merely try not to be too wrong. This world is full of lies humans lie to themselves, and even gods must lie. Lies are necessary to live.
Listen well: a world built only on truth
would be chaotic and cruel. They call me the God of Truth, but I am also the God of Lies,
of Deception, and Illusion. I am the greatest liar in existence.]
[My god… have you ever lied before?]
The silver threads trembled. The River of Time stopped flowing. Adam realized—time itself had frozen.
[Listen carefully, Adam… and tell no one.
Yes… I lied. It was my greatest sin my deepest regret. I lied to her. I deceived someone who never deserved to be deceived. Ahh… fear consumed me from Him, and in my fear, I… destroyed her.]
The scene shifted again; the river flowed once more. Adam knew he shouldn't ask further.
[But my god… does this mean my journey was for nothing?]
The God of Time took pity on him snd decided to grant him a blessing.
[I will bless you, Adam. You will discern lies from truth, and unveil all illusion and deceit. But beware, Adam never know what must not be known.]
A droplet from the River of Time rose and entered Adam's eyes. His vision changed he saw beyond the veil, felt as though nothing could deceive him.
Driven by the thrill, he looked again at the River of Time toward the past and future.
But the God stopped him.
[Do not look. You will see things
that surpass even us gods. I know the past,
but not the future and that terrifies me.]
Then He cast Adam into the River of Time
and returned him to his world.
---
"My god… first there was Him, now there's Her...Who are these two?
It seems She was betrayed out of fear of Him."
Secrets kept piling up,
yet the answer remained hidden.
"Will I find the truth in the Silver Palace?
Supposedly, Adam's research is there.
I just hope this knowledge isn't forbidden…
I don't want to fall into corruption."
I took the book, tying it under my clothes for safekeeping.
"I wish I had a way to store things… hmm.
What if I try using my darkness?"
I called upon my shard, sending thoughts through it.
"Shard, can you devour these books but don't destroy them, just… store them?"
The shard went silent briefly. Then the darkness moved, swallowed the books,
and vanished.
"Now… let's test it."
I ordered the darkness to return them.
It expanded, shaped itself into the books,
and released them into my hands.
"Amazing… it worked. Now I have an inventory. I bet others would be jealous."
I took out the Crystal of Courage
and stored it as well.
"Hahaha! Now no one can take the keys from me."
I laughed, relieved. Carrying all that had been such a hassle.
"Now that I think about it— the God of Time told Adam not to tell anyone. So why is there a book about it? Did Adam break his promise too? Wouldn't that cause chaos if humans learned the gods feared a certain being?
Maybe these books weren't here originally.
Maybe someone placed them after the Flower took over. But who?"
The sudden realization made me stop and think deeply.
"It's strange… Why don't the church texts mention anything about the temple barriers?
If barriers existed, shouldn't humans be living inside them? They'd face food shortages, sure, but they'd manage somehow. But what if the barriers didn't exist at first? What if they were created later?"
"That would mean someone came after the Flower's rise, placed these books,
and built the barriers to contain it. Was that someone… Adam? Did he return after all these years? But why return when everyone's gone? And why leave the world in ruins?"
I sat on a chair, tapping the table in thought.
"Maybe it wasn't Adam. Maybe it was another powerful survivor. But then why didn't they act before everyone died?
Damn it more mysteries keep piling up.
Just how many secrets does this world hold?"
I reviewed everything unknown so far:
"The Cursed Flower… the bell that drove it away and never rang again… the mountain range that reeks of corruption and can kill immortals like me… the Temple of Courage
and the fear of the Falme God… the fog that trapped me in illusion… the secrets of the God of Time, of Him and Her, the truth of the keys, barriers, and books recording Adam's journeys…"
My head ached from the weight of it all.
I took out my water flask and drank a little.
I needed to clear my mind.
"Enough. I can't solve everything now.
The best thing to do is look for Elena."
I stood and headed for the exit.
Before leaving, I ordered the darkness to swallow all the books— to store them away.
It seemed to have infinite space.
I go to the altar and took the crystal and stored it too. No monster approached—
the area was safe.
"Now… where are the others? I should look around a bit."
---