The loud, shrill howl of a rooster pierced the morning air, yanking Maya, Alex, and Connor awake. Alex groaned, burying his face in the thin blanket. "Already?" he muttered, voice thick with sleep. Connor, arms crossed behind his head, let out a dry chuckle. "You're going to regret being lazy when we have to move around later." Maya, eyes half-open, stretched slowly, a small smile tugging at her lips.
After their baths, the three stepped out of their huts, which were arranged in a loose triangle. In the center, the wooden structure with tables and chairs where they had eaten the previous night stood quietly in the early light. They moved toward it and took their seats, the air already carrying the faint aroma of breakfast being prepared. Soon the maidens arrived, carrying trays heavy with food. The scent of grilled meat hit Alex first—he sniffed deeply, saliva pooling in his mouth. Connor's expression twisted in disgust. "Seriously, Alex?" he muttered. Maya chuckled softly at the scene, the sight of their unguarded, human reactions easing the weight in her chest. The maidens arranged the meal before them, and they dug in, letting themselves enjoy the rare comfort of a proper meal.
While they ate, a discussion buzzed in the central building. The normad leader spoke with a middle-aged woman. Her hair was streaked with silver, drawn back into a tight braid, and her robes were deep green, embroidered with patterns of vines and crescent moons. In her hands, she held a staff with a massive gem embedded at its top, casting a faint greenish glow across the room.
"Are these the helpers you brought?" the woman asked sharply, eyes scanning a parchment on the table. "They're so weak. If they die too much, it will consume a lot of energy."
The normad leader, tall and broad-shouldered, nodded respectfully. "Your Excellency, they may be weak, but they have no ulterior motives. We have suffered too much already. Besides, it's not as if they cannot get stronger."
The woman let out a long, tired sigh. "I heard… fortunately, this is the easiest one," she whispered, almost to herself.
Their meal was interrupted when two guards appeared, motioning for Maya, Alex, and Connor to follow. They threaded along the winding paths of the settlement, finally arriving at the broad trail that led to the largest hut. This time, there was no branching—the guards led them directly inside.
The interior was grander than any of the other huts they had seen. At the far end, a woman sat on what resembled a throne, her presence commanding yet serene. Her long dark hair was woven with beads, and her robes shimmered in shades of amber and crimson, patterned with stylized animals. Beside her, the normad leader stood, tall and firm.
For a moment, Maya, Alex, and Connor exchanged confused glances. "Wait… isn't he the leader?" Maya whispered.
The leader's true name was Tayan, a respected name among the nomads. The guards knelt, their voices unified: "Your Excellency, Priest of our Gods, Shania, we have brought them." They rose, turned toward Tayan, bowed in acknowledgment, and immediately left the room. Maya and the others remained, the weight of the room's gravity settling around them.
It clicked after a moment. The woman was the normad priest, Shania.
Tayan stepped forward, his presence commanding yet calm. "Our guests," he began, his voice deep and steady, "I can see that our hospitality has not disappointed. You are here because we need your help." His gaze shifted to the priest beside him, a silent cue.
Shania rose gracefully, moving toward the trio. She scanned each of them with a meticulous eye before nodding, her intention unreadable. "We need your help to clear a Rend," she said plainly.
Alex immediately chuckled. "And here I thought it was something mysterious," he said, prompting Maya and Connor to shoot him stern looks. Alex shut up quickly, realizing he had overstepped.
Maya leaned forward. "How is this Rend?" she asked, her voice measured but curious.
Shania's expression remained neutral. "It will last three months. It is not dangerous," she said simply.
Connor jumped in. "We're in the middle of something important. We have to finish it first—"
Maya's hand shot up, stopping him mid-sentence. She turned back to Shania. "Give us a day to consider it," she said firmly.
Shania's eyes darkened slightly. "If you do not help, lives will be at stake," she warned.
Tayan said nothing, but his gaze lingered on them, sharp with an edge of unspoken hostility.
That night, Maya, Alex, and Connor sat together in the wooden structure at the center of the settlement, discussing their next move. Alex agreed with Connor. "We should at least map out Sector Eleven first," he said.
Maya shook her head. "The Normads could have killed us. They didn't—and they neutralized the pursuers. Helping them clear a Rend isn't asking too much."
Alex shrugged. "It's not like we won't help. But we should finish what we're doing first."
Maya's eyes narrowed. "And how do you propose we finish it? Our situation is worse now. The people who sent those pursuers know something is off. The moment we show ourselves, we're done for."
After hours of debate, weighing risks and priorities, they reached a decision. They would help the Normads clear the Rend—but only on one condition: that the Normads assist them in mapping out Sector Eleven.
Though Maya was not entirely comfortable with the choice, she knew it was the safest and most strategic option.
The next morning, they approached the central building and informed Tayan and Shania of their decision.
--
With Tayan and Shania leading the way, the trio left the large hut and the settlement behind, moving deeper into the forest. The quiet was unusual—no guards followed, no rustle of footsteps. The trees thickened, the canopy above casting long shadows over the uneven ground. Time stretched as they walked, each step measured, their thoughts heavy with anticipation and unease.
After what seemed like hours, they arrived at a clearing where massive rocks were arranged in a precise, deliberate pattern. Shania walked to the center, her robes brushing against the stones, while Maya, Alex, and Connor followed—but were stopped by Tayan, who shook his head firmly. They froze, watching as the Normad priest raised her staff high chanting incantations
Then the gem embedded in it began to glow, a soft green radiance that intensified with each word she spoke.
"Aren't we supposed to clear a Rend? What's all this nonsense?" one did not need to guess who the voice belonged to a muffled shout broke betrayed it.
"Alex!"
Before the argument could escalate, the ground trembled. The stones vibrated, releasing a pulse that seemed to ripple through the forest itself. A gaping rift formed at the center of the rock pattern, where Shania stood, bathed in the green light. The trio exchanged stunned glances—nothing like this had ever crossed their paths. A Rend that appeared artificially. This is even mind blowing than the believe that time rends could be predicted
Shania motioned for them to step forward. Confusion and hesitation gripped Maya. "Aren't we supposed to wait for the zombies to come out first? No one has entered a Time Rend alive before."
Shania's gaze seemed to read their thoughts. "This is different. The rift is a portal to a world. You must enter, locate the core of that world, destroy it before it accumulates enough energy. If you fail, the world will destabilize, and the beings within will spill into ours."
Maya's voice trembled slightly. "Is this what causes Time Rends?"
Shania shook her head, her expression grave. "No. It's not a time rend butsomething else entirely. A projection . You need not fear—it is the easiest world, the Birth World. But you must act swiftly. Three months is all the time you have."
Before they could step forward, Tayan approached, carrying supplies. He handed them armor, rations, water, and first aid kits. He handed Maya a crossbow, calibrated perfectly for her skill, Tactical Awareness, and her unique talent, Temporal Glimpse. Alex received a heavy hammer, ideal for channeling his Shock Wave ability. Connor was given dual daggers—sleek, precise, and deadly, matching his calm but decisive personality.
With gear in hand and hearts racing, the trio stepped forward into the rift, leaving the forest and their world behind.
Tayan and Shania stood at the edge of the rock formation, hidden behind a cluster of trees, observing Maya, Alex, and Connor as they prepared to enter the rift. The wind rustled the leaves, carrying the faint hum of energy from the portal. Shania's gaze was steady, but a trace of concern flickered in her eyes.
"How long do you think they'll last?" she asked quietly, her voice almost a whisper against the forest sounds.
Tayan's jaw tightened as he watched the trio disappear into the rift. "Not long," he replied evenly. "They won't clear the first wave before the time limit. By the fourth wave, they'll be pushed to the edge. The fifth wave… that's twenty-three minutes in. That's when most won't survive."
Shania's lips pressed into a thin line. "And yet we send them in anyway."
"They have no choice," Tayan said, his tone final. "This world, the core… the longer it exists unchecked, the worse it gets. We guide them, equip them, and hope their skills are enough to last past the fourth wave. Anything beyond… is luck."
Shania nodded slowly, eyes fixed on the portal. A pulse of light shimmered from the rift, and she exhaled softly. "May the Gods protect them."
---