FATE (Volume 1)

Chapter 1: ​🇹​​🇭​​🇪​ ​🇸​​🇹​​🇦​​🇷​​🇹​ ​🇴​​🇫​ ​🇮​​🇹​ ​🇦​​🇱​​🇱​

"So, any idea how we get out of this place?" Epouchiom asked, her voice tinged with a mix of curiosity and unease. She traced her thumb along the dusty staircase's railing, her fingers collecting the grime as she walked towards a half-rotting altar. After shooting it a disgusted look, she couldn't help but shiver. It was a strange feeling, being in a place that was both eerie and strangely comforting. The room was dimly lit, with feeble rays of light struggling to pierce through the cracks in the moss-covered cobblestone walls. Epouchiom was not alone; her older sister, Oreveu, was with her, absorbed in her own thoughts. Oreveu was a contrast to her sister, favoring monochrome colors over bright ones. Epouchiom often wondered why, but today, she didn't have the energy to delve into her sister's preferences. "We've been looking for an exit for the past few minutes, and there's still nothing," Oreveu replied, her eyes fixed on an old French dictionary. "Are you sure you're even trying to find an exit?" Epouchiom shot her sister a glare, but Oreveu remained oblivious, engrossed in her reading. Epouchiom couldn't contain her excitement when she spotted a rusted lever on the other side of the cobblestone floor. "Wait! I think I found an exit!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with enthusiasm as she tugged on the lever. The hidden door slowly revealed itself, lifting the cobblestone with a prolonged, grating, high-pitched sound that felt like it would never end. "Good grief!" Oreveu covered her ears, squinting at the deafening noise. Finally, they walked out of the library.

"Yo, wassup, man?" Jacob greeted Enzo as he effortlessly ollied his skateboard down the academy's hallways. "Oh, hey, Jacbob!" Enzo called out. But as Jacob zoomed past, he couldn't help but let his mind wander. How did he end up with the nickname 'Jacbob'? Students and even teachers had adopted it, but it was all a blur to Jacob. Lost in his thoughts, he didn't realize his skateboard was hurtling towards a collision with the academy wall. "Shit!" Enzo exclaimed in bewilderment as he rushed to Jacob's side. "Are you alright, mate?" Enzo asked, genuine concern in his voice as he helped Jacob to his feet. "Yeah, I'm fine, but my skateboard isn't. My mind just wandered," Jacob replied, extending his hand to meet Enzo's grasp. Enzo's curiosity got the best of him as he probed, "Are you trying to get to the backrooms? Your skateboarding, no-clipping style without any gear is pretty bold." Jacob, about to respond, was cut off by the school bell ringing. "Alright, see you in class," Jacob said, brushing off Enzo's comments and their peculiar encounter.As they walked to class, Jacob noticed a peculiar glint on the storage room's door, followed by a blinding white light. He stared at it in intrigue, and suddenly, it flashed a gloomy yellow-green hue. It was then he realized and muttered to himself, "He's here." Enzo, catching wind of his words, asked, "Who's 'He'?" "The Watcher of the Quartz Clock is coming for me," Jacob whispered breathlessly. "The who?" Enzo asked in utter confusion as Jacob ran towards a wall and crashed into it. Enzo watched, bewildered, as Jacob seemed to disappear into thin air.

As the two sisters strolled along the streets of Liberton, they couldn't help but notice the ever-changing scenery. With every step they took, the streets and surroundings morphed into something entirely different. "What the hell is happening?" Epouchiom's voice trembled with panic. "What in the world?" The sisters exclaimed in unison, their confusion growing with every passing moment.As they continued walking, the surroundings grew more chromatic and futuristic. "It's as if we're time-traveling with each step," Oreveu observed. Panic set in, and Epouchiom pleaded, "No, no, no, we can't be time-traveling, right? We need to turn back!" But Oreveu struggled to do so. "I can't," she said. "I'm..." Oreveu's words were cut off by a deep, dark voice, a voice that echoed like caverns crashing into one another. "Prononcirun Excluzcia Ehervo," declared the mysterious voice. As the two sisters grappled with the bizarre turn of events, the surroundings began to flash blinding yellow lights. The floor beneath them transformed into an eerie, bright white expanse, like the heavens themselves opening up. A gloomy yellow-green gas filled the air, swirling around them, and strange figures emerged, carrying peculiar, stick-like weapons that produced explosive sounds when used. The scenes continued to shift, and they found themselves in a new setting. Heavy bombs rained from flying machines soaring through the skies. The two sisters could do nothing but cower and squint at the surreal scenes unfolding before them until everything abruptly stopped. The skies were now as blue as the oceans, and birds soared through the air. Or, at least, that's what they expected to see when they opened their eyes. Instead, they were met by an old, rustic door. On the other side of it, life teemed with chatter, children, and people going about their business. A bustling world that felt entirely foreign.

As Jacob opened his eyes, he found himself back on his skateboard, hurtling towards the wall at breakneck speed. He quickly planted his right foot on the ground to avoid another collision. "Wait, again? Haven't I crashed my skateboard here before?" he muttered to himself, an eerie sense of déjà vu washing over him. He couldn't quite pinpoint when or how it had happened. Shaking off the strange feeling, he managed to halt the skateboard before it smashed into the wall. "Phew!" Jacob let out a sigh of relief, his mind racing with questions. "Did I use my powers? Was it an accident, or did I do it on purpose? And if so, for what reason?" But just as he pondered these mysteries, a deep, grumbling voice interrupted his thoughts. "Perhaps you can remember, Jacob Gabriel," the voice echoed in his head. "What—" Jacob began, but before he knew it, his surroundings shifted.

"Jacob Gabriel," boomed an anonymous voice that Jacob had heard a few times before. "I've been searching for you across planets, galaxies, and timelines, hoping to harness the incredible power you possess. With your control over time, you're no ordinary child." The voice continued as Jacob stood bewildered. "Who are you, and what have you done to me?" Jacob demanded, fear and confusion creeping into his voice. "Oh, my dear child, there's no need to be afraid. I simply require something that rightfully belongs to me. It's as simple as that, right? Then you can fret over your friend Enzo as he grapples with the enigma you've unleashed upon him." "What? I didn't say anything!" Jacob protested, his mind racing to comprehend the strange turn of events. "Then what's this I found?" the voice responded, as nebulas whirled around him, coalescing to form a series of images—an illusion. Jacob watched in disbelief as the scenes played out: him crashing into a wall, going to class, telling Enzo about his predicament, then vanishing into thin air. The memories flooded back, and Jacob understood it all. "By revealing your secrets to your foolish friend, you've likely placed his life in jeopardy. I'd wager the stars and galaxies have no intention of sparing him," the voice spat in a menacing tone. "What?" Jacob stammered, contemplating all the actions he had taken. "I've already shared enough. It's time for you to surrender that energy," the voice declared in a threatening tone. As Jacob turned around, he was met by Enzo—older, more ominous, and menacing. "Now that you know who I am, farewell, old friend," Enzo declared, launching himself toward Jacob.

As Jacob braced for impact, he felt a chilling breeze sweep over him. Slowly opening his eyes, he saw the back of a figure in a white robe, engaged in a fierce battle with Enzo. "That's enough, Enzo. Why harm the boy? He's just a child. Challenge me instead. Face death or let the boy be," the man in white declared. "The Watcher of the Quartz Clock," Jacob whispered to himself. "That's correct, boy. I am the Watcher of the Clock, the Quartz Clock, holding the keys to infinite time," the Watcher responded as he landed a blow on Enzo. Jacob couldn't help but watch in amazement. "To keep yourself safe, hide away. Return to your world. Don't wait around to meet your demise. Run to the portal!" the Watcher roared, scribbling symbols and incantations. "Epixium Glorus Mhea," the Watcher intoned in a deep voice, and the portal changed color, shifting from dark red to scarlet to blinding gold. Jacob wasted no time and dashed through the portal, entering it. It felt like a gentle touch of silk and linen caressing his skin as he traversed the endless void of existence. Soon, he was met with a blinding white light at the void's core. Drawing nearer, the object at the center sped up its orbit until it exploded into a shower of debris. The fragments scattered, colliding and clattering against one another and beyond. Jacob's hands felt heavy, and he watched them being pulled apart, bit by bit. There was no screaming or terror; he trusted the Watcher. Then, he opened his eyes, and there was Present-Enzo, peering at him with curiosity and a hint of puzzlement. Enzo handed Jacob a note: "I need to talk to you about something."

"Explain," Enzo said in a flat, serious tone. "Explain what?" Jacob tried. "Don't play dumb with me, Gabriel," responded Enzo. It was never a good sign when Enzo used his second name. "Okay, fine, but please tell me you won't become obsessed with my powers," pleaded Jacob. "Huh? What the hell are you saying?" asked Enzo, wondering if Jacob had choked him. "Well, it started when, in this timeline, or world, or universe... I vanished into the wall. You remember that, right?" Enzo nodded attentively. "Well, that was me trying to travel into a different timeline, but I kinda caused a disarray in the timeline. Some shit because people, entities, and animals are being transported here randomly, even though they aren't from this time," explained Jacob. "Whoa, that is a lot to process," said Enzo lightheadedly. "Yeah, I thought so." "Wait, you said that I turned obsessed and shit. What was that?" asked Enzo with intensive curiosity. "Well, there was this entity that wanted to extract my powers from me. He pulled me out of my timeline I was in, and he tried to get the power out of me. He claimed that he was you... and I have ruined you for witnessing my time traveling and that you became obsessed with the power. It's like you in the future... but more ominous and evil," responded Jacob. "Oh... well, I promise you I won't try to kill you," Enzo responded slowly, chuckling as he finished the sentence. "I know you won't... plus, if you do, I'll run away from here before you could even get me," responded Jacob, nudging Enzo playfully. Jacob was about to say something when the bell rang. "Shoot, third period," Jacob said to himself as he ran to catch up with Enzo towards the classroom. "Soon, my little pawn... I'll get rid of you this time."

After class, Jacob had explained every detail of his powers, which, as expected, amazed Enzo as he watched his friend zap portals to other rooms. "This is so cool!" declared Enzo, hyped up. "Yeah, but it can be very stressful when you have that future friend who's from another universe set out to kill your ass," added Jacob. "Yeah, well, no shit, you're OP asf. Who wouldn't want that power?" commented Enzo with a mischievous tone. "Nahh, I know what you're thinking, and my answer is no." "Aww, c'mon man, just a bit of fun wouldn't hurt," teased Enzo, but Jacob very much didn't like taking risks, so he shut down the idea. "How about those odd-looking girls you saw in our class?" asked Jacob, willing to do anything for Enzo to distract him from the thought of zapping around with portals at the local city mall. "I think they're one of those entities you made when you accidentally opened portals. Maybe they got in somehow," guessed Enzo. "One way to find out, where are they anyways?" asked Jacob. "I saw them go to the library a while ago. We should probably check it out," offered Enzo. "Good idea, where was the library again?" asked Jacob in a sarcastic tone. This pun was going around the school for ages as it aged like fine wine on a Saturday evening. One folk would casually come up asking, "Where was the library again?" to one another as they mocked a student from 5 years ago who skipped all of his classes because he was finding the library. Unfortunately for him, there was no library; it wasn't built yet! When word got to him, he was too late for his Spanish class and got a 5-day detention for "skipping classes." As Jacob burst out laughing, "Seriously? A 5-year-old joke is like stale cheese, y'know?" said Enzo in an annoyed but incredibly smug expression on his face. "Fine, let's just go to the library," said Jacob as he walked toward the "Reading is Fun" area.

As Jacob and Enzo entered the library, they scanned the rows of bookshelves, searching for any sign of the peculiar girls. The library was dimly lit, with the soft glow of reading lamps casting an ambient light across the room. The sound of rustling pages and hushed whispers filled the air. "Hey, look over there," Enzo whispered, pointing towards a secluded corner. Jacob followed his gaze and saw the two girls from their class, sitting at a table surrounded by stacks of books. The girls seemed deep in conversation, occasionally glancing around as if they were being watched. Jacob and Enzo approached the table cautiously, trying not to draw too much attention. As they got closer, they overheard snippets of the girls' conversation. "...different dimensions...unstable portals...find the key..." The words caught Jacob's attention. It seemed the girls were discussing something related to his own abilities and the chaotic timelines he had accidentally caused. He exchanged a quick glance with Enzo, and they decided to approach the girls. "Hey, sorry to interrupt," Jacob said, trying to sound casual. The girls looked up, their expressions guarded but curious. "We couldn't help but overhear your conversation," Enzo added, leaning against the table. "Are you talking about the portals and the timeline disruptions?" The girls exchanged a glance before one of them, named Oreveu, spoke up. "Who are you, and how do you know about that?" Jacob took a deep breath. "My name is Jacob, and I have the ability to manipulate portals and travel between timelines. I accidentally caused some disturbances, and it seems like you two might be connected to all of this." The girls looked surprised, their suspicion fading slightly. "We're Epouchiom and Oreveu," the other girl introduced herself. "We're from a parallel dimension, and we've been studying these portal anomalies. Our mission is to find the key to stabilizing the timelines and prevent further disruptions." Jacob's eyes widened. Meeting people from another dimension who understood his predicament was both exciting and overwhelming. "That's incredible. I've been trying to figure out how to fix the mess I've created." Oreveu nodded. "We might be able to help each other. We've been researching ancient texts and legends that mention a powerful artifact, known as the Nexus Crystal. It's said to have the ability to restore balance to the timelines and close the unstable portals." Enzo chimed in, his curiosity piqued. "So, where can we find this Nexus Crystal?" A mischievous smile crossed Epouchiom's face. "Legend has it that the stone is hidden deep within the Forbidden Realm, a realm accessible only through a portal." Jacob and Enzo exchanged a glance, a mixture of excitement and trepidation in their eyes. They knew embarking on this quest could be dangerous, but it was also an opportunity to fix the timeline disruptions and put an end to the threats looming over them. "Count us in," Jacob said firmly, determination shining in his eyes. "Let's retrieve the Nexus Crystal and restore order to the timelines. I won't tolerate this shitty chaos any more." "Eh, fair enough, but then again you saved us from being stuck in the library" Oreveu commented, "What library?" asked Jacob. "Long story, I'll just explain on our way there." concluded Epouchiom.