Morning arrived silently.
Arin woke with a sharp intake of breath, his body jerking upright before his mind fully caught up. Soft light filtered through tall, unfamiliar windows, bathing the room in a warm glow. For a brief, dangerous second, he thought it had all been a dream.
Then the ceiling—too high.
The air—too heavy, yet impossibly pure.
The silence—too absolute.
Reality crashed back in.
He was still here.
The palace of the Goddess of Time was as breathtaking as it was terrifying. The room he had been given was elegant beyond reason—smooth stone walls traced with faint, glowing patterns, furniture carved with impossible precision, and a bed so comfortable it almost felt wrong to touch.
Arin ran a hand through his hair and exhaled shakily.
"One year…" he muttered under his breath. "Just survive one year."
After freshening up—awkwardly figuring out how divine facilities worked without accidentally offending a god—he sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the floor.
"So now what?" he asked the empty room.
His mind raced.
If he wandered around freely, he might offend someone.
If he stayed inside forever, he might starve.
If he even thought the wrong thing—
A knock echoed through the room.
Arin froze.
His heart slammed against his ribs as if trying to escape first. He swallowed, stood up, took a deep breath, then another, and finally reached for the door.
When he opened it, Caelum stood there.
Tall, calm, and composed as ever—his presence alone made the air feel steadier.
"…Good morning," Caelum said, his voice neutral but not unkind.
Arin visibly relaxed. "You scared me half to death," he blurted out before he could stop himself.
Caelum raised an eyebrow. "Impressive. You're still alive. That's a good start."
"I think," Arin replied dryly, "that's the highest compliment I've received since arriving."
Caelum gestured down the corridor. "Come. I'll show you around. Staying cooped up in your room won't help you survive."
Arin hesitated, then nodded and stepped out.
They walked through long, open halls filled with soft echoes and shifting light. As they moved, Caelum spoke—calmly, methodically.
"These are the basic areas you're allowed to access. Dining halls. The quiet gardens. Designated pathways. Do not stray. Do not explore. Do not touch things that feel important."
"That's… very vague."
Caelum glanced at him. "Everything here is important."
"…That tracks."
As they continued, Caelum's tone grew more serious.
"Listen carefully. The Goddess of Time is not confined to a place. Time itself is her domain. That means—" he paused, making sure Arin was paying attention, "—even thinking about her improperly can be fatal."
Arin's face went pale. "You're joking."
"I never joke about death."
"…Great. Fantastic. Love that for me."
They passed into a wide garden—open skies above, paths of white stone winding through lush greenery. In the center stood a tree unlike anything Arin had ever seen.
Its branches shimmered faintly, covered in delicate flowers that glowed with soft, shifting colors—petals like starlight frozen in bloom.
Arin stopped walking.
"…Whoa."
Caelum continued explaining rules for a few more steps before noticing the sudden silence. He turned—
And felt his soul nearly leave his body.
Arin was standing by the tree.
Plucking the flowers.
One by one.
Carefully. Casually. With admiration.
Caelum's face drained of color.
"What…" he whispered. Then louder, horrified, "What have you done?"
Arin turned, smiling brightly. "Caelum! Look at these. They're beautiful."
Caelum stared at him as if he'd just set the palace on fire.
"Why," he said slowly, "are you holding those?"
Arin blinked. "Uh… because they're flowers?"
"…You fool."
Caelum rushed over, lowering his voice but failing to hide the panic. "Do you have any idea what those are?"
"No?"
"These flowers bloom only once in several centuries. Only under a perfect convergence of time and season. They are irreplaceable."
Arin's smile faded.
"And," Caelum added grimly, "they are the Goddess's favorite."
Silence.
Arin looked at the flowers in his hand.
Then at the tree.
Then at Caelum.
"…Then you should have told me first!" he exclaimed. "Warned me!"
"I was about to," Caelum snapped, rubbing his temples. "But who would expect you to commit a disaster on your very first morning?"
They stared at each other.
And then—
A crushing pressure descended.
The air froze.
Time itself seemed to slow.
Both Arin and Caelum stiffened as terror gripped their souls.
They didn't need to turn around.
They knew.
She was here.