The air changed.
Arin felt it before he could think—before fear could even form properly.
It was as if the world itself had inhaled and forgotten how to breathe.
His heart slammed against his ribs.
Every instinct screamed the same truth.
She's here.
Before he could react, before Caelum could warn him, the presence manifested—no footsteps, no sound, no distortion. One moment the garden existed as it always had.
The next—
She stood there.
The Goddess of Time.
Arin's body moved before his mind could. His fingers clenched tightly behind his back, hiding the flowers he had plucked only moments earlier. His pulse roared in his ears as if it were trying to escape his skull.
He didn't dare lift his head.
Beside him, Caelum stiffened.
Slowly, Arin turned his eyes—just slightly—and met Caelum's gaze.
They stared at each other.
No words were spoken, yet everything was said.
Caelum: What are you doing?
Arin: Isn't it obvious? I'm hiding the flowers.
Caelum: (dead-eyed disbelief) …Is he serious?
The birds had gone silent.
The leaves no longer rustled.
Even the light seemed hesitant to move.
Then—
Her voice cut through existence itself.
"I told you,"
"no second chances."
The words were calm.
That was what made them terrifying.
Arin's blood ran cold.
He glanced at Caelum one last time.
In that single look, he poured everything he hadn't had the courage to say.
It was good knowing you.
Farewell.
Caelum met his gaze and gave the slightest nod.
No worries.
Arin's thoughts shattered.
If this was the end, then so be it—but his body refused to surrender quietly.
Fear sharpened his mind.
Instinct took control.
Arin stepped forward.
His hands trembled as he brought the flowers out from behind his back.
"M—My lady…"
His voice shook violently.
"I—I was told these flowers were your favourite."
The silence that followed was unbearable.
"So… I thought…"
He swallowed hard, forcing the words out.
"…of giving them to you."
The universe stopped.
Not metaphorically.
It stopped.
Caelum froze completely, his expression blank with resignation.
A mere human offering flowers to her?
This is it.
Arin's mind screamed.
This is how it ends.
Thank you for staying with me, Caelum.
Then—
The Goddess smiled.
Not warmly.
Not kindly.
A subtle curve of her lips—dangerous, amused, unreadable.
She reached out.
Her fingers brushed the flowers.
And she took them.
Arin's breath hitched.
His knees nearly gave out.
She looked at the petals for a moment longer than necessary.
Then she spoke.
"You are a lucky human."
Arin's eyes widened.
"These are my favourite."
His brain failed to process the words.
Lucky?
Before he could react, she turned away.
"Do not ever try to pull a stunt like that again."
She paused.
Time itself seemed to hesitate with her.
Then—
"But I doubt you'll be alive long enough to try."
A faint smirk.
And just like that—
She vanished.
The pressure disappeared.
Sound returned.
The garden breathed again.
Arin collapsed onto the ground, gasping as if he had surfaced from deep water. His entire body trembled uncontrollably, but one overwhelming thought drowned out everything else.
I'm alive.
Nothing else mattered.
Not the fear.
Not the goddess.
Not the year ahead.
For now—
He had survived.