The Time Chamber was a black void. There was absolutely nothing in here. Kai had no idea how he was standing in the void, or what he was standing on, if he was standing on anything at all.
The threads of fate formed the same human-like shape. It stood in the air, about 5 feet in front of Kai.
Then the threads spoke, monotone and emotionless.
"The first step to growing in power for someone like you is to learn where you come from and who you really are."
The threads disappeared, then suddenly wrapped themselves around Kai. He had flashes of memories from his childhood, of his parents. He also had flashes of past cycles.
He saw how he died in each cycle. Then the pain of those deaths hit him all at once. He fell to the ground writhing in pain. He tried to scream, but the pain was too intense.
Then the threads left his body and spoke again. This time, the thread's voice was filled with sympathy.
"I know you don't want to be chosen, but it had to be you. Now you can remember why, instead of going in blindly without knowing the slightest thing about yourself."
"Is it because my mom was a demon and my father was an angel?"
Kai asked, but his voice was still shaky from all the pain he had endured.
"That's not important right now. You have to remember what's at stake."
The threads paused for a moment before continuing.
"However, I must ask, why do you want to break free from your fate? You should feel honored that you were tasked with ending this war."
Kai sighed before sitting down in the empty void and looking up at the threads with a deadpan expression.
"Oh, I don't know, maybe because I'm only a seventeen-year-old boy who's been burdened to end a centuries-long war. I just want my freedom back. I don't want to have to kill anymore. I just want my simple life back. Even though I was poor, it was much better than being involved in this war. Plenty of other reasons, too."
His voice grew more somber as he continued.
"I see. It does seem like a heavy burden for a seventeen-year-old to handle. I'm truly sorry, but you are the only one who has the power to fight the instigators of this war."
Kai just laughed bitterly.
"Why not wait until I'm older then?"
"Because by the time you were older, the war would've already been won, and your world, along with the other realms, and possibly even the other universes, would be plunged into chaos."
"There are other universes? And the person who instigated this war is powerful enough to take them over? Are you saying it wasn't the angels who instigated this war?"
Kai's voice became shaky as everything he thought was shattering into pieces, and the stakes rose as well. He didn't know what was more important anymore, his own personal freedom, or the lives of people outside his own universe whom he would probably never meet. When it was his own universe, the three realms, he was fine with just leaving the war to the angels and demons, but now that other universes were in the mix, he had no idea what to do.
Then the threads spoke again, giving him a suggestion as to what he should do, as if the threads could read his mind.
"If I may suggest something, if you end the war, couldn't you have a peaceful life, and everything you wanted? Granted, you would have to kill more people, angels and demons alike, but you would get the freedom you've always wanted. If your freedom is that important to you, then the lives of others shouldn't matter, right?"
Kai was silent for a while, contemplating the words of the threads. They were right, sure, but Kai didn't want to think that the lives of others cost less than his freedom. He still didn't want to kill to gain his freedom, but if it came down to killing someone for his freedom, he would do it without hesitation. But this was billions, maybe even trillions of lives they were talking about, not just one.
Just then, Mey's thread dimmed. Kai looked at it with a worried expression on his face.
The threads spoke, their words weaving themselves into the Time Chamber.
"Since you found out your origins, it's time to train. I couldn't unlock all of your memories, as that would destroy your brain, but remember, as you gain memories back, Lyra also grows in power."
Meanwhile, in Luminaris, chains started to form in Eidonel's hands. He threw the chains at Mey, who was nearly free of Sovereign's Command. She broke free just in time to swat the chains away. Now she was alone, facing Eidonel, the six-winged angel, Lyra, and the forces who were coming to aid them.
"Seems like I'm in a bit of a pickle here."
She said with a humorless laugh.
"You can't win, Mey. Just back down and let us take you. I've longed to see you with the white wings of the angels again, not those dirty raven wings of the demons."
"I will fight to my last breath. After all, who surrenders to a gnat?"
Eidonel didn't seem disturbed by Mey's attempt to provoke him, but Mey did what she said she would and fought until she was so exhausted she couldn't even lift a finger. She did, however, manage to kill all the reinforcements.
When Mey had exhausted herself and was lying on the ground, Eidonel wrapped the chains around her. Mey was getting dragged away from the portal. They cut the tendons in her ankles so she could run away if she suddenly had a burst of energy.
They dragged her to the lowest level of the white spire prison, wrapped her in chains, tied her up with rope, and hung her from her wrists. They took extra precautions with her because she was a dangerous foe.
When Mey came to, Eidonel was right there in front of her.
"How did you do it? Become a demon, I mean."
Mey spat in Eidonel's face, then spoke. Her voice was shaky, but Eidonel could sense the malice in it.
"I'm not telling you shit."
Eidonel wiped the spit from his cheek and smiled.
"Seems like the demons have instilled quite the potty mouth in you. Don't worry, though, I'll fix that right up."
Mey's face contorted into anger as Eidonel brought out a hot iron, the same kind used to mark cows, but this one was obviously magical based on the glow around it.
He didn't use it, however. He set it down and grabbed a knife and plunged it into Mey's side. She didn't want to give him the satisfaction of hearing her scream, so she endured the pain, no matter how much it hurt.
"You will tell me everything."
Eidonel said simply, his voice devoid of anything.
Mey only shook her head. She knew if she opened her mouth to spit on him again, she would scream in pain.
Eidonel twisted the knife in Mey's side, but she remained silent. Eidonel pulled the knife out.
"Patcher, patch her up. I'll be back to ask more questions later."
With that, Eidonel walked out of the room and left Mey with Patcher.
"Been a long time, Mey."
Patcher's tone was conversational, as if he wasn't patching up a bloody hole in her side.
"Out for a morning stroll?"
Mey asked, her voice strained in pain.
Patcher only laughed.
"You know, I looked up to you, Mey, as Eidonel's right-hand woman. I thought the two of you would lead us to victory in this war. I always thought you would've been the better leader."
Mey's eyes darkened.
"You see how he treats his people. He's a horrible leader, an even worse man."
"I know."
Patcher looked up at Mey, his eyes full of determination.
"That's why I'm going to help you escape."