Beyond the boundaries of mortal reach, beyond the vast stretch of the cosmos itself, there exists a realm untouched by any living hand. It is not at the beginning of time, nor at its end, but at the axis on which all moments turn. This place is called CKADVANTUS PENDULA.
It is not shaped by matter, but by pure possibility.
It is not grounded in physics, but in concepts raw, ancient, and divine.
The realm itself glimmers like a half-remembered dream. Colossal towers rise, forged from collapsing timelines that spiral upward like eternal monuments. The skies blaze with colors that mortals could never name, glowing with unwritten yesterdays and unseen tomorrows. It feels like a kingdom of gods, a paradox where time breathes, folds, weeps, and rejoices all at once.
In this place, time exists and yet does not.
Seasons are born in silence.
Rainfall is painted from memory.
Magic is distilled from the ticking of unseen clocks.
Destiny, Fate, Dreams, Speed, Light, and even Chaos all rise from the breath of time itself.
And at the center of it all, seated upon a throne woven from converging eternities, rests Kairos.
He is not a god.
He is not a man.
He is Time itself, personified.
Ever-shifting, robed in golden vestments that change with each passing thought, Kairos radiates an endless vitality. In his hand he holds a quill of living light, writing not on parchment but directly on the fabric of existence. He is the first heartbeat of every beginning, the final echo of every end.
Even Death cannot step here, for Death itself obeys time. All things, emotion, energy, creation, and collapse, require a moment to be. And every moment flows through Kairos.
Here, the past, present, and future do not follow. They coexist, braided into a tapestry that only he can read. This is not a place for mortals. It is not a realm of worship. It is the loom of all reality.
This is CKADVANTUS PENDULA.
And Kairos is still writing.
But on this day, something unusual stirs. A mortal is drawn from the flow of time, pulled into the throne room after his death.
Helon bows deeply. "My lord, it seems our plans have failed again."
Kairos continues writing without looking up. "You cannot be so sure."
A man blinks into being, confused and frightened. His name is Stephen Stones.
"Where am I? Where is this place?" he asks, his voice trembling.
Kairos speaks from the throne, his voice echoing across the chamber. "You are me."
Stephen's eyes widen. "I am you? I don't understand. Please explain. Where are my children? My wife? Where the hell am I?"
Kairos sighs and waves a hand. "Flugel, explain to him. It is kinda weird speaking to myself."
Flugel steps forward, calm and poised. He gestures to a table that appears beside Stephen, covered with snacks and drinks. "You might want to sit down, Mr. Stones." With a snap of his fingers, the food glows warmly, inviting.
Stephen hesitates but sits, still glaring.
Flugel's voice softens. "You are dead, Mr. Stones. In this moment, you have just died."
Stephen's hand trembles around the cup. "I see… Then this means I'm in heaven, right?"
"Not exactly," Flugel replies gently. "The truth is, you have been here before. Long ago, you were banished from heaven as a scribe, and given a task: to find a worthy heir. To do this, you sent out countless variations of yourself across time until one found a wife your wife and bore children."
Stephen shakes his head in disbelief. "Then why can't I remember any of this?" His voice cracks as he recalls. "My children… Johnson, Rose, my…"
Helon lowers his eyes with sorrow. "The children are safe. Your wife… not so much."
Stephen slams his hand against the table. "What the hell do you mean? Flugel, explain! If I was so powerful, then why couldn't I save my family?"
Flugel sighs. "Sir, you requested it yourself. You asked for your memories and abilities to be sealed so that you could experience life as a human. You wanted to know what it meant to live and feel as they do. After your children were born, I sealed your power and you lived as a man."
Stephen leans back, the weight of it settling on him. "I see… That explains why I was killed so easily." He drinks deeply from the water before him.
Flugel places a hand on Stephen's head, and with a gentle glow releases his memories.
Stephen gasps, his eyes widening. "I see it now… My wife died, and I was brought here. But my children… they are safe?"
"Yes, my lord," Flugel answers.
Stephen exhales in relief. "Good. Then continue. What is this transmission problem?"
Kairos pauses his writing, his voice heavy. "An anomaly from another timeline. I cannot see its full details. But it is the one destined to kill… you."
Stephen laughs bitterly, then suddenly vanishes from his chair and reappears before the throne, striking Kairos with a fierce punch. The throne shakes as Kairos falls.
"Like I would accept that!" Stephen roars. He strikes again, fury in his eyes. "Why couldn't you save her!"
Kairos groans, pushing him back. "You clone… you know nothing of the sacrifices I've made. Do you understand how many companions I have lost? Soldiers who gave their lives for me? I am still bound because I broke my own law."
Tears stream down Stephen's face. "I don't care! She was the love of my life!"
Kairos slowly rises and places a hand on Stephen's shoulder. "You can still see her. You can always step into a happy moment with her, if that is what you wish."
Stephen shakes his head. "No… If I did that, I'd break the rules. And besides, if you tried to change the past, you could unravel everything. The universe itself could be destroyed."
Helon nervously enters with a tray of tea. "Sirs… perhaps some tea will calm things?"
Stephen wipes his face and forces a small smile. "Perhaps. No… instead of going back, I will watch over my children. I'll help the people of Earth in whatever way I can."
The scene shifts. Stephen and Helon return from their meeting with Angela and John son standing quietly. Kairos watches them drinking tea
"I see we share the same tastes," Kairos says.
Stephen chuckles faintly. "What did you expect? I am you, aren't I?"
"Yes," Kairos replies softly. "I know."
Flugel bows. "Sir, if I may… is it not time to deliver the bond? Rose should be the one to receive it."
Helon shakes his head. "No. It should go to Johnson."
"But Johnson has already awakened his powers," Flugel protests.
"All the more reason," Helon insists. "This universe needs a guardian to protect it from the coming darkness. We have no time."
Kairos chuckles, quill still glowing. "Bold words, speaking to one who can bend time itself. But you make a point. Johnson and Rose both awakened at the same time. Perhaps Rose should join the battle as well."
Stephen clenches his fist. "No. Rose is just a child. She deserves a normal life. Johnson should bear this burden alone."
Helon shakes his head. "No. They must both fight together. The Time Bond should go to Johnson first, but Rose must not be left behind."
Kairos moves toward the time stream. His quill glows brighter as he begins to write, embedding the bond into Johnson's destiny. "Very well. I have placed the time of occurrence, and the bond within it."
Stephen steps forward. "Add something more. An interactive system, a guide that will help him grow steadily with the bond."
Kairos nods. The glow intensifies, forming into a radiant object that slowly fades into the timestream. "It is done."
And so the story continues.