I woke up alone in bed, and stretched.
True to my word, I’d abandoned Julian at the Northern Fortress after crossing his drawbridge. There’d been some welcome introductions, but by that point it was well after dark. There were promises of a celebratory welcome tomorrow, and then everyone disbanded for the evening.
I yawned and got out of bed, then set about my morning ablutions. We weren’t scheduled to go into the Ice Fields today. Instead, I was set to explore the Fortress and meet the members of the border patrol. As such, I dressed in leather pants and a long-sleeved blouse; light enough to survive the summer sun, yet sturdy enough to cut the icy northern wind.
Usually, at this point, I would wander into my kitchen, make breakfast and a cup of tea, then enjoy checking in on my notifications for the day - and maybe take a peek into the future.
I realized something was wrong when my bedroom door wouldn’t connect with my livingroom. My notification tab was also firing off incessantly, [Sense Danger] was practically screaming at me, and my [Domain] skill tab was overwhelmed with updates.
One glance at the log revealed all.
[Your Domain has taken 130 points of Void Damage…]
[Your Domain has taken 97 points of Void Damage…]
[Your Domain has fallen to an enemy skill…]
I didn’t bother reading the full reports, but got straight to work while considering my options.
[You have activated [Repair Bridge]. Cost to repair adjusted for [Pocket Dimension] status, 410 Mana. Time until complete 00:27:85]
I popped a mana potion to recover my mana, then activated [Oracle]. Sure enough, a certain Keeper of Fate was an available option.
I was immediately treated to a future view of the two of us doing battle in my kitchen. I winced as she launched a void spell that shattered some of my favourite tea cups.
Rude.
It was strange and unnerving watching our battle from her perspective. I clutched my shoulder as I watched it get blasted apart by a void spell. Blegh. I hated being a part of Fate’s plan. Hypocritical, but seeing Fate include me in her oracles made me feel like I was being watched - and it was an unpleasant twist in my gut.
For a second, I thought about going and grabbing Julian to help me deal with the problem… but the [Oracle] predicted my successful escape. Well, my death, actually, but I had a solution for that.
And it was high time I had a cup of tea with my new arch-enemy.
I portalled beside my kitchen table.
“You could‘ve just knocked.” I said nonchalantly, dodging a ball of pitch black Void energy that sailed past my shoulder. I heard it hit my kitchen window and rip a hole into the void. That was going to cost more mana to repair.
I summoned two tea cups and placed them on the table and then brought out a teapot full of hot tea. Personally, I preferred fresh tea in the morning; something about the time-stop placebo taste that was all in my mind but also very real. “Would you like a cup of tea?”
Guild Mistress Alice readied another spell, pink magic swirling around her body, playing with her shoulder length blonde hair and reflecting in her eyes. She looked ready to kill.
My front door was blown off its hinges, crumpled at her feet, and a portion of my dining room table had been voided from existence as well. I was impressed it was still standing.
“I would like you dead.” She snapped, “By the will of the eternal rest, [Void Arrow].”
I portalled to the end of the table, and her attack hit the gapping dimensional space that had been my window. I had no idea where the void damage went from there, but I hoped it wasn’t being flung willy-nilly into the meadow outside.
I liked that meadow.
She threw a knife at my head but I was gone again, portalling back to the kitchen table. “Why don’t we sit and chat?”
“I hate you.” She lunged at me, a short sword suddenly appearing in her grip. My [Danger Sense] went off, but I didn’t need it to tell me that the blade was poisoned. It was Alice’s blade - of course it was poisoned.
“I don’t see why.” My Perception tracked the trajectory of her assault perfectly and I simply moved out of the way.
The celestial let out a frustrated scream. Someone so beautiful and lovely suffering right in front of me made my heart hurt.
But that was probably the Charisma modifier at work. I brushed it off. [Mental Resistance] for the win.
“Seriously Alice.” I said, a hand on my hip. “Why are we fighting? You follow Fate, and I–”
“Do not speak her name.” Alice stamped her foot and lifted her short sword to prepare for another attack. “You are an abomination who goes against Fate.”
“Did Fate tell you that?” I asked, confused that she was still attached to the idea.
Alice thrust her sword out again and I dodged, again.
“My Lady hasn’t spoken to me since I failed my mission. Because of you.” Alice lifted a fist to her lips, opened her palm and blew, sending sparkling poisonous dust all over my dining area and the tea service.
[You have been affected by the poison [Dandyvine]. You have been dealt 34 points of Bleed Damage to all Senses. Perk [Stronghold] negates 50% damage received while defending your [Domain]. You have taken 17 points of damage.]
“Hey, not at the table!” I chastised as I portalled to the kitchen sink. I took out the Unicorn Horn from my inventory; simply holding it cured the poison. I used a clean kitchen towel to wipe my face.
“Also, gross.”
The celestial had used my momentary distraction to pop a mana potion.
“By the will of the eternal rest, [Void Arrow].” Alice hurled another attack, this one actually hitting my left shoulder.
[You have been hit by 116 points of Void Damage. Perk [Stronghold] negates 50% damage received while defending your [Domain]. You have taken 58 points of Damage. You will not be able to use your left arm until healed.]
“Ugh,” I hissed. Shoot, I’d hoped to avoid that.
“Have you considered that Fate could be angry at you for another reason? The same reason I’m not running away now when I could’ve just portalled out?” I asked, side-stepping a poisoned dagger as I pulled out a Health Potion.
A second dagger flew, hitting the potion before I could take a drink, shattering the glass in my hand.
[You have been hit by 1 point of Cutting Damage. Perk [Stronghold] negates 50% damage received while defending your [Domain]. You take no damage.]
The potion that landed on my fingers actually did heal me a little. I sighed, adding, “Because she wants us to talk?”
“You know nothing of her will.” Alice spoke with unadulterated loathing. “You have ruined my life and my life's work. Even if you ran, I would hunt you to the ends of Valaria. I swear by Fate that I will end you and stop at nothing to right destiny, if it takes my whole life to do so.”
If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.
The Keeper of Fate glowed pink, her blond hair lifting from the subtle mana that reacted to her vow.
While she was monologuing, I popped another potion and poured it directly onto my missing shoulder. It hurt more this way, but [Mental Resistance] didn’t fail me. With a grimace, I replied, “Well, what if some of us don’t want what was fated for us?”
“Of course you would say that! You weren’t even supposed to be here! You were meant to die in some misbegotten troll village!”
“Ah… yes. That’s because I’m not actually Gerda.” I admitted, then added an insincere, “Sorry.”
I wasn’t ready for the wave of relief that hit when I finally said it. Aloud.
Alice had raised a hand with three more poison daggers sandwiched between her fingers, but froze.
“What do you mean you’re not Gerda?” She didn’t relax her hold on her weapons, but she did pause long enough for me to explain myself.
"Listen Alice.” I waved at the two cups on the table. “I really do think we should talk. About why I’m here. About everything.”
“This is a trick.” She said, her fists clenching around her daggers. She looked around the room, as though expecting the ‘real’ Gerda to jump out from behind a lounge. Behind her, I noted with satisfaction that my door frame was no longer splintered and had started repairing itself.
“I’m not Gerda. I was brought here by the Gods… I think specifically to change fate.” I told her, pulling out a chair and sitting down. I waved again, urging her to take a seat across the table to join me.
Knowing she would.
There was a slight hesitation before Alice lowered her arm. The knives vanished. She didn’t look like she trusted me but she wasn’t trying to void me into existence anymore, so that was a plus.
While she cautiously moved to take a seat, I brought out new and not-covered-in-poison tea. Despite my better judgement, I summoned us both some homemade biscotti from my inventory. It wasn’t perfect, but it was close. I dunked mine in my tea and took a bite.
Ah. perfect. Fighting before breakfast was the worst.
“I’ll give you this one chance to speak. Tell me.” She ordered. “Everything.”
“I’m not from this world.” I told her straight up. This wasn’t something I’d told anyone before… but the Keeper of Fate wasn’t just anyone.
Alice was, to put it simply, the only person who might actually understand.
“In my life before, I was able to watch Valaria and its fate.” I continued, “I’ve seen this year over and over, and I’ve worked my way through every possible ending.”
“You will get no sympathy from me.” Alice sneered.
“I know you have also seen the other fates, that’s why I’m telling you– because this world doesn’t have any path that isn’t full of heartache and trauma!” I took an appreciative sip of tea.
“Then why did you watch it so much?” Alice stared at her own tea cup with suspicion and didn’t drink.
I blushed. “Um. Reasons.”
Her eyes narrowed, and I rushed to change the subject.
“Anyways! Five years ago, I died in my world, and woke up in Gerda’s body - with all of my old memories intact.”
“And why do you think that Fate welcomed your presence?” Alice demanded. She tucked a straight lock of blond hair behind her ear and glared at me with her strikingly big blue eyes.
They were the blue of a clear summer sky. I looked away, reminding myself that she could trap my mind if I let myself go.
“Because I could change the story.” I told her. “Guide things to an actual happily ever after. For everyone.”
“All who see the future can change it.” She refuted. “That’s why Fate only grants her powers to those who won’t abuse them. You’ve abused them more than any other being in history.”
“But she must’ve known that I was going to change things.” I countered.
“And that I’d stop you. I’ve heard enough. [Watcher of Fate].”
Though it happened slightly differently, and I managed to say more this time before Alice hit me with her ability, this was all still according to the original [Oracle]. Now it was up to me to properly see it through to an end where I walked away from this encounter. Of course, part of that had been proper prior planning.
Fighting Alice wasn’t my in my skillset. I wasn’t a combat class, and the Arcane Magesplitter Axe would probably do more damage to my domicile then the mage…
And besides, who wanted celestial all over my cottage? Not me. The thought made me sick.
[You have been affected by the Skill: [Watcher of Fate]. Your fate has been sealed for fifty three seconds. Character sheet sealed. Abilities sealed. Movement sealed. Health Points sealed. Mana points sealed. Immune to all Damage.]
[You have been affected by the Skill: [Watcher of Fate]. Time until effect wears off 00:00:52]
[You have been affected by the Skill: [Watcher of Fate]. Time until effect wears off 00:00:51]
“Finally!” Alice stood up and walked over to my side of the table. She popped a [Mana Potion] and downed it, replenishing her reserves. Then she wiped her mouth and stored her potion bottle. “You have no idea how much I’ve dreamed of this day.”
She pushed the table over and everything on it shattered on the floor, all so she could stand in front of me.
“You‘ve been a thorn in my side from your first crystal cast.” She swept her hair over her shoulder dramatically, looking down at me.
[You have been affected by the Skill: [Watcher of Fate]. Time until effect wears off 00:00:47]
She paced back and forth in front of me. “You’ve undone years of planning and hard work, toppled future governments, and destroyed the fate of countless innocents.”
That wasn’t really fair, it should be I’d saved counless innocents.
“You are the reason I’m an international criminal, forced to go into hiding. I can’t even go to my favourite bakery anymore!” She ground out. Again, not fair; she was the leader of the Blackfog Spies, and from what I knew, already an international criminal.
I’d just told everyone what she looked like.
And she’d turned around and exposed me… so I’d actually call us even.
[You have been affected by the Skill: [Watcher of Fate]. Time until effect wears off 00:00:39]
“Fate has stopped answering my prayers because of you!” Alice yelled. “And I can’t even enjoy the simplicity of your demise because it’s going to take me years to undo your meddling. The very idea of it makes me want to take every extra second to really savour this moment. I’m going to watch the light leave your eyes forever. And no coming back either! I have a little capstone spell that prevents that sort of thing. It’s been very handy in my line of work. [Sever Fate]? Perhaps you’ve heard of it?”
[You have been affected by the Skill: [Watcher of Fate]. Time until effect wears off 00:00:22]
“It’s almost a shame to use it, when I could show you exactly how much suffering you’ve caused me. But I won't chance it. So do me the favour and try to dodge. I want to see you crying and screaming as you die. Because there is no future where I do not kill you.” She stuck her face close to mine, the pure and utter malice making me come to terms with the fact that no matter how many times I tried to talk things out, she wasn’t someone I could ever reason with.
[You have been affected by the Skill: [Watcher of Fate]. Time until effect wears off 00:00:09]
“Goodbye Madame Potts.” The celestial lifted one hand, gently placing it on my chest. Her smile was so breathtakingly beautiful.
The seconds ticked down until, “By the will of the eternal rest, [Void Arrow].”
I tried to activate my portal ability as the protective buff wore off, but the void attack was already piercing my chest. And taking half damage meant nothing for an instant kill critical hit. My heart couldn’t even stop.
Because I no longer had a heart.
I slumped forward, the last thing I heard before everything went black was her voice in the distance. “[Sever Fate].”
[You have been affected by [Sever Fate]. For twenty-four hours, you are immune to Raise, Resurrect, Revive or Respawn.]
There was a moment of darkness before I saw another notification.
[Phoenix Feather activated. When you would die, you are [Reborn] instead. Health 620/620. Mana 1215/1215. All status effects nullified. All curses undone. All equipped items at max durability.]
I came too with Alice slapping her hands together in a job well done pose. Before she could react, I whipped out a hand and gripped her wrist. “[World Bridge].”
We were suddenly on the bridge I had set up in view of Her Eminence Mistress Feliwyn sleeping by the shores of Lake Loria.
She wrenched her wrist free “Why wont you stay dead?”
“WHY DO ROGUES WEAR LEATHER?” I yelled at her as I stood. It was the first riddle I could think of, and it threw her off balance long enough for me to get another spell off. “Enter by the channels, [Troll Magic]!”
Alice shrilled. “You can’t trap me here with your stupid riddles! [Portal]!”
She appeared not ten feet away on the other side of the bridge, turning on me in triumph.
Of course she did; I hadn’t cast any bridge spells.
My purpose in bringing her here had been to get her out of my house long enough to move it. Preferably somewhere she wouldn’t think to look for it.
“It’s because they like Hide.” I answered the riddle for her.
“I am going to [Void] you until there’s nothing left.” She hissed, lifting one hand.
“You’ll have to find me first. [World Bridge].” I stepped backward and portalled away.