Adrenaline still buzzing in his veins from the performance, Leland walked through a portal leading to an entrance hall, adorned with a crystal chandelier that bathed the space in a soft golden glow. The walls were lined with platinum plaques for multiple songs of Staress’ debut album along with elegant art pieces.

“Cool,” Leland whispered.

“Come on, let’s go,” Staress said, tugging his shoulder.

They walked along a gleaming marble floor toward the mansion’s living room which boasted a soaring ceiling and lavish furniture, exuding opulence. Leland was impressed though far from surprised. It was exactly how he expected Staress to live like. Not just because of her great success but he had always perceived her as the type to love the finer things in life.

Staress sat on a plush couch and gestured Leland to take a seat opposite her. “Would you like something to drink?”

“N-no,” Leland said. He hesitated. “A-actually, lemonade, p-please.”

Staress smiled and less than five seconds later, a servant handed him a glass of lemonade.

Leland returned a sheepish smile and took a sip, drawn to the grand unlit fireplace ahead of him.

“What do you hate the most?” Staress asked.

“Err…”

“Don’t over think. First thing that comes to mind.”

“M-my stutter. W-what about you?”

“Fate,” Staress said. “To be specific, obligation. Not responsibility but forced responsibility. I want everyone I love to be able to live the way they want, but, a lot of the time, we don’t have much of a choice.”

Leland nodded several times. The words resonated with him greatly. “I a-a-agree.”

Staress sighed heavily after a moment of silence. “Ask me the question then.”

“The c-crown that y-you used in the fight... W-what does it do?”

"It grants the user the power of omniscience," Staress said, studying Leland's face for a moment before proceeding. "The past, the future, and the present – every detail, every problem, every solution, every potential timeline. Everything resides within the crown."

“T-that’s i-insane,” Leland said, laughing nervously. “So that means…”

“Yes,” Staress completed. “It holds the key to your fluency.”

“B-but you can’t control it f-fully. That’s w-why you never told me, right?”

“No. I can control it perfectly well.”

Leland frowned, then shook his head. “I-I don’t understand. Y-you d-don’t know everything.”

“Because I haven’t put it on. At the moment, I have limited connection to the crown with access to mostly vital information such as the threats to our planet’s survival.”

It took a few seconds for Leland to fully digest the information. He hurled the glass of lemonade at Staress. As expected, she dodged gracefully, not even batting an eyelid.

Leland sharply stood up, staring at Staress like she was a stranger. “W-what are you waiting for? P-put the crown o-on then.”

“I can’t do that,” Staress said.

If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

“This isn’t f-funny. Put it o-on so we c-can pretend this never happened.”

“I’m sorry Lee,” Staress said, “but I can’t put that crown on again.”

Leland stepped forward but to his surprise, Cadell’s large frame emerged from a portal, standing in his way.

Staress turned away. “I can’t–”

“Why?!” Leland exploded.

“That thing is a torture device. It’s not meant for anybody to use, and I’m the only one with the authority to wear it.”

“G-grant me authority then.”

“No. The crown will cause you unfathomable pain you can’t possibly imagine. If you put it on, everything will change for you. You will learn things you don’t want to know.”

“Give it to me,” Leland commanded.

He waited, but Staress didn’t budge, somehow unaffected by the mind control ability.

“Seriously?” Leland said, his voice cracking. “You k-know how to defend against my p-powers, but can’t h-help me get rid of my stutter?”

There was no response. Where was the quick answer layered with charisma? She couldn't even look him in the eye.

“Y-you knew,” Leland continued “You knew what I w-wanted and the… w-whole time you had the answer. You… h-hugged me as I p-pathetically sobbed about my stutter. You knew how badly I…” He lost his train of thought, then clenched both fists. “You’re a hypocrite! You said I should f-face my fears head on!”

“Oh please,” Staress said. “Don’t compare the horrors of the universe to a speech impediment. I’m not experiencing hell again just so that you—”

“Stuttering is my hell!” Leland roared. “And you knew that! You knew how much I hated it! You knew how it made me feel!

Staress looked away, her eyes cold and emotionless.

“I c-can’t believe I looked up to you. No w-wonder you could beat countless experts in your TV show. You knew how to beat anybody because when it concerns you, anything’s possible with the c-crown, right? But for me, who just wants to be happy? No chance. I was always just a p-pawn to you. You never gave a shit about me, p-preaching bullshit about trust and courage.”

“Shut the hell up!” Cadell snapped, eyes wide with fury.

Leland cracked a devilish smile. “And what are you going to do about it? Hurt me?

“Don’t think like an idiot, rookie. We care about you.”

“If w-what you say is true, the crown will h-help me understand this. You retrieved the crown for her last time, so hand it over.”

“No,” Cadell said bluntly.

With a burst of mental energy, Leland blasted open the door in his mind. “Obey me and give me the crown!”

Cadell’s body stiffened. Slowly he reached into a portal to reveal the glimmering device.

“No!” Staress cried.

Leland pulled the crown. It didn’t budge. “L-let go!” He pulled again but the crown remained trapped under Cadell’s vice-like grip.

“Stop,” Cadell said calmly. “Your will is far too weak to take anything from me.”

Leland clenched his fists. “D-don’t make me do this. I don’t w-want to hurt you.”

“And I don’t want to stand in your way. It’s funny how life works isn’t it?”

Leland threw a spinning kick, connecting with Cadell’s jaw, and almost winced himself after the thudding impact. Alarm bells rang in his mind, and the urge to apologise one thousand times was overwhelming. However, Cadell didn’t move an inch. He held a poker face, and seconds later there was a certain look in his eyes— one Leland had seen a thousand times after an incredibly long stutter.

A look of pity.

Leland unleashed everything he had. Muscle memory took over as he smothered Cadell with punches and elbows and knees and all the variations of kicks Staress had taught him. And yet, after the rage-filled assault, Leland was the one staggering backwards, eyes wide with shock.

Cadell stood in the exact same pose, one arm outstretched, the golden crown still in his grip. His face was an utter mess, a collection of shiny bruises, and crimson dripped out of a small cut on his right cheek. Even one eye swelled shut.

Tears sparked from Leland’s eyes. Impossible.

“Your best bet is to take my whole arm,” Cadell said. “Your energy beams should do the job.”

“W-why don’t you…j-just escape?”

“Because I can only help you understand fully. The pain caused by the crown far outweighs any physical pain you've caused me.” Cadell turned to Staress. “His decision is clear as day and he’s not a kid anymore. Everyone deserves to know the truth. It’s your call.”

Staress sighed as she took back her crown. “There will be no going back when you cross this threshold, Lee. The truth will haunt you, and a new timeline will be set in motion, one you cannot avoid and links the three of us.”

Leland scowled at her but braced himself as she lowered the crown onto his head.

Then so be it.