Chapter 57 - The Thirteenth HourThe citadel began collapsing before Ethan could decide.
The hourglasses shattered one by one.
Images of disappearing cities flashed through the chamber.
A warning sounded from the ancient machinery.
TEMPORAL COLLAPSE: THIRTEEN MINUTES.
Daniel rushed to the control platform.
"We're out of time."
Malachar stepped toward the central machine.
"Then let him choose."
Ethan stared at the enormous ring of rotating metal.
Inside it glowed a sphere of pure white light.
The fracture's heart.
Thirteen minutes.
That was all that remained before both worlds unraveled.
Rowan grabbed Ethan's shoulder.
"There must be another way."
Ethan looked at him.
"Would you sacrifice yourself to save Asterwyn?"
"Without hesitation."
"Then why won't you let me?"
"Because you're a child."
Ethan swallowed.
"I don't feel like one anymore."
Mira stepped forward.
"Then don't make this choice alone."
She took his hand.
Elara joined them.
Then Rowan.
For the first time since arriving in the kingdom, Ethan felt that he did not have to carry the entire burden by himself.
Daniel watched them.
His eyes filled with tears.
"I should never have sent you into that world."
Ethan approached his father.
"You were trying to save people."
"I was trying to save you."
Ethan embraced him.
Then he turned toward Malachar.
"If we merge, will everyone live?"
"Yes."
"Both worlds?"
"Yes."
"Will Mira remember me?"
Malachar hesitated.
"She will remember who you were."
Ethan closed his eyes.
The chamber shook.
TEN MINUTES REMAINING.
He stepped onto the platform.
Malachar followed.
A ring of blue light surrounded them.
Ethan looked toward his friends.
"I'm scared."
Mira cried openly.
"So am I."
The machine activated.
Malachar placed his hand against Ethan's chest.
Their memories began merging.
Ethan saw a thousand years in a single instant.
Crowns.
Battles.
Friendships.
Death.
Love.
His father.
His mother.
Asterwyn.
Earth.
Then another memory appeared.
One he had never seen before.
A man stood in the center of the fracture, watching every timeline from a chamber beyond reality.
The man had Ethan's face.
But his eyes were completely black.
Ethan suddenly understood.
Malachar was not the final version of him.
There was another.
An older version.
One who had orchestrated everything.
Ethan screamed.
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"STOP THE MACHINE!"
But it was too late.
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