Children of Aether

When I sparred with Ms. Athena, there were moments when I could push my desires upon the chosen timeline, bending it to my will. In those instances, I had the power to converge or diverge the paths, reshaping them, even if just slightly. There had been many times during my sparring that I diverged from the present timeline, then converged myself into a different one—allowing me to swap positions to my favour. I'd dodge a fatal blow and, with the flicker of time, redirect it to a minor injury instead, all by subtly altering the flow of the timelines.

But other times... other times, it felt as though all the timelines led to one inevitable point—like a black hole, pulling them all to a singularity— A Nexus. No matter what I tried, I couldn't escape that pull. It's as if every possibility, every potential outcome, collapsed into the same final conclusion. No matter how much I tugged at the threads of time, no matter how many attempts I made to steer it in a different direction, the inevitable was always waiting.

The weight of that inevitability pressed down on me, like a cosmic force I couldn't fight against. It was as if I were trapped in a loop, inescapable, destined to experience what must come.

This was one of those times. That punch was inevitable, unavoidable—no different than a mortal trying to defeat a god. It couldn't be done.

But I didn't need to defeat the inevitable. I just needed to trick it.

I willed the fading timelines back into view, watching as they became fewer and fewer with each passing second, slipping away from my grasp and cementing themselves into the present moment. I didn't merely focus on them—I dreamed them into existence, shaping them with the clarity only both of my affinities could provide. And in the shifting currents of time, one timeline stood out.

It was a timeline in which I didn't avoid the punch, for it was inevitable—a Nexus point where divergence was impossible. No, in this version, the punch still connected with my head, and I watched as my past self reeled from the impact, head snapping back. But that version of me was weaker, less resilient. And in that moment, Ms. Athena seemed to hold back, if only slightly, as if she feared her own strength.

I chose.

In the next moment, the mind-numbing pain that had screamed through my skull—definitely a concussion—began to subside dramatically. It still hurt, a throbbing pulse beneath my skin, but the worst of it had been siphoned away, leaving behind only a lingering ache.

I was still in the same position as before, slowly pushing myself up. But like ripples flowing downstream, the pain lessened as the other timeline overlaid itself onto this one.

The pain lingered just beneath the surface—dull, present, but nothing compared to the agony I had braced for.

I couldn't help but marvel at how incredible this affinity was. No… not just this affinity. For the first time, it felt like I had tapped into my Dream affinity as well. My will—my desire to find this timeline—had strengthened my Time affinity, intertwining them in a way I had never experienced before.

I stood, feeling like a mortal who had done the impossible—who had defied the gods. It was exhilarating. The power thrummed in my veins, the sheer audacity of what I had just done sending an intoxicating rush through me.

Adrenaline surged, a wicked grin stretched across my bloody face, and the sting of my wounds drowned beneath the overwhelming thrill of possibility.

And with that—I charged.

Ms. Athena fought with the grace of a Vernan eagle, each movement precise and effortless, yet she struck with the ferocity of a lion of old—relentless, unyielding.

But I was no less furious.

With each strike of my sword, I pushed forward, forcing my way into the storm of her assault. Sparks danced as our blades clashed, the impact reverberating through my arms, but I refused to falter. My heart pounded, my breath steady despite the mounting pressure.

I would not yield. Not now. Not ever.

I pushed more aether throughout my body, knowing I had to act fast. Every strike, every movement drained me, my aetheric core steadily depleting under the strain. I tried to absorb more, to replenish what I was burning through, but I couldn't keep up with my own expenditure. It was like trying to fill a leaking vessel—the harder I pushed, the more I lost.

My limbs grew heavier, the telltale weight of exhaustion creeping in, but I gritted my teeth and pressed on. 

I slashed my sword in a sideways arc, holding it in a reverse grip. Pouring the last meager traces of aether into my eyes, I caught a glimpse of an opening—it was small but enough. Or so I thought.

As I closed the distance, my blade aimed for the gap in her defences, but Ms. Athena moved faster than I could process. In one swift motion, she caught my sword arm with her left hand, her grip like an iron vice, while her right effortlessly blocked my incoming fist.

The impact sent a sharp jolt through my arm, the force of her block reverberating through my bones. My mind raced—had I miscalculated? Or had she simply been toying with me all along?

There was an urge to use my legs, to shift my stance, to push back and regain control of the situation. But then, I looked at Ms. Athena, who stood only a few inches away from me. Her grip was still locked tight, and for a brief, fleeting moment, I saw her eyes shift with something like calculation.

She moved her head back slightly, and it wasn't until it was too late that I realized what she was doing.

Her forehead crashed into mine with terrifying force, a sickening crack reverberating through the air.

My vision blurred, and the world spun as pain exploded across my skull. My body staggered back, unable to maintain balance. A sharp ringing filled my ears, drowning out all sound as my senses scrambled to recover.