The Dawn of the New World

Barely a couple of minutes into the conversation and Hao Xuan had already had enough of it.

"No, I'm not doing this anymore. No more riddles, no mystified puzzles, or cryptic parables. If you want me to actually listen to you then speak plainly. I'm not going to sit here deciphering the meaning behind every word, that's not going to happen today."

Hao Xuan stood up at once, prepared to leave here empty-handed even if it meant not getting any answers at all. If what Claudia said was true then it would not just end like this.

But even when he had reached the door the old lady remained silent. Hao Xuan paused briefly to consider the impact of his decision but since she wasn't going to stop him there was no reason to stay. It would only make him look weak in front of this potential enemy if he chose to go back on his own word.

He grabbed the handle and pulled it open to see the portal still waiting for him in the same place. She really wasn't planning to keep him here.

"So be it," he threw out the words before making his way towards the portal.

But when he was halfway through something caught his eye. His shadow was moving.

Not by itself but it looked like the source of the light that was creating the shadow was moving fast enough to be noticeable with the naked eye. The only issue with that was that the source of the light was the moon itself which he had seen through the canopy in the forest.

But now that he was in a clearing it was a lot more noticeable.

Curious, Hao Xuan raised his head to peer at the nightly sky expecting to see the same scene that he had witnessed countless times before but what he actually saw left him in a cold sweat.

The color drained from his face as he ran back to the house shutting the door behind him.

He walked up to the chair and sat down with a vacant expression.

The old lady didn't say anything while Hao Xuan didn't know what to say until he got his thoughts in order.

Finally, after almost ten minutes of silence he spoke up with a shaky voice.

"In the outer worlds, the mystics speak of a place that is the source of all evil. I have heard rumors of it before...but never actually seen it until now...I think"

The old lady smiled, "Not many have. This is not a place open for just anyone."

Hao Xuan saw her in a new light, scrutinizing every detail of this individual across from him.

"Who are you, really? Not even the Lords of Hell could say they have a house in the heart of the Abyss."

She looked up to meet his gaze, "I am just an old housekeeper. But is that really all you want to know?"

"Ah, no, not that. I want to know...everything about what's happening to me but, I am guessing there is a price for it."

"Of course there is a price deary, nothing in this world is free."

"Okay, what is your price then? What do I have to do to get answers."

She pretended to think about it for a second before responding in the same jovial manner, as it was the most ordinary thing.

"You, your soul, your eternal allegiance is the price. An eternity of servitude."

Hao Xuan leaned back into the chair, letting out a deep sigh from the bottom of his heart.

"Well...that is pretty straightforward. And what do I get in return?"

"Answers, and a way out."

He frowned slightly, "A way out from where?"

"From your current fate. From this life that you were thrown into. You will never truly be free but at least by following me, you will have a lot more control over your fate."

When Hao Xuan fell silent once again the old lady continued.

"You don't have to make the decision now. You will find this is the only right choice when you speak to the others."

"The others?" Hao Xuan questioned, "Who are the others?"

She shook her head lightly, "Best not to play coy with me, deary. I see all. The little human boy who started all this, the old beast that tried to trick you into offering yourself as a sacrifice, and the fallen one who has yet to show himself."

"They will not let you choose for yourself. Either you submit or you are extinguished and erased like all the others before you."

"Before me? There were others before me?"

This was actually the first time Hao Xuan had heard something like that. The world spirit talked about the 'other him' when describing the erased timeline, did she mean the same?

The old lady waved her hand and a face appeared in the fireplace. Salome's face.

"He was the one that stood in your shoes before you. But when the truth was revealed to him he created another choice. By sacrificing himself he tried to put an end to their plans but look how that turned out. Tsk, what a shame. He had such promise.'