“So let me get this straight,” Sya said, stopping her pacing around the infirmary. “You are one of these ‘latent paradoxes’ like Arden? But instead of having a doppelganger going around hunting you, it's giving you advice in your head?”

  “Pretty much,” Vera replied.

  “And the universe is breaking because of the existence of the paradoxes. So in order to save reality, it's doing things to get rid of Arden.”

  “Yeah,” Arden said. “I don't get why I'm the one being targeted by reality itself. You're a paradox too. Why am I the only one?”

  “I mean, does it really matter?” Vera asked.

  “I'd say it kind of does matter when the universe is taking pot shots at you.”

  “It's the end of everything. Whether or not you're being targeted, or I'm the one, it won't matter if the universe is brought down as collateral.”

  Arden grumbled to himself while Sya asked a question.

  “Did the voice in your head tell you what these ‘corrective measures’ were?”

  “Unfortunately not. But given the things that have happened so far, I think we can hazard a few guesses.”

  “You're thinking that the cascade is one?” Arden asked.

  “It's a possibility.”

  Arden leaned back with a tired groan.

  “Why does the fate of reality fall on the shoulders of three non-Starborn? Why are we the ones who have to both figure out how to stop the universe from exploding, and also actually be the ones to stop the universe from exploding?”

  “Technically, it falls on you two's shoulders,” Sya said. “I'm the only one who's not a latent paradox.”

  “There's more to worry about than these ‘corrective measures.’” Vera said, ignoring Sya’s remark. “Other-me also said that something else interfered in the process. She didn't tell me what it was, only that it's interference that makes things harder for us.”

  “Shocker,” Arden said.

  Both Podren and Cirai entered the infirmary together, cutting off their conversation. Both of the Starborn looked to be going through it. With their pale skin, sunken bloodshot eyes, and bags under their eyes, they looked like some of the junkies that called the slums their home.

  Podren looked relieved to see Vera awake and alive.

  “Ah good. You're awake. How are you feeling?”

  “I can't complain,” Vera said. “What about you? Last time I was awake, you only had one arm.”

  Podren gave a tired chuckle.

  “I have your friends to thank for that. Their quick thinking saved my life, and yours too as well. But enough about me. I'm a doctor, and you're my patient. Your condition is more important.”

  Cirai sat down next Sya and yawned. Sya glanced at her diminished form.

  “Rough time?”

  “I'd use a stronger word,” Cirai said. “There's barely been enough time for us to recover our essence. This wasn't a problem before with all of us, but now we have to rest in shifts to recover just a little bit. Me and Podren are exhausted.”

  “Yeah you kinda look like shit.”

  “Thanks.”

  At Vera’s side, Podren began his examination of Vera. After checking that there was nothing wrong with her physical, he moved on to inspecting her wound.

  He unwrapped the gauze that was layered on her stomach, revealing a scar that ran across the width of it.

  “Unfortunately,” Podren began. “Because I'm just a red-tier protostar, it's not within my capabilities to prevent scarring. If I were stronger than this wouldn't have happened. I'm sorry. You'll have to keep that scar.”

  Podren sniffed and wiped a tear from his eye.

  “It’s such a shame that your beautiful body will forever have this taint!”

  Both Vera and Arden stared at the man like he was a lunatic. Arden didn't want to believe that it was thanks to his help that Vera survived. Vera looked like she wanted to be gutted again.

  “Can I have another doctor?” Vera asked Cirai. “This one disturbs me.”

  Cirai sighed and answered.

  “Until we find what happened to the rest of the branch, he’s the only one we got.”

  “Ugh.” Reluctantly, Vera turned back to her doctor. “Is the scar the worst part of my diagnosis?”

  Podren nodded as he threw the gauze away. He had a kind smile that sent an uncomfortable shiver down Vera’s spine.

  “Aside from that, you are perfectly fine. With emphasis on fine.”

  “Stop,” Arden said sternly.

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

  “Sorry,” Podren replied. “And with that I'll be going. I need some rest. Oh, and in case it wasn't obvious, you three have been cleared of any and all suspicions. You have as much freedom here as me and Cirai. You can choose to stay here, or leave if you want.”

  “We're going to stay,” Arden said, answering for his party. “Even with only two Starborn, it's still safer here.”

  “Are you sure about that?” Cirai asked. “If that fight proved anything it was that we aren’t fighters. Podren and I weren’t the ones to bring down Frozhe. It was you guys. All we did was pick up the pieces.”

  Sya half expected Arden to say something noble, inspiring, and shallow about how it was the two Starborn who were the real heroes. Something utterly bland and devoid of reason. She bit her tongue to prevent a smile when she heard her brother completely gloss over the subject instead, tacitly agreeing with Cirai.

  “Regardless, I still think it's safer here. At least we have a building. At least we have a healer. At least we have food. I ain't eating a Celestial unless I know for a fact it's edible. I'm not eating skeleton dust.”

  “Is there a training area here?” Vera asked, steering the conversation in a new direction. “I need to move.”

  “No,” Cirai said. “But with it only being us five in this huge place, feel free to use a part of it as one.”

  “Will do.”

  Vera swung her legs off of her bed and stood up, stretching her arms above head, exposing her abs and her scar. Arden realized his gaze lingered on them a little too long when he realized Vera was staring at him with a teasing smile.

  Sya was the only other person in the room to notice the brief interaction. As someone who'd spent the last couple weeks constantly with them, she knew their tells. Vera liked teasing Arden, and Arden responded well to them. Although, she didn't expect Arden to be so into the scar on Vera’s stomach.

  ‘Someone's got a weird thing they're into.’

  They started to file their way out of the crowded infirmary when Podren put a hand on Arden’s shoulder. Glancing back at the playboy, Arden could see a strange mix of emotions on his face. There was gratitude. Exhaustion was present as well. Neither of which seemed weird given the current circumstances they found themselves in. There was something else though. Worryingly, Arden could see what looked like fanaticism etched into Podren’s eyes. There were more stars in his eyes than in the sky.

  “I need to talk to you,” Podren said. “It's important.”

  “Uh,” Arden began, looking for a way to escape.

  “If you do this, I won't hit on Vera again.”

  “What is it you want to talk about?” Arden asked, completely on board now.

  “You coming, Arden?” Vera asked him, looking over her shoulder.

  “I'll be right over. Just give me a few minutes first. Begin without me.”

  “Whatever you say.”

  The three women left the room, leaving only Arden and Podren behind. Surprisingly, it looked as if Cirai was going to join in the training. Either that, or she knew that whatever Arden and Podren would talk about would be important and needed secrecy.

  Arden sat down on one of the beds, while Podren leaned against the wall. After a few seconds, during which they heard footsteps walking away from the door, Podren began.

  “What do you think about fate?”

  “Fate? Like destiny, and doing what you're meant to do as preordained by the universe?”

  “Yes. What do you think of it? Do you believe it?”

  Arden couldn't just come out and say that fate could eat it. Fate very well could be a thing, but it wouldn't apply to him. At least, not anymore. He was a paradox now, and thus was untethered from the laws of causality. Vera too, now that he thought about it.

  In a world where people had superpowers, monsters came out of wormholes, and Arden was somehow still alive, it seemed impossible to rule anything out, including the machinations of fate. If Arden had to guess, he'd say that fate was theoretically something that clung tightly around the majority of people, but he simply was not one of them. Not anymore.

  It made him think. He didn't believe that everything was predetermined, just slightly influenced. Instead of outright denying its influence, Arden responded with a simple question of his own.

  “Why do you ask?”

  Podren held his hand aloft where red sparks formed a book with an hourglass on the cover.

  “This is the Codex Momenti Proximi,” Podren explained. “It's a book that can record the future. The future of the reader is written in its pages.”

  “That sounds awfully convenient.”

  “It can only read a few seconds into the future. It was how I knew that Frozhe was a traitor. It told me that he was going to attack me. And just like the book said, Frozhe did exactly that. With no variation.”

  Podren looked up at the ceiling with worry written all over his face. Trembling, he continued.

  “Everything the book has ever shown me has come true. Nothing has been able to change their recorded future. It made me wonder if there was anything we could actually do, if our wills are truly our own. It scared me. The existential dread that comes from realizing how small you are and how little you matter is hard to shake off.”

  “I can imagine,” Arden said, not sure how to carry on this conversation.

  “The future was never averted. Not until yesterday. When Frozhe had me and Cirai cornered, the Codex told me that my future was over. I was going to die. But I didn’t. Somehow, you were able to prevent the future. You exist outside of fate.”

  Arden could hear his heart thundering inside of his chest. He could tell that this situation was dangerous. Somehow, the relentless flirt was able to piece together the fact that Arden was outside of causality. It was likely that he didn’t fully know what it entailed, but just knowing what Arden was was a threat.

  For a brief moment, he wondered if he would commit murder again.

  Before Arden could decide what to do next, Podren offered the book to Arden.

  “Take it,” he said. “I don’t need it.”

  “Hasn’t it been keeping you alive? Why would you give it away?”

  “Because I have no use for it. Whether I have the book or not, I’d still be living out my life the same as before. The book never changed the future, mine or anyone else's. You did that. The book belongs to someone who has the capacity to change fate. If you use that book to avert more bad endings, I will consider passing it along as worth it.”

  Red-tier protostar Podren has transferred ownership of red-tier protostar Satellite, Codex Momenti Proximi to you.

  ‘A third Satellite…’

  “If you insist,” Arden said, trying to downplay his own excitement.

  You have obtained a red-tier protostar Satellite, Codex Momenti Proximi.

  He couldn’t help smiling to himself as he realized he was now the owner of three Satellites. He liked the power and respect that came with wielding magical weapons, but more than that, he liked the money that the Satellites were worth. If he sold some of them, he would be able to buy his way out of the slums with Sya and Vera with no problem at all.

  He opened the pages, eager to see what tales of the future were laid out in front of him, but was left disappointed upon seeing the blank pages.

  “Ah. Right. I don’t have essence.”

  With a sigh, Arden dismissed the Codex Momenti Proximi to his inventory. He’d be able to use it in the future. He was sure of it.

  “Thanks for the book, Podren. I’ll let you know if I find any other hot women.”

  “Thanks for saving my life. I eagerly await for news regarding said hot women.”