Netori: Stealing The Hero's Party!

Chapter 840: To Know The Future Is To Know Nothing At All

While Raven’s hips rammed against Brenna’s, her body convulsed, and her insides throbbed in sync to the hero’s rhythm. Not a moment more, and she too would become pregnant, and although it was destined, there was someone who wasn’t too fond of the sudden development. The god of time, confronted by his daughter, already knew that another person who held the power of corruption was finally trying to leave their mark.

Standing before the rubble of a kingdom with Kara having appeared beside him not too long ago, Razor stared at the pile of ash and bones upon which sat a human who was neither man nor woman. A specter, a concept, and a paladin who’d sworn vengeance on his own people. They could not see the demi-god nor his daughter, and yet their eyes lingered on the spot where the two had been standing.

"Are you running again?" Kara asked, walking up right beside Razor.

Glancing sideways at her, the god of time shrugged his shoulders.

"From you? I doubt I can ever do that."

"Then why don’t you answer me?"

"About what?"

"Come on, father. You already know what I’ve seen and what I am thinking at this very moment."

Silence blanketed the moment, and Razor knew that he couldn’t escape the questioning. Usually, he would’ve either lied or kept mostly quiet about what he knew, but tonight was different, as already the sister elves had figured out Nerva’s true intentions.

"Kara," lowering his gaze, Razor grabbed his daughter’s hand and squeezed it lightly. "Being a priestess, I know that you believe in miracles and prophecies, but let me ask you something."

Her father’s unusual tone invited caution, and yet, with a subtle nod, Kara started squeezing Razor’s hand back.

"Alright then," taking a deep breath, the god of time turned his head back to the front. "Have you ever heard stories where someone tries to escape a prophecy but only ends up fulfilling it? Their very attempts to prevent it accelerate it to such an extent that right before it happens, it would almost be comical to consider the prophecy to come true in just a few moments."

"What are you talking about exactly?" Kara asked, confused by her father’s rambling.

Closing his eyes, Razor took a deep breath and heaved a sigh.

"Sometimes, it’s better for a secret to remain as such." Forcing a smile on his face, he looked at his daughter. "Things will only get worse if the hero knows the truth–the truth about this journey, the end, and what Nerva has in store for us all."

"The end of the world?" Shaking his head, Razor shot her down.

"If only it were so simple." He heaved.

"Then, what is it?" Kara kept asking.

Taking a moment to think and retract his hand, the god of time opened a portal before him. Staring into it, he searched for his next destination–close to his home, but exactly there yet.

"When you borrowed my stopwatch to visit the witch in hell, you came back to me with a few questions. The most prominent was why there were so many people alive that shouldn’t have been, remember that?" Raising an eyebrow, Kara reminded herself of that time.

"Yeah, I remember. What about it?"

"Well, there’s your hint." Taking a step towards the portal. Razor looked back at Kara from over his shoulder. "Those who should not exist, the candidates, and Nerva’s plan. Maybe they’re as random as you might think, maybe, just maybe everything thus far has been exactly according to someone’s plan."

Reaching forward, Kara grabbed her father’s hand.

"I don’t understand!" Wearing a contorted look of confusion, she demanded an answer. "Can’t you tell me plainly? I need an answer; the others are relying on me for it!"

Moving her hand off his wrist, Razor started walking to the portal yet again.

"I’m sorry, but the future is fickle, and if you know what it holds, then your actions to avoid it will plunge this world into a worse storm of uncertainty." Holding the truth close, Razer walked through the portal and disappeared.

Leaving his daughter behind, the demi-god had left the rest to fate. But with Kara’s mind racing and no answers in sight, what happens next would be nothing but a coin toss. Opening her eyes to the real world after a while, she stared at the person sitting atop a pile of ash. The very same ruins which Justice Dealer had admired not long before his death, she was standing in front of them with the ocean waves crashing loudly against their edge.

’What happened here?’ She wondered, for old she may have been, but much like the secrets of Nerva, these ruins escaped her scope of knowledge. ’It doesn’t seem like a person. A shade or a ghost? Either way, Raven and his crew will need to pass through here. I should warn them about it just in case.’

She’d hoped to get more information about Nerva from her father, but even if she hadn’t, at least a word of warning should help. Perhaps then the hero’s group wouldn’t see her as bad luck, but then again, that would depend on how their interaction goes with this vengeful paladin.

’It’s been staring at us. I wonder if it knows...’ Taking a step away from the monster, Kara turned around and started walking towards Inktoss. The city was now open, at least more open than before. The people had calmed a little, and the riots were not as rampant, giving way to some tourism and trade, with emphasis on some. Being reclusive for so long, the place was far from inviting towards outsiders, but unlike Elcanor, at least there was no direct violence.

’Speaking of Eclanor...’ Chasing that train of thought, Kara was reminded of the many people still holed up inside that town. Amongst them, Hilma drew her attention the most, after all, it was the priestess’s job to show light to the lost. ’I’ll visit her first and then go back to report what I found to Raven and the rest.’

With that in mind, Kara was off to visit the recovering warrior and the council members of that city. In the meantime, Raven and his mating continued, and it will continue throughout the whole night.