Blind Legacy of Time

Arden supported Theron as they stepped through the temple's entrance. The temple's interior was dark and suffocating as if time itself had frozen here. The walls were adorned with puppet figures hanging by strings, blood-red flame marks, and clock symbols at every corner. The air itself felt heavy, pressing down on Arden's shoulders like a burden. As he stepped inside, his blind eye burned fiercely and a voice echoed in his mind, cold, manipulative, yet commanding: "Take the strings, Arden." Arden stumbled, pressing a hand to his blind eye. "This… voice," he murmured, his voice trembling. "Karlin…"

Theron, visibly affected by the temple's atmosphere, said, "This place… is cursed," his voice weak. "Be careful, Arden." But Arden wasn't listening his eyes were locked on the massive clock mechanism at the temple's center. The clock was framed with black stone, its hands spinning backward, and with each tick, Arden's blind eye burned more intensely. In the shadow of the clock mechanism, puppet figures hung by strings each one moving as if controlled by a shadow.

As Arden approached the clock, his blind eye flared and his mind wa

Arden supported Theron as they stepped through the temple's entrance. The temple's interior was dark and suffocating as if time itself had frozen here. The walls were adorned with puppet figures hanging by strings, blood-red flame marks, and clock symbols at every corner. The air itself felt heavy, pressing down on Arden's shoulders like a burden. As he stepped inside, his blind eye burned fiercely and a voice echoed in his mind, cold, manipulative, yet commanding: "Take the strings, Arden." Arden stumbled, pressing a hand to his blind eye. "This… voice," he murmured, his voice trembling. "Karlin…"

Theron, visibly affected by the temple's atmosphere, said, "This place… is cursed," his voice weak. "Be careful, Arden." But Arden wasn't listening his eyes were locked on the massive clock mechanism at the temple's center. The clock was framed with black stone, its hands spinning backward, and with each tick, Arden's blind eye burned more intensely. In the shadow of the clock mechanism, puppet figures hung by strings each one moving as if controlled by a shadow.

As Arden approached the clock, his blind eye flared and his mind was flooded with memories. He was in Karlin's body, seeing through her eyes long, jet-black hair with blood-red flames dancing in each strand; amber eyes, deep and commanding, as if reflecting the secrets of time itself. She wore a long black robe with intricate gold embroidery, its hem trailing on the ground, and a delicate gold crown rested on her head every movement exuded nobility and authority, a majesty befitting a god. Arden felt Karlin's manipulations overthrowing kings with a whisper, turning friendships into enmity with a glance… But then, an assassin struck her in the chest with a dagger in the dead of night Arden felt the pain in his own chest as Karlin collapsed, her spirit drawn to the god in a beam of light. The god's voice echoed: "My beautiful son… you created your flaw after your perfect creation."

When the vision faded, Arden dropped to his knees, his hands trembling. "Karlin… was me," he murmured, his voice filled with shock. "The Lord of Time… the puppeteer… my past life." Theron looked at Arden, "You… were Karlin," he said, his voice a mix of awe and fear. "But why were you reincarnated?" Arden's mind blurred Karlin's cold manipulations echoed within him; his anger, his desire for control… they all stemmed from Karlin.

At that moment, the clock's hands sped up, and a burst of light erupted from its center Karlin's reflection appeared. Long, jet-black hair with blood-red flames dancing in each strand; amber eyes, deep and commanding, as if reflecting the secrets of time itself. She wore a long black robe with intricate gold embroidery, its hem trailing on the ground, and a delicate gold crown rested on her head every movement exuded nobility and authority, a majesty befitting a god. "Arden," Karlin said, her voice as sweet as honey but bitter as venom, resonating with commanding authority. "You are my continuation… take the strings, or the strings will choke you." Arden stared at Karlin's reflection, captivated by her commanding presence, yet filled with fear and anger. "You… were a monster," he said, his voice trembling. "And you… turned me into a monster!" Karlin's amber eyes narrowed, her smile deepening, "You're not a monster, Arden," she said, her voice a whisper, yet its authority shook the temple. "You're a puppeteer… like me. Learn to hold the strings."

Theron, horrified by Karlin's reflection, shouted, "Arden, no!" his voice filled with worry. "This power… will strip you of your humanity! Think of Lyra… think of Andre… don't lose your humanity!" Arden was shaken by Theron's words Lyra's golden eyes, Andre's gentle teachings flashed in his mind. "I… won't become a monster," he said, his voice resolute but trembling. He pulled his hand back from the clock, "I reject your legacy, Karlin!"

Karlin's reflection flared with anger, her amber eyes blazing like fire. "You… are weak," she hissed, her voice shaking the temple. "The curse… will not let you go!" As Karlin's reflection faded, the clock's hands suddenly stopped the temple shook with a deafening rumble, stones cracking, and Arden's blind eye burned once more as if the curse had awakened in fury. Theron grabbed Arden's arm, "We need to escape!" he shouted, but Arden froze as a sound echoed from the temple's depths Karlin's authoritative laughter, resonating everywhere: "You cannot escape, Arden… the strings… will find you."

Will Arden escape the curse's wrath? Let me know in the comments!