The Inner Odyssey

"You…"

Alden's expression immediately turned grim.

His whole body was tense, caught-off guard by the sudden development.

The corner of his future self's lips curled slightly.

Alden inhaled deeply, calming his nerves. He schooled his expression, donning a neutral mask. As he did so, he scrutinised his other self carefully. Alden's future self lay there, shackled, with his back to the wall.

He had a gaunt figure, with unkempt dirty-white hair.

Thick, sturdy chains held him in place.

Interestingly, though…

One was now missing.

Alden recalled his first visit to the Citadel of Genesis. Back then, there had been 5 chains restraining his future self - one for each limb, and one for his neck.

…The latter was gone.

What did that mean?

And how did it disappear?

More importantly, though, was it the reason his other self was now awake?

Alden stood there, motionless, his mind spinning rapidly. He cast his thoughts back to the aftermath of the invasion, and how he had heard a voice in the back of his head.

'Has he… been awake this whole time?'

A wave of horror and dread clashed within Alden at the sudden thought.

He tried not to flinch. A cold shiver ran through his mental avatar.

Gritting his teeth, the young man shook his head.

He gazed into his other self's eyes.

Those crimson orbs.

They were calm and placid.

However…

Nestled inside their infinite depth, Alden thought he discerned a flash of madness. His future self suddenly shifted. The sound of rattling chains echoed inside the tiny cell. Alden's instincts screamed at him to run, to not engage, to do anything but be within close proximity of this terrifying and insane existence… for no doubt, his other self was a deadly calamity waiting to strike.

Unfortunately, Alden could not put this meeting off.

It was just that important.

The young man released a turbid breath, straightening his posture. Silently, he mentally prepared himself. He couldn't give his other self a chance to get under his skin.

Alas…

No sooner had he tried to consolidate his mental state, his future self struck.

"How are things with Cece?"

Alden stiffened.

It was doubtless a rhetorical question - his future self had obviously seen their talk. But, it was a question that threw him off askew. And that was his other self's aim. Alden gnashed his teeth together, this time with more force.

This was not going to be an easy discussion.

Exhaling again, he closed his good eye.

"Jealous?"

"Oh?"

Alden heard his future self go completely silent. He peeked an eye open, afraid he had crossed a line, and discovered an expression of deep surprise on his other self's face.

Alden resisted the urge to smirk.

Suddenly, his other self let out a deep, jarring laugh. The sound was unnatural and grated on Alden's nerves. It was as if his older self hadn't laughed in a long, long time.

"As expected of my younger self. You are one funny guy."

Shaking his head - the chains that restricted him rattling once more - Alden's future self fell silent.

A slightly wistful air surrounded him. Enjoy new chapters from My Virtual Library Empire

Alden watched quietly, a strange feeling gripping his chest. As much as his other self was doubtless scheming, he was also a person at the end of the day.

A human.

…Who had lost the love of his life.

Alden couldn't help but feel a little empathy for the man.

However, the much more rational part of his brain reminded him that he didn't know his other self's intentions. And until he did, he had to keep his guard up. Finally, the young man could take the silence no longer.

He took a deep breath, mustering his courage. Then he asked, a sharp edge in his tone:

"What do you want? How did you enter my timeline? And why are you imprisoned inside my core?"

His future self stared at him for a moment, his cold gaze piercing the very depths of his being. Alden felt naked, like all his secrets were laid bare to see. It was a very uncomfortable feeling, and one he had the displeasure of experiencing thrice.

The young man held his breath, his jaw aching from how hard he was gritting his teeth.

Just as the tension in the cell peaked, Alden watched his older self cut it with a sharp sigh.

"Revenge. What else?"

Alden's good eye narrowed.

"What about Celeste? Do you not want to be with her again?"

A humourless smile split his future self's face.

"How can I? She's dead."

Alden was just about to argue, when he realised the older version of him was right.

The Celeste that his future self knew was gone.

Forever.

The Cece of this timeline was different, not the least because things were bound to change now that his future self was here - resulting in different experiences that would shape her into a different person -, but also because of the choices she would have to make.

To Alden, it would make sense if every timeline was different. Consequently, this meant that different choices had to be made in each of those different timelines for them to deviate from each other. All of this was to say that Celeste would be a completely separate individual from the one in his future self had grown up with… and loved.

Alden internally sighed with relief.

He was worried his future self would try to take his precious love away from him. And right now, Alden did not have a way to stop him. He was still too weak. He couldn't protect those he cared about from external danger, never mind an internal threat in the form of a mad and insane version of himself.

Alden exhaled.

For the umpteenth time, why did things have to be so complicated?

He massaged his temple, his mental avatar suddenly experiencing a wave of deep fatigue.

Absently, he realised his future self had answered only a third of his questions.

'I hope I'm not as evasive as that.'

The young man's lips twitched.

Just as Alden thought the discussion was over, his future self suddenly spoke.

"Let's make a deal."