Five seconds before Destiny

was the only sound in the stillness of the room. Huyan sat alone at the kitchen table, shirt wrinkled, eyes hollow, chewing on a piece of br

e soft raps on the doo

s collar and thin-rimmed glasses resting on the bridge of his nose. His name

He was found dead in his study this mor

a twitch in the eyes, n

of bread and said quietly,

inked.

just with his body-but with his pain? Can he carry the wounds of a future that hasn't happened

s. Ancient ones. About men and women who return to the past..

smile-faint, f

never took you for someone

ftly. "Old stories. Sometimes the

"Do you think," he said, voice hardening, "a man can know the trut

ur bones, sir... it's worth listening to. B

carried decades. "You're right. Let's g

pau

ber the last time he

ing a pitch-black suit, tie knotted tightly, shoes echoing on the floor. Yan w

orld blur by. His mind drifted back to the day his mother died. He had been young. Broke

aid. "The empire is built

d. For a legacy that felt more like a curse. H

stop, snapping him

ve?" he aske

seat, answered quietly,

ned to th

his heart

the str

forgotten dream. She walked casually, unaware, crossing the road lik

for the door handle,

iced. "

out as a whisper.

on. He reached ov

the world narrowing

but his voice c

maybe she did. But s

side of the street, alm

rum of war. She's the girl from my dreams

nted af

's green!" Yan sh

red. Tire

didn't

o close he could

metal str

un. Blood. S

le

eyes sna

he same. The bread halfway to his mouth. Ya

e. "If anyone can travel in the past... but I'v

word, every sou

The same shadows

me, Huyan d

stared

irst time I've lived this mom

to rise quietl