The Merchant of Time🔊

Once, in a world inhabited by strange and mystical entities, existed a small hamlet named Serenthia. It sat on the edge of the universe, out of sight of ordinary beings. Within its borders was a unique merchant known as 'the Merchant of Time.'

The merchant, whose real name was Alaric, was an ageless being, neither human nor supernatural. He carried time in the palm of his hand like it was merely a toy to be played with or an instrument to be tuned. He could lend or take time from anyone, given that they had something valuable to exchange.

One day, a young mortal named Evander stumbled into Serenthia. Having lost his way in a freak space storm, he was astounded by the strange beauty of the hamlet and the queer nature of its inhabitants. He was especially intrigued by the rumours of the Time Merchant, a being who, the people claimed, had the ability to influence time itself.

Embittered by a recent loss in his own world, Evander decided to meet the Merchant of Time. As he confronted Alaric, he proposed a deal; he would part with his most precious possession, his memory of his deceased wife, in return for the chance to relive a day with her again.

Alaric, intrigued by the preciousness of Evander's offer, accepted the deal. The memory of Evander's wife was tapestried with love, pain, and longing. It was worth a singular day, he decided.

With a wave of Alaric’s hand, Evander was transported back to a sun-kissed day where his wife, Evelina, was still alive and well. He relished every moment with her, cherishing each smile, each laugh, each shared secret glance that they exchanged. It was a perfect day, a day worth the price he had paid. As the sunset, Evander held Evelina close, pouring every ounce of his feelings into the day. Then, as abruptly as it had begun, the day ended, and Evander was sucked back to the present.

Coming back to reality was bitter. But, Evander felt lighter, his grief lessened. His time with Evelina, although brief, had allowed him closure. However, as he relived the moments, he felt a strange emptiness. His memory of Evelina was no more. He remembered her still, but now, his memory lacked emotional connection. It was like remembering a story heard long ago. He questioned whether the trade had been worth it, but concluded that it likely was. After all, he said to himself, I had a final, happy day with her. And with that, he left Serenthia, carrying his bittersweet experience back with him.

Meanwhile, Alaric, the Merchant of Time, sat in his corner of the universe, cradling the pure memory he had gained. His old, weary eyes were filled with an emotion he couldn't place. He didn't feel joy, but rather, he felt a strange sense of sadness and longing as he lived out the lost memories of Evelina. The mortal's memory, it seemed, had as much effect on him as his time-traveling gift had on the mortal.

And so, the cycle continued. Alaric, the Merchant of Time, remained in his hamlet, altering time and experiences for those bold enough to exchange something invaluable. Yet, always, he was reminded by Evander's memory, that even he, a being of unprecedented power, could not manipulate the deep-rooted emotions woven into the beautiful, painful tapestry of time.