The Rift Within Time
In a parallel universe, there existed a reality that was not governed by the laws of time. The inhabitants of this universe, the Temporals, were beings of pure energy, timeless, roaming freely across centuries, living in moments of the past, the present, and the future. The series of events in their lives did not follow a linear progression, but they had found a distinct harmony in this seeming chaos.
Among the Temporals, there was one called Areon, fond of the period humans called the Middle Ages. It was an era of honour, of brave knights and splendid castles, tales of which enchanted Areon.
But as centuries passed, a distinct curiosity arose within him. Areon couldn't help but wonder - how would it feel to traverse the mortal timelines? He wondered how it was like to be bound by the concept of life and death, seasons changing, wounds turning into scars with the passage of time, love growing and fading as time dictated.
His intention reached Epoch, the supreme entity that governed the parallel universe. Touched by Areon's yearning, Epoch granted him a human life. Yet, he was cautioned, once turned mortal, there was no turning back.
Areon was reborn as a human, in the quaint village of Eira, located near a beautiful castle he once admired as a Temporal. He was adopted by a humble peasant couple who named him Aiden, unaware he was a timeless being who had willingly chosen the bondage of time. Aiden grew experiencing everything human life had to offer – sorrow, joy, love, and most importantly, the slowly ticking time.
As a young man, he fell in love with Aurelia, the beautiful daughter of the local blacksmith. Their love story unfurled under the watchful eyes of time, filled with blossoming emotions, stolen kisses under the moonlight, and vows of eternal love. Aiden had found in Aurelia's eyes what he had come searching for - a life worth all its fleeting moments.
But, as time does, it began to pull them apart gradually. Aiden aged, but Aurelia's beauty remained untouched by time's harsh grasp. Confused, Aiden confronted Epoch, who appeared in his dreams, reminding him that Aurelia was a Temporal who had been living among humans, oblivious of her true identity.
Aiden was faced with a grave decision; he could reveal Aurelia's true identity to her, tearing her away from the human life she cherished, or he could keep silent, watching her live a timeless life in a time-bound world. He decided on the latter, choosing Aurelia's happiness over his.
Time passed in its ruthless tone, skin wrinkled, hairs turned white, step by step walking towards the inevitable demise. Now an old man, Aiden found happiness in his life's fleeting moments with each breath he took. He found the beauty of his surroundings mirrored in Aurelia’s timeless eyes and held on to the life he had chosen by choice.
As Aiden breathed his last, Aurelia by his side, he smiled. Having tasted time in all its raw, ruthless beauty, Aiden realized his journey had given him something extraordinary - the experience of being human in its truest sense. And for her part, Aurelia discovered an unyielding love for a man who taught her the true beauty of mortality - the fleeting, delicate essence of time. The love that transcended the rift within time still echoed within the universe, a reminder of the timeless human spirit.