The Whispers of Time
Once upon a time, in a realm away from the eyes of humankind, there churned a timeless river. To the inhabitants of the celestial nebulae, it was known as the River of Eternity. This was not your typical river of water but a river of memories, a reality stream connecting all existence, carrying whispers from the past, singing melodies of the present, and murmuring prophecies of the future. Its gentle currents were the intersections of time and space, treasured by immortal beings who called themselves 'Timekeepers'.
The Timekeepers had the ability to manipulate time. But with this power came strict rules. The most sacred being ‘thou shall not change the course of destiny’. However, each Timekeeper had a mortal life before being bestowed with immortality. Their cherished memento was a leather-bound book, the Book of Echoes, which held their mortal life’s story.
Among the Timekeepers, Argentum was the most curious. Once a studious mortal, Argentum was known for his silver hair and endlessly twinkling eyes. His Book of Echoes was filled with knowledge, wisdom, and regret. He often found himself losing hours hopping from one memory to another in his book.
One day, Argentum stumbled upon a faded memory, once insignificant but resonating with him now. It was the iridescent image of his mortal love, Seraphina, whom he'd left behind in his mortal life. Seraphina was the love he'd lost in the pursuit of knowledge, a regret he'd buried in the depths of immortality. And in that faded memory, he heard her voice, as soft as a dulcet whisper, and as piercing as the winter wind, 'Remember, love is timely. It cannot bloom in shallow sands of haste nor in the depths of eternity'.
Without thinking, Argentum, driven by the undercurrents of yearning, plunged his hand into the River of Eternity. There was a series of cosmic ripples, followed by an unnatural silence that even muted the timeless whispers of the river. When nothing dreadful ensued, Argentum sighed in relief. But as he withdrew his hand out, he discovered a silver pocket watch ticking softly at the riverbed.
Energized by the urge to see Seraphina again, Argentum twisted the silver knob of the watch and, in a whirl of temporal energy, he found himself standing on cobblestone streets, staring at the intricate iron gate of his old mansion. The joy in his heart was quickly replaced with dread. A voice in his head reminded him sternly, ‘thou shall not change the course of destiny.’
But his longing superseded his caution, and he sought Seraphina. He found her in the rose garden, her favorite place, looking ethereal in the afternoon glow yet, a shade paler than he remembered. As his eyes met hers, he saw a spark of recognition, then sadness and finally, Seraphina smiled, admitting a long-kept secret, 'Argentum, I knew you'd come one day. I waited, but I grew tired. I was reminded every day that love is timely, remember?'
Their reunion was brief. Argentum couldn't change destiny. He didn't seek forgiveness nor did he offer excuses. He only left her with a kiss on her forehead and a promise to remember. Returning back to his realm, Argentum threw the silver watch back into the River of Eternity. Along with it, he let go of his mortal regret, setting himself free in his timeless existence.
From then onwards, Argentum started relishing his status as a Timekeeper rather than ambling aimlessly through the echoes of his past. By reminding himself of his mortal regret, Argentum unveiled a profound wisdom: Even in an ocean of time, one must learn to let go. It was the only way to swim without sinking.