CHAPTER 7 - 7 – DEAL

Chapter 7 – Deal

"What do you mean?" Jack asked, his voice low but sharp.

"Ten years from now," Lune began, "you become the strongest chronist. The center of influence the chronists hold over Aevum begins with you. Your power was unmatched, and you rose as their leader—the face of every major conflict, every alliance and negotiation."

Jack's brows furrowed. "I became the leader... of all the chronists?"

He fell silent, unease creeping into his expression.

The idea didn't sit well with him. In fact, it unsettled him more than he cared to admit. Leadership was the last thing he desired. The thought of dealing with mindless followers, the pressure of guiding them toward some collective goal—it all sounded like a nightmare. He lacked the patience, the energy, and frankly, the interest for such responsibilities.

"To be more precise," Lune continued, "your clan ends up at the forefront of the human presence in Aevum. It becomes home to the strongest chronists, and they gather around you. No other clan could rival it. You grew into such a splendid man, Jack." Her voice softened as her eyes glimmered with fondness, clearly reminiscing about someone who no longer existed.

But Jack was still stuck on her previous words.

'What the hell did future me turn into? A leader? Marriage? What's even the point? How does ten years change someone that much?'

To him, things like leadership and marriage were burdens—self-imposed shackles that did more harm than good. They weren't responsibilities he needed or wanted. He'd always operated best on his own, unbothered by others and unchained by expectation. And in that isolation, he'd always outperformed everyone else.

That solitude was his safe zone. His edge. But it seemed the future had other plans for him.

"I don't know what kind of life I lived to end up that way," Jack said at last, "but I can tell you this—I have no intention of leading anything. Clans, factions, or otherwise. I'm not interested in political battles for power or prestige. I just want to survive."

Lune tilted her head thoughtfully. "You did say something like that to me, once. That you never intended to become the man you ended up being. But something happened—something that completely changed your mind."

Jack's eyes narrowed. "What was it?"

"I don't know," she admitted. "You never told me. All I know is that it was a turning point. A single moment that reshaped everything. Something about it shifted your whole outlook—on your life, on what a chronist should be. I asked you many times, but you always refused to talk about it."

'A... moment?' Jack thought, his brow lifting. 'That doesn't sound like me. I don't just change because of a moment. Usually, it takes several compelling factors stacked together. Makes me curious what could possibly push me that far.'

"Well, no use dwelling on it," Jack muttered. "If that moment ever comes, I'll face it when it does."

He shifted in his seat. "Now, tell me what happens right after the skip. What's the process when someone becomes a chronist?"

Lune nodded. "That depends. After the skip, you'll be transported to Aevum. The exact location is chosen by the clock itself. It's completely unpredictable—not even I could determine where you'd end up."

"Of course it is..." Jack clicked his tongue. "That kind of information could've been very useful."

"Well," she offered, "what is certain is that each batch of chronists always lands in a single realm. You won't be scattered across all of Aevum. At least, there's that."

"So, I can expect other chronists to appear near me?"

"In theory, yes. But keep in mind—the realms are colossal beyond your comprehension. The Iceborn Peaks to the north, for example, are mountain ranges large enough to cover all of Earth. The tallest peaks would pierce the atmosphere if they existed here. If you land there, the odds of running into another chronist are still extremely slim. And that's without considering how deadly the environment is."

Jack exhaled slowly. "I see... That's both a relief and a problem. No contact means less interference... but also no backup if things go south. I'll have to operate under the assumption that I'll be on my own."

"That's the most realistic mindset to have," Lune agreed, her voice turning grim. "But I'll say this—being alone in Aevum is as close to suicide as you can get. The danger is on another level. Even I wouldn't dare venture into certain parts of that world by myself."

Jack glanced at her, intrigued. "Why?"

"I told you before—Time Essence exists in every living being. That includes all the beasts and creatures of Aevum. As chronists evolve quickly, so do they. They fight, devour, adapt. Anything outside the protection of cities, citadels, or fortified strongholds is essentially a death zone."

"And I'll be thrown right into the heart of that?" Jack asked flatly.

"Exactly."

Jack leaned back, letting out a quiet sigh. "Doesn't sound ideal. What's the survival rate for chronists?"

"No exact numbers," Lune said. "But not many make it out alive. Out of the millions sent, maybe a few tens of thousands survive. The odds aren't great."

Jack ran a hand through his hair. 'So death is practically knocking the moment we arrive. No training, no powers. Just pure chaos. Not exactly what I'd call fair.'

Then again, the clock had never been about fairness. It simply chose—and those chosen either lived through the storm or died trying.

'Still... the ones who return? They're treated like celebrities. Given wealth, status—lives of luxury. Some never come back at all. But others... others go back willingly. Makes you wonder what they found there.'

The more he thought about it, the more he realized how deep the rabbit hole went. There was clearly far more to the chronists' return to Earth than anyone let on—networks, influence, alliances forged across worlds. A tangled web of power, barely visible from the outside.

'I'll figure it out eventually. With her help... it'll be faster.' Jack cast a sidelong glance at Lune. 'She's got knowledge I need. And considering the affection she clearly holds for me, getting her to cooperate shouldn't be hard.'

"Alright, I think I've asked enough questions for today," Jack said, standing and stretching his limbs. He glanced at the wall clock—8:30 PM. Time for dinner.

"Of course. I'll be here the whole time, so feel free to ask anything," Lune replied cheerfully.

Jack paused. "Wait... you plan on staying here?"

"But of course~" she beamed. "My place is beside my husband. My sole purpose is to help you and be with you."

"..."

"Am I... bothering you?" she asked, her voice softening. Her eyes shimmered with worry—far too adorable for her own good.

"Yes," Jack replied without hesitation.

"Oh no!" Lune gasped, covering her mouth in mock horror.

"But," Jack continued, sighing, "I need your help. So I'll tolerate this. Let's call it a deal—you stay here, and I get the information I want. That sound fair?"

"Absolutely!" she said, practically bouncing with joy. "I would love to!"