"Zian? That's a good name." Arthea nodded with a smile.
Even though he was pleased with Arthea's answer he pretended to be cold about it the boy turned around and lifted his chin then asked haughtily "So what were you doing in my place?"
"Your place?" Arthea looked confused.
The boy frowned "Yeah, this is a 'forgotten place'...my place, you don't know?" he saw Arthea's blank face and the boy conclude the girl really don't know but that only make him shocked even more, he never thought anyone would be able to enter this place let alone by accident.
"Let me show you!" the boy waved his hand gesturing for Arthea to follow him.
Arthea look behind her and nothing but darkness, she had no other choice but to follow the strange boy and so she followed the boy into the darkness but the boy didn't seem hesitant nor did he have trouble finding his way in this dark empty space, it seems he said the truth, this is his 'place'
Soon Arthea felt the air around her change slightly, then she was greeted with a faint light as she move closer, a mixed feeling of curiosity and excitement subconsciously make Arthea quicken her steps then all of a sudden her steps stopped and her eyes widened in utter shock as right in front of her there were hundreds of doors lined up and all the doors were arranged in a circle so high up that seem no ends.
"What... this place" Arthea blinked a few times to make sure she wasn't imagining something.
The boys felt proud seeing Arthea's reaction, for him, this was an ordinary sight as matter of fact he was bored by the sight before him, and he was even more bored with the scenery he saw behind the door thus every day was just a continuation of the same day of the day before and it continues on and on and on...without ends, it was so boring untill Arthea who miraculously came to his place and for the first time, he felt intrigued and excited what happened next.
"This place is called Oblivion but sometimes people call it the void, it is a place between life and death where the times has no meaning for this is the gate of the worlds in the universe and I am the Gate Master of this place!" the boy placed his hands on his hips while lifting his chin like a proud child.
"Gate of the worlds, you mean all these doors are the gates of many worlds, including me?" Arthea was stunned she felt she was revealing a secret that shouldn't have been revealed.
But the boy didn't seem to care, he replied nonchalantly "Yup! but I need to check which world you are from, and how did you get here?" interest lit up the boy's eyes.
Meanwhile, Arthea was worried about what would be the consequences of knowing a secret this big but she remembered what would happen to Cavio in the future maybe he could find a way out through one of these doors, Arthea's hopes were instantly inflated "How many worlds out there?"
The boy shrugged "I don't know, I never counted it..why?" he asked innocently.
Arthea hesitated for a second she felt she took advantage of this boy but her brother's life is on the line so how could she just let go of this opportunity, "If…if I want to change someone's death…could that be possible?" she bit her lips, the anxiety clearly show on her face.
"Change someone's death? You mean that person is not dead yet…how do you know?" the boy looks at her with deep interest.
Arthea thought it was only fair to let the boys know her ability beside she had a feeling she will need his help…a lot of it, Arthea sigh inwardly "My soul can roam between the future and the past, as you can see…this is only my soul here my body is rest in my world" Arthea explains.
The boy looked at Arthea with cautious evaluation from head to toe and then slowly nodded "Yes, you are still alive…but that's what makes you amazing!" the boy clapped his hands while staring at her with admiration "I have never seen anyone give the ability to peek the future, you know the God are very petty as they all like everything under their control so I never thought they would give human this kinda ability, knowing the fate meaning you are given the chance to change it...."
The boy rubbed his chin as he pondered with a hint of amusement on his face then his gaze shifted back to Arthea and he grinned "However I'm not sure if that's a blessing or a curse for you, the more you know the bigger the burden you will bear" she spoke with a chuckle as of he told a joke which made Arthea a little uneasy about the boy, however, she put that thought aside as she realized she would need his help in the future.
"So…in your opinion is that possible?" Arthea glancing from under lowered brows, the hope and nervousness in her eyes cannot be hidden.
Arthea's expectant look incites something deep in his heart "Well…it wouldn't be easy, death and soulmate are two think that hard to change…but, that doesn't mean it's impossible"
"Really!" Arthea's face beamed in delight.
"Yes!" the boy answered nonchalantly, the truth is he knew it will be a difficult matter to solve perhaps impossible but because Arthea put all her hope in him is hard for him to deny the first friend he got besides he didn't lie when he said it's not impossible to change the future, however, the cost might be a bit high…but, he doesn't care besides how could his life get worst that this, right?
"I'll help you but not for free!" The boy raised his index finger "You must pay for it!"
Arthea nodded firmly "Yes, whatever you want even if it's my own life I will give it for you," she said with unwavering determination.
The boy's lips pouted tightly then he quickly refuted, "I don't need your life!"
"Oh…?" Arthea was stunned for a moment then she thought the boy was very nice! he was very kind to give a helping hand to a stranger like her, Arthea's opinion of the boy immediately increased significantly so she replied sincerely "Okay, whatever you want I will try my best to fulfill it"
The boy's eyes snapped back on her "You promised!" he shriek excitedly but then realizes he overreacted and his whole face become completely red.
Arthea hold her smile not to embarrass the boy and nodded "Yes!"
It started as a sister's simple wish to save her brother and a friendship that started between two people who happened to meet and needed each other, it started as a good thing almost innocent and sincere yet, no one knew that this would be the start for a long period of heartache and painful tragedy.
After Arthea returned from oblivion, his mood took a turn for the better as he found new hope and the change brought relief to Cavio.
But unbeknownst to anyone arthea has returned from the fortress to Oblivion and her relationship with Zian, the Gate master becomes even closer than she could even think.
With the help of Zian, Arthea knows more about her power, including her new powers, which she doesn't dare to use due to Cavio's warning, but with Zian, she feels freer to explore all her strengths without fear of disappointing other people nor scares them, on contrary Zian continues to encourage her to dig deeper into her power.