Page 138 of I Ran Away to Evil 3
“I’m not Gerda.” I wasn’t ready for the wave of relief that hit when I finally said it. Aloud. “Listen, Alice.” I waved at the two cups on the table. “I really do think we should talk. About why I’m here. Abouteverything.”
“This is a trick,” she said, her fists clenching around her daggers. Behind her, I noted with satisfaction that my door frame was no longer splintered and had started repairing itself.
“It’s true. I’mnottherealGerda,” I told her, pulling out a chair and sitting down. I waved again, urging her to take a seat across the table to join me, knowing she would.
There was a slight hesitation before Alice lowered her arm. The knives vanished. She didn’t look like she trusted me, but she wasn’t trying to void me from existence anymore, so that was a plus.
While she cautiously moved to take a seat, I brought out new and not-
covered-in-poison tea. Despite my better judgement, I summoned us both some homemade biscotti from my inventory. It wasn’t perfect, but it was close. I dunked mine in my tea and took a bite.
Ah. Perfect. Fighting before breakfast was the worst.
“I’ll give you this one chance to speak …” she stated.
“I’m not from this world.” I told her straight up. This wasn’t something I’d told anyone before … but the Keeper of Fate wasn’t just anyone. Alice was, to put it simply, the only person who might actually understand.
“In my life before, I was able to watch Valaria and its fate,” I continued. “I’ve watched this world and every fate it could have taken; I’ve worked my way through every possible ending. Good … and bad.”
“I am the Keeper of Fate; you will gain no sympathy from me,” she snapped.
“I know you’ve also seen the other fates; that’s why I’m telling you—because this world doesn’t have any path that isn’t full of heartache andtrauma.” I took an appreciative sip of tea.
“Then why did you watch it?” Alice stared at her own teacup with suspicion and didn’t drink.
I blushed. “Reasons.”
Her eyes narrowed, and I rushed to change the subject. “Five years ago, I died in my world and woke up in Gerda’s body, with all of my old memories intact.”
“And why do you think that Fate welcomed your presence?” Alice demanded. She tucked a straight lock of blonde hair behind her ear and glared at me with her strikingly big blue eyes. They were as clear as a summer sky. I looked away, reminding myself that she could trap my mind if I let myself go.
“Because I could change the story,” I told her. “Guide things to an actual Happily Ever After. For everyone.”
“All who see the future can change it,” she refuted. “That’s why Fate only grants her powers to those who won’t abuse them. You’ve abused them more than any other being in history.”
“But she must’veknownthat I was going to change things,” I countered.
“And that I’d stop you. [Watcher of Fate].”
[You have been affected by the Skill:Watcher of Fate. Your fate has been sealed for sixty-three seconds or until you are no longer being watched. Character Sheet sealed. Abilities sealed. Movement sealed. Health Points sealed. Mana Points sealed. Immune to all Damage.]
[You have been affected by the Skill:Watcher of Fate. Time until effect wears off 00:00:62]
Though it happened differently and I managed to actually have a conversation with Alice before she hit me with her ability, this was all still according to the original oracle. Now it was up to me to properly see it through to an end where I walked away from this encounter. Fighting Alice wasn’t in my skill set. I wasn’t a Combat class; I was a Defense class … and the Arcane Magesplitter Axe would probably do more damage to my domicile than the mage …
Besides, who wanted celestial all over my cottage? Not me. The thought made me sick.
[You have been affected by the Skill:Watcher of Fate. Time until effect wears off 00:00:61]
“Finally!” Alice stood up and walked over to my side of the table. She popped a mana potion and downed it, replenishing her reserves. Then, she wiped her mouth and stored her potion bottle. “You have no idea how much I’ve dreamed of this day.” She pushed the table over, shattering everything on it on the floor, all so she could stand in front of me.
“You’ve been a thorn in my side from your first Crystal Cast.” She swept her hair over her shoulder dramatically, looking down at me.
[You have been affected by the Skill:Watcher of Fate. Time until effect wears off 00:00:52]
She paced back and forth in front of me. “You’ve undoneyearsof planning and hard work, toppled future governments, and destroyed the fate ofcountlessinnocents.”
That wasn’t really fair; it should be that I’dsavedcountless innocents.
