When they found a cave, and a thunderclap was heard, Tempus went to lay down. He put his arms on his eyes. When Tempus peeked, he saw Noir preparing a bonfire, lighting a flame without incantation. Tempus could only exhale in awe.

  He heard that Tenebris and Lucis’ line didn’t have to make a pact with spirits to do magic, but seeing it directly was still amazing. Tempus sat up and brought his satchel closer..

  “You’re not interested in this?” Asked Tempus as he brought out his pocketwatch into full display. Noir smiled calmly and looked over to the pocketwatch as if it’s a normal pocketwatch, not a magical one.

  “If I wanted it, I would have taken it the very first second we met Tempus. But I’m glad you have a little bit of self-preservation. It’s good to be careful,” said Noir as he poked the fire in front of them using a wooden twig.

  “And besides, wanting to change something that happened, or having the knowledge of the past and future, would only make you feel more powerless. In the end, you could only affect what you do, with no way of knowing about what other people would choose anyway. ”

  Noir's back was hunched, his face looked defeated and exhausted. Tempus supposed Noir knew that the best, as he could see the future.

  Noir peered over to observe Tempus, who watched the amber in front of him silently as he listened to the explanation. Tempus offered no response as something else started to brew on his mind.

  “So, my mother was killed?” asked Tempus unsurely. That seemed to startle Noir. Even Tempus was shocked he could get that question out.

  Because while he remembered vividly how they were in the middle of a snowstorm, he didn’t remember why they were there in the first place. He remembered waking up with a blanket all around him, in a cave just like this. His parents weren’t there so he went out to search for them, only finding the remnant of a battle.

  His father and he were rescued by the locals there who suggested they move to Solen, as the area was still affected by war. His father couldn’t make it through the journey, thus leaving him alone.

  “I may have visions of the future, but people seem to have the impression that I see everything. But no, I don’t. So I didn’t know what happened to your parents back then because I was not with them nor do I see the vision of it,” Noir replied as he furrowed his eyebrows. He sighed deeply before staring at Tempus, waiting for the boy to say something. Tempus inhaled deeply, he felt like his lips quivered when he closed it.

  “And father wouldn’t tell me about it. Everytime I asked about it, he’d only say that they miscalculated,” Tempus sat up trying to control his breathing and tone, “but now that I know they could be hunted. It’s not so simple is it?”

  His voice came out small and unsure, as he tried to suppress an urge to scream or even cry. Noir’s prolonged silence only made him more agitated. Tempus stared at the pocket watch on his hand and traced over the carvings. After seeing it, his breathing only got faster as he felt an explosion of emotion emerging. He almost threw it if not for Noir preventing him from doing so.

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  “It’s a memento, don’t throw it,” said Noir. Tempus really wanted to do it. He didn’t want to see the object that made his parents die, but with those words from Noir, he lost all of his energy. He couldn’t hope to win against Noir who pulled him up from the cliff with one arm. So instead he slumped onto Noir’s shoulder instead, hoping that Noir didn’t mind.

  “But it’s the thing that got them killed,” Tempus felt his voice hitched, “I only wanted a family, not some magical bridge, or power,”

  Tempus stood up after thinking about the bridge of time and regained a bit of his energy. He walked back and forth from a mix agitation and excitement. Noir eyes trailed his every movement closely.

  “But what if I used this to get to the bridge of time? Go to the past and warn them?” Tempus' voice elated. He forced a smile when he looked at Noir, trying to maintain his sanity. Noir frowned upon seeing his face. Tempus deciphered it as a look of pity and he gripped on the pocket watch a bit tighter.

  “No,” said Noir firmly. Tempus tried to calm himself by taking deep breaths because he knew that Noir didn’t deserve his childish outburst. Despite the effort, he lashed out.

  “Why can’t I? I’m the user now?” he used a very harsh tone, and he didn’t know it could come out of him. Noir didn’t even flinch, but of course he won’t. Tempus was just a child with no power.

  “That is the misconception of the bridge of time. You can’t change the past nor go to the future. Even if you do, you’ll be a ghost, an observer and not a player. Because the bridge of time doesn’t allow you to alter anything but the present,” explained Noir, but it did not help Tempus’ anxiety.

  “So what is the use of this!” shouted Tempus as he shoved the pocketwatch towards Noir direction and scrambled away. He sat down with a bit of distance to where Noir was. For a moment the only sound filling the space was Tempus’ ragged breath that eventually got calmer.

  Noir decided to step closer to Tempus slowly and kneeled to Tempus’s eye level. He brought his hand that gripped the watch to the boy’s chest. Tempus with his hunched posture, received the watch gently, making a expression of tiredness.

  “No, it doesn’t make sense to blame an item for this. Maybe it’s because of me. I am a burden to their mission, what they were doing was noble. But a child like me, probably made the journey a lot harder,” Tempus put his head on his knee, hugging it while still maintaining a grip on his memento.

  “No it’s not your fault,” Noir sat right beside him, ‘they chose to have you. Don’t blame yourself for your own existence”

  When Tempus huffed in disbelief and Noir stared at him. The silence came again making the stifled sob that Tempus tried so hard to suppress sounded so apparent. Noir sighed but then looked a bit more resolute. He patted Tempus’ shoulder lightly, gaining Tempus’ attention. Knowing that Tempus was at least willing to hear him, Noir then proceed to poked at the fire again while sharing his thoughts.

  “My life hasn't been easy. I have many enemies, and huge responsibilities beyond just myself and my family. So when I have my children, I am both afraid and happy,” said Noir as Tempus calmed down. Tempus looked at Noir from the corner of his eyes, while still burying his face on his knees.

  “I’m always thinking whether I could be a father for them, despite being occupied. Or I am always afraid for their life, since my lifestyle wasn’t the safest,” Noir paused and gave a long sigh. Noir brought his hands to his face, rubbing his own forehead. Only at this moment Tempus could see him as a human rather than a character from the legends. A father rather than a king.

  “Protecting them always has a cost. A cost I’m willing to pay. I don’t wish for them to feel guilt when I do pay the price,” there was a tint of fondness in his voice, Tempus was almost jealous of Noir’s son. Maybe it just reminded him of his father’s voice, making Tempus missing him. His father’s voice may not be as majestic or as deep as Noir’s, but it was comforting.

  “They weren’t a burden. They’re my lucky charms that made me push myself everyday, willing myself to do better, be better for them, despite the bad days. They gave me a small spot of light in my dark life, and I would never want them to think they are a burden,” Noir turned his head towards Tempus and smiled.

  “Because all they did was push me up, not weigh me down,” Tempus felt a hand on his head, ruffling it gently and that was when Tempus raised his head to face the man, “and from the time I spent with you and your parents on those little trips, I can see that they also have the same sentiment,”

  “Thank you,” said Tempus as they sat silently, embracing the warmth from the fire Noir ignited on the camp.

  Tempus still couldn’t believe what Noir said wholeheartedly because of the immense guilt he felt. But the words gave him a little respite anyway.