Airtime and Death: Chapter 5

The Keeper of Eternity

The weight of the universe settled on Fahad’s shoulders as the mantle of the Timekeeper wrapped itself around him. The golden threads of time shimmered and pulsed, tethered to his essence. He could feel each life connected to these threads—their joys, sorrows, triumphs, and failures—all flowing through him. It was overwhelming and beautiful, like holding infinity in his hands.

Yet with this great power came an equally great responsibility.

The Final Test

As Fahad adjusted to his new role, the world around him transformed into the celestial corridor he had glimpsed before—a realm where time itself was visible. The Council of Chronos stood at a distance, their eyes fixed on him.

The flow has been stabilized, one of the council members said. But there is one final task, Timekeeper.

Fahad’s heart skipped. He had taken on the burden of time, but there was still more to do. "What task remains?" he asked, his voice carrying an odd calmness, a calmness that came with the knowledge of time's vastness.

The council approached, their forms translucent and shimmering in the ethereal light. There is one thread that remains unbalanced, the elder of the council said. “Your own.

Fahad froze. His thread? He had always seen time as something external, something he could observe but not influence. But now, as the Timekeeper, he realized that his own existence—his journey through life, death, and the void—had created a ripple too profound to leave unchecked.

The Severing of the Self

The council extended their hands, revealing Fahad’s thread. It glowed brighter than the others, unstable and erratic, pulsing with a life force that didn’t quite belong. To become the true Timekeeper, you must sever your mortal tether, the council intoned. You must surrender your existence as Fahad. Only then can you fully protect the timeline.

Fahad’s breath caught in his throat. To sever his thread meant to erase the man he had been—the memories, the life, the essence of who he was. He would no longer be Fahad; he would be the Timekeeper, an eternal being bound to the flow of time.

But I’ve just found myself, Fahad whispered. “I’ve reclaimed what was lost. How can I give it up now? The council’s faces softened. “Time is not kind, nor is it fair. To guard it, you must transcend it.

Fahad looked down at his thread. He could feel the memories tied to it—his childhood, his loved ones, the sense of purpose he had discovered. If he cut it, would those memories fade? Would he lose himself entirely?

The Farewell

Suddenly, Fahad felt a presence, one that was both familiar and distant. Out of the shimmering air, the faint image of his loved ones appeared—his family, his friends, those who had watched over him during his mysterious slumber. They couldn’t see him, but their presence brought warmth to his heart.

A memory surfaced—his parting words to them after he had awakened from the realm of airtime: "Do good, even when it's not required. Eat well, for every bite might be your last." He had given them a cryptic farewell, but now he understood that it was a final one.

He wasn’t abandoning them; he was ensuring their time, their lives, would flow undisturbed.

With a deep breath, Fahad made his decision.

The Severance

He reached for the golden thread that was his own, his fingers trembling. He could feel every moment of his life vibrating within it, a tapestry of experiences woven into the fabric of existence. The council watched in silence as he gripped the thread, the weight of his choice heavy but resolute.

With one sharp motion, he severed it.

A brilliant flash of light exploded from the thread, illuminating the entire celestial realm. Fahad felt a wave of release—like a heavy burden he had carried his entire life was suddenly lifted. He was no longer tethered to time as a mortal. The memories of his life as Fahad swirled around him like fading echoes, not gone, but transformed, becoming part of the larger flow of time.

The council bowed their heads. “It is done. You are now the true Keeper of Time.

The Eternal Watcher

Time flowed around him, vast and endless. He no longer felt the pull of one life, one timeline. Instead, he was connected to all lives, all timelines. He was no longer bound by the constraints of mortality. He existed outside of time, a watcher, a guardian, ensuring the balance of all things.

Fahad—no, the Timekeeper—watched as the golden threads stretched out before him, weaving together the stories of countless beings. Each moment, each life, each decision, rippled through the cosmos, but he was there to ensure that no thread strayed too far, that no balance was broken.

And though his human self had been severed, he felt a deep sense of peace. He had become something greater than any individual life. He had become the protector of all life, the one who ensured that time would always move forward.

The End

In the infinite expanse of time, the Timekeeper stood, watching over the threads of existence, ensuring that the balance would never falter again. The journey of Fahad had ended, but in its place, a new eternal journey had begun. End of Chapter 5

Airtime and Death by Fahad Ssegujja is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0