"Hello, again." My bewildered self said, in a higher pitched tone than I would've liked.

Sera smiled graciously.

"Did you enjoy the show last night? Your accusations about me tricking you were so wonderfully imaginative I thought you'd enjoy seeing them being played out."

"That game show… it was some kind of illusion that you created? What even are you?"

"It was all my creation! I took extra care in crafting the finale to give you just the right push. So, you're willing to accept my request now, right?"

I once heard of an ancient Earthling philosopher who had written the phrase: "I think, therefore I am". Plagued by the thought that he lived in a fictional reality created by an evil demon, he found assurance in the fact that his own existence was a fact that could not be doubted.

Looking now at the woman who once joked about turning me into a duck, I had the feeling that Descartes would not have been so confident if he had met his demon face to face.

"…I never had a choice from the beginning, did I?"

"Of course you did! I just tried to undo some of the evangelizing you've experienced in your lifetime. If you still want to refuse, I'll be on my way."

A nervous silence filled the capsule.

Well. I did tell myself that I would step up if lives were really on the line. Feeling utterly defeated, I sighed.

"So, what was it that you wanted me to do?"

With a look of relief, Sera's face moved a little closer to mine. A subtle light reflected off of her glasses.

"It's simple. All you need to do… is observe."

"Observe? What will I be observing?"

"I want you to observe some lives that are not too different from your own."

"That's it? Couldn't you just show me a holovid?"

Sera shook her head. "They live in foreign worlds, many of which do not have cameras and videos. Besides, for this particular task it's necessary that you experience a certain degree of immersion."

"So you'll be sending me to a different world?" I thought back to the strange questions she asked me last night. "Is it some kind of alien planet, or a microcosm of intelligent insects?"

Sera smiled coyly. "Yes, something like that. It's better to start this task with a fresh set of eyes, but I'll let you know more over time."

"…Is it a dangerous place? Do I need to be concerned about my safety?"

"Don't worry, I'll be providing you with a gift that should help you along the way."

"You know, you're being awfully vague about all this."

Sera winked. "Aren't things more fun with a hint of mystery?"

And with that, she simply raised her hands and clapped.

***

The city of Brikston, nested deep within the region of Eastern Aumulon, was once a humble village that housed a family of renown blacksmiths. Merchants from across the country had visited Brikston with the hope of snatching even a couple pieces of equipment that were sold at the weekly auctions, since they could triple or even quadruple their investment by reselling them in the major Aumulon cities. As the family of smiths accepted apprentices from neighboring towns, they grew into a guild which possessed tools and talent to rival even the mighty Dwarven forges of Occendia. At the same time, the economic pilgrimages of merchants turned the former village into a thriving trade hub that attracted the attention of royalty.

Aumulon's treasury minister assembled a small order of knights. Their aim: persuade the Blacksmith's Guild to relocate their forges to the capital. Armed with chests of coin for negotiation and sharpened spears for intimidation, they set out on horseback toward Brikston. The hooves of the horses pounded the dirt road like a child on a tantrum, sending earth and grime into the air. The knights, dressed in ceremonial full plate that roared with metallic thunder, conveyed an impressive aura to a caravan of travellers as they passed by. With only a few miles left until they reached the city of Brikston, they picked up their pace. However, before they reached their destination, the riders and their steeds suddenly froze.

The hooves, suspended above the ground, did not move. The jostled armor made no sound. Even the clouds of dust in the air ceased all motion, looking like specks of paint on a canvas. It wasn't just the knights, the entirety of Brikston had turned into a museum exhibit. The blacksmiths, with their hammers held high, looked like statues of Hephaestus. The children, who had been lively playing on the street just moments ago, now held a calm spontaneity that eclipsed even the most expressive paintings of the era. Aumulon, Finestra, Occendia, N'orroc, and the Homefrost: across every country in the Known World, all stood still.

***

Centuries later, with the arrival of a lone human, time began to move once more.