“Kairooooooos?”
The Whenvern always hated when Yisini spoke to him like that. Yisini knew Kairos hated it as well, but she enjoyed annoying the Whenvern occasionally. Today though, Yisini was more focused on just getting the attention of the Dragon God of Time.
“What do you want, Yisini?”
Kairos was busy looking at something under a microscope, peeling pieces of whatever it was off with a pair of telekinetically controlled tweezers. Yisini peered over Kairos’s shoulder, wanting to know what he was really doing.
“I was about to ask you if I could borrow some of your time powers, but now I’m curious as to whatever this is!”
“I can’t talk about it. And you know I won’t let you borrow any of my time powers. Last time you did, you created an entire species of sexy crystal dragons that worship statues of me but not the real me.”
Yisini giggled, leaning on Kairos, forcing him to stop what he was doing. “Yeah, but that was kinda by accident. This time, it’s for a genuinely good reason. I want to speed up Kenon’s healing process so we can get Arkadin back more quickly!”
The Whenvern rolled his eyes, tutting loudly. “You KNOW time doesn’t work like that.”
“It might on Kenon.”
“It won’t. Time in general doesn’t affect Kenon the way it effects the rest of us.”
Yisini sighed in defeat, uncoiling herself from Kairos’s neck and shoulders. She slipped down onto the ground, then peered up again at what Kairos was working on.
“So what is that?”
“What is what?”
“The thing you’re looking at!”
“Something worrying.”
“Like?” Yisini continued to pester Kairos. “Like what? You’re being all weird and cryptic.”
Kairos grunted, pausing what he was doing once more so he could look Yisini in the eye. “Sister, there’s something strange going on. Ever since we locked Arkadin away.”
“Is he doing naughty stuff?”
“No. He can’t. He’s asleep. But I think…” Kairos hesitated, then changed his tone. “I don’t know what’s going on. But I keep on finding these out-of-time items that should not exist in any way. Yet here they are. This is just one of them and it makes no physical sense. I am trying to work out where they are coming from before I jump to any conclusions.”
Yisini blinked in confusion. “Are they all… from the same time?”
“I believe so.”
“Does that mean we’re now on a single immutable timeline?”
Kairos looked up again, staring at Yisini. “Say that again?”
“Are we on a single, immutable, unchanging timeline now? Or at least, on a collision course with something that is guaranteed to happen?”
“I… I… maybe?” Kairos stuttered, a worrying look appearing on his face. “I mean… a guaranteed event isn’t always bad… but it’s worrying… I need to work out what this event is…”
“Do you need any help?” Yisini asked. “I can’t help, I gotta work on Kenon, but I’m sure Epani can. maybe Kinisis will give you a hand too.”
“That’s…” Kairos sighed, rubbing his face nervously. “That’s the problem, I think… maybe Kinisis is behind all of this… Maybe she is making big changes again…”
Yisini blinked blankly, not really sure what Kairos was on about. “So… no asking Kinisis?”
“No.”
“Oh. Should I just get back to work fixing Kenon as fast as possible?”
“Yes.”
The Allbirther smiled, bouncing up and down. “Alrighty! Let me know if there’s anything else you need!”
Kairos nodded. “Sure. I’ll see you round.”
“Byyeeeeee!”