"WHO. IS. HE?"
The question hung in the air, bringing all activity in the castle to a grinding halt. Every eye was on Garf, awaiting an answer. The conversation with Lady Azure had taken less than a second, yet everyone in Marselt Castle had heard every word. Her mention of "HE" had seemingly caused no reaction from Garf at the time.
But now, Garf began to tremble frantically. The quiet anticipation was shattered as he suddenly roared, "LADY AZURE, PLEASE GRANT ME MY REQUEST."
His frantic shout and the bizarre request came as a profound shock to everyone present.
"I wish to acquire the entire Marselt Castle, except for the West Hall. Please cut it out." Garf's pacing was restless. "No, no. I'll acquire the entire castle." The frantic edge in his voice vanished, replaced by a tone as cold as ice and filled with absolute authority. "Isolate the Castle from time and space. Block any and all points of access, completely shutting it out from the world. In addition, recreate the castle and its people, leaving them exactly as they were."
On the surface, he was composed, but a tremor of panic still ran through him. 'Gaining HE's attention brings misery and pain seventy percent of the time,' he thought. 'Even if I isolate the castle, there's a high possibility HE could still hear and see us.'
"Lady Azure, in addition to that, please..." But before he could complete his plea, a new voice cut him off.
"Azure, hold off on creating those two laws and whatever else he plans to add. I have a question for him first."
"Garf, or whatever your name may be. How the f**king hell do you know me? Pardon my language—I'm turning off the censoring button now." After a brief throat-clearing sound, the voice came back with escalating intensity. "How in the fucking god damn motherfucking hell do you know of me?"
"I just met you today. I've never seen you before. Until this moment, I didn't know you existed. So, tell me, how the god damn hell do you know me?"
The sheer candor of HE's voice stunned the room. Rather than adopting the deep, dignified, and mysterious persona expected of one who speaks from the shadows, HE spoke without holding back. Furthermore, HE's voice was not a single tone, but a composite mixture of multiple voices, leaving everyone reeling in shock.
"Oh, sorry about that. I have a voice disorder; I've forgotten the name. Essentially, I have multiple, uncontrollable voices, tones, and accents. Just ignore it, but Garf. How do you know me?"
Garf's hand betrayed his composure, trembling as HE's voice triggered suppressed memories. He fought to regain control, focusing on HE's claim. 'HE says this is our first meeting. That means the one I knew was from the future. I can use that—I can trick him.'
"Ehm, you..." Garf began, but before he could finish a syllable, HE screamed.
"SHUT THE FUCK UUP!!" The violent sound jarred the entire castle; new cracks spiderwebbed across the stone walls.
"But, sir, you asked for an explanation," Garf pleaded, his voice thick with panic, yet he tried to push through. "I can't answer you if you keep shutting me out..." HE continued to interrupt.
"Mi mi mi mi mi mi mi mi mi" Garf's words were entirely consumed by the ceaseless, childish mockery of HE's voice.
"You think I can't read what you're fucking thinking?"
"How? The last time we met, you couldn't read my mind. Why can you now?"
"Hold your paws there. The me you met then is different from the me now. And my powers and abilities depend on the situation."
"More like the plot," Lady Azure inserted dryly.
"Do you want to die, Azure? This entire mess is your fault! If you had just kept your freaking mouth shut and established the law, none of this would have happened."
"If you kill me, you'll end up destroying the planet."
"But I've already done that to multiple versions of you without saying goodbye to the planet."
"Oh, please, that was the future you. Not the you now."
"Lady, mind your words. You've ruined the entire backstory sequence, which in turn rewrites the future."
"Oh really," a grin spread across her face.
"But no need to worry. Hey Garf, listen, I'll be saving whatever just transpired into your deep subconscious while I edit the timeline."
"Also, my name is NAL, or one of many names. Until we meet again. Goodbye."
"Wait..." Garf lunged forward, attempting to stop the incoming change. But a sharp snap echoed, and everyone in the castle began to glitch and distort as the timeline was overwritten.
"Clean this up and repair the roof," he commanded. Three maids and a handful of servants hurried in to tidy the devastated area.
"Selene," Garf called out.
"Yes, Sir Garf?"
"Take her to the West Hall guest room."
"Yes, sir." Selene prepared to lift Morvanyth's unconscious body, but Garf's voice halted her movements.
"Selene, I owe you an apology."
"For what, Sir Garf?"
"Ten months ago, when she was brought in, I insisted she be placed in the East Hall civilian guest rooms." He twirled his mustache. "You had suggested the West Hall, but I dismissed your recommendation." He offered a slight bow. "For that, I wish to apologize."
"There's no need for that, Head Butler." Selene swept her arm out, encompassing the damage. "The room is trashed, yes. But aside from the destroyed roof and a few cracks on these walls," she pointed to the fissures in the stone, "no other part of the East Hall was damaged."
She tilted her head inquisitively. "But if you insist on apologizing, may I ask a question instead?"
"Please do, Selene. I will do my best to give you an answer, if it is within my power and authority."
"Then if I may. Why do you request permission from Lady Azure before establishing a Law? Can't you just do it yourself like others?"
"Oh, that. During the time I was learning to use the Rule of Law, I found out that asking for permission reduces the fee to pay."