The silence inside the Time Patrol base was unlike any silence Haru had ever experienced.
It wasn't simply the absence of sound.
It felt as if time itself was breathing slowly around him.
He walked through a massive corridor made of a silver metallic material that reflected a soft blue light. Along the walls, enormous clocks floated in the air, each showing a different hour.
Some rotated forward.
Others moved backward.
Haru still hadn't gotten used to it.
Ever since he had officially been accepted into the Time Patrol, his mind had been filled with questions.
What exactly was time?
How could someone fight against it?
And most importantly… why did the world need to end?
He clenched his fist slightly as he walked.
The light armor he had received the day before still felt strange on his body. It wasn't heavy like a normal suit of armor.
On the contrary.
It was surprisingly light, as if it were made of solid energy.
Small golden gears were engraved into the metal, along with symbols he didn't fully understand yet.
"Still getting used to it?"
The voice came from behind him.
Haru turned and saw Kael walking down the corridor.
The Alpha Squadron veteran had a strong presence. Tall, with short dark hair and extremely attentive eyes, like someone constantly analyzing everything around him.
"It still feels strange," Haru replied. "Everything here seems… impossible."
Kael gave a small smile.
"That's because you're still thinking like someone who lives in only one timeline."
Haru frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Kael stopped beside a massive window.
On the other side, Haru saw something that made his heart race.
It wasn't a sky.
It was an infinite ocean of light.
Luminous lines crossed the space in every direction, like rivers of energy.
"Those are the temporal lines," Kael said calmly.
Haru slowly approached the window.
Some lines shone brightly.
Others looked faint… as if they were about to disappear.
"Each line represents a possible flow of history," Kael explained. "Past, present, and future aren't just points. They're paths."
"And we protect those paths…"
"Exactly."
Kael crossed his arms.
"But to do that, you need to understand how time works."
He raised his hand.
A small sphere of blue energy appeared above his palm.
It slowly rotated.
"That is what we call the Temporal Flow."
Haru watched in fascination.
"Every time knight has the ability to manipulate small amounts of this flow," Kael continued. "This is the foundation of our power system."
The sphere split into three parts.
"There are three basic abilities that every member of the Patrol learns first."
Kael pointed to the first energy sphere.
"Temporal Echo."
The sphere glowed.
"This ability allows you to see fragments of the past of an object or location. It's used to investigate paradoxes."
The second sphere began to spin.
"Second Loop."
The air around them vibrated slightly.
"This allows you to repeat a small interval of time… usually between three and five seconds."
Haru's eyes widened.
"So it's like going back in time?"
Kael shook his head.
"Not exactly. You don't change the past. You simply repeat a moment."
The third sphere began to pulse.
"Chronal Cut."
A blade of energy appeared in Kael's hand.
"This is the combat ability of time knights."
He swung it quickly through the air.
For a brief moment, the space itself seemed to split.
"This strike cuts temporal distortions… and creatures that live between timelines."
Haru stayed silent for a few seconds.
It was a lot to process.
"And I… can do that?"
Kael looked directly at him.
"Eventually."
He started walking down the corridor again.
"But first you need to learn how to control the flow."
A few minutes later, they arrived at a massive circular hall.
Haru immediately noticed they were not alone.
About fifteen people were there.
Some were training with energy blades.
Others were manipulating small temporal spheres.
All of them wore armor similar to his.
Kael gestured toward the group.
"Welcome to Alpha Squadron."
Haru felt a mix of nervousness and curiosity.
A girl with silver hair was the first to approach.
She looked about the same age as him.
"So you're the rookie who saw the end-of-the-world cycle."
Haru blinked in surprise.
"You… know about that?"
She shrugged.
"Kael mentioned it."
A tall boy with brown hair stepped forward.
"I'm Ren."
The girl pointed to herself.
"Mira."
Haru took a deep breath.
"Haru."
Ren crossed his arms.
"So… you really saw the world end?"
Haru hesitated.
Images of the destroyed city returned to his mind.
The red sky.
The burning streets.
He answered quietly.
"Yes."
The hall grew slightly quieter.
Mira looked at Haru with curiosity.
"That means you've already seen something many time knights never see."
Kael walked to the center of the room.
"That's enough talking."
Everyone immediately turned their attention to him.
"Today we will begin the basic training of Alpha Squadron's newest member."
He looked at Haru.
"Your first lesson is simple."
Kael raised a small metallic clock.
"Try to feel the flow of time."
Haru took the object.
At first, he felt nothing.
Just cold metal.
But then…
Something changed.
It was extremely subtle.
Like an invisible current flowing through the object.
A rhythm.
A pulse.
Time.
Haru's eyes widened.
"I… can feel it."
Kael smiled slightly.
"Good."
He crossed his arms.
"Because soon you will discover something."
Haru looked at him.
Kael continued.
"The Time Patrol doesn't fight only paradoxes."
His expression became serious.
"We fight something far worse."
A chill ran down Haru's spine.
"What?"
Kael answered calmly.
"That which tries to break the very flow of time."
The hall fell silent.
And in that moment, Haru realized that his true journey was only just beginning.