Chapter 12: Chapter 12

"How? How did that happen?" Elijah asked confused.

"The story I told you happened in the future. In other words, it happened in my time. We have what we call three eternities. The past, present and future. I am from the future. I came here to prevent what was destined to happen at this time. For me, this era is past, for people who currently leaving here — this is present."

"So why do you say the reason for the impending disaster in Pinyin is because of us? Can you explain to me? I'm confused."

"Are you ready to uncover the phenomena that have taken place and depict your past and present?"

Only the chirping of birds and the sound of leaves could be heard coming from the wind after the man asked. It was as if he would learn a revelation after the man uncask if he was ready.

Elijah stood up from stooping knees. Looked up and imagined. He watched the dancing branches on the tree before answering.

He let out a loud sigh indicating he was ready, "Okay."

"Your name isn’t Elijah Rover, you made up a fake name so you don’t look weird to the people who live here. You are Fen Cheng, the emperor and ruler of the Qing Dynasty."

"Qing Dynasty," Elijah mumbles, "Isn’t the Qing Dynasty long gone? I read it in an article, they can't even remember where the right place is."

"That's because this is not your time. You are just a greedy person who wanted to come here for a selfish reason that only you would be happy."

"How did that happen?"

"Before you ruled the Qing Dynasty empire, you were first a brave soldier fighting against various clans. You didn't lose to anyone, but that made a difference when you competed against the same heroic leader of Awakmu. Bingwen Wu. There was an uproar on both sides which resulted in a war. This was the result of Awakmu's defeat and it also did a lot of damage to you."

"Isn’t the leader of Awakmu is Cedie Alacon? How did it happen that it's Bingwen Wu?" Elijah puzzled.

The old man giggled. He stopped crying and only his puffy eyes were left.

"It seems that a bad wind blows you and Bingwen Wu damage you a lot. You chose him as your personal guard— because he lost to you he had to do it, whether it's unwillingly or willingly. And there, he was replaced by his right hand, Cedie Alacon"

"After you gain a victory in your battle with a clan, you are given the throne of being emperor. Since you have contributed so much to the Qing Dynasty, it was a pleasure to give you the throne because the sitting emperor has no one to give the inheritance," he continued.

"The days passed rapidly and the time. It was like magic and Cupid played with the feelings of you and Bingwen Wu. It's as if a powerful spell has enveloped you and no medicine can undo it. Bingwen Wu's formerly hard heart has softened on you. He brought out the true and great Fen Chen," heartily reminiscing of the old man.

"But the love you have is the affection that many cannot understand. It is a kind of love that is not based on what you are and who you are. But the people did not comprehend. For them, it is a taboo that should not have existed. They felt disgusted and loathing when they found out. Love is incredible but decision-making must be decided whenever you are in dilemma."

"What happened after that?" Elijah interrupts.

"Bingwen Wu decides to separate with you. To protect you in your position, for being an emperor. Love sacrifices, and that was what he did for you. People didn't accept the love you have, he was just content to see that you didn't lose what you had built. He was content to just dream of when you would be together."

"But with the things he sacrificed, you became greedy. Became desirous in the love he gave. He likes you to let go and let him go so that you can give yourselves a chance to find the happiness that is destined for the two of you. But what you did was put him in jail so he wouldn't leave your side. Deprived his freedom to find his happiness. You married someone else to trick people's eyes but you didn't think about how he would feel," the water in the man's eyes began to flow again.

"If that's what happened, why am I here? If so, I’m from the past," Elijah's litany and gradually understood what was happening.

"After you got married, Bingwen Wu died just a few days ago in the cell where you imprisoned him. One day, because your life was starting to fall apart, an old man taught you about going here. To see the person who has already passed away, you will see them in a different form but they will not remember you."

"You mean, the reason I came here was to find and see Bingwen Wu again?" Elijah did not know what he should feel. To rejoice because he has already found out about him or to be hurt because of what he has done.

"Are you the Bingwen Wu I'm looking for?"

The old man shook his head, sniffed and replied, “Fen Cheng or Elijah Rover in the future is already dead."

"The Bingwen Wu you are looking for has long been your companion here."

Elijah's eyes widened as everything sank into his mind. If only he had remembered everything, he would have wanted to blame himself.

"What happened to Elijah of the future? How did he die?"

"He tried to protect me," said the man in a low voice.

"That's all I can say. Force yourself to change what happens in this era. Don’t let Pinyin people get hurt. Also, find out about Bingwen Wu's death in prison, in your time," the old man warned.

"What is the reason for the Awakmu going here? I mean, why would they want to find us?"

"Because they want the position you have, you can’t be replaced until you make that decision or you don’t die. In my case, they knew I was one of the obstacles to what they wanted. You need to leave now," The old man pushed Elijah away, "I will also go back to where I came from, this is not my time. Eventually, I will leave too."

Elijah understood now. As he walks back he forces his brain to process the information, "I'm from the past, I came here to the present to find the reincarnation of my dead lover. That old man was the reincarnation of Bingwen Wu from the future or in other words he's the Grayson Ramey of the future. The Grayson I am with now is my Bingwen Wu in the past," he whispered.

"Grayson Ramey is Bingwen Wu. The reincarnation of my lover."