The silence between them stretched.
Containing not the usual emptiness,
But sharp—like a blade resting gently against Shade's throat.
The moment she asked the question, the answer came to him immediately.
He knew fucking nothing.
Then, just as quickly—
He realized.
He was cooked like a chicken in KFC.
He was fried like a chicken in KFC.
He was practically served on a plate in front of a literal goddess in KFC.
This wasn't a palace it was a KFC restaurant and he was the dish with the goddess as the customer.
Well, who's the cook?
'And instead of asking who I am… she's asking what I am.'
'Lady, maybe learn some manners first. Racism is a crime, you know,' he thought, trying to calm down through bullshit.
So, would he tell her he knew nothing?
Of course not.
Why?
Because this was probably his only fast chance to GTHOOH meaning Get the hell out of here.
He could joke all he wanted but ultimately,he was scared shitless and terrified to his very core.
Terrified that if he told the truth, he would never see his family again.
So he decided he would lie like a mastermind never seen before.
Lie to none other than the Goddess of Knowledge herself.
And to make it believable…
He started preparing.
First—
He released all control over his expressions and presence,letting his body fall into a neutral, unreadable state.
If she was reading him, he would give her nothing to read.
Second—
he needed a lie,a that can fool the gods themselves ,the best lie in his 19 years of small life that he can ever produce.
But before that—
"That answer," he said calmly, his face indifferent, "would depend on the knowledge you provide me."
Inside—
he was scared like a home alone kid with robbers in his house,He didn't believe he could escape even with his unimaginable speed even for a second.
But at the very least…he would get answers,answers that would tell him he atleast have a chance to get their fast enough.
The goddess smiled faintly.
"Very well," she said, amusement flickering in her eyes.
"Go ahead."
Shade didn't hesitate."How does one travel between different worlds?"he asked without second of delay.
For a brief moment there was nothing , he got scared that he asked something wrong.
Then—
"I am afraid your question is flawed from the beginning," she replied, her expression now completely controlled.
It carried no amusement this time but only clarity.
Shade's heart tightened.
"Then what is correct?" he asked calmly.
Inside, desperation surged like a storm that might just engulf the whole country if it came out.
She answered without pause.
"First, according to all knowledge that exists within my domain, there is no other world.
So, there is no method of traveling between them to begin with."
She continued, her voice steady, almost instructional.
"Even if such a world existed, travel between them would be impossible Cause Fate would not allow it As it would disrupt the control of both worlds in the hands of fate."
A faint pause.
"If such a violation were to occur…The flow of time itself would halt in the world the target is travelling from until either the mistake is corrected or doesn't exist anymore."
"Because fate will stop at nothing to preserve its control to preserve itself."
Shade stared at her.
'Is she some kind of teacher… or just that desperate to figure me out?' He thought trying to suppress his emotions through bullshit.
Outwardly—he remained calm like a block of ice in an iceland with no change in the climate.
But inside—something else was happening.
Relief.
Real, overwhelming fucking relief.
Because her words confirmed something important.
If someone did cross worlds—time would stop and Shade…was living proof that it had already happened.
As for it being "impossible"?
He didn't give a damn shit about it.
That "impossible" was already sitting right here chatting like a mondey morning, well not exactly like that but whatever.
Cause to him only one thought was ringing in his mind 'If there's a way in… there's a way out.'
He almost grinned like maniac.
As for how long it would take—time was already stopped for him and he had no intention of keep it waiting for long.
"I hope my answer satisfied you," she said.
Then her gaze sharpened again like a person who already payed the bill for his dinner before eating.
"Now…It is your turn to satisfy me."
And just like that—All the relief bubbling inside him shattered.
'Maybe you could have chosen a different set of words but don't worry I am a gentleman' he thought feeling weird at his own remark.
Then he internally slapped and started to think seriously on what to do.
'Now… what should I do?'
'Should I just tell the truth?'
'Well… I already got my answer.'
'No… no. That's stupid.'
'If I don't give her something clear, she might just start experimenting on me.'
A pause.
'How about I tell her my race—Dream Shadow?'
'…No. That alone won't work,She gave me a full explanation.'
'I need something that matches that level.'
His thoughts raced faster than a bullet train without a break button.
'Parents? Some kind of mixed origin?'
'No… too messy.'
Then—'Magic.'
'Yeah… that shit could work.'
His mind settled.
'A story, A Simple funking Believable story that can fool the gods themselves and most importantly an expandable story that can be carried out for further as this isn't probably the last time we'll be meeting.'
Shade lifted his gaze, his expression calm, almost indifferent.
"I was… a being that existed within the domain of dreams," he began slowly.
"No form. No identity."
A slight pause.
"Until I encountered remnants of some unknown shadow creatures and they devoured me ."
His voice didn't waver.
"They merged with me and the next moment…I was here."
'Yeah that's all I can come up with in a situation like this what do you thought'
(A/n=this story has a important role into the future so don't think it's trash. It took me alot of time to come up with)
Silence followed.
The Goddess of Knowledge didn't respond immediately.Her eyes remained fixed on him.reading,weighing,breaking apart every word he had just spoken.
"…I see," she said at last.
Her gaze drifted slightly, as if connecting unseen pieces.
"Shadows… and dreams."
She tapped her finger lightly.
"Those two forces have clashed before."
Her voice lowered slightly.
"You must have encountered remnants of the shadow god himself."
"A fragment powerful enough to alter your existence...Intriguing."
Her eyes returned to him.
"And in doing so…It transferred you to the material realm."
A faint pause then with a smile that felt like the smile of a devil she said "Acceptable."
Shade's mind froze for a split second.
'…It worked?'
'It actually fucking worked?'
'How the hell did she buy that?'
A surge of disbelief rose inside him,followed by something far more dangerous
--confidence that could get him killed.
'Goddess of Knowledge hah?'
'More like—'
He stopped the thought midway.
Don't get cocky.
Because the next moment she spoke again.
"But…"
The single word cut through everything.
Her gaze sharpened.
"There are still inconsistencies."
The pressure returned and this time far heavier than before.
"But for now…"
She leaned back slightly.
"It is… sufficient but only for the moment."
Her eyes locked onto his once more.
"Do you have any further questions?"
This time—Shade didn't even think for second before saying.
"No,I am there would be no need for that"
Because asking more…would only give her more bullets to fire on him and she already has mini-gun prepared.
The goddess watched him for a few seconds longer.
A faint smile returned to her lips.