24 A man and a man inside a room

Lucian ruffled his wet hair with a dry towel, his mind wandering to the matter of retribution.

No matter how much he looks at it, the retribution and the final judgment don't look like they would do their life any good in the long run.

Despite the fact that the Golden threads truly helped them avoid their deaths, it wasn't as if they remained unscathed.

Lucian felt a shiver run down his spine upon remembering the excruciating pain they had undergone through. It was as if they're being sliced in half. Although at the same time, there lingers a strange and weak soothing sensation.

The contrasting sensation that the pain and slight pleasure brought made his mind turn off. He was truly unable to think about what he's doing at that moment.

Lucian places the damp towel on the rack upon finishing. He looked for a hairdryer and saw it atop the cabinets.

When he was about to seat on the chair, a knock from outside resounded inside the room. He placed the dryer in its original place and went towards the door.

Upon opening it, he saw Sherdan. He was wearing a casual clothes and atop is a usual hotel robe.

Lucian avoided his eyes after it indeliberately assessed Sherdan's body.

Simping is a sin. He should avoid being a sinner.

"You've arrived. Come inside." He opened the door widely to let the other enter. Just as he predicted, Sherdan would surely come to discuss the matters of retribution.

The two of them started their debate about the truth behind the Golden thread's penalty.

They had formed a conjecture based on the things the voice had previously told.

One, the Golden Threads would keep them from becoming accidental murderers, but would also inflict them pain as a punishment. Aside from that, it looks like their lifespan couldn't go unscathed either.

The voice once mentioned that in their connected fates, the weaker one would receive from the greater one. Then this must mean that the weaker one would devour the greater one's lifespan. The both of them still don't know which of them would receive and which would give.

But they both realized that it's a 'no good'. This rule would mean that the more frequent the retribution happens, the greater one's lifespan would reduce.

In addition to these already mind-breaking problems, was the matter of the retribution's frequency of happening. They do not know what exact date they'd receive another punishment.

And it also seems that they had to be physically close to each other, or the protection of the Golden Threads would become weaker. With a weaker protection, the pain would increase.

Sherdan thought of the possible reasons why they received a punishment during this time.

First, it might be caused by their emotions fluctuating. Although that's doesn't sound like it matches well with fates and destiny.

Sherdan frowned and crossed that one out. It just doesn't seem right.

"Probably the changes we made in the timelines?." Lucian suggested. It is quite possible. In the first place, the retribution only happens because they interfered with destiny's flow. And they had changed quite a lot since the time they came here.

The last one was the date.

"It could be a retribution that happens every end of a month. Like a monthly income." Lucian said. The words just made Sherdan chuckle for some reason.

That would be a dreadful monthly income then.

These three possibilities, or rather, two. Were the top reasons they could think of. They sound like a logical condition to determine the reason why they would be punished, and also, as a reference to know when they would possibly experience another one.

Now, if the retribution happened due to the changes they made, then they might be able to at least lessen the pain by limiting the changes they would make that would affect the future timeline. They could also avoid changing the minor events on the original timeline.

However, if the retributions happen because of the second reason.

Then they would have no choice but to bear with it with brute willpower.

"How about searching for a way to unbind the threads?" Sherdan said seriously. He was still reluctant to accept Lucian's help. This responsibility and hardship is something he should carry alone.

Sherdan wanted to find a way to prevent Lucian from getting even more involved than this.

He was the one who was creating huge changes in other people's flow of fates, so he should not implicate other people. Although the voice said that having a bound pair is important, as it prevents the early destruction of the souls, Sherdan refuses to back down.

There was still a way, probably. There was still the Goddess who helped him, if he could just communicate with her, he might find a way to solve this problem.

Sherdan's head started aching from stress. He knew seeking for the Goddess' help might help him in some way, but the problem was how to search for her. It's not as though he could just casually go into what dimension they are in.

Lucian saw his problematic expression and sighed. It seems Sherdan is quite hard-headed.

"I thought we had formed an agreement earlier?. Why are you still insisting on it?." Lucian sighed. It's hard to get his motivation across to this oblivious guy.

Sherdan realized that it would be futile, this guy wouldn't listen.

Sherdan grabbed a cigarette from his pocket. He bought his favorite one after finding the one he had bought before not up to his likings.

Lucian saw him about to smoke inside his room and frowned.

This guy.

He couldn't discern whether he had opened up to him or if he just started treating him like an underling.

He glared at Sherdan who stood up and opened the big window. The cold wind entered the room, making Lucian shiver a little.

His eyes drifted to Sherdan, who was standing in front of the window. His back facing Lucian's and in front of him is the never-ending darkness brought by the night.

Neither stars nor the bright moon could be seen above, but below we're brilliant. As if they had fallen to illuminate the land.

Lucian was suddenly out of words, as he stared at Sherdan who was just standing there as if he belonged to the twilight, his heart started aching.

His hands subconsciously raised, it clenched on the clothes atop his loudly beating heart.

"I'd bear the retribution with you, but you have to do my wishes." His courage building up to some degree, he was able to speak his terms.

Sherdan killed the light in his cigarette after hearing this sudden proposal.

"Let's treat this as a contract. You will gain by having a partner who could share the pain during the retribution. And I would gain by getting whatever I want for free." Lucian declared.

Sherdan was finding a reason to keep him out, he was finding a reason to prevent him from entering his barriers.

But he had his own decisions, he had his own thoughts. He was a coward in romance, but not in his goals. If Sherdan wouldn't let him in, then he should give him a reason to not be able to do so.

Sherdan caught on to his antics and heaved a sigh. He had warned him numerous times, this matter could kill him.

But he was too hard-headed.

But remembering his stupidity before, he ended up blaming himself. He blindly followed the order of the God of fate to integrate their Golden Threads.

So it was all his fault.

Sherdan walked past him and went towards the door, before he went out, he glanced his way and muttered.

"It's a deal then.".

But there was no turning back now. The moment they bound their threads together they were already connected by fate.

The path to retreat had long vanished.

September came.

The streets had become lively. It was still a few months before December, but a lot of houses had already placed several lightings in their yards.

"Are you doing well at school sweetie?" Andra kissed Imogen's cheeks upon arriving home. She placed her bag on the sofa and carried Imogen. Beside her is Nicholas.

"I had a lot of friends mom! Older Brother said i'm popular." She cutely said.

Her face was like a carbon copy of Andra's. Whilst her eyes were similar in color to Nicholas'.

Nicholas is a very handsome adult, Sherdan got most of his features from him. While his hazel eyes were inherited from his mother.

Sherdan went out of the kitchen after hearing their voices. He was helping the maids with their preparations. They decided to cook a lot since it took several weeks before Andra and Nicholas went back home.

His parents only come back home every once in a while. After all aside from being businessmen, they were both travelers.

This couple, rather, this extremely irresponsible couple, would often travel whenever their business deals would be located in a foreign country.

"Mom, Dad. Welcome back." Sherdan had a smile on his face. These were the few moments in this life that he truly treasures most. The times when all of them would gather together for a meal.

Andra had noticed Sherdan becoming more open to them lately and was delighted. Her son turned out into an adult who wasnt like the other teen boys who distanced themselves from their parents. She's truly glad.

She went towards Sherdan and embraced him.

"How have you been dear?." She asked after the hug. Her lips had formed into a satisfied smile.

"Fine. I'm taking care of Imogen. Are you not going to take any breaks?. Make sure to take one on Christmas." He reminded them. In the original timeline, they were unable to go home after getting stuck in their jobs.

Sherdan sighed upon remembering those times when he would constantly call for them during important moments in both his and Imogen's life. Although he never hated them, he still wished they could have spared some time for Imogen.

Andra laughed sheepishly. Nicholas also froze on the spot.

They totally forgot about Christmas.

Sherdan saw them acting like this and shook his head. It seems he had to constantly remind them about important holidays from now on.

The family of four started their hearty evening.

Lucian went back home after working part-time. He had been working on some part-time jobs for a pocket money.

He wanted to buy his mother a gift for her upcoming birthday. Half of his previous money was used for Martin's birthday, so he had to earn a couple of bucks again.

His mother greeted him with a hug upon his arrival and he hugged her back affectionately.

"Mom I'm home. So tireeed. What did you cook today?." He asked.

Gila, Lucian's mother went behind him and took off his jacket. It was raining outside, but inside the house is warm.

"I cook some fried chicken. I received my paycheck." Gila smiled, some wrinkles forming on her beautiful face.

She was once crowned as the campus' beauty during her high school days.

Lucian beamed. Chicken, that's his favorite.

"Lu Lu help me with my phone later okay?. I asked you that one jargon before didn't I? what was it again?".

Lucian smiled and gave her an answer. The both of them went to the kitchen and cheerily ate their meal.

After washing the dishes, Gila grabbed her phone. Lucian then helped her with her worries.

Older Generations find it harder to memorize a mobile phone's function even if it's working a hundred percent fine, more so if it's broken.

Seeing his mother's broken phone, he heaved a sigh. He couldn't buy her a new one with his little money.

Oh, talking about money.

He knows someone who doesn't have 'little' money.

'I should use my first wish.' He muttered to himself.