5 Nightingale's Visit

Steven looked up as Nightingale walked into his room. She paused for a moment and then said to him "I know there is something you are not telling me".

"I don't know what you are talking about" said Steven with an innocent look on his face.

"You are lying" said Nightingale. "His highness decided to reach out to the church the day after you arrived. Are you saying you had nothing to do with that decision? Also, recently Roland has been obtaining information that he shouldn't have known. So I ask of you, who are you."

Steven sighed knowing that there was no point in trying to lie to Nightingale. He pondered how he should deliver the news. Finally, he decided to just say it.

"I know the future", said Steven. "The thing is, I am not from the exact same world Roland is from. It is almost the same except for one thing. Your world and all that has happened here is a story in a book. I have read about your lives and what will happen to you in a book."

Steven paused and then said, "You know I am telling the truth".

Nightingale's eyes narrowed. "You are telling me that my whole life is nothing but a story? That I am not real?"

"It isn't that you are not real, you are as real as I am. In my previous world you might have been fictional, but here you are real. If you read a history book, are the people described within fictional? Just because something is in a story doesn't mean it isn't real. There is something called the multiverse theory, that there exist infinite universes out there. In my universe, there just happened to be a book that described the events in your universe. Think of it as a history book that somehow was displaced into another universe. That it was marketed as fiction is irrelevant. Perhaps my world is a work of fiction in some other world. Maybe the life we live right now is part of yet another work of fiction."

"In essence, it doesn't matter. Just focus on your life and do the best you can", Steven concluded.

Nightingale had a pensive look on her face. Then she spoke, "So you know what will happen to all of us?"

"Yes, I know much of what will happen in the future. I plan on using that knowledge to help mankind."

"You are telling the truth" Nightingale remarked.

The two of them stood silently in the room. Finally, Steven spoke up, saying, "Is there anything else you would like to ask me?"

Nightingale looked as if she was in deep contemplation for a moment before responding, "No, I suppose that will be all."

"One last thing", Steven said. "I wanted to give you some advice before you go."

Nightingale looked surprised and asked, "Oh, what is it that you want to tell me?"

Steven took a pause before saying, "If you want to get together with Roland, you better act quickly. If you wait too long the chance will slip away."

Nightingale was taken aback by his statement. "Whhat do you mean", she stuttered.

Steven looked her in the eye and said, "I know you like Roland."

Nightingale was silent. Then she said, "What if he doesn't want to be with me? I am a witch. He wouldn't want to marry a witch since he wouldn't be able to have children."

"He doesn't care about that. And he does like you. All you have to do is to convince Anna to share. However, the longer you wait the less likely your chances will be."

Nightingale looked and Steven and said, "I'm afraid".

"You will never know unless you try. And even if you fail, Roland would never get rid of you. He will never hate you", Steven told her.

Nightingale stood stoically for a moment before asking, "Do you have anything else you would like to tell me?"

"Just one thing", Steven said. "Roland likes smart girls. You should go and start studying if you want to have a chance to compete with Anna."

Nightingale nodded and left the room. Once she was outside she sighed. It looks like she will have to start reading her books. She really didn't want to, but if it would increase her chances with Roland she would."

Steven smirked to himself after Nightingale was gone. Maybe she might actually become smart.