16. An unexpected and uninvited guest

'.....'= Thoughts 

"....."= Conversations 

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The person who was sitting on the couch, exuded an air of regal authority. His sharp features were softened by a warm and wise expression, while his piercing eyes held an otherworldly depth. He wore a finely tailored outfit befitting his status, featuring a flowing robe with intricate patterns and rich colors that hinted at a timeless elegance. The fabric glinted in the soft light, and adorned with subtle but grandiose details, his attire seemed to reflect his enigmatic and powerful presence.

'He who remains,' Harry easily recognized the person sitting on the couch, as he had already watched the Loki Webseries.

'Man, the TVA totally slipped my mind,' Harry thought, completely on guard and ready to fight at any moment. Even though he was no match for this guy, he definitely wouldn't go down without a fight.

"Who are you and what are you doing in my room?" Harry demanded without stepping away from the door.

"I have been called many names, but the one I personally like is He who remains," the man stood up as he answered Harry's question.

"What?" Harry acted confused.

"Harry, do you know what a variant is? Of course you don't. You are just a fledgling who has recently awakened his weird powers, after all," he spoke cryptically to himself.

"What do you want from me?" Harry interrupted HWR, who was mumbling to himself.

"Answers. Answers to the questions you probably don't have," He Who Remains (HWR) spoke as he walked back and forth.

HWR stopped and looked back at the still confused Harry and began to explain, "Variants are people who diverge from a selected 'main' timeline and create another timeline with events and history that differ from the original one. I call this main timeline as the Sacred timeline."

"So I am a Variant?" Harry questioned.

"You should be, but you are not. You shouldn't possess these powers, yet you do. You should have died back when HYDRA ambushed you, but you are still alive," HWR commented and sat back on the couch.

"And how do you fit into all of this?" Harry tried to act surprised by the sudden revelation from HWR.

"I am the leader and founder of the organization called TVA, which stands for Time Valence Authority. Our job is to preserve the Sacred Timeline by preventing the creation of alternate timelines," HWR answered while carefully observing Harry's facial expressions.

"What do you do with the variants and the alternate timelines they create?" Harry asked, playing the role of a man suddenly exposed to a new world.

"We handle the variants and any alternate timelines they create by either resetting the timeline and pruning the variant to ensure that the Sacred Timeline remains intact and undisturbed," HWR explained calmly.

"Wow, that sounds like a huge responsibility," Harry replied, getting ready for the imminent battle.

"It is a responsibility that we take very seriously, as the consequences of a fractured timeline can be catastrophic," HWR added, emphasizing the importance of their work.

"Are you here to prune me?" Harry asked, though he was in doubt as to why the TVA employees hadn't come for him and why the final boss of the TVA had come to capture him.

Moreover, it had been a few weeks since the sacred timeline was changed, and the TVA's response was quite slow. Harry just couldn't wrap his head around it.

"And what if I am?" HWR narrowed his eyes, urging Harry to take the initiative. However, Harry didn't attack HWR and stood there with tense expressions.

"I am quite weak and no different from a normal human. I don't think I would win if we both fight," HWR smiled.

"The people who speak like this are the most dangerous," Harry answered.

He, of all people, wouldn't underestimate this guy at all.

'If you are weak, then what about the rest of us?' Harry taunted internally. It wouldn't be wrong to call HWR a type of ruler of the Sacred Timeline.

Silence ensued for a few seconds before a soft chuckle escaped HWR's mouth.

"You are an amusing person. I haven't seen many people who keep their calm in such a situation. Most people either think that we are frauds or refuse to come to terms with reality," HWR said. "Don't worry, you haven't broken any TVA rules yet. If you had, TVA employees would have already arrested you," he continued.

"Huuuuuu," Harry let out a deep breath. His entire forehead was covered with sweat. The pressure under which Harry was during the conversation was unimaginable. After all, he was talking with a guy who had the ability to erase his entire existence from the Marvel Universe.

The tension that had built up reduced dramatically after HWR's statement.

Though he didn't let down his guard. Even though HWR had no motives to lie to him, Harry remained cautious.

"So I am not a variant? I didn't create an alternate timeline?" Harry asked.

"The answer to both of those questions is no. Even after you awakened your powers, the timeline wasn't disrupted," HWR replied.

"Then...?" Harry was interrupted mid-sentence.

"What's the point of my visit? Well, you see, even though no new timeline was created, I have never in my entire life seen the sacred timeline adjust itself to accommodate an existence. It's like the sacred timeline adapted itself to include you into the grand picture," HWR spoke, his eyes tinged with excitement.

"This whole thing sounds absurd, doesn't it? How can the sacred timeline change itself to fit a person? Even I can't explain how or why this happened. Moreover, the change in the sacred timeline didn't create any alternate timeline at all. So what do you think? Wouldn't you be excited to meet the person who brought about such a huge change in the sacred timeline that you have been guarding for eons?" HWR asked.

"I definitely would," Harry answered, understanding HWR's perspective.

"I'm glad to hear that," HWR said with a wide smile. "I have to say, it's been an absolute pleasure meeting you. Thank you for satisfying my curiosity and giving me the opportunity to witness this unprecedented event."

Harry nodded, still trying to process the magnitude of what HWR was telling him. "I'm just glad to have found a way to coexist with the timeline without causing any harm. It's all still a bit overwhelming, to be honest."

HWR chuckled softly. "I can only imagine. But rest assured, the fact that the sacred timeline has adjusted itself to accommodate your existence is a testament to your significance. It's a truly remarkable feat."

Before Harry could respond, HWR's expression turned serious. "I must go now, but I hope we can meet again someday. Thank you, Harry, for everything."

And with that, HWR disappeared in a flash of light, leaving Harry standing alone in the room, trying to make sense of the extraordinary encounter he had just experienced.

Harry wondered, 'Did he just come here to say thanks to me? That doesn't make any sense,' as he plopped down on his couch.

'At least he didn't know that I was a transmigrator. That's a plus point,' Harry sighed.

'Whatever the reason for which he came, HWR sure is talented in keeping people on the edge,' a thought passed through Harry's mind.

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