WHISPERS OF FATE

Despite being a young man now, something about Kit Mi Kai still felt fragile. His face was strained, his eyes wide with fear.

"I can't breathe," he gasped, as panic overwhelmed him, sending him to his knees.

Bosko, the loyal dog, looked at him with concern. "Take out the ballerina," Bosko urged.

With trembling hands, Kit Mi Kai fumbled through his small bag and pulled out a delicate twirling ballerina. He wound it six times, and soft, calming music began to play. As the toy spun, the panic subsided, and Kit Mi Kai's breathing slowly returned to normal.

"The boy's trauma has never healed," Bosko thought to himself. "These panic attacks are signs of a deeper wound... perhaps some words of wisdom could soothe his troubled soul."

The dog let out a deep breath. "Kit Mi Kai, all these years traveling with you have been the greatest adventure I could have ever asked for. But there's something I need to tell you... a secret about the universe itself: **Art is the language of the gods**."

Bosko's voice softened as he continued, "I know the loneliness you carry... but remember, greatness often begins in solitude. All existence started from something or someone being alone. You are at the beginning of your own path, and what follows is divine. That is the law of existence."

Kit Mi Kai's eyes flickered with a faint light, as if Bosko's words had unlocked something deep within him, some long-forgotten truth.

"Loneliness, huh? Sounds like something dead people say to make themselves feel better." A mocking voice cut through the air. One of the two bandits, hidden nearby, sneered as they listened to Bosko's speech.

"Run, boy!" Bosko barked urgently. "I'll hold them off. You know where you need to go. Head straight left, and you'll reach the Evil Forest. Your grandmother waits for you in the heart of it."

Without hesitation, the dog charged at the bandits, sinking his teeth into one of them.

"Ow! Stupid mutt! Let's finish the dog first, then we'll deal with the boy. How hard can it be to kill a dog?" one bandit jeered as they both gave chase.

"Don't look back!" Bosko called after Kit Mi Kai. "Run! I'll catch up!"

The bandits followed Bosko closely, but something strange happened. The dog began to slow, eventually sliding to a halt in front of a large boulder.

"We've got you now!" one of the bandits shouted triumphantly as they approached. But just as they closed in, their smiles faded.

Before their eyes, Bosko's form began to shift and warp. The creature they had been chasing wasn't a dog at all. His fur melted away, revealing the figure of a man dressed in Victorian-era clothing, complete with a sharp suit and top hat. Four floating masks hovered around him. He reached for one, placing it over his featureless face, which transformed into the visage of a handsome, blonde-haired man.

The bandits stood frozen in shock.

The man lifted his hand, and in an instant, the two bandits were reduced to a pool of blood and flesh.

"Do you dare disrespect the god Loki?" the man declared, his voice carrying a dangerous edge. It was clear now—this wasn't Bosko. It was the god of mischief himself, Loki.

"Ring, ring," came the sound of an old-fashioned phone ringing. Loki casually reached inside his coat and pulled out a Victorian-style telephone, holding it up to his ear.

"Where have you been, Loki? The Time Lords are looking for you. You need to be careful," a voice on the other end warned.

"Am I ever not careful?" Loki replied with a smirk.

"I trust the machine is ready, Dr. Frankenstein?"

"It is," the voice confirmed. "But you need to return soon. Time is running out."

"On my way," Loki said, winding a bronze pocket watch and tossing it midair. A portal shimmered into existence at waist height.

Before stepping through, Loki glanced back toward Kit Mi Kai, who was still running in the distance. His eyes softened slightly.

"So this is how it feels," Loki murmured, watching the boy disappear into the forest.

He stepped into the portal and, just before it closed, whispered, "So this is how it feels to have a son."

Kit Mi Kai, still running, glanced back nervously to see if the bandits were following. Distracted, he didn't notice the figure in front of him until it was too late. He collided with a warm body, and both tumbled to the ground.

"Can't you watch where you're going?" Kit Mi Kai muttered, still catching his breath.

He turned to see who he had bumped into, and his irritation quickly faded. An old woman, her eyes clouded with milky-white blindness, was groping around the dry grass. "Where's my walking stick?" she asked, her hands sweeping the ground.

Realizing he was at fault, Kit Mi Kai hurried to his feet. He gently helped the old woman up, retrieving her walking stick and handing it to her. Nearby, a bundle of firewood lay scattered on the ground, sticks piled together for her evening meal.

"Is your home nearby? I can help you carry this firewood," Kit Mi Kai offered, feeling a twinge of guilt for knocking her down.

The woman smiled softly, gripping her stick. "Thank you, young man. My home isn't far," she said, then confidently began to lead the way, navigating the terrain with surprising ease despite her blindness.

Before long, they arrived at a small, humble hut nestled among the trees. Kit Mi Kai looked around, noting the simplicity of the place. "That was quick," he said, setting the firewood down. "Who do you live with?"

The woman's expression grew sorrowful. "I live alone now. My family… they've all passed. Our village was destroyed by bandits." Her voice wavered, sagging under the weight of her memories.

Kit Mi Kai, curious but cautious, asked, "How did you survive?"

"I foresaw it," the old woman replied, her voice a mix of bitterness and sadness. "I have a gift—if I touch someone's hand, I can see their future. I warned the village over and over, but they called me a crazy old woman. So, I gathered what little I had and left before the attack."

Kit Mi Kai nodded, his expression somber. He had seen too many strange things in his journey to be surprised by her story.

"Thank you for your kindness, young man. I don't have much to offer in return, but perhaps you'd allow me to read your future?" she asked, a faint smile crossing her lips.

Kit Mi Kai hesitated for a moment but then shrugged. "Sure, why not?"

The woman extended her hand. "Bring forth your hand, and let me see what lies ahead for you."

With a curious glance, Kit Mi Kai offered his hand, unsure of what to expect. The air around them seemed to still, the world holding its breath as the woman prepared to peer into the threads of fate