Chapter 2: I am the watcher

THE WATCHER POV

A lone figure with a large head and shining eyes was floating between the planes of existence, watching the flow of time in the infinity of the universes.

My job, as it was assigned to me billions of years ago, was to observe, record, watch, and never interfere in the flow of time and destined events.

Watching countless mortals reach the apex of their destiny but never surpass it and finally welt and disappear in the flow of time. No matter how strong they get, they are all eventually extinguished in one way or another.

Being of an immortal race, I have ever pondered what, if anything, comes after the event mortals call death, as I will never experience it. No matter how strong they get, they will never be able to breakthrough and access my plane of existence. I am free from the shakles of time, doomed to spend eternity just watching them.

I have watched them and hoped that one of them would break their shackles, notice me, and finally end my everlasting loneliness.

During the first million years of watching the different variants of this planet called Earth, I have grown attached to several candidates that I felt could potentially reach my plane, but after years and years of having my hopes dashed, I just gave up. I could have gotten them through their hurdles, but there is no hiding or escape from the prying eyes of the other members of my race. Any signs of interference, and I would be judged.

But it all changed one day. As I was observing the flow of events in one specific universe, I felt something intrude into my space. This has never happened before; the only visitors I ever get are members of my race checking up on me or, if we are being truthful, checking if I am abiding by their rules.

I only caught the speck of light passing from one universe and squeezing into another one.

Curiosity and concern gripped my heart; this is not really what I expected my encounter with someone from the worlds I observe to be like.

'' I need to check its universe of origin; hopefully it's not one of those ruled by dark forces; I cannot see another universe taken over again '' the watcher said to no one in particular.

As I reached the so-called window I used to observe that world, I noticed, to my surprise, that it is one of those powerless worlds, one of those worlds that was formed naturally in the course of a billion years without a celestial core.

Life forms on the surface of this planet evolved through constant evolution and battles for survival. But still, whatever escaped through there would never cause much trouble.

'' I will have to check my records of this planet and determine what happened and what exactly escaped out.''

'' huum~''

I pulled up the memory records in my head and scrolled until I reached the specific universe and world and observed the whole world from the time of its conception to the current time.

'' I found it.''

A boy lying on the dirty floor. Dying. As I watched his brief life, I couldn't help but sigh and say,

'' That is a sad life; I wish I could have helped you, but your suffering is something many people went through before you; moreover, I am prohibited from intervening. I guess the only consolation I can give you is that you will undergo the circle of reincarnation in a different universe; who knows, you might be lucky and be reborn in a happier life.''

Not feeling the need to watch anymore, I left the boy to spend his final moments alone, without prying eyes on him, at least letting him die with some dignity. Human lives are so fragile, and I got used to seeing them die. I learned not to care about the lives of those who have no impact on the future of their world.

I returned to the previous world I was observing, and it seems that I haven't missed the nexus point, fortunately. So I did my job and watched.

What the watcher forgot to do was check on the soul shard in the new universe; he expected it to automatically undergo the cycle of reincarnation. But he was wrong about this.

'' huh? Who said that? '' the watcher questioned.

I looked around, looking for the source of the voice, but found nothing. I guess I must have imagined it; I have been alone for so long that I have started hearing voices, as if I were sick with one of those human mental diseases. As if that would happen.

This is my story; I observe all that transpires here, but I do not, cannot, and will not interfere. I am the watcher.