The Dawn of the New World

"He was born here," Uri gestured towards the little bedspread made from animal hide.

Hao Xuan frowned, "Salome? He was born in this village?"

Uri turned back and kept staring at the coals on the stove as if the answers were written on them.

"Him and...the other. I am not sure how to explain it, it would not make much sense to a mortal like you. You think too 'straight' to understand it."

But his words only left Hao Xuan more confused.

"I don't understand because you are not explaining it well. Here, I'll make it easier for you. Can you answer any of these questions? Who is Salome? Who is the person in my head? What is their relationship? And why does it have ANYTHING to do with me?"

Uri shook his head in agitation as if he didn't even know how to start. But because of how clearly Hao Xuan had worded his questions it had become much simpler in his eyes.

"Salome is a native to this world. He was born here. In this lifetime he is no one special, not even someone 'whole' like before. But the person you saw in your head, that's..."

He went quiet mid-sentence again which broke Hao Xuan's patience.

"WHO? Just say it, who is he?! What is their relationship?"

Uri closed his eyes and took in a deep breath. For a moment there was only the sound of fire coming from the stove and the raindrops hitting the barn roof. Even Gi-An held his breath intently listening for the answer because he barely knew anything about it.

But the answer only left them more confused than ever.

"It is the 'you' that you were before the current you. It is the 'you' that was and then wasn't anymore."

"....."

*CLANG*

Hao Xuan stood up in such a hurry that the stove was accidentally knocked over, spilling the coal everywhere.

"What the fuck does that mean?! Are you fucking with me right now? Are you even the World Spirit or is this some sick game you two are playing with me? How do I even know you really ar-"

But he was silenced when Uri waved his hand and the coals flew back into the stove before it returned to its previous position. It was like watching someone play a video in reverse.

'Time manipulation?!' Hao Xuan thought inwardly but-

"No, not manipulation. I can't control time, only make things the way they were before. Oh and, read minds. I can read minds too."

The rational part of Hao Xuan's mind was telling him this was ludicrous but when he looked into Uri's eyes there were no ill intentions there. It was more like he didn't know the right way to say certain things.

Gi-An was about to take action but seeing Hao Xuan suddenly sit back down he let out a small sigh of relief before returning to his position.

For the next five minutes no one said anything. A curtain of silence had fallen over that was only lifted when Uri finally couldn't take it anymore.

"I'm sorry, this is why I didn't want to meet you, it's still too early. You are not ready for the answe-"

"Don't do that. Don't pretend to know what I need and what I am ready for. I am tired of hearing this shit."

"I'm sorry," he apologized again, the little fox ears wilting and hiding underneath the nest of curly hair.

After another minute or so Hao Xuan had gathered his thoughts.

"Ok, since you really are the World Spirit, tell me something that only you would know."

"But...if only I know it, how will you know it's correct?" Uri inquired innocently, making Hao Xuan more than a little annoyed.

"I meant something about me. The World Spirit is near-omniscient when it comes to knowing things that are happening on its surface. So, tell me something that I have done after coming here, that only I would know."

Uri looked up and down for a moment trying to think of the best example.

"Oh, there is one! I was the one who showed you what was happening around here when you were trying to come back through the portal. I also did that just a little while ago to warn you."

Hao Xuan immediately recalled the two out-of-body experiences Uri was talking about. He had not mentioned them to anyone...but this wasn't enough. So he pointed at the stove.

"The fire is cold. Say those words."

"But it's not."

"I know it's not, just say the words and I will believe you are the World Spirit."

But Uri only stared back at him with a perplexed expression.

"I...can't."

"Why not?"

"I don't know, I'm sorry. Please believe me!" he was on the verge of tears.

'World Spirits cannot lie, that was the other thing that I didn't mention.'