>>6206107“Meloka, hun, could you go with them?” you ask your wife, not taking your gaze from the magic woman before you all. “I have a question I need to ask.”
“Of course. Come on, let's go.” Meloka replies to you then to the younger children, ushering them all out. Leaving you, Fortuneteller Baba and Olibu alone in the dark room. You see the witch's expression change, eyes narrowing. But she doesn't seem angry or even nervous, instead she seems worried. And a little... Sad? But once your wife and the kids are all away, you speak to her directly. “I need to ask you something.”
“Very well. Is this about your daughter, Mechikabura, Dumplin, or the one calling himself King Kudamo?” she asks, you wondering what events would have led you to ask the other questions. You consider asking about them, what she means by that, but instead focus on your goal.
“The Tuffle. That monster.” you answer, unwavering. “It must be stopped.”
“Yes, I should have figured you'd find that matter the most pressing.” she answers, the otherworldly human, Olibu looking on in confusion. “You want me to see if I can find it for you as well.”
She says this not as a question, but as a statement of fact. To which you still answer as if it were anyways, nodding once to her. The woman's expression hardens, raising her gaze to your own.
“I could find him for you. Hell, I could probably point out which direction he's in and send you gallivanting across space until you find him. But I won't do it.” she says, her voice resolute. “I will not tell you where it is.”
“What? Why not?” you ask, getting an uncomfortable feeling in your guts as your rage flares up. But you keep your anger under control. “If you can see how big a threat it can be, you know I'm one of the only people with the power to stop him. And the longer we let that monster roam free, the more innocent people across the universe will have their free will stolen by that bastard! We have to stop him!”
“Yes. The sooner that monster can be eliminated, the better it will be for the entire universe. But I cannot let you face it yourself.” she says to you, her expression turning deadly serious. “If you face that monster, General Karn, you will doom the universe.”
“What?” you ask her, not following her thoughts. “What do you mean?”
“I mean you cannot face that monster!” she suddenly shouts, you hearing the fear and panic in her tone. “In every future I have foreseen, if you and Kudamo meet, you will fall under his control. And doom not only your family, but the rest of the universe.”
“You think I can't beat him?” you ask her, genuinely surprised.
“No. I KNOW you cannot. Despite your power, you cannot defeat that monster.” she says. “And if you try to prove me wrong, your family will be the first to pay the price for your arrogance.”
cont
