POV: Time Variance Authority

Miranda Harrington was admittedly a bit taken aback. Only a few days ago, Elias Crane had paid a hospital visit to Kate, and Professor West had bluntly told him not to come back. She had assumed the issue was finished. Yet here was West, urgently seeking out Elias with an almost deferential tone. It was baffling.

Initially, she intended to dissuade West from being so hasty, but seeing his impatience—like a man with no time to lose—she relented.

"Very well, Professor West. Follow me."

She stepped aside so he could exit the VIP lounge, adding, "Elias Crane's office is on the 17th floor. I'll take you there."

West nodded. Without further comment, he walked out with Harrington toward the elevator.

Mr. Wilson and the three deputy executives stared at one another in stunned silence. The door had barely closed behind Harrington and West when the four finally came to their senses.

"What in the world is happening?" one deputy breathed.

Another shook his head, eyes wide. "Professor West is known for his calm and aloof demeanor. I've never seen him in such a hurry, almost… frantic."

"No kidding," the others agreed. "We've always had to beg just for a short meeting with him. Now he marches in without warning."

"On top of that, he wants to go upstairs and see Elias personally?" Mr. Wilson added, baffled. "What could possibly be so important?"

***

The elevator chimed open. Harrington led West straight down the corridor to Elias's workspace. The door stood ajar, revealing Elias absorbed at his computer, adjusting the 3D model of Rhine Cat. Hearing footsteps, he glanced over to see West's complex expression.

Already suspecting West's purpose, Elias merely smiled.

"Professor West—long time no see. How's your research going?"

"Fine… Fine," West replied awkwardly, then turned to Harrington as though wanting some privacy.

Miranda Harrington caught the hint immediately. She introduced them again for formality's sake:

"Professor West, this is Elias. I'll leave you two to talk."

She gestured at the door.

"I'll be right outside if you need anything."

Then she left, pulling the door shut behind her.

West stepped forward, locking the door from within. Only then did he approach Elias, letting out a breath:

"Elias, you've called me 'teacher.' I hope you won't hold my previous attitude against me."

Elias shook his head. "No hard feelings, Professor. If you're here, I'm guessing you've read over the pages I gave you? Did they help?"

West nodded, recounting last night's events in detail:

"Your manuscript was entirely correct. Thanks to it, I've conquered the ice-crystal obstacle. Now I'm only one step away from a workable cryonics fill-liquid," he said. "But…"

He trailed off, momentarily hesitant.

"What's the problem?" Elias asked calmly. "It's just the two of us here—no need to hold back."

West exhaled. His expression turned grave.

"Elias, I have a request."

He paused, adopting a sincere tone.

"Please, can you tell me where that manuscript came from?"

Elias fell silent. He certainly couldn't expose the secret of his dream. He weighed the words carefully, then shook his head:

"Professor, if you want more data, you're better off not asking about its origin."

West's eyes flickered with a flurry of uneasy scenarios in his mind. Then he gave a tense nod, deciding to let the mystery be. The main thing was the data itself.

"All right. Thank you for helping me—and Kate. I promise, no matter what happens, I won't drag you into any trouble."

Elias smiled in return, inwardly relieved at skipping that tricky explanation.

"You mentioned you're close to a final cryonics solution but facing difficulties now?"

"Yes." West brightened a little, nodding briskly. "I'm hitting a snag with the last step of the fill-liquid. I suspect an error in the chain-reaction formula."

"That's quite possible." Elias responded without surprise. "Mark the wrong parts. I'll see what I can do to verify them."

West's eyes lit up. He hadn't even asked yet, and Elias had already volunteered to help. A wave of warmth washed over him. After all these years of disappointment, it felt good to meet someone ready to pitch in.

"Elias… I truly don't know how to repay you for all this," West confessed.

"Please, Professor, it's just a small favor," Elias said with a grin.

West let out a slow breath. "You are a benefactor to me and Kate. If—when—my research yields a genuine breakthrough, I'll remember this. I'll be sure to repay you."

He seemed to recall something else. "By the way—your company, MH Cosmetics, once sought that moisturizing compound I discovered by accident, right? If the cryonics fill-liquid truly succeeds, all my concerns will be gone. That 'failed substance' can be sold, no problem." He offered a tiny, grateful smile. "And since it's on your behalf… I'll give first priority to MH if it comes to that."

West opened his bag and removed the annotated manuscript. He had circled several places with red ink to highlight the suspected errors. Elias filed it away in a desk drawer, promising to recheck them soon.

Inside, Elias felt more certain than ever about the truth of his dream—the real future, 600 years hence. The earlier changes, like Koko Cat turning into Rhine Cat, had already hinted at a "temporal butterfly effect." Now, seeing West on the verge of a major cryonics breakthrough… well, that was proof enough that he could alter events from the present.

After they briefly wrapped up the conversation, Elias opened the office door. Miranda Harrington stood waiting outside, as though on standby for urgent news:

"Professor West, is everything all right now?"

He gave a faint grin, passing her on the way out. "I'm sorry for the sudden visit. I was a bit out of line."

Harrington shook her head. "Not at all, Professor. MH is always happy to see you. Allow me to have someone drive you back to the university. I'll also give you my card and Elias's, in case anything else comes up."

"That's not necessary. I drove myself," West replied, nodding politely before turning to leave. Impulsively, he paused. He had pledged to keep Elias's involvement private, but maybe a quick mention would repay the favor.

He faced Harrington again. "Ms. Harrington, I mentioned this to Elias just now… I truly appreciate the help he's given me—my research has made real progress. If one day I can achieve that major breakthrough, then my earlier worries no longer apply. I'd have no reason not to sell that so-called 'failed' compound if I wish. Considering what Elias has done, I'll let you and your company have the first chance to discuss it."

Miranda Harrington's cool composure wavered for an instant. She threw Elias a puzzled sidelong glance, then gave a faint smile, returning her focus to West.

"That would be wonderful, Professor. If so, then we wish you every success with your research."

***

Elias and Harrington walked West to the parking area and waved goodbye as he drove off. As soon as the professor's car turned the corner, Harrington let out a soft laugh and turned to Elias with an intrigued gaze.

"You managed to convince him so thoroughly?"

Elias just shrugged. "I didn't do much. Gave him some friendly advice, is all."

"Mm," she murmured, her eyes holding a hint of playful disbelief. "He's never struck me as someone so easily persuaded."

Elias rubbed the back of his neck, glancing at the bright winter sun overhead. "People can change. Nothing in this world stays the same. Society, the present, the future… everything changes eventually."

Harrington looked thoughtful, then she lowered her gaze. "Perhaps. But there is one thing that doesn't change."

A brisk wind gusted, swirling stray leaves around them as she continued:

"History does not change. King or loser, it's set in stone."

Her black coat rippled in the wind as she pivoted to head back inside the high-rise. "History will never alter," she declared quietly, heel clicks echoing behind her.

Elias watched her retreating figure for a few moments. "History can change," he whispered, observing the drifting leaves still twisting in the breeze.

But he realized that Harrington's definition of "history" meant the recorded past prior to 2022. Meanwhile, Elias had in mind the centuries to come—the unseen events from now until 2624. If the butterfly effect was genuine, he might rewrite that future entirely.

"In that timeline," he thought, "I am history."