Mara
Is it morning?
Chibi
Only if you believe in mornings.
Mara
The horn screamed again.
It scared the birds.
Chibi
Good.
Birds shouldn’t trust clocks.
Mara
Mama says it’s a new year.
She smiled.
But her eyes didn’t.
Chibi
That’s a borrowed smile.
You give it back later, with interest.
Mara
There used to be cakes.
For new years.
Chibi
Cakes mean tomorrow.
Tomorrow is expensive now.
Mara
They burned the old calendar.
The fire was bright.
Chibi
Fire eats yesterday.
But it always leaves crumbs.
Mara
I kept one page.
It has stars on it.
Chibi
Careful.
Stars remember where you were.
Mara
We play counting now.
Steps. Lines. Numbers.
I got it wrong.
Chibi
No.
Time twitched.
It does that when you look at it too hard.
Mara
I don’t know how old I am anymore.
Chibi
Perfect.
If you don’t know your age,
they can’t finish the spell.
Mara
Will the year turn again?
Chibi
Yes.
Just not on their calendars.
Mara
Where then?
Chibi
Under tables.
Between numbers.
Inside games that don’t make sense.
Mara
Can we keep one day?
Just for us?
Chibi
Already did.
You called it today.
🕯️ TIME IN THE IMPERIUM — Week 1 is live
How imperial time feels when innocence bends
and play becomes protection.
🜍 One theme. One month. Four descents
🜍 Order, event, feeling — intertwined
🜍 Written to be read slowly, and remembered
👉 Read the full longform chapter on Ko-fi or Patreon
👉 New chapters every week
Time doesn’t always break with noise.
Sometimes it breaks
where children learn to whisper.
🎲 Play epic.
📖 Feel the story.
💛 Join the family — Mythveil awaits.