The Future of Fire

As the world neared its end, cause and effect gradually fell into chaos. It was not the last Endtime Evangelist who remained lucid coming before Duncan; rather, in Duncan's field of vision, the final lucid Endtime Evangelist "appeared."

But to the two people involved, which of those events was cause and which was effect did not seem important.

"What is your name?" Duncan looked at the old man in white before him, suddenly curious.

Faced with such a simple question, the traveler clad in tattered white robes deeply furrowed his brow. He thought for a long while before lightly shaking his head. "I can't remember very clearly. The last time I used a 'name' seems to have been a very long time ago... But if you wish, you may call me Crete."

"Crete?" Duncan frowned. "That's the name of your people."

"...Oh, right. No wonder it felt so familiar." The old man looked enlightened, and a faint smile appeared on his face. "Then that's fine. Call me that. I like the name."

Duncan fell silent for a moment, then nodded lightly. "All right, Crete. I have some questions."

"Please ask. I have plenty of time this time."

"First question: why did you choose to meet me now?" Duncan looked into the other man's eyes, his tone extremely serious. "What is the purpose of this 'window'?"

"...We have actually been seeking an opportunity to contact you directly all along—by 'we,' I mean those of us who still retain our sanity." Crete hesitated for an almost imperceptible moment when answering, but quickly gave his reply. "It is simply very difficult to make contact with you. In fact, we attempted it once before today, but... we missed that window."

"...Missed a window?" Duncan looked puzzled. "What do you mean?"

"We arrived too early,