As dusk deepened, the lights in the old hotel remained soft and gentle. The protagonist sat on the worn sofa, holding a cup of tea that had long gone cold, his thoughts drifting back to a few hours ago, that phone call, and the appearance of the "Time Guardian."
Just as he was lost in his memories, the wind chimes outside the door jingled softly, their sound crisp and clear. The protagonist knew it was the old gentleman arriving.
He set down his teacup and went to greet the long-awaited guest.
When the door opened, an old man in a tattered gray suit stood at the entrance, carrying the ancient leather suitcase. Although his appearance was no longer as upright as in his youth, his serene aura remained unchanged. A gentle breeze brushed his long beard, giving one a sense of being in a different world.
"Little boss, I've arrived," he said with a smile, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes like memories of bygone years.
"Welcome back, Time Guardian," the protagonist replied with a smile, his heart filled with questions. "I remember you saying you could manipulate time, but why choose to come here? We met before, what exactly happened?"
The Time Guardian paused at the doorway, his gaze falling on the walls of the old hotel, the aged photographs and old objects seeming to freeze time within these walls. He sighed softly and placed the suitcase on the ground.
"Do you remember that summer, our encounter by the railway tracks?" he asked, a subtle melancholy in his eyes. "That day, I hadn't originally planned to appear. I am a being who guards time, destined to play the role of a passerby in everyone's life. However, your words back then changed me."
The protagonist listened, stunned, his heart pounding. "What did I say?"
The Time Guardian's gaze deepened. "You said you wanted to open a 'hotel only for lonely yokai to stay in.' The look in your eyes at that time was full of hope and pity, yet also held a trace of fear for the unknown. That sentence resonated deeply within me and made me decide that I would come back to see in the future."
The protagonist nodded silently, recalling that summer. He had just spoken casually, never expecting his words to hold such profound meaning in the Time Guardian's eyes.
"You said that yokai are forgotten beings," the Time Guardian continued. "Every yokai has its own story. These stories gradually blur and even disappear in human memory. But you are different. You use your own way to help those forgotten yokai, giving them a place to belong."
"I'm just doing what I should be doing," the protagonist replied softly, his heart filled with gratitude.
The Time Guardian smiled. "Perhaps you don't realize it, but what you are doing is exactly what this world needs most."
He paused for a moment, then took a thick book from his suitcase, the words "The Book of Time" inscribed on its cover.
"This book records all the stories of the past, present, and future," the Time Guardian said. "It not only records the past of the yokai but also their future destinies. If these yokai can find the knots in their hearts here, perhaps their fates can be changed."
The protagonist took the book, feeling its weighty presence. It was not just a book but a responsibility.
"Will you help?" the protagonist asked.
The Time Guardian nodded. "Of course, it is my duty. In every moment, countless stories flow, whether human or yokai. You need help, and I will not let you face it alone."
The protagonist looked at him, his heart filled with determination. "Then let's work together to continue guarding the stories of these yokai."
The Time Guardian smiled, as if seeing a glimmer of hope in the future.
"The guardian of time will always be by your side."
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