In a vast room, stood a towering hourglass, wrought of strange and unknown materials.  All around it stood various clocks, from sundials to grandfather clocks, to small alarm clocks with tiny bells.  Various calenders carved from stone or wrought of clay stood all around him.  It was a truly wondrous and fantastical scene.  In the middle of it all, man stood there, staring at the great hourglass, watching the slow fall of every glittering grain of sand.  

Staring at the vast contraption, the man, whose name was Mitchell, sighed.  Reaching out his hand, he placed it on a glowing blue gem set into the hourglass’ base.  Azure light flashed, and blue lines spread out from the gem he was touching, spreading through the hourglass.  

Requesting Confirmation: Do you wish to use the sole opportunity to travel into the past/future now?

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“Yes.  Take me back as far as possible.”  A small smile came across his weary features, as he thought of those he might finally have the chance to see again.  ‘Lin Feng, Avery, Lucas, all of you.’  For a moment, his expression turned cold.  ‘And, naturally, I’ll see you again, Scarlet Saber, Mad King, Loren.  This time, though, you won’t make it nearly as far as you did, if i can help it.’  

Confirmed.  Transporting to the First Trial: Part One. Obtaining Spatial-Temporal location... Beginning Transport... Transport Complete.

He managed to read the first three notifications, which appeared in a mere moment, before with a flash of light, he was sucked into the hourglass.  The grains of sand began to move again, however, now they flowed upwards, gaining speed.  Finally, they stopped once more, before slowly beginning to fall again.  This time, however, no one was watching them.