================================

Chapter 26: Side B, The Memory (3)

================================  

[The rustlings in the room reached my ears, the still air trembling in the sound of explosions far above. The ceiling bade the ominous feeling of collapsing but she still remained unmoving, hands clasped in her chest.

I fear that she may be in deep prayer, like a true priestess who prays for the Gods to bless the lands. But I, who descended from a priestess bloodline, am familiar with the existing orders of the existing churches.

I know that she wasn’t part of any church in Terroa.

Her golden silk clothes tell me that she was of a higher ranking origin, the mysterious glow from her hair bade these doubts to take hold.

In the dark room, she was the silent attraction. Frozen, unmoving, unafraid of the explosions of war from the battle far above.

Lighting the room in a spiral, from the tip of her long golden hairs, up to the roots on her head, the praying sight of a beautiful maiden such as her killed all the fears of dangers happening outside.

I took a step to get closer, and that’s where I saw a man’s shadow stepped forth from my right.

From the dim light, I tried to make up his appearance, but instead felt hostility, the kind that does not want to kill me but just injure and incapacitate me.

“That’s as far as you can go.” The man said and I felt my hairs stood up as I recognized the brazen tone.

“C-Commander Flynn.” I tried to hide my shock. “It’s really a surprise to see you down here.”

“Are you Master Merlin’s representative?”

“Representative?”

The words he said made no sense to me. As far as I know, he should be attacking me now that I sneaked in on the priestess. No, to be exact, I should be executed on the spot for sneaking in this underground tower in the first place.

But the next few words I heard completed a part of the puzzle, “There’s no time. Help me.”

And I saw Commander Flynn approach the princess as the princess raised hr head to give him an embrace.

“Flynn.” Her voice was so soft and warm, soothing and placating, so tenderly smooth, yet adorably alluring.

“Just like I promised when I rescued you in that tower, I will not let anyone else use you for their own greed.”

The two embraced and I was left to fill up the puzzle on my own. 

In my mind, they are; 

(a) lovers, 

(b) twins, 

© princess and her knight, or 

(d) all of the above

Then Commander Flynn faced me, walked towards me in an intimidating stride where I closed my eyes and waited to be punched. I don’t know why I did that at the time but I could only say that I was still a coward back then.

But no punch came and instead, there was the sound of a metallic hilt hitting the rock floor.

“Please, I beg thee, help me bring the priestess to safety.”

I opened my eyes and saw him kneeling in front of me, the priestess’ eyes also shot down to his back.

“Huh?”

“I know who Gothel is.” Flynn explained. “When she said that she was a guardian, I knew immediately that she was sent here by Huron to infiltrate Alexandria’s defenses. I sent the word to King Arthur and I got a reply of his deep regret of this deception.”

I knew I was panicking then. But if there’s also a big reason I was shocked is that the reason Master Merlin sent me here is even bigger than I thought.

When I realized what they have done, “You mean…”

“They stayed up there to stop Gothel from getting her hands closer on the priestess. Please. Please, noble Mage, help me save the priestess and I promise to give you anything you wish, as long as I can give it, as a reward to this deed. I do not have much in me, but if you may, please have this.”

What I got from Flynn was a small gem. Black and Red in color, smoother than any pure Lightstone shard. 

“That gem will protect you in places where the «invaders» reside. I have used that gem to escape from Huron’s castle into Alexandria. On your adventures in the future, you will find it useful in some ways. Please consider it as an advance reward. Will you help me?”

With the sincere look on Commander Flynn’s face, I gave him a smile as punched my left chest.

“Of course! But even without the rewards, I was sent here to do something so I will do my best!”

As soon as I said that, Commander Flynn’s stolid expression softened. Then the priestess stood from her chair as Flynn made way for us to meet.

“My name is Rapunzel, young brave Mage. Priestess of Time, the current head of the Circle of Magi.”

That’s the first time I heard of such things. Firstly, the Circle of Magi, then the Priestess of Time. If I remember it correctly, the religious sects of Terroa consists of Gods that had a certain relationship to the lives of her people.

Goddess of Love, Freya.

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

God of Discord, Fenrir.

God of Prosperity, Avon.

Goddess of Peace and Unity, Elizabeth.

Goddess of Light and Darkness, Medusa. 

God of Creation, Janus.

And lastly the God of Death, Mefisto.

Though we have these unproven gods and goddesses of myths, and with their respective churches and dedicated temples, I have not read nor heard of a «God or Goddess of Time».

I was flabbergasted, thinking of where and when have I came across such religion. But even with the memory I prided myself in, no reference nor any articles on any texts and manuscripts have I read  words about a God or a Goddess of Time.

Perhaps that my expression explained everything I have in mind, Rapunzel bowed to me and took the hand that which held Flynn’s stone.

When her hand touched the gem, images came across my consciousness and I knew then that my world will never be the same again.

What this kind of magic was, I do not care. But what I saw was neither a future nor a past of an existing world. There was just an endless cycle of destruction and chaos.

I just know that I must protect her and Flynn because in the world of destruction that I saw, this «Priestess of Time» held the key to that vision ever happening.

“Commander Flynn, my hand.” I offered him and with that, I saw him became confused as he leaned back to the immense volume of hair. “Argh, for crying out loud. Carry the princess and I will gather her hair.”

“Just don’t injure a strand!”

I should have retorted why or ‘that’s what you’re so worried about?!’ but I was too busy isolating my mind from the vision I saw.

My life as a normal Wizard’s Assistant will end here and that’s, I think, what Master Merlin had also foreseen. He may be clumsy or a stupid forgetful old fart, but he was still the strongest Wizard in the current era of Mages.

I held my tears as I forcefully rejected all thoughts of parting with him but he gave me this mission knowing of Gothel’s and Huron’s plans. I will not be so fool enough as to waste my master’s trust.

After gathering her hair into a big lump of golden threads, I gave Commander Flynn a signal and he faced the priestess with a reddened face.

“Please excuse me.” He said and with that warning, he bent down and carried the priestess in front of me.

I was sure I heard a little “Kyaa” in between the sound of “humf” and “hah” from Flynn but it was so faint and so silent it might even just be me.

I ignored their flustered faces and went beside Flynn.

“You will feel a slight trembling of the muscles and the shortening of breath, sudden shift in atmosphere, and a jolt in the legs. But no mater what happens, you must stay awake. Understand?”

The two nodded.

“Alright, this room is now my territory and I will bring us back to the surface as fast as I can. Are you ready?”

I didn’t tell them that the feedback to my physical body would be 10 times stronger than the fatigue I felt going down here. I just flicked my fingers, ignoring all the «Rules of Magic Casting» where one should first chant whether verbally or in one’s mind the formula to the spell for it to work.

That’s because, as I said, my ability is Spatial Manipulation Magic where I «designate» an area as my territory.

Regarding all rules of Cast Time and Cool Down Time, my magic can be considered as a cheat for once I said and ‘actually’ designate an area as my territory, then that area is now ‘my’ territory.

All I have to say is “_____ is now my territory.”

That, there, that place, here, this, or whatever that pertains to an area I wanted to be my territory, that place would be considered.

Just that small phrase and the chanting is complete. I can now just activate my ability whenever I want and I can manipulate places at will.

In one moment, we were in the underground tower, the Spire of Power that which was supposed to hold an important secret of the continent.

Then, we appeared in a place with trees and flowers, the hot blowing wind and fragrant smell bade the scent of fresh environment.

Spatial magic activation: Success.

I felt liquid flowing down on my nose, I collapsed into the flowerbed. The two rushing towards me as if I was a dying breed.

“Relax, we’re in the Eastern Continent of Espada. No one shall be able to find you in the next few months.”

“This magic…!!” Flynn’s expression was in shock.

“Relax, Commander Flynn, it’s just Manna Deficiency Syndrome. I can only use my continental shift once per day but since I used a lot of manna going down below and then actually dragging you both here, I am now suffering the fatigue of Manna Deficiency.”

“But the blood’s also flowing out your ears!”

“Oh. That’s dangerous.”

Unable to move, even talking became somewhat a sort of agonizing torture.

I tried to make a sigh, but my vision became red. I could somehow see Flynn trying to shake my body but I already lost all sense of feeling as well as the rest of my senses.

Sight blocked by red blood, ears clogged by the same liquid, my throat felt like being choked, I couldn’t breathe, I couldn’t scream, perhaps bringing two people with me during my ultimate skill is an over estimation of myself.

My Manna Consumption was tripled aside from the fact that I was already nearing depletion. No amount of Manna Regeneration drug nor material would save me now.

Unable to say my regrets, my thanks to my master for putting his trust to me, and asking the Priestess which God she serves, my wish to gain knowledge in a never ending pursuit might actually be ending here.

But then, as I felt the cold fear of dying suddenly replaced by a warm hand in my head, I unknowingly made a smile as I breathed out a sigh.

Safe? Perhaps. Whatever.

Whoever was pulling my soul from my body certainly had a gentle, warm hand.

Slowly, one by one, I felt my senses returning to me fast. It started with the sense of touch, then my smell, my hearing, my taste, then, when I opened my eyes, I saw Rapunzel smiling gently at me.

I was in her lap, blood tainted her beautiful dress.

When I was about to stand, my body betrayed me. No, I really can’t move. Not a single damn muscle would move in my command.

“Don’t be hasty,” Said Flynn’s voice from my head’s direction. Thankfully, I could move my eyes. I saw him seated in a cut off log he made himself. “You were out unconscious for 4 days.”

“Four days?!” I was surprised to discover that I can speak.

“Don’t be loud, she’s concentrating her powers to give you enough time to recover.”

“So she’s a healer?”

“No, she’s not. She’s a Priestess of Time. What she’s doing is returning you to the time when you could self regenerate your own Manna.”

After saying that, Rapunzel’s eyes opened and she looked like she was tired.

Our eyes met and she sighed in relief.

I felt my body could move again, so I sat up and looked at the two as Flynn gave her his own coat.

That’s when I realized that I was inside a cottage, with chairs (one which Flynn was seated earlier), tables, beds, and comfortable floors.

“How…” I hesitated at first, seeing that she looked really exhausted as she lay down her bed. “How long have I been in her care?”

“Don’t bother about it, young Mage, it is not enough of a compensation for your sacrifice to save her.”

“Comander Flynn. Please, I need to know!”

Our eyes met and he sighed, drawing her eyes to the now sleeping priestess. He blushed while I averted my eyes from her. From my angle, I could directly see her healthy cleavage as I sat over.

But that’s just a minor detail, I heard Flynn clear his throat as he became serious on answering me.

“For the past four days, she’s been turning back your time without sleep.”

“I-I see.”

I collapsed on the floor and looked at the ceiling. As my back rested on the hammered soil, the escaping shards of light of the Sol gave me the impression that this house was built near the clearing but under a tree.

Hearing the slashing of leaves in the wall and wooden roof, it somehow gave me the impression that it was a peaceful day.

Turning my time back for four days just to save me, for a power of such magnitude, what kind of sacrifice must she offer.

When I raised my head to ask this question, I saw the melancholy on the face of the renowned Iron Sword, Commander Flynn.

He was seated in front of her, his eyes cast down with the look of gloom.

I changed my mind, or at least I forced myself to.

“Commander Flynn, what… kind of God does being a Priestess of Time serve?”

“Her name is Terra,” he answered without looking at my direction. “The Goddess of Time, and the one who keeps Mefisto’s forces at bay…”]

*********************************

The Rogue Programs revealed! 

*********************************