The castle's gate stood tall but fractured, its hinges groaning as Achlys limped toward it, the weight of battle dragging on his every step. Blood crusted at his side, his breathing shallow, but his resolve unshaken.
"I hope the others are safe… Tiabishi… Nox… Cryo… and Mom…" he whispered, each name a prayer against the wind. "Please… be safe."
He pressed the gates open with trembling hands—and was met with the blinding shimmer of an enormous frozen landscape. At its center, a boy with radiant blue hair sprinted across the icy plain, a phoenix gliding overhead in full majesty.
"Master!! You're safe!!" Cryo shouted, eyes wide with joy. Behind him, Adonis sighed, folding his arms mid-flight. "Master? Well… okay then," he muttered before descending with dramatic flair—only to land flat on his face.
"Master, are you alright?!" Cryo shouted, catching Achlys and holding him up, his expression filled with worry.
Achlys blinked. "Wait... who are you calling 'master'?"
"You, of course," Cryo replied brightly.
"Me?" Achlys asked, bewildered. "I don't even know you."
Cryo laughed. "It's me—Cryo! This is my real form!"
Achlys stared, dumbfounded.
Nox and Tiabishi arrived moments later, rushing to meet them. "Achlys!" Nox called out, catching sight of the blue-haired phoenix. "And who's this guy? He's kind of giving main character vibes…"
"Yo, old man, you good?" Adonis greeted casually.
"Hey, Achlys, did you notice those stars?" Nox pointed skyward. Together, they all looked up—only one bright yellow star shimmered among the clouds.
Cryo smiled softly. "That's Doviam la Vioda... a Time Master."
"Time Master?" Achlys echoed.
"They're beings tied to the timeline," Cryo explained. "Guardians of time and balance. Each Time Master embodies an emotion and watches over the world's continuity. They serve the Time Tree. Above it… lies a deity beyond comprehension."
Achlys's eyes narrowed. "Wait… wasn't there a Time Master in the mountains? When we fought that lich?"
"YOU FOUGHT A LICH?!" Nox blurted, eyes wide with horror. "No wonder the princess and the demons are after you."
"Is that… a big deal?" Achlys asked innocently.
Nox sighed. "The liches are the Demon King's puppets—created four hundred years ago. They only surface when something catastrophic is stirring."
"Achlys," Tiabishi cut in with a sharp smile, "you're getting dumber every day."
"Right, Nox?" she asked sweetly.
Nox nodded like a terrified bobblehead.
"I'm not stupid!" Achlys pouted.
Cryo watched in amusement, pulling out a journal. "Tiabishi's in love. Nox is a kind guild leader. Adonis is an idiot. Master… is also an idiot."
"Hey! I'm not—!"
They all burst into laughter. But the joy was fleeting.
Suddenly, time slowed. The air thickened. A massive celestial clock formed overhead, casting golden rays over the land. Each tick boomed through the atmosphere.
"Wagt tersine comfabla…" a voice echoed within the great clock's mechanism.
"This much power… from one Time Master?" Achlys gasped. "It's like a god…"
The hands of the clock spun against time.
DONG… DING… DONG…
With each chime, the land shifted. The city beneath them—broken by war—was reforged by golden light. Walls rose. Streets realigned. Wounds healed. And at last, the clock faded.
"Peace has returned," Doviam's voice rang across the kingdom. "And I, Doviam la Vioda, shall watch over this city."
Achlys looked up, a cautious smile creeping in.
"…You better keep your word, Doviam."
.........................................
In a formless black void, Saria sat naked, vulnerable, knees to her chest. Whispers slithered through the dark.
"Leave me alone! Please… I don't want this anymore!" she screamed.
"You don't deserve our blessing… Devil's child!" came her father's voice from nowhere.
"What did I do, Mother?! Father?! What did I ever do?!" she cried.
A blue light shimmered above.
"Saria! Let's train! I'm gonna beat you!"
"Pretty boy! Don't act so annoying!"
"Achlys… Tiabishi…" she whispered, eyes glimmering.
Then came a yellow light beneath her.
"Right and wrong… that choice is yours. Stand up, Saria. Stand up. No one chooses for you."
"…Persephone…" she gasped, tears falling freely.
A black star blinked into existence.
"Don't cry about a future someone else tries to write for you…"
"Nox…"
Then came a red blaze—powerful and deep.
"Nox…"
"You want to know why I made you vice-captain? You're strong-minded. You fight for what's right. If I die—you become captain."
Saria sobbed. "Captain… I'll make Loipetras stronger. I swear it."
.........................................
Persephone lay on the castle floor, stirring. Akatsuki sat silently beside her, gaze distant.
"What… happened?" she asked softly.
"Time Master. Let's leave it at that," he muttered.
Persephone looked up—and saw Saria writhing in unconscious torment.
"She's trapped in her memory," Akatsuki said. "I tried to wake her…"
Persephone stood, walked to her, and gently touched her shoulder.
"I'm here, Saria… My friend…"
In the void, the whispers grew louder again.
You should die… No one loves you… They're using you…
But Saria now felt a warmth on her shoulder.
"Persephone… Achlys… Tiabishi… Nox… Toiaka…"
She stood.
She walked toward the light feeling the warmth and glimmer of hope.
.........................................
Achlys, Nox, Tiabishi, Adonis, and Cryo entered the hall—stopping at the sight before them.
Saria lay in Persephone's arms, crying.
"Saria… are you okay?" Achlys asked.
"I'm better," she said hoarsely. "But… what was that ability you used earlier?"
Achlys scratched his head. "Let's just say… I got it from the Goddess of War herself—Bellona."
"WHAAAAT?!" everyone shouted.
"That's… the marking," Nox said, stunned. "I've heard legends, but I never thought—"
"Marking?" Persephone asked, intrigued.
Akatsuki answered. "Markings are bestowed by gods. Every Order contains smaller Orders, with two to five abilities each."
Suddenly, a voice called out—
"Moonfall… Eclipse… Horizons…"
"Where's that coming from?" Adonis asked.
"Right in my face…" Achlys sighed. The mark on his cheek glowed.
"Bellona! You couldn't wait, could you?" he groaned.
"YOU'RE THE GODDESS OF WAR?!" everyone shouted again.
"Stop SHOUTING, you MORONS!" Bellona roared through the mark.
Tiabishi leaned into Achlys, curious. "So… Orders have abilities?"
"Yes," Bellona replied. "Moonfall deals in gravity and spatial magic. Used properly, it can attract matter from far away or compress it into a black orb."
Achlys raised his sword. The mark shimmered.
"First Order—Moonfall!" he called.
He swung the sword downward, a powerful arc splitting the earth. Windows shattered. The castle trembled.
As dust settled, he grinned sheepishly. "That's… the marking. Just awakened it."
He glanced toward Tiabishi, who blinked.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" she asked.
"N-no reason!"
Saria smirked knowingly.
"Hey Achlys," Persephone said slyly. "Wasn't our date supposed to be next week?"
"DATE?!" Tiabishi yelled.
She stormed toward Achlys, just as Persephone slapped him into Tiabishi's lips.
"Don't thank me," Persephone winked.
Tiabishi fainted from overstimulation.
Achlys screamed. "PERSEPHONE, I'LL MURDER YOU!"
As they chased each other, Saria sighed beside Nox.
Eventually, Tiabishi stirred. Achlys knelt beside her.
"Tiabishi… I want you to be my girlfriend, I love you…" He said, blushing.
"LOOK HER IN THE EYES WHEN YOU CONFESS!" Nox shouted, punching him.
Tiabishi laughed through tears and threw herself into Achlys's arms. "I love you too, Achlys…"
They kissed again.
"I don't know much about love… but I'll try," Achlys whispered.
"I'll help you," Tiabishi smiled.
A voice echoed from the shadows.
"Mind if I join?"
Achlys turned. "Mom…?"
Mariola stepped out, smirking. "Oh, I'm fine. Totally. After my house exploded, I was frozen, then somehow, it's all back as if time had reversed itself… No trauma at all."
She side-eyed Cryo, who chuckled nervously.
.........................................
Two Days Later
Peace had returned.
Achlys, Tiabishi, and Mariola sat at the table sharing breakfast. Cryo was curled up in Achlys's bed.
Saria sparred with her husband in the courtyard. Persephone sipped tea with quiet contentment.
Nox scribbled in his office, frowning at paperwork.
Akatsuki sat on his throne, surrounded by nobles, discussing the future of the realm.
The kingdom—once shattered—breathed again.
.........................................
Far Away… In Suglonka, Continent of Sevarianuma
In the smoky tavern of a forgotten village, a tall man entered.
Pale skin, long violet hair, fanged grin. Gold earrings and clawed fingers. A scar burned into his chest.
He strolled to the counter. "One bloodshot, please."
"We don't serve that here," said the bartender nervously.
"Oh, don't worry. I'll make one myself."
He turned. In a blink, he severed a bandit's head clean off.
"Thanks for the drink."
"What the hell? You are gonna pay for this, bastard!" As the others charged him, he vanished. They froze—realizing too late.
Their heads hit the floor before they even heard the swing.
He sighed. "If only you guys lasted longer. Well, I'll be taking my leave now."
He tossed twenty gold coins on the bar.
"Pleasure doing business."
And with a wave, the vampire disappeared into the night.
.........................................