Time Holders: The World of Balance

”The fog, you say?” Cedric asked.

Aldrus nodded, and the other two remained silent—both Aiden and Alice had thought the same thing, it seemed.

”That’s impossible,” the blond boy said simply, brushing him off.

Sigh.

Aldrus grimaced, for he himself harboured concerns about his sanity. There had been no records in history involving places or weather powered by Time or different laws. The closest things to it were the World Domains, but the Fog Island could not be one of them; otherwise, the previous attempts to get a hold of it would not have resulted merely in the slaughter of Second-Ranks.

Nevertheless, the chances of them being suppressed by another crazy person lurking nearby were even slimmer. No matter how ridiculous it might appear to the foreign eye, the four were beginning to believe they had just stumbled upon an unheard-of discovery.

Another reason to make it back.

I’ll have to inform Sir Ludwig about this...

”How funny,” Cedric huffed. ”To think us being weak would be the reason leading to this knowledge.”

”What should we do? Sure, Second-Ranks were unable to figure it out, but they possessed power we lack, and all of them lie underground right now,” said Alice.

There was an increasing quiet. It was not because they were giving the girl’s words a second thought; rather, there was something they all knew, and it just then sank deep within their minds.

And after a short space, the four raised their gazes toward each other.

”Ah!—”

”Of course! If Second-Ranks weren’t affected, and the fog is the same rank, then any Orange-Beasts here are nothing but big dogs!” Aiden said, hope kindling in his eyes.

”Or cats,” said Alice.

”Or horrifically shaped aberrations we haven’t seen yet,” said Cedric.

”...”

Before anyone could berate him, however, Aldrus said, ”Let’s not get so cocky; we still don’t know if it’s the fog that’s draining our power. And even if it is, this place won’t only have weak creatures; you all know that.”

Everyone’s shoulders bowed slightly, for they knew the boy spoke truth.

Aldrus pressed his lips tight; he did not wish to sour their mood, yet he could not let his comrades fall to folly.

”Listen,” he said. ”I won’t force you if you don’t want. But I think we should keep going.”

Surprise washed across their faces. Despite their ostensibly hopeful attitude, Aldrus read them like an open book, right through their masks.

There were no bad intentions; everyone lied to themselves to cheer the others up. ”Ah, if Orange-Beasts are not roaming around, there is no cause to dread!” or ”A monster whose power has left it has no chance against us!” were the kinds of things they all were thinking, yet still trying to believe. In truth, none wished to venture deeper, for it took but an atrocity to break young spirits.

Aldrus was aware; he was thinking the same things. However, his mind stayed clear—ever since the day of the First Truth, all that weighed upon him felt far easier to bear; he had begun thinking that ascending to Rank-Two might altogether ease the pain.

There was no need for a response, since they knew Aldrus had caught on to their pretence. And furthermore, both staying and retreating were terrible, foolish approaches. They were lost, and the path traversed until now proved unknown; the rain was as merciless as hungry wolves. Even if they knew not precisely where to go, their lean-to served as a good starting point. All they had to do was pushing east.

They discussed the plan for a while longer, and before they lay to sleep, Aldrus gestured for them to stop. There was something important he needed to tell.

***

The next morning—

Having awoken early, as it was routine, Aiden nudged his friends beside him with his shoulder. They had huddled close together all night long, for they had no bonfire. To their good fortune, the wind had eased at night, and it only just returned to its full strength as the barely visible sun rays streamed through the gray veil.

Soon after, the others woke up.

There was a silence about them, not just because this brand-new day held danger and unease in the same measure as the last, but also due to Aldrus and the words he spoke last night.

The boy had found the moment fitting to tell his friends about the reason for his sudden shift in demeanour, strength, and growth. He told them he had stumbled upon the First Truth of Time.

Of course, he could not tell them what it was for obvious reasons, and the others did not ask, but he also kept well hidden the scripture on the wall. There was no certainty that said message from the chamber—the one warning of the Crimson Tide—would not also curse them foul.

Still, the company understood, and although not fully pleased, the three kept their lips shut. They trusted Aldrus, and beyond that, the reveal was not hollow, for a First Truth-wielding Holder also bore far greater strength. Aldrus was now, even with no powers, far beyond a mundane man. Such a wild-card would be of aid in the coming days and future fights.

Mngh...

Aldrus stretched painfully, his back still anchored to the boughs. Beside him, Alice and Cedric gradually stood up.

”Ugh... Good morning,” Aldrus said.

”Good morning.”

”Morning.”

None seemed truly rested, to say the very least. But how sweet or sour their sleep was mattered little now. They needed to focus, travel further, and, hopefully, end up dozing somewhere else.

Thus, the four soon gobbled a quick breakfast, gathered all their packs, and found themselves outside.

Nothing had changed there. Nothing at all. They formed the exact same line they had the day before, tugged at each other’s collars, and forged their way through phantom trails. Rain still poured down hard, but they had no things of value that were not already ruined.

Once again, they simply pushed forward, along the way they thought was right.