Chapter 12. Time Loop

The two looked at each other a mischievous smile appearing on them and grinning. They walked as if in sync towards the stairs and took the first step. Who could have missed the two 5'3 figures heading towards the stairs. Even one without brains would know they were new first years. But to think that they would try to use the stairs the very first time they visited the library... They should have waited to at least open a meridian or two.

The two raised their right foot together and then left. But as expected, they both fell on their knees when they tried to take the third step. It was even a testament that they took two! The two burst out in laughter. This was actually the first time one who was with Alaric from early could see him laughing. Even his mother never saw his laugh. If their first action did not draw everyone's attention, the laughter actually did. Even the attendants looked at them.

"They actually work," Reynolds said as they stepped away from the stairs. His ribs cracking up as they laughed. It seemed like they were the only ones enjoying. The irritated look on everyone said it all. An attendant walked towards them. She was a slightly fat lady with glasses. She stood more than 7' staring down at the two. She was wearing red mage rob.

The angry look on her face could wake a sleeping child. She towered the two who seemed to not notice her as their laughter started falling. But everyone in the room knew this lady. Known for her speed to anger. The two were really going to pay for making her stand from her seat. It was actually the first time many saw her full figure. It was then the two looked forward and saw the lady staring daggers at them. They zipped their lips not wanting to laugh. But Alaric could not hold it anymore. It was like a new persona of his had been opened by Reynolds.

"Who gave a warthog glasses?" The bomb dropped. The place where the lady was standing started cracking. Reynolds and Alaric had fallen into another fit of laughter. Some felt their heads floating in the air. Only one thought in their mind. Who were they? What about their backing? But the lady did not care of either, her veins bulging.

"The two of you have been banned from the library for one year," the lady roared but as she was finishing her words the two figures were headed towards the door.

" So what currency does the city use?" Alaric asked Reynolds as they were walking outside. They could atleast be bothered by the lady.

" Bloodstones," Reynolds said. He had said his nickname was Rey which Alaric was to get used to using in the future. He saw Alarics sudden change in expression, "What's wrong with you? Are you feeling bad for the lady?" Rey joked.

" No, she is already vague in my memory, what am worried about is how am going to convert the silver I have to these bloodstones," Alaric said.

Everyone knew just how sharp a martial artist's memory was. And everyone just heard the two speak. They heard that the lady was already vague in his memory. Even after insulting and snobbing they still slandered her. The shelves in the library shook as the lady reached he tolerance limit. 12 year olds messing with her.

No matter what she was going to find justice and in the next, instance she walked back to her seat. She was in the early stages of Salvia Plane. Everyone remained silent and continued to study but it was hard. The angry lady who had fire affinity was still angry and maybe her temperature had reached 500⁰ and rising. Just who had ever managed to cause her that much anger. No one spoke and after about five minutes, she cooled down and the temperature went down.

By now, Alaric and Rey were heading towards the gate. They spoke animatedly. Rey said he didn't like the idea of studying array theory so he had decided to do weapon forgery and refinery alone. Alaric learnt from Rey that the array classes only took once a week since it had low attendance and was complex to study everyday. Alaric was glad to have missed none.

They reached the gates and headed outside. The man on guard reminded them to come back before sunset. He was in the middle stages of Salvia Plane. One with higher cultivation could tell that that he was about to break into the late stages of Slavia Plane. Rey had decided to take Alaric to an exchange place where he would gain the bloodstones he required. They came to a jewelry shop and stated their purpose to the female attendant. She asked for the silver coins but Alaric smiled sheepishly saying that he had forgotten. They were immersed in their talks that they had forgotten about getting them from his dorm. Rey tapped his friend's shoulder and comforted him.

"Tomorrow is another day pal," he said his face showing mocking care. The lady could only shake her head. "But do not worry, I will spoil you for today then tomorrow we will come and get you some bloodstones."

The two walked out and stood for a while.

"Could I ask who you really are?" Alaric suddenly asked.

"You don't trust your friend?" Rey joked but went ahead to dictate proudly his identity, "Reynolds Fernades. The fifth son of Jahlick Fernades."

Everyone knew of the Fernades. They were the owners of the major Phoenix Sect which had branches in every major city.

Its fit to say Rey had every reason to be arrogant. His grandfather once shook the martial world when someone threatened their sect. His grandfather was known as one of the top martial world's powerhouses which no one dared provoke. Even the headmaster had to maintain a good relationship with him. It was difficult to be the headmaster of top Academies since most powerful members of the society brought their children here. To mean any bad word against you could result to your death. That was why the headmaster chosen was also a sovereign. Alaric nodded as he started walking again leaving Rey behind who ran to catch up with him.

"Where are you going?" Rey asked after catching up.

"Just a stroll..." Alaric replied.

"Where can you even say you know in the city?" Rey asked in disdain.

" The jewelry shop,"Alaric replied in the same tone.

" Come, lets go to the auction place." Rey said after getting over Alaric's come back. Alarics eyes brightened. This was yet another way to earn bloodstones. If he could get high quality treasures and get them auctioned... He nodded and let Rey lead in the opposite direction.

The auction place was close to the mayors place. They came to pass the extravagant building lavishly endorsed with expensive minerals. On the way were horse pulled carriages either for cargo or travel. There were also benches on the roadside after every around 50 meters. The street lights all over the places each around 10 meters apart. One could see couples walking together and other were alone. Some seemed to be in a hurry pacing between the crowd.

***

Between the crowd, were two boys each 5'3 walking next to each other. One with black hair and the other's reddish black. They walked without care in the world but if one was observant they would see the duo trailing behind them. Each wearing a black hood.

"What do you think we should do about the other guy with him. He surely is an obstacle," one of the guys spoke pointing at the one with reddish black hair.

" We just knock him out and leave with our target. I hear the price in the black market is great. Can you imagine 1000 black essence stones just for him? I wonder who he is," the other guy said licking his lips at the mention of black stones.

The two hurried but before them stood an old frail man looking at them with interest. The two ignored him and walked past him but after walking for around 100 meters they saw the old man staring at them with interest. They ignored him again and the same thing happened after 100 meters another three times. They realized that they had been caught in a time loop. They saw the old man still staring at them with interest. The old man was carrying a rod that appeared like that of a wizard. His long white beard soaring in the wind and his scalp that dug further deep in his head.

"Old man, don't you think you should be shaving your head instead of toying with your juniors?" The guy who had spoken first said. They refrained from taking any action as they could not feel the old man's cultivation. What they had realized was that he was a space and time elementalist. Two of the very scary elements in the martial world. The old man laughed scratching his beards looking in the skies.

"Took you long enough to figure out. What about you two? Why are you shamelessly chasing two young men without any cultivation?" The old man asked still laughing. The two were on alert. So the old man was the protector of either of them...

"Old man, I would mind my own business if I were you," the other guy spoke.

They knew that they stood no chance but feigned ignorance. Even their trump cards were useless against true power. Not even skill could free one from the grasp of death. The only thing that awaited them was their death. The old man moved and they disappeared. One of the guys actually peeied himself when he realized they were in a desolate house somewhere in the woods. They shook as the man released his aura. This was something they had never felt before. Even the top powerhouses did not have such an aura behind them.

"Am going to enjoy getting answers from the two of you," the old man said licking his lips. The other guy also peeied himself. The old man's laugh increased as he took a step towards the two as they fell on their butts. "So, who was it that sent you?" The old man asked menace in his voice. As he took another step, one of the men fainted. What was the use of trump cards if you could not even move. The old man moved again and the guy who had fainted woke up.

"Who told you that you can pass out?" The man almost fainted the second time. Instant death was better but being toyed with during your worst moment was worse. They tried to talk but their throats were dry. "If you don't reply in the count of three one of you looses a limb." The two shuddered. How could they speak if they could not even find their voice?

" One..." The two opened their mouths but they could only stare wide eyed. Where did their voices run off to? "Two..."

First was the ability to speak but now they could not even close their eyes. Did such beings actually exist? One that could stop your every movement? The only thing they could do was fry their brains trying to answer. "Three..." Their brains went to override. The look on the man showed he was serious. A painful scream filled the house. The guy who had fainted had lost his right hand from the shoulder. Losing a hand was losing 9 meridians and since he had cultivated to the Master Plane his cultivation dropped to the Cryptic stage. He fainted again when he saw his condition.

"Oh you found your voice? But who said you can sleep through all this?" The old man asked knowing the effect he had on them. The fainted guy startled awake again. Horrified beyond words. There was no escaping it. It now hit them. How could they just get 1000 black essence stones just for any regular boy? But was this the time to think about this? The death god was staring at them! "One..." The guy who had lost his hand felt tears falling from feom his eyes. He had lost his voice again. The other guy who had thought that they would escape after his friend found his voice felt his heart stop. "Two..." And he fainted too. He knew what happened when one fainted but could he control it? He startled awake and his eyes stared at the old merciless man who did not seem to care at all. "Three..." He swallowed hard.

A cold passed through his right leg as a sudden pain engulfed him. His leg... Screams louder than the first filled the room as his vocal chords burst. He spit blood as he lost his ability to speak. But just as he thought he was going to be safe he felt his vocal chords repaired in an instant... Who did not know what the old man had done. He had sped up the time required for the vocal chords to heal and here they thought they could escape. They realized one thing. The old man would just rewind time to the time they still had their limbs and restart the torture again. Their only safe way to death was to speak but their voices... Had discarded them. They would only find it once in pain.

"Are you ready to speak or should the fun continue?" The old man asked. They nodded knowing the old man had given them a breather but who expected the old man to be so cruel? "Then speak. Same rules," the old man said. They had thought that he was going to retract his aura but he had not done it. "Consider this me having mercy on you."

"Mercy?!" They cried in their mind.

"Let the fun continue. One..."