World of Time pt.2
Luan reached a point where he couldn't help but wonder, "Why is there a giant building but no sign of human life around? Is it possible it was ruled by a god then he got defeated?"
Luan couldn't help but admire the beauty of his surroundings. The tree beside him had green leaves and brown wood, nothing particularly noteworthy, yet it provided a comforting presence. Luan leaned against the trunk, lost in thought.
"I wonder if Grandmaster is looking for me..Would he have sent other disciples to look for me?"
Luan thought. He sighed as he was looking at the scenery before him, his eyes were almost as if he was going to fall asleep. Luan's peaceful reverie was interrupted by the sound of two men arguing. "Who are you to tell me what to do? Obviously I'm going to look for 'him'," a man shouted. "I told you, we are both here to lend 'him' assistance, Grandmaster said so!" The other man interrupted. Both of them seemed to be fighting one another, the voices were getting closer and closer, Luan watched as the two shadows grew closer.
Luan stood frozen as the two men halted in front of him. Despite their close proximity, they appeared to be oblivious to his presence. The taller of the two men had a striking appearance, with his long chestnut hair flowing down to his shoulders and piercing blue eyes that shone like sapphires. He exuded an air of handsomeness that was hard to ignore. He was dressed in a light green robe that had a yellow lining, which complemented his features perfectly. The second person had raisin black hair that was tied into a ponytail with bangs on the side, giving them a unique look. They were dressed like the taller one in a light green robe with a yellow lining. While he might not have been as conventionally handsome as the other person, his features were striking enough to hold one's gaze for a while. The taller of the two seemed agitated, as if he was spoiling for a fight with his companion. Luan could see the frustration etched on his face.
Luan winced as the two men's argument escalated, causing his ears to throb painfully. Unable to take it anymore, he yelled out, "Hey, you two! Enough with the fighting, you're going to make my ears bleed!" The men turned to him, surprised to see him standing there.
"Y-you! Who are you? Where did you come from? What's your name?" The other man exclaimed.
"Why should I reveal my identity while you guys were the ones fighting and shouting afar?" Luan argued.
The taller man stepped forward and introduced himself, "I am Florian and this is Nyx, we both are disciples from Zion. Our Grandmaster sent us to look for someone, but then we fell into a trap and ended up here."
"So…this is what grandmaster sent me, these two men?" Luan thought
"I can't believe Grandmaster sent me these two, the tall one looks too slim and the slightly short one is too angry. Couldn't the grandmaster come up with better disciples? I guess I can play with
them a little" Luan whispered to himself, grinning.
"Well I guess I should introduce myself now, I am Boyne. I also fell into the trap" Luan pulled
off a serious face; he tried as hard as he could to not laugh.
"Is that really your name?" Nyx asked.
"Yep" Luan grinned.'
Luan had a feeling that others might consider it as "improper" or "outlandish".
"I think you're lying mister, Tell us your real name or this will be your grave" Nyx kept on pestering Luan.
"You can't just threaten people to tell their real name, maybe or maybe not that's his real name. Not everything resorts to violence you dwarf." Florian argued.
"What. Did. You. Just. Say?" Nyx gave Florian the death stare.
Luan cleared his throat, "Instead of arguing shouldn't we figure out what to do since we're stuck here?"
Both Florian and Nyx looked at Luan.
"Mister Boyne" Florian blurted out.
"Yes?" Luan interrupted.
Florian noticed Nyx's laughter in the background as Luan beamed with joy. Florian, feeling annoyed with Nyx's behavior, shot him a threatening stare.
"Why are you just sitting here when there's a Castle right next to you, don't you find it suspicious that there's this one building and no sign of human life?" Florian asked.
"I have thought of this Castle suspicious, that's why I haven't gone inside." Luan said.
"Because you're too scared?" Both Florian and Nyx exclaimed.
Luan couldn't really explain why he didn't go inside the Castle. The reason was somewhat unclear to him.
Luan sat there for a while, The gentle rustling of leaves and chirping of birds were the only sounds that broke the silence. After a moment, he slowly got up on his feet, dusted off his pants, and made his way towards the tall Castle in the distance.
"Where are you going?" Nyx asked.
"Why do you want to know? It's not like we have to stick together or anything," Luan spoke truthfully.
"Nyx just let him be, our mission is to find 'him' make sure you remember that" Florian said.
Luan turned and walked towards the castle.
After crossing the bridge, Luan found himself standing in front of a gate.
The gate in front of Luan was made of a rich, dark oak wood that gleamed with a golden lining. The intricate details of the gold lining added to the gate's overall majestic appearance, making it an impressive sight to behold. He searched for a door knob, but there was none. He tried pushing it open with his strength, then beating it with a stick, and then kicking it, but to no avail. As he sat in front of the gate, he looked around for any objects that could help him, but all he found were stone rocks and wooden sticks. Then, he had an idea. He decided to use his aura to open the gate - a trick that only powerful humans like him could perform.
As Luan sat with his legs crossed, a sudden sensation of weightlessness overcame him. It was as if he had been transported to a whole new universe. Before Luan, a vast expanse of darkness stretched out as far as the eye could see. Dots of light, like tiny stars, began to appear in the blackness. They were connected by lines, forming intricate constellations that seemed to pulse with life. It was as if Luan had stumbled upon the cosmic blueprint of the universe, a dazzling display of interconnectedness.
The soothing glowing beams that escaped from Luan's body were a sight to behold. They were like tiny rays of sunlight, soft and gentle, yet somehow radiant and powerful. They danced and swirled in the air, forming intricate patterns of light that were both mesmerizing and calming. Each beam seemed to carry with it a sense of peace and tranquility. This Realm was called "Area of the Tranquil." This is common knowledge among those who study Aura.
As Luan opened his eyes, a sense of unease washed over him. Something was amiss. His Aura, which was usually a powerful force to be reckoned with, had been blocked by an unknown force. This was an unprecedented occurrence for Luan, Luan's aura was a force to be reckoned with, capable of toppling armies with its sheer strength and unwavering intensity.
The reverberating sounds of shattered glass filled his ears, ringing out loudly and unmistakably amidst the silence.
Luan clutched his ears, trying to drown out the deafening noise as he watched in horror the gradual disintegration of the universe. The sight left him stunned and he couldn't help but wonder, "What kind of being could be powerful enough to shatter one's tranquility like this?"
Luan's tranquility was interrupted by the sudden appearance of a transparent, glowing dove. Its wings seemed to be shattering the peaceful atmosphere around Luan, adding to the already deafening sound of shattered glass. Luan couldn't catch a break as everything seemed to be going wrong that day. "I guess luck isn't on my side today," Luan lamented.
Luan found himself with no other option but to release both his aura and his Tranquility before they became permanently damaged. But before he could do so, a sudden flame appeared in front of the dove. Luan was left dumbstruck.
As the fire raged on, Luan felt his peace slipping away. The flames didn't cause any damage except for the dove, which was now in a perilous situation. Despite feeling helpless, Luan remained frozen in place. As the fire raged on, Luan's heart sank as he heard the desperate cries of the dove. Looking into the bird's eyes, he felt a tear roll down his cheek. Suddenly, a memory flashed through his mind - the cries of innocent villagers who had lost everything to similar fires. The flames blazed a bright orange, The peace he had once felt was now replaced with a sense of devastation.
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He suddenly jolted back to consciousness, only to find himself lying on a cold concrete floor. As he slowly regained his bearings, his gaze shifted from the ceiling to his surroundings. To his left and right, he saw two familiar faces - Florian and Nyx.
Florian's scolding broke Luan's deep thought about the dove that had attempted to break through his tranquility. "You should be careful next time," Florian warned, "otherwise you might not be able to access your tranquility anymore."
Luan was left feeling both puzzled and frustrated. How had the dove managed to enter his tranquility? And why did it try to break through it? These questions kept swirling around in his head, making him feel increasingly nervous. He felt lost and didn't know what to do or say after experiencing his otherwise peaceful state of mind being disturbed.
In an attempt to avoid overwhelming himself with the questions that plagued his mind, Luan shifted his focus to something else. "Could you tell me where we are?" he inquired, hoping to distract himself. "We were able to open the gate that you've been struggling with," Nyx replied, his tone laced with what seemed like mockery towards Luan.
In the realm of the Monarchs, Sangirsu holds the title of the First monarch and reigns over the Shifting land. The Second monarch, Vyncent, governs the Hell Terrain, and the Third monarch, Vetisdeyar, holds sway over the Lifeless City. However, the Fourth monarch, Ether, who rules over the Netherworld Kingdom, is widely regarded as the strongest of them all and has recently grown to fame.
Before the rise of the fourth monarch, there was a tale that had become etched in the memories of those who witnessed the fall of "Límíng". It was a story that could not be forgotten and was only passed down through those who were present.
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Límíng, an ancient Kingdom that was known for their exceptional swordsmanship and strategic warfare. The young man appeared to be around fifteen years old. He trained day and night to master these skills, hoping to one day become a legendary warrior like his ancestors.
"Luan" A man called.
His hair, a mixture of dark brown and white, framed his face, and atop his head sat a crown adorned with a lotus flower symbol and precious rubies. He wore a yellow robe with intricate lotus flower designs and a white over-robe with gold lining, both of which were impeccably maintained. It was the current Emperor of Límíng.
Luan's heart leaped with joy as he heard the Emperor calling out to him. "Father!" he exclaimed, "Have you come to watch me practice? I've learned a new skill from my teacher!" Luan's eyes shone with excitement and enthusiasm as he eagerly awaited the Emperor's response.
"Alright then, show me," Luan's father replied, his curiosity piqued. Luan wasted no time and stepped forward, ready to demonstrate his newly acquired skill. He moved with grace and precision, wielding his sword with ease as he executed a series of intricate moves. The Emperor watched in amazement, impressed by his son's dedication and progress. When Luan finished, his father nodded approvingly. "Well done, my son," he said, "You have truly become a skilled warrior."
"He's been practicing nonstop, day and night," Luan's teacher said, sighing with pleasure at the thought of his student's dedication. "Is that why I never see him in his room after curfew?" The Emperor asked with a hint of concern. "Perhaps," the teacher replied with a small smile.
"But rest assured, he is putting in the hard work and it shows in his progress." The Emperor nodded in agreement, proud of his son's commitment to his training.
The Emperor was in the midst of watching Luan practicing swordsmanship, when he heard the soft sound of footsteps approaching him. Suddenly, a woman's voice spoke up, "It seems that you are enjoying yourselves too much." When the Emperor turned his head, he saw that it was the Empress who had come closer. He acknowledged her presence with a nod.
Luan's face lit up as he spotted his mother, the Empress, standing at the entrance to the training hall. "Mother!" he exclaimed, rushing over to see her.
"There's my little warrior," the Empress said with a smile,
"How have you been? Hopefully training hasn't been taking a toll on your mental health," she added, her voice laced with concern.
"I'm doing great, Mother," Luan replied, beaming.
"I've been training hard with teacher. There's no need to worry about me."
The Empress let out a sigh of relief and ruffled her son's hair affectionately.
"I'm glad to hear that. Keep up the good work, my son."
"Of course, Mother," Luan replied obediently as he sheathed his sword.
The Emperor interrupted, "Luan, that's enough practice. Why not go accompany your mother?" The Empress whispered to the Emperor, "Errin, let him do what he wants. It's best not to force him to do anything."
Luan overheard their exchange and quickly responded, "It's fine, Mother. I would be happy to accompany you." His face lit up with joy as he walked over to his mother.
"Shall we go then?" the Empress asked, smiling at Luan. Luan nodded eagerly and took hold of his mother's arm, offering to escort her. The two made their way through the palace gardens, enjoying the serene beauty of the flowers and trees.
"Luan," she said,
"you're almost sixteen, and I'm thinking about throwing a grand celebration in the palace's Great Hall to honor the occasion. Would you be interested in that?"
Luan was taken aback by the proposal.
"The Great Hall? Will there be many guests there?" he asked.
The Empress chuckled. "Of course, my son. Turning sixteen is not just an age, but a milestone that signifies your transition from a boy to a young man. You deserve to celebrate this special moment surrounded by your peers and esteemed guests."
A grin spread across Luan's face, and he responded, "Then I have no objections to the celebration, Mother."
The Empress returned his smile and said, "I'm glad to hear that, my dear son."
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A week had passed since Luan's birth anniversary was announced, and the Great Hall was bustling with excitement.
The Grand Hall was resplendent in its magnificence. The polished dark oak wood flooring shone brilliantly under the golden hues of the chandeliers. Banners with the outline of a lotus flower hung gracefully on each side of the banisters, adding to the grandeur of the setting. Rows of plush seats were arranged on either side, leaving a clear path for the stunning golden carpet that ran through the center. At the end of the carpet stood a magnificent throne, crafted from the finest gold and encrusted with precious stones. This throne was reserved for the Emperor, a symbol of his power and authority over the kingdom. The entire hall was a feast for the senses, a stunning display of wealth and grandeur that was sure to leave a lasting impression on anyone who beheld it.
High-ranking officials, nobles, and dignitaries from different parts of the Kingdom had gathered to celebrate the occasion. As Luan turned sixteen, the Empress had decided to host the grand celebration in the Palace's magnificent Great Hall. Amid the festivities, the guests chattered excitedly about the occasion.
"I heard the Prince is turning sixteen today," whispered a woman.
"Indeed, time flies so fast," remarked a man.
The atmosphere was joyous and relaxed, and every noble present savored the moment.
The doors slowly swung open, and the Emperor stepped forward, with his hands behind his back, followed by Luan who held onto the Empress's arm. They made their way across the shimmering golden carpet with light and graceful steps, the intricate patterns on the carpet matching the ornate decorations on the walls.
The Emperor's regal attire was nothing short of magnificent. He wore a resplendent gold robe, with intricate layers of white delicately peeking through. His lustrous dark brown hair was tied in a sleek half bun, adding to the impeccable aura that surrounded him. And atop his head sat a crown, adorned with a lotus flower symbol and precious rubies, a testament to his immense wealth and power. The Empress wore a rose gold robe that was adorned with layers of gold and white. Her lustrous black hair was elegantly tied into a bun, with long, graceful strips left hanging on each side. The shining golden crown on her head was an exquisite piece of art, with delicate beads dangling from it, meanwhile the prince looked stunning in his white robe adorned with intricate golden lotus flowers and delicate rose gold outlines. His long, navy hair was tied up in a half-ponytail, cascading down his back in soft waves. His face was graced with a touch of makeup, accentuating his delicate features and making him appear as radiant as a flower. His amber eyes sparkled, adding to his already enchanting appearance.
As soon as the Emperor took his seat on the throne, Luan and the queen stood beside him. The Emperor declared, "May the Celebration begin." and the assembled crowd erupted into cheers and laughter. Luan scanned the room, searching for someone.
"Father, have you seen Virith?" Luan asked his father.
"Your personal guard? I'm sure he's around here somewhere," replied the Emperor.
Luan was standing in the far corner when a shadow appeared, causing him to turn around. "Virith!" he exclaimed at the sight of his friend.
"Haha...sorry I'm late. I was kinda lost," Virith said as he approached. With long, luxurious ash-gray hair and emerald-colored eyes, Virith was an imposing figure. He was dressed in a navy-blue robe with golden stripes, which only added to his regal appearance.