Chapter 12 - Time's Mastery

***

Alexia's world went dark after her fall into the icy river. When she finally regained consciousness, she found herself lying on the riverbank, battered and heavily injured. Blood seeped from a wound on her head, and her arm throbbed with the pain of a fracture. Attempting to rise, she struggled but failed.

Muttering to herself, she murmured, "Damn, where am I?" She made another attempt to stand, but her body refused to cooperate. Desperation drove her to scan her surroundings, and her eyes fell upon a broken branch. Summoning every ounce of her determination, she dragged herself to it and used it as a makeshift crutch.

She contemplated her options, murmuring, "What should I do? Should I wait for them?" Her gaze shifted to a trail of footprints leading into the forest. "What are these?" she wondered aloud, curiosity and concern intermingling.

Despite the blood drops she left behind, each step was an arduous effort. Fatigue gnawed at her, but she pressed on, following the enigmatic footprints.

Suddenly, a strange sound reached her ears, a noise foreign to the tranquil forest. Fear clenched her heart, and she sought cover behind a tree, her breath held in anticipation.

Moments later, the forest floor beneath her feet gave way, and with a piercing scream, she tumbled into the earth below.

***

As the piercing scream reverberated through the forest, Henry and Asher exchanged alarmed glances. Without hesitation, they sprinted toward the source of the cry, their hearts pounding in their chests. When they reached the spot, their breaths came in ragged gasps.

But there was no one in sight.

They scanned the area frantically, their eyes darting in every direction, searching for any sign of Alexia. Henry's voice trembled as he spoke, "What was that? I thought it was Alexia."

Asher, his anxiety mirrored in his voice, replied, "I also thought the same, but there's no one here."

A profound unease settled over them like a heavy shroud. Asher admitted, "I feel like someone is watching us, Henry. It's as if unseen eyes are tracking our every move."

Henry nodded in agreement. "I feel it too, Asher. This place is unlike anything we've encountered before."

With no other option, they continued their search, their senses heightened by a creeping sense of dread. After what felt like an eternity of searching, Asher spotted something glinting on the ground.

"Hey, Henry, look," Asher called out, bending down to pick up the object. It was a necklace, a delicate piece of jewelry that Alexia often wore.

Henry's eyes widened as recognition dawned. "That's Alexia's necklace. But how did it end up here?"

Their questions hung unanswered in the still air. Just as they began to ponder this mysterious discovery, the ground beneath them trembled, and a door, previously unnoticed, creaked open beneath their feet.

With a shock, Henry and Asher tumbled into the gaping darkness below, their voices echoing in the void as they fell.

In the darkness of the unknown abyss, Henry and Asher descended from a height of nearly 20 meters. Asher, the first to plummet, lost consciousness upon impact, while Henry, though disoriented, managed to maintain his awareness. In that dim, eerie void, they heard the hushed murmurs of a group of people. The soft glow of lamps revealed figures gathering around them, clad in clothing unlike anything they had ever seen, armed with swords, bows, and arrows.

With trembling voice, Henry tried to inquire, "Wh...who are you?" But his words were met with silence, broken only when someone struck him from behind, and darkness once again claimed his senses.

When Henry's eyes blinked open, he found himself hanging from massive pillars. A glance around the chamber revealed Alexia and Asher, similarly suspended. The pillars formed a mysterious triangle, a pattern that had etched itself into Henry's memory from the temple.

Alexia remained unconscious, but Asher was awake and concerned. He asked, "How are you, Henry? And thank goodness Alexia is safe."

Henry replied, "I'm okay. Did you see anyone around?"

Asher shook his head. "No, I haven't seen anyone yet."

It was then that Alexia slowly awoke, her vision blurred. She murmured to herself, "Where... Where am I?"

Asher, relieved that she was regaining consciousness, said, "Thank goodness you're awake. I was so worried."

Alexia, her voice dry, inquired further, "Asher, Henry, how did you get here?"

Their moment of uncertainty was interrupted when the enigmatic group approached them, untying their restraints. Without explanation, they began leading the trio toward their leader.

Asher tried to ask, "Who are you? Where are you taking us?" but received no response. Their feet were bound by chains that allowed only small, measured steps.

As they continued down the corridor, they emerged from the oppressive darkness into a well-lit passageway adorned with intricately carved walls featuring colorful flowers and enigmatic symbols. Finally, they arrived at the grand throne room. Seated upon the ornate throne was a regal figure, surrounded by women clad in dresses woven from leaves.

Approaching the king, a man in the group conveyed something in their unique language. Henry, Asher, and Alexia stood behind him, unable to comprehend the exchange. However, as the king neared Asher and noticed the mysterious mark on his forehead, he fell to his knees, a gesture laden with profound reverence and awe.

The atmosphere in the throne room crackled with anticipation as the king's reaction hinted at an enigmatic connection between them and this unknown civilization.

The king's orders sent a shiver down their spines, but they knew they had to act swiftly. His men brought forward ominous-looking stands, securing their hands and feet in a vice-like grip. Helplessness washed over them as they realized the dire predicament they were in.

Henry leaned in close to Asher, their eyes locked in determination. "We can't let them kill us like this. I may not fully understand my new magic, but we have to try."

Asher, his voice resolute, agreed, "You're right. We have to fight back with everything we've got."

Summoning every ounce of his newfound power, Henry conjured a micro-jolt of lightning magic, aiming it at the ropes binding his hands. Sparks sizzled and smoke wafted into the air as the ropes smoldered. The sudden burst of magic startled the king's men and sent them scrambling back.

With nimble fingers, Henry freed himself, then swiftly directed his magic toward Asher's restraints. The ropes on Asher's hands sizzled and snapped, freeing him from his binds.

Meanwhile, Alexia, ever resourceful, employed her hunting skills. She expertly maneuvered her small dagger, using it to dismantle the lock on her shackles. Once free, she wasted no time in assisting the others.

The king, growing impatient, ordered his men to attack. Several of his warriors charged, their weapons gleaming menacingly. One of them lunged at Asher with a sword, but Asher, fueled by adrenaline, seized the assailant's arm and delivered a powerful punch, breaking the man's nose. As the attacker staggered back in pain, Asher wrested the sword from his grip.

With the stolen weapon in hand, Asher unleashed a series of swift and deadly slashes, cutting down their foes and creating chaos in the ranks of the king's men. The throne room erupted into a melee of clashing steel and cries of battle.

The tide had turned, and Henry, Asher, and Alexia were determined not to go down without a fight.

As the chaos of battle raged around them, Henry, Asher, and Alexia fought valiantly against the king's soldiers. Blades clashed, and the room echoed with the sounds of combat. Yet, unbeknownst to them, a greater danger loomed.

The king, a figure of eerie composure amidst the tumult, calmly raised his hand, commanding his soldiers to halt their assault. He stepped forward, his eyes locked onto Asher, who seized the opportunity to strike while the king was momentarily off-guard. With a swift and determined motion, Asher moved to finish the king.

But the king's power far exceeded their expectations. In an instant, he manipulated time itself. With a mere snap of his fingers, he froze Asher mid-air, suspended in a state of temporal suspension. Time slowed to a crawl around Asher as he helplessly hung in the balance.

Then, with calculated precision, the king unleashed a devastating blow. It struck Asher's face with brutal force, causing a resounding impact that reverberated through the room. Asher's body twisted and convulsed as he absorbed the full brunt of the assault.

Henry, his heart pounding with fear and anger, could hardly comprehend what had just transpired. He watched in horror as his friend, caught in the grip of the king's temporal power, suffered a terrible blow. The realization dawned on him: the king possessed control over time itself, a formidable and nearly insurmountable ability.

"What kind of magic is this?" Henry muttered to himself, his voice trembling with disbelief and dread. "It's time control... we're in grave trouble."

Henry knew that facing an opponent with mastery over time presented a unique and terrifying challenge. He glanced at Alexia, her eyes wide with a mix of astonishment and fear, realizing that their predicament had taken a dire turn.

With Asher incapacitated, their chances of victory had diminished significantly. The king stood unscathed, his power unquestionably dominant. As the king advanced, his gaze shifted between the three captives, assessing their potential threat.

Alexia, still armed with her small dagger, held it tightly, ready to defend herself and her friends. Henry, struggling to formulate a plan, felt the weight of the situation pressing down on him. The odds were stacked against them, but they couldn't afford to give in to despair.

The king's lips curled into a chilling smile, a gesture that sent shivers down their spines. He gestured to his soldiers, who remained in a state of obedience, awaiting his command. It was clear that their lives hung in the balance, subject to the whims of this enigmatic ruler.

With time itself under the king's dominion, their every move was anticipated, and their options limited. The king's mastery over this arcane power had placed them in a perilous and inescapable predicament.

As the king's chilling laughter filled the air, Henry, Alexia, and the incapacitated Asher braced themselves for whatever fate had in store for them, trapped in the relentless grip of time's inexorable march.

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Author's note: dont forgot to add it in your collection.