1 Episode 1

Indeed the Lord

Caiwen in the middle of the afternoon is ticking in his seat, wanting to pull up his very self and just sleep his study afternoon out. It was frustrating him how he could not understand anything despite being called that. It sounds very ironic to him how he could have attained knowledge of it but not to his lessons in school and even messed up almost half of his tests.

He palmed his face to erase the frown of it, just like when girls washes their makeup-foundationed face with fresh faucet water, he slides it down on his face and drops his palm harshly on his study table that it turns reddish in pressure.

"How could they complicate it like this!?" he growl after he understands one context from the book.

The doorknob jiggles in circling motion but Caiwen's attention is in a deep dimension of his textbook. He could not have noticed that someone is knocking on his door and when received no answer, the person decided to enter. The man jumps in from outside the room after opening it. He stood proudly in his six foot and seven height that he has to crouch down a bit when entering small areas, not only solely because of his stature but also because of his huge body frame.

He is standing across the room in silence and watch Caiwen for a minute or two, witnessing his only friend getting lost in his studies. When he realizes that he has something else to do aside from just standing there, he then calls his friend's name out.

"Caiwen."

Caiwen's eyes widens in saucers painfully by Lance's low holler of his name. He slightly jumps on his seat in shock. His pen stumbles under his table of which brings him back from the world, he could not do anything but to cooperate. He quickly bend down to reach for his pen but unluckily hit his head at the back of the study table. Lance is only filled with seriousness to even laugh at Caiwen's misfortune. His lips are in a grim line, his facial expression remains straight.

Caiwen caresses the back of his head to soothe down the pain, or more like the electrifying shock of his brain. He chuckles to ease the embarrassing situation when he was reminded of Lance's presence behind him. He turns his swivel chair to acknowledge him.

"Aiya... You startled me, Lance," he said lightly, caressing his thumping heart out of shock.

"I am sorry, Caiwen. I have been standing here for a minute. You were too indulge in your studies. I might disturb you so I waited for a while," he says reasonably.

"Hmm..." Caiwen teasingly nods and played his chin with his finger. "Oh! Are you here to help me with my lessons, Lance?" It is a joke but for Lance who is too serious and have few understanding of them, he take it as it is.

"I am sorry, I am afraid I cannot be of help when it comes to your matters, Caiwen."

Lance took a step forward to have a view of Caiwen's review textbooks. Caiwen will be having tests for his evening until late night classes later, he once mentioned it to Lance and Lance could still remember how Caiwen look so troubled. That is why he is reviewing a bit harder than he had reviewed before it is necessary. Lance is trying to resonate with Caiwen and by doing that, he also wants to help him out.

"I will be going to the grocery today. Do you have something you want me to get for you?"

"Now that you mention it..." Caiwen remembered the list he is missing in his refrigerator. Now is the good time to fill it with grocery. He turns back around to look for that piece of paper. Caiwen finds it inside his drawer and take it out to give him. "Then, if you please. Buy everything on the list."

"Okay." Lance nods his head, not even giving a bit glance on the list. He just lend his receiving palm to Caiwen. "Give me your money. You have to pay me too for ordering me around. This is a service from me, Caiwen."

"Ah, not good, Lance. You asked for it willingly."

"I did?" Lance tilts his head in confusion, trying to look back at his words and actions. "I did not." He frown when he realize he is getting played by Caiwen. Caiwen bursts into laughing and fished out money from his wallet.

"Alright, alright. You have learned now the way of poor people's living, Lance. I'm a good teacher, am I not?"

"You are." He nods confidently, too innocent to be defiant of Caiwen's banters.

Lance left after Caiwen gives him instructions about the list of groceries, just like a robot after being tasked by his owner. Lance is always aloof; he only shows people his serious and stoic side, of course, if you put aside his ignorance of ordinary living. One would wonder what are the other sides of Lance. Is he capable of joking too?

Caiwen for a while is having a hard time bringing himself back from studying. After Lance left, he takes out his phone and started scrolling on his SNS, checking for reactions and comments from his pictures and messages in his inbox. He only saw messages that pertains to his studies. That reminded him of what has to be done today that he has to force himself back to studying. His head starts to hurt again and in frustration, he is pulling his already messy hair while reading.

His study time is again interrupted by a woman's scream. He looks back at the door and struggles to wear his white bunny slippers. He is too anxious to even change himself into something presentable in front of a respectable woman. He is only wearing sweat shorts and a tee shirt, a white bunny slippers that protects his bare feet. He opened another room to reveal a woman sitting down on a lofty bed.

"Who are you? Where am I? What did you do to me, you little insolent!" Those are the first queries that comes out of her mouth when she has the sight of him.

"Calm down, princess!"

He throws his palm upfront in defense against the squirming woman. She squints her eyes on him, her eyebrows brawling against each other. He is contemplating whether to get closer or to just standby to show a little respect and he choses the latter. He stand farther from the bed where she is sitting.

Viktorina who appears to be flabbergast from waking up and witnessing that she has been sleeping in a different bed is still wandering her eyes around the place, trying to find something that reminds her of the place she was staying. When she realize she sees nothing familair from here, she glances at the man who finally found himself a stool to sit.

"Are you one of the royal guards? What about the meeting between Persia and Verdetta? What is going to happen with me?" she asks. Her eyes surveyed his features that might be familiar of her. Viktorina's forehead puckers even more when she found none, again. Her gaze surveyed further down what he is wearing. A tee shirt and sweat shorts, that is slightly being pulled up because of his sitting position, showing himself some skin. What a dirty man! That's what arises inside Viktorina's head. "Why are you wearing such filthy clothes!?"

"Uhh... Which one should I answer first?" he asks, rubbing the skin of his cheek with his nail, overwhelmed by too much questions now.

She gasps and pointed at his garb. "Your clothes!"

"Oh!" He nodded at look down on what he is wearing. "This is a tee shirt and and sweat shorts, Your Royal Highness." He pointed his clothes respectively, like introducing a new fine garb to Viktorina. "What else do you want me to answer?"

"Haven't you heard of my questions then? I stated all of them clearly," she heftily said.

Caiwen laughs at her remarks. He responds with a devious banter, that would be a clue of his identity.

"My, my! I never expected the princess to be this impatient. According to the Book of Knowledge, Your Royal Highness only princess of Persia has been patient in coaxing the crown prince of Verdetta for their plans."

That held her tongue for a while. She became alerted and even more careful of her words and actions. Viktorina has been throwing daggers at Caiwen since she woke up but it intensifies even more, throwing daggers of fire that would rip him open and burn him, if that would hurt physically.

"Who are you, Drevothian?"

"I am afraid you are mistaken, Your Royal Highness. I am neither a Drevothian nor from anyone of your states."

Everything around her feels dark and frightening as a small grin tugs the side of his lips. He pushes his invisible glasses inwardly, administering suspense and mystery. He slowly stands up and opened his arms, as if revealing a huge sums of power.

"I am the Lord!" he announces along with his wicked laugh that made Viktorina doubtful of his words. This guy has a twisted mind, she thought.

Before he could even have a sight of her movements, she is already behind him, holding a ruler on his neck. A proof of her unending training when she joined their armed forces, he lost a sight of her and is even faster than his adrenaline response.

"I am afraid I am not in a mood for a good laugh, Drevothian. Tell me your identity and I will let go of you," she whispers a threat.

"Oh, the princess really likes retort to violence, huh..." he says as he glances down the ruler pointing his neck. Hell, he is scared but he is telling the truth! Why won't she believe his words? "I am telling you nothing but the truth. I am a human and an Ùine. The Lord of Knowledge in the land of Drevothia. Which Drevothians held with high regards. Will you let me go if I will show you a proof?"

Viktorina's weapon, which he only thought of as a ruler before not until she uses it as her weapon, is still pointing at the very skin of his neck. She is still doubting his words. He knows she is full of doubt if she is to trust a complete stranger. Not to forget, a suspicious one. He held her trembling hand gently and softly to take it away from him. He strides towards an empty table, a chameleon appears from its hiding along with a heavy looking antique book. It seems like the chameleon uses its skill to hide the book.

It looks old with lots of pages. It is not new to her to see a thick book because she was then surrounded by them when she was a child. She was studying the proper etiquette of a royal member. Sports of which she studies first from books to have knowledge of its rules before experiencing it for real. History of the land which she exists and their country stood proudly. Also, the names and social standing of many people she is not even interested. She never thought that this suspicious guy is also experiencing it. The struggle to have knowledge of something they are not even interested! At the back of her head, she praises him.

The chameleon run through his arms and rests on his neck. Caiwen gestures his hand on the book, and as if it has life within, it floats towards him and stops halfway when it is already in front of them.

"This is the Book of Knowledge. Every Guardians from different dimensions have this kind of book. The Lords reside in the vast land of Earth, most of us stays in Japan. Every dimensions has one Ùine looking after them. Sometimes they call us Lord of Knowledge for the vast knowledge we have in your dimensions. We could also be refer as Guardian of Time."

Viktorina is still gaping for witnessing it in real life, the image of the Book of Knowledge, how the Guardian looks like and their Lord's home. She is inside his home and she even slept in one of his guest rooms! She is at loss of words seeing all of it, she is still in a process of accepting it all. And, she might also witness him using his ability! That is the most exciting part!

She only knew all of it from the book she had studied when she was a kid. As she is growing older, she never held it in high regards, meeting the Lord. She thought he might not be real because neither one nor the elders of his country have seen the Ùine. Greek Gods and Goddesses are far real than he is, that's what she always thought. They can reach out to them easily, however, the Ùine's whereabouts is unknown.

"It looks like you do not believe me." He gestures his hand again and flip many pages rapidly. It stops. "Ah... Here it is! Mary Viktorina Bermonte, the only princess of Persia. She was given assignment from his Father. The objective is to take over the land of Verdetta after the king and crown prince die. Win the selection and marry the crown prince to make the plan possible. The alternative plan is to take the princess and use her to ignite a war against Verdetta. The factions would be divided and a bigger war would ignite." Caiwen rubs his chin, his lips slightly rising as if he had witness something so ridiculous . "King Philip is quite confident, I see... You disagreed and chose to win the selection. Verdetta and Persia alliance happened after you married the prince. You became the eye of your father when you infiltrate their country and after how many years, you tried to assassinate the King but failed because you have been caught by the crown prince, the second prince and the princess. You were—"

"Stop!" Her body trembles remembering the horror of being in that position. She drops herself wearily on the bed, it creaks with her weight.

"That is so far the record you made yourself, princess." He closes the book. "Are you believing me now?"

"I already did! I was just... surprised. You do not have to remind me of my mistakes."

"I see... Then are you telling me I do not have that right, Princess Viktorina of Persia? After all, these mistakes are those that will lead to warfare." Caiwen's voice is low and gentle but it screams with authority, far from how he usually talks—playful and devious.

Viktorina felt her palms sweating by the tensions she felt. She shook her head and lower down as a sign of respect. "No, Lord. I am sorry, Lord Caiwen. May I ask why you have brought me to your home, Lord?"

"Hmm, good question! Why is it?" He rubs his chin, trying to remember his intention. He clicked his fingers, his face brightening when he remembered. "Ah, I am sorry. I am getting forgetful. The stability of Drevothia will be thrown off. In this timeline, a war will happen after the King of Verdetta's death. Your Father will betray the faction and join the other to revolt against the Emperor's decision."

Viktorina's lips parted. "The King of Verdetta is already dead?" She did not succeed killing the King of Verdetta. Did her Father do something about it?

"Unfortunately, the King of Verdetta died of an illness. The second prince took over a year ago, after the King died, without having his coming-of-age. A lot of nobles and aristocrats did not agree of the decision."

Viktorina played with her fingers thinking deeply what must have happened in their world. A war is going to happen and it seems like something happened to Eldrion. She glances at Caiwen, he probably doesn't want to let her know about it.

Viktorina sighs, slightly determined to hear everything that should be uncovered. "That must mean I am here for a year already..."

"Yes. I brought you here before the meeting of Persia and Verdetta happened. In fact, you have been sleeping for a year when I brought you, I thought you had died if not only for the Book of Knowledge's records." He shrugs at his joke that she has not understood. He cleared his throat to save a face from embarrassment. Her question has been unanswered yet. "You are mainly the reason why the timeline will advance to that stage. That is why I will be needing your help for that."

"What is it that I could help, Lord?"

"I will be altering the timeline to which your father had given you the mission."

"Then, I will be repeating the same mistakes again..." she whispers to herself, glowering down to her lap where her hands rest. She played with her fingers.

"That is why I brought you here. So that you will be conscious of what it is that you will have to change and what is not. It is up to you. The main objective is to expose your Father and his shenanigans. Can you do it, Viktorina?"

She sighs and nod. She doesn't feel confident of doing this but there is no other choice. Only she can do this. Now that she is given the trust of the Lord of Knowledge, she has to show the gratitude.

"I accept your order, Lord."

Caiwen chuckles, making light of the heavy situation, to influence her of it too. She looks gloomy. She must be thinking too much now. "Of course! My orders are absolute!"

Caiwen starts the chanting spell for time alteration. Since only pure-blooded Ùine's are able to use their full ability outside their own dimensions, he could only chant a spell here. The descendants of the Ùines are no longer the same race. The blood of human race are now gushing inside their veins, however, the ability to wield that certain power still continues. It will continue and it should. If not, then countless of dimensions will be in chaos and become desolated.

"By the power granted upon the chosen one, I, the Ùine, rejects three years of time in the land of Drevothia. Behold time reversal. Lend me your power Kronosphobia."

There are inaudible whispers floating in the air as though they were speck of dust granted of life. The wind swirls around Caiwen and brings him and the thick book to the air. The continuous flipping of the books sounds like the flapping of birds wings as they fled. Viktorina could barely hear the language the wind speaks. All she knows is that it is a language she do not know of. It is speaking to Caiwen.

"I shall revert the time, Kronosphobia. Eat it and you shall prosper."

Pages from the book were removed from their spine, only to be replaced by fresh new ones and started floating in the air. It burns into golden ashes. The ashes from the book are floating on his circle, like he is inside of a golden tornado until it stops moving and brings Caiwen down. Caiwen fall on his knees while catching his breath.

"Ah! This is the first time I have done this spell. I never thought it is this tiresome."

Viktorina stands there like a statue, utterly astonish to what she had witnessed. She had already submerged it inside her mind, the thought of him as the Lord of Knowledge, their Guardian but this is too much for her to process. She is still gaping in the air, looking for some traces of golden ash from the burnt pages.

"Wow..." Her mouth could not find the proper words to say. "You are indeed the Lord."