Chapter 53, Priest of Time

"His time was stolen by a Horologium, it can only be restored if we kill that very same Horologium." I told her.

"Yes, but... that Horologium is very powerful, it took all I had to seal it a pocket of space." She said bitterly. "Which is why I turned to master. I know it's brazen of me to ask such as thing but-"

"Say no more. I'll handle it." I told her and smiled. "For now, I'll wake him up so that Fate and Gary won't suspect anything."

"Thank you." She said as she smiled with a smile. It seems she cares deeply for her Priest. The others did too and I'm sure it's because of a strong bond. Similar to the one me and everyone else share.

I touch my shadow and pull out a simple bracelet made of polished amber. I slip it into his hands and slowly the glowing stops. He begins to open his eyes ever so gently.

"Hmmm... Lady Chronologia?" He said as Chronologia looked down on him with tears in her eyes.

"Chiko, thank goodness you're fine!" She cried as she hugged him.

"Chiko?" I asked.

"Tokisaki Chiko, my father was from your world before he married my mother who was from this world." He answered. "My name literally translate to Pledge of Time."

"I see. It suits you well." I told him. "As the Priest of Time."

"Hehe, Le Fleur hasn't changed a bit since we first met." He said and kneeled.

"There's no need to kneel, really." I told him and grabbed his hand with a smile. "Let's go see everyone else."

We went off to meet up with the others and I introduced Chiko to them. They easily accept him and they get along quickly.

"So he's the Priest of Time?" Theo said as we were talking. "Something's off about him. Like he isn't here and he isn't there either."

"Ha ~, I guess you would notice." I sighed.

"Arata?" Liam raised an eyebrow as if to ask what.

"Chiko has lost his time, it has been stolen by Horologium. Right now he is only here because I lent him the Amber Charm." I told them. "Its main power is to preserve whatever it has been fastened on. But even the Charm will have a limit. Our goal is to defeat the Horologium before the time limit."

"How much time do we have?" Angie asked.

"Three days at the very most." I answered her. "It should be enough time to prepare for the fighting."

"I suppose so." Andrew sighed. "You'd better refine the two new pieces we got. We were in such as rush that we didn't get to refine the two."

"Yeah." I answered and popped the white gem into my mouth. Hmm... I wonder what kind of gem this is.

I pass the gem to Alexis and then pop the next gem into my mouth. Zhen's gem had a golden hue, after I passed it to him Alexis spat his out. I took the now refined gem and turned it into an earring and gave ut to him. After Zhen spat up his I fastened it to a collar and gave it to him. Alexis' gem after being polsihed showed that it was a White Tourmaline while Zhen was a Sphene.

For the next three days we prepared all that we needed to fight the Horologium. The others trauned while I created a strategy for the fight. As I'm trying to figure out what to do I feel sleepy and doze off.

When I open my eyes again I'm in the Whisoering Garden again. The other Flowers gathered in front of me and are enjoying tea.

"Oh, good afternoon." Emilia greeted as she sipped her tea.

"What a cup?" Elias asked and I nodded absent mindedly.

"Here you go." Ivy handed me the cup.

As I sipped tea they were chatting away about their Swords, the past and what they were doing. Erika asks me how I'm doing and I simply smile.

"That's right, you should probably be careful when using Creation." Gregory said as turned his attention to me.

"What's Creation?" I asked.

"You know that ability of yours to pull weapons out of your shadow? Well, that's actually my ability." He said. "But it's dangerous, the more you use it the higher the chances of you becoming inhuman."

"Eh? Isn't that bad?" I exclaimed. "And I use it constantly."

"Well, why don't you limit it to five times a day?" Ivy said.

"Okay." I said and realized something. "You wouldn't happen to know how to defeat the Horologium would you?"

"Use the Temporal Clock." Erika answered.

"Or use the Sacred Flower." Aster said. "You aren't able to use it yet are you?"

"Sorry, I don't know what you mean." I answered.

"Well, let's save that for another time." Julius said. "You're running out of time so head on back."

"Okay." I answered and closed my eyes.

I open my eyes to be back in the real world. I meet up with the others who have just finished preparations for the fight. Chronologia joins us not long after.

"The Dimensional Rift is a place devoid of the concept of time and space. Be careful." She said as she opened the portal to where the Horologium is. "If anything goes wrong, use this."

"The Cadence Bell?" I asked as I accepted the bell she gave me.

"Wiat!" Chiko called out and grabbed my hand. "A protection charm."

He slips something into my hand and I turn it over to see a pocket watch. He smiles and I accept his gift before we depart.

"Take care and be careful." She said as we enetred the portal.

When we pass through the protal for an instant I see a bright light amd when it clears I'm in a place that is completely made of crystals. They seem to reflect the light that is here in this space. Were on a piece of land made of crystals that foaost about by itslef. On the edge of it nothing but a dark void. So this is the Dimensional Rift.