Chapter 38: Tempus edax rerum (Time, The Devourer of All Things)
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David sat down on the grand purple bed while Mokona was fidgeting in his hair, making it like a nest. A moment later, Jason emerged from the bathroom, shaking off the water from his blond hair. Kiara squealed when she got wet, “Eew, Jason, even though I’m the guardian of Water, that doesn’t mean that I don’t know personal hygiene!”

She folded her arms and scoffed, “I should have just left you there. I mean seriously, I found you lying down next to the refrigerator of the cafeteria with a frozen burger in your hands. Fabulous, indeed.”

“I was hungry,” Jason chuckled and sat in between Tiadora and David. “Glad you’re okay, buddy. Too bad that fur-ball is irritating you.”

Mokona hissed and pointed its butt towards Jason as an insult but Jason just laughed. “I fought with Xana at the basement. It went…ugly. I mean, you saw the condition my clothes were in? Man, the CL was dumbfounded when I gave it to her for laundry. Things went wrong and I got pretty bashed up…”

Slowly, he narrated the whole situation in details, about Xana telling hints about his plans and also about him being ‘dead’. When he was done, everyone was drawn within their own thoughts. Gaia was the first one to speak. “His plan complexity might be too great. If that is how he predicts, then we can assume that regardless of what we do, it’ll be in vain. However, this can be a mean of manipulation. The dark wizard is normally known for influencing many into his cast. Still, it is better safe than sorry.”

Gaia was in her sacred form, a Pegasus. Cornelia had summoned her to aid in the search for Jason in the skies. It also gave the excuse that it was tired just being a mini-toy zebra. “And Jason, what is that on your neck?” Gaia nudged her hoof as if pointing. “Why is there Xana’s symbol in the centre of your neck.”

Jason placed his hand on his Adam’s apple and grew confused. “I didn’t see anything in the mirror when I was in the toilet just now.”

“I don’t see anything,” Cornelia and the rest agreed.

“I can see it,” Mokona finally turned and faced Jason. “Only mystical creatures can. Care to explain that, Mr. Kingston.”

“Xana stabbed me with his sword here,” Jason recalled back uneasily. Both animals grew silent.

“I do not think it’s serious,” Mokona admitted. “But I think we should train instead.”

“We have to train harder!” Gaia spoke as the white crystal on its head glimmered. “Tiadora, I think it is best if they learn how to train with us, even if it is only me and Mokona.”

Reluctantly, Tiadora nodded. “Then it is settled,” she stood up and gave an assuring smile. “Although, I would have like to give David some time to cool down from the incident and get used to his bearings, I’d say we don’t have that much of time. Tomorrow morning, we shall start the intensive training.”

▽

At the break of dawn, the five friends walked to the same cavern under the bridge as the one that they went to previously. David and Cornelia used their powers to create an invisible barrier that won’t enable anyone else to interfere with their training. The five friends paced themselves in the centre, with Mokona and Gaia beside them.

“Mokona, Gaia, please,” Tiadora nodded to the sacred animals.

Mokona then squealed in delight and levitated into the air. An amethyst purple circle with intricate patterns glowed with power beneath the floating Mokona. At that moment, huge white wings, that looked too big for Mokona, sprouted from its back as if they were angel wings and wrapped its feather around the small body. The purple circle then blared a green beam from the ground, and the wings, now green, unfold. The magnificent Phoenix was revealed after its wings parted, revealing a fierce creature. It stood high and large, but then landed behind the row of guardians.

“I think I like you better as a pig,” Jason patted the left wing but only to realize that Mokona had two pairs of wings instead. “Woah!”

“My turn!” Gaia shouted and with its small plush toy form, it leaped into the air and the same purple ring appeared below it. Similarly, white wings too big enveloped the small animal, but to only unveiled a white Pegasus after the circle turned into a light shade of grey. Gaia, slightly bigger than an average stallion, nudged Cornelia knowingly.

“Alright,” Tiadora smiled at the sacred animal’s transformation. “Now you see, sacred swords are mythril rapiers that are connected with your sacred animal. It is something like a soul blade of the animal, but one can only activate it unless the animal is willing. The sacred sword is much more powerful than an average sword. It is powered by emotions and only if your sacred animal remains alive.”

“Since you all are new, to want to summon the sword for the first time, Cornelia, David, place your palms on your sacred animal’s gems.”

David started first and when Mokona kneeled its head down as if bowing, David touched the emerald gem on Mokona’s forehead. A small glow grew but died down almost immediately. The same thing happened with Cornelia, but both felt no difference. “Then?” Cornelia shrugged.


“Good. Now you place your hand in front of you,” Tiadora demonstrated, letting her left hand stretch upright in front of her chest. “Then concentrate on your blade. When the handle materializes from your hand, pull it out immediately.”

Cornelia did just as she was told, and closed her eyes. Suddenly, a small circle, about the size of her palm phased out from the surface of her left hand. It had the same intricate pattern as what the circle had from the animals’ transformation but it was electrifying blue this time. A handle then emerged from the circle, as if it was from her palm itself, and with her right hand, Cornelia pulled the handle. She saw the blazing light that the sword radiated when she pulled it out. It was difficult, like as if the sword was being drawn back into the circle, but Cornelia gathered all her strength and the rapier burst out from her hands.

Gasps escaped from the guardians’ breath as Cornelia saw her blade. It was a long golden sword with sizzles of energy radiating in spirals around the blade. “Awesome!” Cornelia gasped, swinging her sword everywhere.

“Now you try, David,” Kiara shaked him from his daze.

Without reluctance, he too shut his eyes close and felt his energy around him. The circle then blazed on the surface of his palm, revealing a handle sliding from the ring. David tightened his grip on the black handle and, too, pulled the sword of with the same explosive lights. It was a thin silver blade. Before the handle reached the metal blade, there was a glimmering gold wing with ornate designs on the silver metal. David couldn’t help but smile, “Amazing.”

“It is,” Tiadora stared at the blade, remembering the knights.

“Oh hey!” David surprisingly adapted a cheery expression. “I almost forgot. Don’t you have a sacred animal, Tiadora? I talk about ours, but what about you?”

Tiadora looked down, not wanting to say, and the excitement mood die down. “I do have a sacred animal,” Tiadora rubbed her arm. “It is a fairy.”

“Fairy?!” everyone gasped in unison. “Where is it?”

“You see, back in my time when me and the knights received our roles as guardians, we had no sacred animal at first,” Tiadora looked up and gave a small smile. “A fairy called Stellaluna, approached me and offered assistance. Seeing the courage of the small fairy triggered the other animals to volunteer their services as well. But, as our battles went by, Stellaluna thought that with grand animals like Gaia, Mokona, Excalibur and Dakota helping the rest, she felt that its tiny form was of no help to me at all. So, one day, it came to me again and said, ‘I will fuse my life energy into yours, and you will discover a far more powerful magic than everyone’s combined forces’. And before I could say anything else, she entered inside of me. And even though she says that she is with me, I don’t feel her presence at all. She didn’t even let me say how I feel.”

Tiadora sighed and flickered her hand as if she wanted to exit the subject. “Then what’s the power?” Kiara asked, oblivious to the sorrow ambience. “The one more powerful?”

“Okay, how about, I’ll show it to everyone once all of us have obtained our sacred animals?” Tiadora said monotonously. “For now, we train with swordplay.”

“Since Jason and Kiara have yet to get their sacred animals, they shall use normal swords,” Tiadora clasped her palms together, muttered something softly, and three plain swords emerged from the ground. “Although I have my own, I shall teach you all with a normal blade. Cornelia and David may use their sacred swords on this training while we use these.”

Tiadora threw one at both Jason and Kiara, whom managed to catch it easily. “We shall also train while in combat with the sacred animals. That way, you will know how to fight with the sacred animal. Any other questions?”

“The Amerix thingy?” Kiara reminded.

“That will be an objective of another session,” Tiadora gripped her sword handle hard. “Now, lets battle!”

♥

What do you think about him now? It has been two months since they knew that they were guardians. Honestly, I think he's a fine young lad, not like Sir Lancelot at all.

Do not judge a book by its cover. I need him to prove himself worthy.

Well, I'm bored. Mokona defied your orders and headed to that other boy first. (chuckles) Both you and her have always been on bad terms.

That puffy thing never thinks before she acts. Just like Sir Galahad. One part brave, three parts fool.

But hey, that David kid doesn't quite match with Sir Galahad. He is a total opposite, in fact. Such a quiet boy who hides everything from his friends.

I don't think he treats them as friends, what more comrades.

Hrm.. It is like being forced into it. Blame fate. I was very shocked that he turned into a vampire.

Whatever he becomes, it doesn't matter as long as he is true to the good side. Xana's already making his move.

Yup! The Balistia in the auditorium and the cavern that Artemis and Tyran created in the Sahara Dessert, are part of it.

I don’t recall any spell involving all of those traits.

We’ll figure it out. Hey, you went missing yesterday! Around three, 21st Century time?

Xana encaged the guardian of Fire in a symbolized barrier. I had to rescue the boy because Xana only allowed my entry.

Harh?! So the guardian of Fire saw finally saw you?! The great Dragon, Dakota?!

No, I took on a form of a rat. It took some time for him to pass out after I bite some sleeping draught into his fingers.

No wonder. One moment, we were trying to invisibly prevent that Ulrich kid from entering the cafeteria when Cornelia was injured, then the next, you vanished!

It was necessary. Even though I have not bounded to him as a guardian’s sacred animal yet.

You know, even though, that is supposed to be my guardian...I seem to admire the guardian of Air's roughness. She doesn't seem to act like an innocent scared fragile girl.

You do know how to change the subject, Excalibur. But yes, she does have those manly characteristics. Yours seems to be rather reluctant. Although, I think she'll do quite fine.

Yeah, I guess. So does that mean I can approach her soon?

(sighs) Ama et fac quod vis, but probably not today, Excalibur. I sent out Gaia because I think the guardian of Air is ready. Perhaps another day. Let us depart before Tiadora senses our presence. We are already interfering with their barrier. She would notice it one way or another.

Then what about you, Dakota? If you're going to let me off soon, and I hope it is soon, then when will you join us? He can't summon his sword without his sacred animal alongside him.

There’s Xana mark on his neck.

Now you’re the one changing the subject?! (laughs) Quite an awful sight, don’t you think?

It was already there when I came. There must have been a wound that Xana made on his neck.

But it’s glowing red. I mean it looks small but deadly red.

Normally, that would indicate as a target. I remember Sir Lancelot warning me about it when Sir Thomas was marked on his right palm.

Oh. Azric eventually stabbed him there weeks later and Sir Thomas fell into a grave disease. It must have been a particular point on the body because other wounds didn’t give out the same results.

But it could also be just a stigma, something that will maybe vanish in due time without any damage.

Maybe. So back to the main question. When?

Tempus omnia revelat.

Time will tell? We’ve been observing them for so long. (yawns) Why are you so devoted to the fourth dimension?

Tempus edax rerum.