Saint Camp — West Bank of Elyndar, a place where history and myth intertwine.
End of Chaos Era, Year 990
The desert wind caressed the tent where Sheena rested, whispering gently as if trying to divulge forgotten secrets. However, this wind was unlike any she had experienced before; it carried tales from a dark and mysterious era, harboring secrets within each breath. This air felt ancient, its earthy scent foreign and evocative, reminiscent of footsteps in a world not yet fully realized.
In the distance, the rustling wind conveyed secrets that eluded comprehension, as if this universe held grim memories from a long-gone time, stirring a profound sense of mystery within her.
Aphrodhite sat beside her, offering a plate of fresh wild fruits and a glass of clear, refreshing water. The face of the Saint woman was warm, but a weight lingered in her eyes, like an unspoken burden casting a shadow over her smile.
"How are you feeling today?" she asked softly, her voice flowing like a soothing stream.
Sheena nodded, "Better," she replied, despite the ache in her legs and the heaviness in her head, filled with haunting shadows of thought.
Surrounding them, the shadows of the Saints moved slowly, bound by a mystical force that seemed to weave the night into a cohesive whole, creating an atmosphere that was both calming and enigmatic, like the pages of a book poised to reveal ancient stories.
However, a heavier awareness began to grow within her mind. This was not just a few centuries into the past; it was... far too distant.
That night, as the Saints gathered around the campfire, Sheena sat alone near an ancient tree that evoked a sense of emptiness and isolation. She gazed up at the expanse of the dark sky, where the Black Sun—the ominous dark star—still hovered on the western horizon, unmoving as if challenging the passage of time itself. Unlike an ordinary sunset, its dark light continued to bleed into the heavens like an open wound, creating a haunting contrast that stirred feelings of profound uncertainty within her.
In that moment of silence, the night breeze whispered softly, carrying a melancholic aura that pierced her heart. Somber notes resonated through the stillness, signaling that darkness was more than mere absence of light; it symbolized lost hope, cast far away within the hidden corridors of time, filled with memories long buried and forgotten.
"Even the night cannot drive it away..."
She recalled the ancient stories she had once read, tales that wove the intricate fabric of her future. She envisioned the shadow of the Chaos Era, complete with all the turmoil it entailed; a saga of Chronos, the master of time, who defied the boundaries of reality; and the narrative surrounding the Black Sun, the emblem of destruction that loomed over them from the depths of time's relentless will.
In the silence of her mind, faint shadows began to dance beneath her eyelids, swirling in the encroaching darkness around her, carrying uncertainty along with them. The gentle whisper of the wind seemed to urge her forward, delivering messages from an era long forgotten, reminding her of ancient rituals echoing through the corridors of time, striving to summon back memories that had faded, nearly vanished, igniting her curiosity about the hidden truths yet to be uncovered.
"No... this is not from thousands of years ago."
"This... is one hundred thousand years before my time."
100,000 years.
The distance that allows enough time for civilizations to be born and perish repeatedly, with forgotten tales buried in the dust of history. She and her baby now find themselves in a world that seems nearly severed from the time she once knew.
Out there, the sky sparkles with a mysterious dark aura, as if holding extraordinary power within. The stars tremble in fear, sensing the presence of a lurking threat from the depths of darkness.
"If I die here, history will lose its thread."
But who has thrown her here? Who dares to shatter that timeline? Chronos? Or... some older power?
That night, Saint Cosmo approached her with a calm stride. Behind him, Sofia and Erina followed, their faces filled with anxiety and hope.
"Sheena Fate," Cosmo spoke softly, sitting beside her with a deep gaze.
"Your family name... has been mentioned in the ancient prophecies of the Elyndar."
"Your face radiates an aura that brings hope, yet also sadness," he continued, observing Sheena's expression closely. "As if you are a bridge between two opposing worlds, trapped in a conflict you never chose."
Sheena turned quickly, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "A prophecy?"
Sofia answered calmly, as if lifting a heavy burden off her shoulders, "In the Chronicles of the Last Witness, there is a prophecy that says:
'From the broken will, one bearing the name Fate will traverse death and time, illuminating the path for those who remain trapped in darkness, offering salvation to the lost.'
Sheena froze, her surroundings seemingly pausing as she felt the impact of the prophecy that might signal a significant change in her destiny.
Her breath hitched, as if something unexpected was blocking the flow of air. It... reminded her of the ancient scripts that Fitran once studied; images in her mind swirled, as if strange symbols and hidden meanings from the past were trying to penetrate her memory. Every word she had ever read now fused with the intensity of this moment, causing her heart to race and creating a quiet tumult that only she could feel.
"I've never heard that prophecy before," she said, attempting to appear foolish and careless, despite her heart trembling.
Cosmo smiled faintly, a gentle yet mysterious expression crossing his face. "It's understandable. Only the highest Saints and the vigilant keepers of history possess knowledge of this prophecy, for it has been closely guarded and preserved throughout generations. Each word is woven with precision, like threads interlacing to form a fabric that remains resilient against the relentless passage of time." His voice was soft, yet there was an undercurrent of tension that deepened the atmosphere, reminiscent of the evening wind carrying secrets from forgotten ages, enticing thoughts and imaginations with elusive memories.
"And furthermore…" Erina added, her voice piercing the silent tension, "You are an anomaly." She observed closely, noting Sheena's unusual attire and unique dialect, even as she attempted to fit in. Even her way of thinking, which far surpassed the comprehension of the people of this era, mirrored an intelligence that seemed out of place, analogous to a jarring piece of a puzzle amid mundane fragments. In Erina's gaze, an insatiable curiosity ignited, as if she had stumbled upon a critical piece of an incorrectly placed puzzle, compelling her to know more.
Sofia, with a gentle touch, placed her hand on Sheena's shoulder. "You don't belong to this time, do you?" It was a profound question, delving beyond the surface, inviting Sheena to explore the long-buried secrets within her soul.
Sheena fell silent.
Unable to utter a word.
Suddenly, a strange sound echoed from afar.
The creaking of time.
Like the noise of a colossal broken clock. A wave of time pressed towards her, bearing the heavy weight that led everyone to the precipice between reality and an unimaginable existence.
All the Saints stood alert, tension building in the air.
"What is that?" Erina asked, her voice nearly drowned in the tension.
Cosmo raised his hand, summoning his spear, with a sharp gaze full of vigilance. "The time around us... is vibrating," he said, his warning resonating in their minds.
From behind the hill, a towering figure emerged, a terrifying silhouette.
Not human.
Not a monster.
The guardian of time.
As tall as a tower, with a transparent body revealing the mechanisms of a broken clock, as if time itself had crafted this entity. Prominently displayed on its forehead was the symbol Ω (Omega) — a mark of time's destruction.
Surrounded by a mysterious aura, a chilling atmosphere enveloped them, raising the hairs on the back of their necks. The sharp metallic scent mingled with suffocating dust, creating a tension that choked the air. Every second felt like it was dragging on, amplifying the unease that enveloped the Saints, as if time itself was reluctant to move forward.
"Chrono Sentinel..." Sofia whispered, her voice trembling. "The right hand of Chronos."
The creature showed no signs of aggression. It simply stood its ground, casting a gaze full of enigma upon Sheena. It seemed to recognize Sheena's presence, one that was not meant to be there.
For a brief moment, the creature's gaze pierced into Sheena's soul, as if time had truly come to a standstill. In that profound look, there was deep knowledge intertwined with sorrow, as though the creature knew precisely what was destined to happen next.
It was not sent to kill, but rather to oversee the steps taken in a perilous journey through time.
It was tasked with observation.
"Are you worthy of bearing the shattered Destiny?"
The words resonated like a mysterious incantation, not only directed at Sheena but also echoing in the hearts of every Saint, challenging them to question their purpose and life choices. A voice without a mouth floated softly in Sheena's mind, filling the quiet space with an unsettling tension, as if daring each Saint to confront their own reality.
A chill crept along her bones, like a lingering shadow that refused to depart, signaling that something far more significant loomed on the horizon. In the twilight that enveloped them, the tent lights flickered gently, responding to the tense atmosphere now surrounding the soldiers, transforming the evening's calm into a symphony of unease, where the impending clash hung in the air like dark clouds gathering before a storm.
But before their strides could be quickened, the creature suddenly vanished into a rift in time that opened on its own, leaving behind shimmering sparks of light suspended in the air as if time itself had paused momentarily to admire their beauty.
The beauty of the light gradually faded, yet its mysterious presence lingered, like a beacon of hope suspended amid uncertainty—unforgettable. After this disconcerting event, Aphrodite appeared at the tent where Sheena was, surrounded by an aura of decisiveness emanating like an undeniable mist, signaling the importance of this pivotal meeting.
"You need to know," she said seriously, her voice imbued with a sense of power. "If Chronos has taken notice of you, it means your existence is more than mere coincidence. You have a larger role in this scenario."
Sheena felt her heart racing, the sharp shadow of the god of time exploring her soul, penetrating its deepest depths. "I don't want to be involved in a war of time," she whispered, her voice trembling with fear and vulnerability. "I just want to protect my children... Jeanne and Joanna."
Aphrodite gazed deeply into her eyes, as if she could read the secrets hidden behind Sheena's gaze, peering into a world she had chosen to conceal.
"Sometimes fate does not ask for permission," the voice echoed with a profound silence, penetrating the core of Sheena's soul.
"If you indeed bear the name Fate, then you will stand with us against this chaos or face the relentless will of time alone, confronting the consequences of your choices without a visible path to escape."
Both of his hands felt warm, filled with enthusiasm despite the doubts that lingered. "Fitran... if I cannot return, I will ensure that the world where our children are born, a world that can provide hope and happiness for them, is a world that is worthy." The tremor in his fingers mirrored the turmoil within his heart. He understood that choosing silence meant allowing Chronos to win the game of time—one that was not only unjust but also full of deception. However, to choose to fight... meant creating a crack for a better future.