Sanctum Aristeia — Aula Dalam
End of Chaos Era, Year 990
The blue light from the Aristeia crystals reflected the shadows of their faces, creating a captivating interplay of light and dark within the hall. The subtle movements among them seemed to pulse with life, as if each gesture breathed energy into the silent space, creating an atmosphere where time itself felt suspended. Sheena, Aphrodite, Cosmo, Erina, Crystal, Sofia, and at the center of them all — Saint Maria stood together, embodying the weight of their shared destiny.
Yet, the light did not drive away the darkness outside; it merely illuminated the shadows of their grim reality. The whispering wind disturbed the tranquility, as though nature itself sensed the tension enveloping the room. The ominous Black Sun still hung in the sky, and with its dark presence came the curse of Black Death that had plagued the world for nearly a century, a constant reminder of the perils that lurked beyond their sanctuary.
Saint Maria initiated the meeting, her voice calm yet heavy with painful weight.
"Before we discuss our next steps, all of you must fully understand the enemy we face."
She waved her hand. Her light flowed throughout the hall, briefly providing warmth amidst the cold ambiance. The crystals around the hall lit up, creating a three-dimensional illusion mapping the land, seas, and atmosphere of the world. However, the touch of that illusion could not mask the horrors yet to come.
"A hundred years ago, when Chronos first accelerated his manipulation of time, he created an anomaly: Black Sun."
"Not just a symbol of temporal destruction, but a source of magical radiation that disrupts the fabric of life."
The illusory light revealed how the black rays spread across the world, tearing through the sky and scorching the earth below. Distant screams echoed in their minds, forcing all present to confront the bitter reality.
"Black Death. A magical disease that slowly obliterates the will to live, consuming not just the body but the very essence of hope itself. Unlike a common plague that swiftly takes life, it instead gnaws at the seeds of existence, crippling the dormant hopes and diminishing the spirit of humanity."
"That's why for nearly a hundred years, no babies have been born alive."
"The birth rate has plummeted to zero in almost every nation."
Sheena shivered.
"That is why the people of this era consist mostly of the elderly and the last remaining small children. The absence of new generations is a heartbreaking void that echoes in every corner of society." In her heart, a profound sense of betrayal surged as she recalled the times when hope and the laughter of children had brightened the world. Now, an oppressive silence enveloped everything, draining all light from life.
"Chronos desires stagnation. Without birth, there is no future. Without a future... time will cease. He believes that by freezing the will of humanity, chaos will come to an end." Chronos's voice echoed in their memories, like a ghost haunting every soul that heard it.
"But a motionless time is not peace. It is an unending death."
All gazes shifted to Sheena.
"The children within you, Sheena... are anomalies to Chronos, yet also miracles inscribed by the will of the world." With trembling fingers, she touched her belly, cherishing this precious moment, caught between hope and fear.
"They are proof that the will of the future endures, resisting the desire for stagnation."
Aphrodhite sighed. "If Chronos were to know..." Doubt crept into her words, like dark shadows looming over their hopes.
"He would seek to erase them, even before they are born." Maria concluded that thought. The image of Chronos flickered in their minds, terrifying them with the promise of painful darkness.
Sheena clenched her robe tightly.
"I have already lost my future once."
"I will not let anyone take it away from me again." Her heart raced, with each breath underscoring her determination to face any risks for the life yet to be born.
Saint Maria stood and stepped into the center of the hall.
In her hand, she held a blue crystal scroll. The crystal sparkled, harboring a power that could possibly change their fate, hope lingering at their fingertips.
"I have written a Pactum. Unlike ordinary magical contracts that merely bind power, this is a Pactum of Will. It steadfastly declares to reality itself that we will oppose the will of Chronos and restore the balance of the world, alongside an everlasting hope that transcends despair."
"Around the altar, a dark aura danced with extraordinary intensity, creating the impression that fate itself was holding its breath, suspended in a delicate balance. The closer they got to their goal, the heavier the burden they had to bear. "With this Pactum, the timeline will have witnesses. If we fail, those who come after us — or those who manage to traverse the currents of time — will know that this will once stood against destruction."
He placed the scroll on the crystal altar. Every second felt like it was stretching, his heartbeat merging with the magical thrum in the air, creating a tension that could be sliced with a knife.
The Proto-Speech inscription was etched on its surface:
"Vel'thar Vitae In Tempore."
"The Will to Live in Time."
"Those who take this oath will be recognized not by magic, but by the world itself."
The faces of the Saints showed a blend of doubt and courage. One by one, the Saints stepped forward. Each step felt like a march toward destiny, reminding them that they were not only facing Chronos, but also the uncertainty lurking in the shadows.
Aphrodhite, Cosmo, Erina, Crystal, Sofia...
They placed their hands on the Pactum.
"We swear."
"We will fight against the stagnation of Chronos."
"We will protect the seeds of the future."
As their oath echoed, a faint light began to glow from the scroll. Finally, Sheena stepped forward. Inside her, a wave of hope mixed with fear coursed through her. Her hands trembled as she touched the crystal, sensing a pulse from a power greater than their own.
"I will defy the will of stagnation. With my body. With my soul. With my children."
But before they could complete the ritual, the air shifted. Everything felt heavy, as though the world was holding its breath, and in that moment, darkness enveloped them.
The ticking of a fractured clock echoed throughout the hall.
Time around them froze. The campfire ceased flickering. The wind stopped blowing. A cold sensation seeped into their skin, a signal that danger was drawing near.
"Chronos has heard their oath. In the encompassing darkness, that power dimmed the possibilities of various outcomes, and the risks began to materialize as the presence of a greater entity overshadowed their existence."
From the shadows of the walls of Aristeia, a gaping black void opened, revealing glimpses of a shattered future, much like a cracked mirror reflecting humanity's collective fear. Light coalesced around the gap, as if holding its breath before darkness enveloped everything.
Like a cracked mirror showing a devastated future, light gathered around the tear, seemingly pausing before being consumed by darkness.
Chrono Arbiter stepped forward.
A being taller than the previous Justiciar, it appeared as a shadow that absorbed the surrounding light. Its body was cloaked in chains of time, shimmering with deceit. On its forehead, the symbols ∞ and Ω overlapped, pulsating with a terrifying and entirely new power.
"The pact that defies my will is the highest form of treachery."
"Sheena Fate. The Saints. I will erase all traces of you." Its voice, like the roar of a tempest, echoed in their ears, imparting a profound sense of an unavoidable threat.
Yet Maria stepped forward, challenging the ominous presence with her courage.
"No, Chronos."
"As long as there are witnesses, the will cannot be erased." Her voice was filled with resolve, as if it carried the strength of a past that would never fade.
Maria tapped her crystal staff against the floor, the sound echoing to awaken a fusion of fear and hope.
A blue light erupted.
"Glyph Proto-Speech illuminated the entire room, inscribing ancient words in the blazing air, as if carving a promise stronger than fate itself."
"The threads of time woven by free will do not bow to the power of stagnation." Each word flowed, forming waves of energy between them, representing a battle greater than mere physicality.
"You cannot erase the will that chooses to endure." Maria's courage resonated among the Saints, rekindling a spirit that had seemed extinguished for far too long. Each word strengthened their resolve, empowering them to stand firm against the impending threat.
Chrono Arbiter raised his hand, creating a wave of emptiness to engulf them, and in that moment, time seemed to freeze, crafting a pulse of tension that vibrated through their bones.
Yet the Pactum that had been sworn began to shine, creating an aura filled with trust and hope, as if embodying the courage and determination of all present.
The threads of destiny tied by their oath transformed into a shield. The light trembled, defying the darkness with hope, responding to their agile call.
"You can destroy our bodies."
"But you cannot destroy our meaning." These words flowed like a mantra, filling the space with a magical strength that awakened the spirit of the human warriors.
"The souls that carry the truth are not extinguished — they transcend." This declaration signified that although their physical forms were threatened, their spirit and conviction would not falter.
Sheena looked at the Arbiter with newfound courage, her face glowing with determination. In her heart, the voices of lost generations echoed, urging her not to retreat in the face of darkness.
"I have lost my family."
"I have lost an era."
"But I will not lose the meaning of my existence."
Saint Maria closed her eyes, feeling the weight of memories enveloping her soul like a shroud. Amidst the darkness, she heard the whispering of the wind, carrying the voices of the past along with bittersweet memories, gently reminding her of the uncertainty that always lurked in the shadows of existence. In that silence, every second felt like a century; each breath was steeped in profound pain, as if time itself scoffed at the numerous losses she had endured.
"Chronos... your time has been questioned."
"Not by the gods. But by the humans who choose not to give up."
The Arbiter let out a sound more akin to a mechanical roar than to words; the noise echoed like a dark song, conveying a threat that grew increasingly palpable. It faded back into its temporal void, but not without delivering a resolute message: that sound vibrated in the air, signaling that change was imminent, and no one could escape its grasp, forever bewildered under its formidable influence.
"I will return. Time always returns."
As time began to move once more, the Black Sun hanging in the sky seemed to quiver, its dim light reminiscent of a dying flame. Tiny cracks appeared at its edges, a bitter smile of darkness spreading across the face of the creature lurking behind the clouds.
A portent.
For although Chronos still reigned, the will that defied destruction had created the first crack, a fissure allowing hope to seep out from the darkness. Here, an unexpected spirit was born, challenging fate with all its might.
And within Aristeia, the Pactum of the Final Will gleamed eternally, emanating a light that promised to awaken the slumbering souls from their deep, dreamlike states of despair.
A promise not merely written in words...
But forged through choice.