After Joanna agreed to stay, they returned to the small party in the village square. The paper lanterns glowed beautifully in the air, carried by the laughter of children, creating a magical atmosphere. Caelan was already waiting by the buffet table, his broad smile adding to the joy of the night.
"You worried me, Jeanne. I thought you were hesitant to marry me," he teased gently, a playful tone filling the closeness between them.
"No. I just need to convince my sister not to leave me," Jeanne replied, her voice tinged with unspoken tension.
Laughter filled the air, countering the tranquil silence of the night. But... the wind suddenly stopped.
The flying lanterns froze in the air, as if time had also come to a standstill. The sounds of laughter and joy melted into a profound silence, while the birds that usually chirped at night fell silent, as if sensing an impending threat. Tension enveloped the square, as though time itself had frozen, waiting for something unexpected. Jeanne felt her heart racing, each second stretching out like an eternity. She clutched her sleeves tightly, feeling the magical aura filling the space around them, like energy burning within.
Jeanne felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up, fear creeping into her soul.
"Joanna?" she called out, her voice trembling in the shocking stillness.
Joanna stood frozen, as if hypnotized. Her eyes widened, filled with anxiety and fear. Her body trembled, signaling that something unusual was happening.
From deep within her heart, Jeanne felt a powerful wave of energy, as if something was awakening between them, something that had long been buried. In a split second, blue and yellow light clashed spectacularly in the tense atmosphere—captivatingly portraying their intertwined destinies in a way that was mesmerizing and frightening. It felt like lightning striking, shattering the peace that had settled in the calm of the night.
"Sister... sister... I... I can't... hold it back..." Jeanne uttered, her voice filled with despair, as if signaling the danger that was approaching.
The fluctuating symbols on her arm—glyphs that had helped stabilize her powers—began to shine wildly, emitting a blue light that pulsed in the darkness of the night.
But behind that shimmering light, Jeanne caught a glimpse of something ancient and more majestic, as if a hidden part of their family's legacy was revealing itself in that crucial moment.
The golden yellow light that surged forth, cracking as if long restrained, emerged from the depths of her soul... the symbol of Chronos.
"No... this is impossible..."
"Chronos is no more!"
However, the threads of time that Joanna had controlled for centuries pulled the reflection of Chronos's wounds from the deepest layers of existence, as if lifting a legacy of grief that would never fade.
A legacy of wounds so profound.
"Sister... RUN!!" Joanna shouted, her voice breaking amidst the chaos.
"I can't control it!"
A flash of time energy reverberated, exploding from Joanna's body, forming an irresistible wave of power.
Circles of Chronos formed in the air, shaking the very fabric of space and time around the gathering, creating an emptiness that shattered the perceived reality they once knew.
Tables were overturned, lanterns fell and smoldered, scattering sparks of light in every direction.
The farmers and children screamed, losing control and stepping back in fear.
The once-clear river now churned, its current flowing backwards and forwards simultaneously, creating a symbol of chaos.
Thick blue smoke rolled through the space, creating an atmosphere of chilling tension that enveloped the void with a grim aura. Jeanne felt the presence of Chronos stepping back into the world, as if a new lightning bolt swept across the darkness, disturbing the long-lost peace. Fear and hope waged a fierce battle within her heart as she sensed the latent magical power within her beginning to stir, yearning to escape from the prison of a forgotten reality.
"Everyone, quickly exit the village!!" Jeanne shouted, her voice shattering the silence and steering the chaos toward a desperate rescue attempt.
Caelan pulled the children away from the lurking threat hidden within the shadows of the village.
"Jeanne, come on—" his voice rang out, filled with concern.
"No. I must stop it." A fiery determination flashed in Jeanne's eyes, piercing through the tense atmosphere.
With determination blazing in her eyes, Jeanne called upon the Continuum magic that she had not dared to use for a long time. The Proto-Speech symbol glimmered with bright colors around her, spark-like stars against the dark night sky.
The sound of the whispering wind echoed, as if it were a call from a hidden exit. Yet, Jeanne understood that to halt the looming void, she would need to face the greatest risk: her own existence. With unwavering resolve, like forged iron, she lifted her hand, channeling all her magical power into the glowing symbol, sending a message to time itself. She prayed, hoping for enough strength to conquer the poison of Chronos' resurrection that was consuming her brother.
"Continuum Anchor: Vitae Custodia!" Jeanne shouted, her voice breaking the ominous silence like a beacon of hope.
Threads of time wound around Jeanne's body, creating a sturdy protective barrier, a magical shield to withstand the wild tide of change from Joanna.
"Joanna! Hear me! I will not harm you. I will stop this!" she cried, her voice filled with hope.
"I do not wish to fight you, sister...
But I can no longer resist this will...
Chronos... he left fragments within me..." Joanna's voice trembled, as if her soul was hurt by a force greater than herself.
"If that's the case... I will help you.
If I must duel you, I will do so not to win, but to free you." A horizon of hope emerged between them, as their deep bond teetered on the edge.
Frustration and fear intertwined within Jeanne's heart as she felt the profound pain that struck Joanna's soul. Every second felt like a heavy burden pressing down on her breath. In the resonating silence, she vowed to restore the flickering light of hope in her sister's eyes.
Jeanne vs Joanna.
Continuum vs Flux, infected by the wounds of Chronos.
Jeanne cast the time anchor spell:
"Continuum Spiral: Anchor Severance!"
Magical energy swirled and vibrated in the empty air, creating a shimmering pattern dancing between them, heightening the tension in the atmosphere. Jeanne felt the resonance in every thread of magic she pulled, as if guiding the currents of time to combat the chaos that engulfed her sister's soul.
Joanna retaliated with her tainted fluctuating spell:
"Flux Spiral: Temporal Rupture!"
The explosion of magic split the land of Valeora.
The once peaceful fields now transformed into a battleground of clashing powers.
The rumble of dark and light energy collided, creating vibrations that permeated the land, shaking the very core of their souls and instilling a primal fear. Radiant pillars of light streaked across the night sky, conjuring an atmosphere fraught with tension that quickened the hearts of all who witnessed it, heightening the chilling standoff between the two siblings.
Jeanne formed a shield of time threads, a sturdy protection for the terrified villagers.
Joanna unleashed a wild wave of change, shattering reality with terrifying power.
Anxiety haunted every step Jeanne took, as her protective energy throbbed restlessly amid Joanna's fierce assault. Her dreams and visions of safeguarding her loved ones began to wane, swept away by the fluctuations that shook the very fabric of their reality.
"You have to stop me, sister! Or I will destroy everything you hold dear!"
"I WILL NOT stop you. I will FREE you," Jeanne declared, her voice ringing with conviction above the chaotic din.
"I will not sacrifice my sister for a world that has already demanded too many sacrifices from us!"
With determination etched on his face, Caelan led the evacuation of the civilians. Children ran with tears streaming down their cheeks, their cries forming a melody of sorrow that pierced the heart. Meanwhile, the adults stared in horror, fear and anxiety painting their expressions.
As screams of terror filled the air, the atmosphere grew increasingly tense. A large shadow passed overhead, casting a frightening aura that made all creatures beneath it feel the overwhelming power of time's sword colliding.
"Jeanne... what is truly happening?" Caelan whispered, tears welling in his eyes, and sadness creeping into his wounded heart as the weight of the moment bore down upon them.
"I will bring you back, Joan," Jeanne whispered, her eyes blazing with courage.
"Even if I have to turn back the entire flow of time!"
A black rose gracefully appeared in Jeanne's hand, a potent symbol intertwining determination and unconditional love. Each petal of the flower glowed with a magical light that softly radiated from the depths of her heart, piercing the darkness and awakening newfound hope amidst the engulfing chaos.
Two sisters, each representing a different philosophy, are united by two contradictory loves.
This is not merely a debate between Continuum and Change.
Instead, it is about confronting the deep, unhealed wounds of the past... so that a new future can truly begin with countless hopes and opportunities.