"Kabaan killed me and Gold is in danger." Exclaimed David.
"I can see that." Replied Tempus as he continued, "David, this is the second time you are dying. Even as the god of time, I only have the authority to raise you nine times from the dead. You have to die less often."
"What can I do about that? My physical prowess is equal to that of a baby. Turning back time won't help either because it takes time. Kabaan won't sit idle when I am turning back time." said David.
"True. I guess I just have to raise you from the dead again."
"No!! I'll die again! I have an idea. What if ...you bless me?"
"That brings back memories I will rather forget. I don't mind blessing you, but are you ready for the consequences?" Asked Tempus.
"What do you mean?"
"I rarely bless my disciples because my power is too strong for them to handle. Every disciple whom I have blessed has died."
"You can just raise me from the dead again, can't you?" Asked David.
"That would have been nice but I can only raise you from the dead if your soul is intact, but blessings change and affect your soul. If your soul gets extinguished, then I can't raise you from the dead." Said Tempus.
David gulped and replied. " I don't care. My instincts tell me to take the bet."
"Very well, boy. You have guts." Said Tempus as he touched David's chest. Tempus's eyes turned white and the place became even darker.
"I, Tempus, god of time and mind, the grand overseer of time, bestow upon you, David Fior, my blessing, the blessing of time."
David's chest started to hurt. His chest felt as though it were on fire. On his knees, David was struggling to breathe. Tempus cast a worried look at David. Although he felt like throwing up all over the place, he was scared that his insides would come out. David's eyes suddenly turned a brilliant green, and a hollow-looking green wisp came out. It was David's soul! It was trying to leave David's body! His soul writhed in pain. Tempus merely observed. David could feel his life being sucked out.
No, I cannot die like this. I am different! Thought David.
David's will to live was pulling the soul back to David's body. Once the soul was inside David's body, David opened his eyes and sighed with relief. There were so many things that could have gone wrong. Tempus was grinning.
"Looks like I chose a talented disciple this time. I am sending you back. Remember, you can use this blessing only twice, so use it with care. When you go back, you must activate my blessing. Use a phrase of your choosing."
The darkness faded and David was back. He gasped. David got up and saw Gold lying in a pool of blood.
"Look who's back from the dead." Said Kabaan as he continued "Don't worry though, Gold is not dead yet. I will kill him in front of you."
David furrowed his brows.
"I am not weak anymore!
I, David, hereby use the blessing bestowed to me by Tempus, the grand overseer of time!"
David's hair began glowing and a white tunic replaced his clothes. David rose in the air and grinned smugly. Red signs began to appear on his face and a crown of light was hovering above his head.
Kabaan threw his sword like a javelin toward David. David touched the sword and suddenly, the sword was in Kabaan's hand. David had turned back time. Kabaan looked at David with shocked eyes.
"You became a timekeeper just five weeks ago! How can you be so strong?!"
"When the blessing of Tempus lies within me, I am unstoppable," said David.
Seeing that defeating David was impossible, Kabaan took out a flute and played it in a weird tune. Everything was silent. David calmly waited.
*Roar*
A huge bird the size of a building descended upon them. Its monstrous size and forearms gave away its identity. It was a wyvern. A huge one at that. David stared at the wyvern but was not afraid as he knew that the wyvern couldn't overpower him. Seeing David's composure and demeanour, Kabaan ordered the wyvern to attack. The wyvern swiped at David but David stopped the attack by using both of his hands.
The wyvern breathed out a huge gust of wind that destroyed buildings that were in the vicinity. The wind hit David and he was blown away and crashed against the rubble. David got up and brushed the dust off his shoulders seemingly unharmed.
"Is that it?" Asked David.
The Wyvern was visibly shaken at this point.
"Time to end this farce." Snarled David as he rushed towards the wyvern. David punched the wyvern and it whimpered. Green blood began oozing from its mouth.
A blue spear materialised as David made a complicated hand gesture. David hurled it towards the wyvern. It zoomed towards the wyvern and pierced one of its eyes. It howled in pain. The Wyvern was enraged. It flapped its wings and David was struck by the debris of buildings. Despite dodging some, David was hit. As David was blinded, the wyvern flew towards him and took him into the sky. David opened his eyes to find himself in a sea of clouds. The altitude became higher. The oxygen in the air lessened and he felt lightheaded. When they reached a certain point, the wyvern dove towards the ground, intending to die alongside David. Despite David's incredible strength, the impact would be at the very least fatal! David started to punch the wyvern with all his might. The wyvern grunted in pain but made no signs of giving up.
Think David!! What can you do in this situation? Then he recalled-The tomahawk of retrieval. Even though the tomahawk was not his weapon, David was the timekeeper. Every weapon belonged to him.
David willed the tomahawk to come to him. No response. They were getting closer to the ground
*Whoosh*
David heard it. He could see the tomahawk of retrieval coming towards him. David commanded it to strike. The tomahawk sped towards the wyvern's head and in one swift motion, the wyvern's head was no longer attached to its body. David was able to free himself a few metres off the ground. David hovered above the surface until he softly landed on the ground.
A sigh escaped David's lips as he walked towards Kabaan. Kabaan was on his knees, overwhelmed with shock and fear. As David lifted his sword, Kabaan shouted, "Stop!! I know a secret that you will die to have!!"
"Go on…tell me more," said David in an intrigued manner.
"Yes, of course. The secret is you. The king of the kingdom of Fior, Gold Fior, is your father. He threw you away at birth! Your enemy is not me but him!!" Shouted Kabaan.
It didn't surprise David at all. When Tempus blessed David, Tempus used David's real name, and a god would have no reason to lie. Also, Gold was too friendly with him in the many interactions between them, which was not expected of a king.
Kabaan was dumbfounded at David's composure.
"I knew about all of this. This is not surprising at all. I have seen how Gold looks at me. I knew I was related to him."
David was ready when Kabaan threw a dagger at him and tried to escape, but Kabaan failed. The tomahawk swooped in and severed Kabaan's legs, causing him to fall.
"Where are you going?" Said David as Kabaan started to crawl away from him in a desperate attempt to live.
"I would have let the Fior monarchy take care of you...but I have changed my mind."
"Wait!" Said Gold.
David stopped and looked at Gold as he continued, "Why would you do all this? Why would you kill Evelyn?"
For a moment, Kabaan's eyes were misty but he hid them and continued, "You don't know the living conditions of your people. While you lived in your palace, I travelled and saw poverty everywhere!! I begged you to do something about it but you shrugged it off!!"
Gold was shaking and trembling and he asked, "I haven't cared for our people, I see that now but why did you kill Evelyn?!!"
"Drastic measures had to be taken. Your weakness was Evelyn. I considered taking her hostage but seeing you smile made me disgusted!! Even after her death, you continued to live luxuriously so I abducted your daughter. You were the one who forced my hand." Said Kabaan as tears streamed down with guilt and regret.
Gold was blank as he processed the confession. His wife's death was his fault. His daughter's abduction had been his fault.
"I am speaking to you as your friend. You are not at fault."
Gold might have forgiven Kabaan but David was not done yet. Kabaan started to crawl but became stiff as David said, "I am not done yet."
David walked towards him and broke Kabaan's arm.
"AHHHHH!!!" Screamed Kabaan.
Using the hilt of his sword, David struck Kabaan's throat and punched his nose. Then, he stamped Kabaan's chest and broke his ribs. Kabaan's body trembled as he had lost the will to live and surrendered himself to his fate.
After four days...
Twelve men wearing regal clothing were seated in a huge courtyard. They were sitting around a round table that was made of pink ivory wood.
"Kabaan was killed, and in the most pathetic way possible. We have to avenge him as he died for our cause!!" said a man dressed in a sokutai. He had blue eyes and black hair. He was sitting on a golden throne with men sitting beside him. Guards stood on either side of the men.
"A boy. Kabaan was killed by the young prince of Fior. Truly brutal, just like his father, "said another man. He was sitting next to the person wearing the sokutai. He had blonde hair and ice-blue eyes with fair skin.
"Nothing to worry, though, Fabian's service to Tempus is almost over. He'll soon be just an old man. Gold has lost an arm which greatly affects his standing and prowess. Even if the young prince was an unknown variable, he will be killed. Overall, things are in our favour." Said a man who looked around thirty-eight. He had golden eyes and Jetblack hair. He was dressed in white breeches and a red cloak.
Then they all roared in unison, "WE WILL NEVER FAIL AS WE ARE THE FORGOTTEN EYES!!!!"
To be continued...…