[ Brown shifting mist through the darkness of the underground city looked like haze. Starting to think about it, it's probably is considered as haze but with the waterfall nearby the area is very moist.
I took a moment to ponder on how to describe the sand filled moist air before a nearby blast shook the building and myself out of my thoughts.
Oh! No wait! This isn't a time for pondering on how to describe things! I'm not at my desk job! It's time for action!
I growled, slightly angry at myself for even being lost in though at such a moment. Pulling up the collar of my inner t-shirt and using it as a mask to cover my nose, I climbed back out the window into the misty haze.
Yeah that doesn't sound right, I'll probably have to work on that.
I noted before using my magic to create another cloud, the cloud came out blackish brown rather than my normal pure white.
" Uh... Looks like it's going to rain sewage water the moment I stand on it. "
I gingerly noted as I step on it a few times, checking if it was stable and if it was going to rain. The cloud leaked a stream of disgusting water before it finally supporting my foot. I grimace at the wet feeling as the cloud soaked my shoe, sock and the cuff of my pants. It felt like being adsorb into a wet sponge before rejecting my foot and becoming firm enough to stand. Another blast and the echoing scream of destruction from a distance prompted me to leap onto the cloud and sore. There was no time to waste, an urgency that kept pushing me, no matter how much reluctance I had.
From the hazy mist, I peaked my head out, scouting the situation. Mop (Morpheus) with a half asleep expression floated in midair. His hands curling and stretching, sand kept spilling from them a pure golden sand surrounded him in a thin circle. He stood there watching a golden wingless, snake like dragon. It's scales glitter like metal even though it was obvious made out of his sand.
The dragon snarling fangs and movements slithering on air as it lunges at Leo (Mirauleo). Leo snapped his fingertips, with ease reversed time on the dragon turning it back into sand that returnes to Mop.
They were at a stalemate. Mop's forehead was laced with sweat as he heavily panted. Leo other than terribly ruffed up clothes, looked perfectly fine but his breath was slightly on the heavy side. They both stood there glaring at each other, calculating their next move as well as each other's.
Leo's power to reverse and forward time and Mop's endless dream creation magic. With nothing more than time, Mop could create and achieve anything unfortunately here time literally stood against him. Even though Mop looked powerless against Leo, Leo was equally as powerless. He shot through the eternity glass, his body was on pause and keeping himself paused drains up much magic.
He no longer could spur blast of magic like before which meant he no longer had any means for a long distance attacks. And battling close combat was a fool's errand, he couldn't forward his body and spawn attacks since that would mean having to unpause his body. He would have to deal with the major damage of breaking through the entirety glass. Broken bones of a guardian would take months, maybe even years to heal, him having to fast forward through all that would probably take up whatever mana he has left. Probably even push him past his limit and force him to return back to his core.
I took in a deep breath of mana that was laid extremely thick within the air since the both of them were releasing so much.
It's a good thing Leo is out of magic, they can't battle anymore like this. Stopping them to talk would be an easy thing.
I let out a sigh of relief as I made my cloud sore above the hazy mist, revealing myself. That instant, Leo raised his hand using his magic, a golden pattern clock with 6 circle of runes on the edges appeared in front of his palm and the clock hands spun backwards. At first I couldn't believe my eyes as my mind rejected the idea of Leo ever doing that to any guardian.
" That's... No... "
I gasped at the sight of such a high level ancient spell. My head snapped back to Mop just in time to see time being reversed on him. All the magical sand that he created return back to his body as his body started to retrace back his steps. The moment Mop didn't have sand surrounding him, Leo stopped reversing time on him and paused Mop's magical outflow.
As soon as he did that, Leo lunged at Mop at an incredible speed. Blasting magic out of his feet and slamming his body against Mop, crashing him into the cave wall. Leo was holding Mop's neck, tightening his fingers around it as he chocked the mana out of Mop. Mop's hands instantly curled around Leo's hand, trying to pry his hand away.
" You... You promised... Brotherly... Oath... That you wouldn't use time magic on us... on brothers..."
Mop wheeze out through clenched teeth and a glare.
" I did, didn't I? And haven't I honoured that for the past few centuries? I would have continued to honor it if only you chose to honor yours!"
Leo growled at Mop as he strangled the mana from Mop. Without thinking I lunged at Leo, grabbing his hand and ripping it off Mop before pushing Leo back a little and standing in front of Mop in a protective way.
" Stop this madness! Both of you! Haven't you caused enough damage in the world?! This can't go on!"
I find myself yelling.
" That's right! Nothing should go on!"
Leo agreed with me which left me speechless and confused.
" Why should anything go on if I can't even trust my own brother! A brother who swore not to be involved in any way with the God Wars?! Have you learned nothing from Metz's mistakes?! "
Leo lectured with much frustration and furosity. No longer wanting to take out his anger in the means of violence since I was standing in the middle.
" Metz became too chummy with Rhane and what did that lead to? We are world guardians! We do not/ should not! Take any side of any gods! Especially when they are at war and it will effect the world! Our duty is to watch, report and maintain the flow of time, dreams and seasons. Nothing more!
You! You not only broke that promise but dare to become attached?! Attached to a dream!!"
Leo ranted as he punched the nearby wall out of frustration. Not realizing he was sounding a little contradicting. Mop doesn't have the power to control time, it wasn't easy not to avoid any influence in the ways of the world. Since every dream and idea was planted there by Mop himself. A factor that is as free as the breeze itself and not even the Goddess of fate has full control over. It's impossible for Mop to lock himself in his own domain like Leo and only interact with his fairies while working. Mop's work takes him wherever the breeze takes his consciousness. Seeing the world in may different lights and being inspired. Mop was the embodiment of inspiration.
Leo growl and stopped talking for awhile, being extremely focused on taking his anger out on the cave wall. I slightly turned to Mop.
" Why did you make that promise?"
I questioned feeling extremely curious since it was obvious that Mop was unable to keep such a promise.
" It was the only way to calm his anger. He was already determined to stop your personal observation on the world and your hobby of working under gods. I knew how much seeing the world meant to you. I only wished you could dream like me then you would be able to travel wherever without ever having to step foot outside your domain. "
Mop admited which brought a huge smile to my face.
" One minute I would rather be anyone else other than myself and the next I'm lucky to be me. How is just a few words from family able to shift my thoughts as quickly as the breeze?"
I chuckled as I pated my younger brother's head.
" Leo..."
I began as I turned to him and my smile changed into an awkward smile.
" What?"
He huffed out through his teeth as he struggled to focus on me. He had a painful expression as if it hurts not to release his anger at the wall.
" Mop broke his promise, you broke your promise. The world came to a halt for like... "
I paused for a moment trying to recall how long it has been but time seemed to have escaped me.
" 8 hours and then functioning without thoughts for 5 hours but since only I'm able to count it, I could easily said this never happened."
Leo informed as he crossed his arms.
" Exactly. "
I nodded with a pointing finger like that itself was my brilliant point which made Leo raise his eyebrow. Completely not getting my point. I don't blame him even I don't know what point/ reason I'm trying to say.
" Mop broke the brotherly oath before he even made it. So does that technically mean that he hasn't broken any oath? Even if you said no, he made the oath and broke it but so did you. Not to mention you brought much damage that halted the function of the world when you broke your oath and Mop didn't change much to the point it's been overlooked for centuries. Doesn't that even things out? Not to mention you just said you could make it as if all this never existed."
I logically tried to talk my way out, sweating profusely as I watched my elder brother's expression turn more sour each second.
" Why you being so annoying right now?"
Leo cut me off just to question me.
" Me?! annoying!! You're annoying!"
I snapped back.
The argument soon grew out of hand and even I don't know when Mop joined. The three of us ended up pointed each other faults until Naja found us and lecturered all 3 of us. Her lecture was long and tiresome to the point where we all questioned ourselves how did we even get here? From an oath to breaking time to getting lectured by Naja?
We all found our situation ridiculous and started laughing. Eventually with Leo and Mop made up, set some new ground rules, hugged it out and before playfully agreeing to return back to work before the world decided to replace all of us.
It was a very tiresome eventful day and I pretty much can agree that I rather have less troublesome brothers. ]
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