The house slept in silence, moonlight sliding through frost-covered windows as Achlys, Cryo, and the wounded boy lay sprawled in slumber. The sound of Achlys snoring as if a great earthquake had just hit the land or a huge fire-breathing volcano burst its lava all over the place, but peace was fleeting.
The wounded boy stirred.
A sound— a bit soft, rhythmic. A knock, quite distant but Persistent.
Disturbed by the ever-going noise, his eyes snapped open.
"Where... am I? What's that noise? Who's this guy...? And why is a Cryophoenix just... lying here?"
His thoughts spun like a wheel out of control, alert but confused at the same time. He stood—only to collapse in pain. "Right. My leg... the fight with that Radiant bastard—OW!"
He cried out, his pain was catching up again. But out of the blue, he froze.
Cryo's icy gaze was upon him.
He gulped, hesitant and confused. "G-Good phoenix..."
Cryo leapt, his jaws flashing, and bit down on the boy's leg. The bite crushing into the bones, glowed blue—and ice spread across the wound.
"What the—?! Ow!" he shouted, screaming in pain. "Ow! Hey! That's my—wait... it's healing?"
The pain faded, and the wound healed; there were no remaining scars. It was as if a new leg was transplanted. His leg, once broken and bruised, stood whole again.
He stared in awe.
"Did you just... heal me with ice?"
Cryo huffed and returned to the couch, releasing a low growl—directed at the door.
The knocking hadn't stopped; it grew louder.
The boy approached, limping slightly; until the door burst open with a gust of wind. A figure in white robes stepped in, cloaked in moonlight.
"YOU! What are you doing here?!" the boy shouted.
The stranger's face twisted into a grin that barely hid madness. "Me? Just doing my job... eliminating you."
"Leave me alone! I didn't do anything!"
The grin widened. His face was pure madness, evil. "Didn't do anything...? What about Kiasha? Your lover, your best friend?"
The boy's eyes filled with pain. "She... she took her own life. I didn't—"
"Because you weren't there. You were chasing power…YOU! You left her behind!"
The boy sank, curling into himself. He was sad and shattered from the inside.
"Defeat the Time Masters," the robed man whispered, placing a hand on the boy's shoulder. "And you can bring her back."
The boy's eyes flashed yellow, filled with nothing but determination and hatred…or maybe something more.
"Your wish is my command."
He left without another word.
The robed man turned to Cryo—then paused. "A Cryophoenix... My master would be quite interested."
He reached forward, trying to grab it before it could make a move.
A sword screamed past his face, missing by inches.
"Touch him and you're dead."
Achlys stood in the hallway, eyes blazing with rage.
"Where is the boy?!"
The man flinched. "I—I don't know. I just got here and—"
"Don't play dumb, you bastard!"
The room darkened. Shadows bled from Achlys's skin. A black aura surged, shaking the walls.
The man backed into a corner, voice trembling. "This... this power—!"
Achlys raised a hand. Cryo flew to his shoulder, ice crackling.
"You're not leaving. We fight. Only one walks out."
The man screamed, begging. "Please—I'm sorry—I won't do it again—"
Achlys turned away, sighing. "If you promise to get the—"
An attack.
He dodged right, unsheathing his blade.
Another attack. Small and Fast.
A needle? He thought.
"Grass...?"
He leapt back as more shot toward him. He spun, blade to the stranger's throat.
"Come out, or he dies!"
A tree trunk flew at them. Achlys dodged—but the stranger was crushed. Blood and bone splattered the wall.
"You killed your own man?!"
A voice laughed. "The weak die. The strong survive. That's how the world works."
Achlys scanned the shadows but found nothing. "Where are you?!"
"Where I am doesn't matter. Who I am doesn't matter. What I am... matters. I am the beginning and the end."
A figure stepped into the light—a boy, young, with green hair slicked back.
Achlys narrowed his eyes. "A kid?"
"I'm twenty-seven."
"Oh."
The man smiled as he read Achlys' thoughts. "You want to know my magic? My weapon? That'd be too easy."
He pulled a dagger from his belt.
"A dagger?"
"A gift. Now catch."
He threw it.
Achlys dashed forward, Cryo freezing the attacker's feet. But it was too late.
The dagger hit the back of Achlys' head.
All that Achlys could now see was nothing but darkness.
"Weak," the man muttered and walked away.
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Five hours passed.
Achlys stirred, groaning as pain pulsed through him. "What happened...?"
Cryo hovered, worried.
"Hey, buddy... Sorry I scared you."
He stood, body aching, then grabbed his pack.
"Time to visit the city. Cryo, ice dome."
Cryo tilted his head.
"Can you make a mist barrier? One that lasts a while?"
Cryo chirped and nodded.
.............................................................................
Cryo spread his wings. Mist poured forth, covering the terrain for miles.
"You're the best," Achlys whispered, scratching Cryo's head.
They moved into the forest.
"My old training ground..."
Cryo curled up and dozed off on his shoulder.
Achlys smiled, stepping forward—but was stopped by a fire slash.
He countered with a Mist Slash.
"Who's there?!"
A cloaked figure dropped from the canopy. "You don't need to know."
Achlys charged. "Name. Now."
They clashed. He stopped short, aiming a kick. The figure dodged and summoned fire rain.
"Boost!"
He moved like lightning, slicing falling flames. The figure held up a glowing ring.
"The Ring of Adfectus—grants power aligned to one's greatest desire."
And vanished in the fire.
Achlys was left alone, slashing, dodging.
He faltered; his body trembled. His nose bled and his muscles screamed.
"I can't... keep going..."
Then a voice—inside his head.
"DO IT NOW!"
Achlys stabbed his sword into the earth.
"SHIELD!"
.............................................................................
A dome of mist formed, shielding him and Cryo.
He panted, body broken, flames stopped.
Cryo flew up and dropped an ice shard on his face.
"Hey!"
Cryo looked away.
"You little—! I'm roasting you tonight."
Cryo shrieked, lunging. Achlys caught him.
"Discipline, Cryo."
"You need some too."
Achlys froze. That voice.
He looked up. A sharp ear peeked from the trees.
"Tiabishi...?"
She stepped forward.
A punch to the jaw.
He took it.
Then another—to the gut.
"Wha-!?"
He collapsed on the ground.
She grabbed his chin, tears streaming down her eyes.
"Idiot! Idiot! Idiot!"
She kissed him.
Achlys' eyes widened. He couldn't believe what just happened.
"I love you, moron!" She kissed him again.
Achlys tried to grab her but before he could, she ran away.
He smiled. "I love you too, Tia."
Cryo shrieked in jealousy.
.............................................................................
Back in the mountains, the girl with horns and black hair stalked the misty field.
"So, this is where the monster died..."
She stared into the fog.
"I know where you are now... human."
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In Loipetras, Akatsuki entered the palace.
A voice echoed. "Long time, no see... King."
He turned. A woman with dark brown hair and a whip stood there.
"You...!?"
She struck.
"Sleep tight, Your Majesty."
Darkness took him.
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<| Ability Book |>
1. Spellbook: Mist Magic and Manipulation
Spell: Eternal Ice Mist
Tier: Low Angelic
Strength: Freezes intruders, and causes disorientation.
Weakness: Dispels under high-tier wind magic
Use: Long-range concealment field, excellent for area denial
Explanation: A spell that any caster with Mist magic and manipulation can use.
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2. Spellbook: Mist Magic and Manipulation
Spell: Mist Shield
Tier: Low Mage
Strength: Deflects nearly all elemental attacks.
Weakness: Piercing, wind magic.
Use: Protection
Explanation: A spell that any caster with Mist magic and manipulation can use.
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