Chapter 22: Trials of the Heart
Taro spent the following days in the Forbidden Temple, training with the woman as his guide. Every lesson was grueling, every moment pushing him to the limits of his strength, both physically and mentally. His connection to time was growing stronger, but with that strength came a deeper understanding of the consequences of wielding such power.
The woman had taught him how to control the flow of time in small, subtle ways—slowing the passage of seconds, speeding up moments of action, and even glimpsing fragments of the future. But with each new ability he mastered, a darker truth became clearer: the more he used his powers, the more the fabric of reality itself began to fray. Time was not meant to be controlled by mortal hands.
"You must learn restraint," she told him one night, as they sat by the flickering light of a fire. "The Heart of Time grants great power, but it is a double-edged sword. Use it recklessly, and the balance will tip. And once the balance is lost, there will be no way to restore it."
Taro nodded, his expression grim. He could feel the temptation—every time he used his powers, it was like a drug, an intoxicating rush that made him feel invincible. But the warnings were clear, and deep down, he knew she was right. The more he pushed, the greater the risk.
But the question still remained: How could he stop the forces threatening the world? How could he face these enemies when he wasn't sure if he could even control the power within himself?
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