Chapter 03: Chrono's truth
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Northern Regions
Northern Castle
The northern princess wandered through the grand halls of the castle, her footsteps echoing softly against the stone walls as she checked on her loyal companions. She had a playful ambition to outshine her younger sister by referring to her guards as Paladins, a term that she believed sounded far more impressive than the traditional title of knights. However, deep down, she wasn't entirely sure if Paladins and knights were truly synonymous, nor did she particularly care to delve into the specifics. What mattered most to her was the camaraderie and loyalty that surrounded her.
As she strolled into the guest room, she found Kai, her trusted mage, deeply engrossed in casting another spell on Sinta, the sleeping kitsune. The sight was both fascinating and perplexing to her. She often wondered why a panther demon like Kai would choose to take on the role of a healer, especially for a creature like Sinta. Yet, her affection for Kai transcended such questions; she cherished him for who he was and the remarkable things he could do, regardless of the details that might have seemed odd to others.
Kai paused his incantation and turned his gaze toward the princess as she approached him, standing by his side with a gentle presence. “The wound is finally closing,” he announced slowly, his voice filled with a mix of relief and concentration. He observed Lyra as she delicately brushed her fingers through Sinta's vibrant red hair, a gesture of affection that made him smile. “Lyra?” he prompted, noticing her momentary distraction.
Lyra blinked, momentarily lost in thought, before looking up at the panther demon. “Oh, sorry! I heard you, and I’m really glad that he’s finally responding to your healing spells,” she replied, her voice warm with gratitude.
Kai let out a light sigh, a hint of amusement in his tone. “You really need to stop fussing with Sinta's hair before Mira gets annoyed,” he advised, knowing that the southern princess didn't like her sister touching her kitsune.
Lyra nodded lightly, acknowledging his words, and then turned her attention to the doorway as Chrono, the purple-haired time demon, silently entered the room. “Chrono, I’m sure you heard,” she greeted him with a soft smile, her eyes sparkling with warmth.
Chrono opened his mouth to ask a question but hesitated, ultimately choosing to nod instead. “I did…” he replied softly, his voice tinged with uncertainty. He didn’t fully understand the dynamics at play, but he felt a sense of unease being in the northern lands, where he sensed danger lurking just beneath the surface.
Lyra contemplated the situation for a moment, glancing between Kai and Chrono. She sensed an unspoken tension, but Kai had his back turned to Chrono and hadn’t addressed him directly. Putting that aside, she turned her attention back to Chrono, her smile unwavering. “Why don’t you wander around a bit? I’ll gather a full update to share with my sister. Sound good?”
The purple-haired demon nodded in agreement, grateful for the distraction, and quietly exited the room, leaving the two of them alone.
With a playful smirk, the princess turned her gaze back to Kai. “Come on, tell me a story,” she said cheerfully, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she playfully tugged on one of his arms.
Kai blinked in surprise at her sudden request, a hint of a smile creeping onto his face. “As you wish…” he replied, his tone resigned yet affectionate, knowing that he could never refuse her.
With a bright and cheerful smile lighting up her face, she gently tugged him into another room. Her intention was clear; she wanted to ensure that Sinta could enjoy her much-needed rest without any disturbances or interruptions.
Still Northern lands
Once Lyra stepped into the expansive library, a world of wonder and imagination, she felt a wave of comfort wash over her. She gently released his hand and made her way to her favorite chair, a cozy nook that felt like a second home. As she settled in, her eyes scanned the familiar surroundings, searching for her beloved pillow. A warm smile spread across her face when she finally felt the soft, fluffy texture behind her. The light blue pillow, with its cloud-like softness, was a cherished companion during her reading adventures. Once she was comfortable and content, she turned to him and beamed a bright smile, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
Kai, on the other hand, let out a soft sigh as he chose to sit cross-legged on the cool floor, lost in thought. He was so engrossed in the moment that he didn’t even realize the spell that concealed his distinctive black ears had faded away, revealing them in all their glory. “So, what story do you want to hear this time?” he asked gently, his voice barely above a whisper, as if he were afraid to disturb the tranquility of the library.
Lyra paused for a moment, her mind racing with possibilities, before her face lit up with a sweet smile. “How you and sis found Chrono,” she replied eagerly, her curiosity piqued. She noticed his beautiful ears but chose to ignore them, as her love for his captivating stories always took precedence.
Kai studied her for a moment, a hint of surprise in his expression. “Really?” he asked, raising an eyebrow. When she nodded enthusiastically, he sighed again, this time with a mix of resignation and affection. “As you wish…” he replied, his voice trailing off as he began to gather his thoughts, preparing to recount a story that he had never been particularly fond of but knew she would love.
150 years ago
Mira giggled joyfully as she dashed around the uneven, rocky ground, her laughter echoing through the air. She was completely unconcerned about the possibility of her dark blue kimono getting dirty from the light dust and dirt that clung to the earth beneath her feet. In fact, she didn’t mind at all if her shoes ended up worse for wear. The thrill of the long, carefree walks filled her with a sense of freedom and adventure that she cherished deeply. Today was particularly special because she had the opportunity to take her sister's favorite demon companion along for the day, which made the outing even more exciting.
Kai, the panther demon, followed closely behind the young princess, letting out a soft sigh. He couldn’t quite grasp why she had chosen him for this adventure, but he suspected that her sister, Lyra, had something to do with it. With his striking silver eyes, he kept a watchful gaze on the black-haired princess as she explored her surroundings.
Mira wandered around, her curiosity piqued by the peculiar rocks scattered across the mountainous terrain. Every so often, she would stop in her tracks, kneeling down to examine a particularly interesting rock more closely, her fingers brushing against its surface as she marveled at its unique texture and color. As she ventured deeper into the mountains, she made sure not to stray too far ahead of Kai, yet she also didn’t feel the need to stay right by his side. Instead, she would glance back at him from time to time, her eyes sparkling with mischief and delight, as if inviting him to join in her exploration of the enchanting landscape that surrounded them. The bond between them, though unspoken, was palpable in the air, adding an extra layer of magic to their adventure.
He looked around cautiously as he followed her deeper into the mysterious area. The atmosphere felt different, almost charged, and he couldn't quite put his finger on it. There was something off in the air, a subtle tension that made him uneasy, yet he chose to keep his thoughts to himself. He didn't sense any immediate danger or evil presence lurking nearby, which was a relief. In fact, the eerie silence was striking; there was a complete absence of life in this desolate place. “How odd...” he muttered to himself as he continued to walk, his eyes scanning the surroundings for any signs of life or activity. To his dismay, there were no signs of dragons either, which was unusual given their typical presence in such areas.
Mira suddenly stopped in her tracks, her eyes widening as she gazed up at a massive gateway door that loomed before them. It was an imposing structure, adorned with intricate carvings that hinted at ancient magic. “Kai... What's this lead to?” she asked softly, her voice barely above a whisper, as if she feared disturbing the stillness around them.
The demon male halted behind her, his gaze drawn upward to the door as he blinked in surprise. “It's... a grave...” he replied, his voice low and somber, the weight of the revelation hanging heavily in the air.
She blinked in disbelief and turned to face him. “Can you read the strange text inscribed on it?” she inquired, her curiosity piqued.
He nodded slightly, his expression serious. “It's an old spell... crafted by a rare race of demons. A spell designed to stop time...” His voice trailed off, the implications of such a spell weighing on him.
Mira's gaze returned to the door, her mind racing with thoughts. “To stop time... I remember reading about that type of spell. It was mentioned in one of Soren's books. The only two known to wield such power...”
“Were Aion and his twin brother, Chrono,” Kai interjected, his tone growing colder. Just uttering their names sent a shiver down his spine, stirring up feelings of unease within him. 'Did Aion do this?... To his own twin?' he pondered, his eyes narrowing as he scrutinized the door.
In the midst of his contemplation, he failed to notice that the princess was quietly reciting her own spell, her voice barely audible over the stillness. It wasn't until he felt a slight tremor beneath his feet that he realized something was happening. The door began to shift ever so slightly, creaking as if awakening from a long slumber. “Princess, did you do that?” he exclaimed, his heart racing as he turned to her, a mix of surprise and concern etched across his face
The princess let out a light giggle. “I’m curious about who’s inside. So, I cast a simple spell that Soren taught me.” She said cheerfully, beaming at him with a sweet smile. Then, she turned and pushed the door a little further before tumbling onto the hard ground. “Ouch...” she murmured softly, pouting slightly.
He blinked in surprise and approached her, kneeling down beside her. “Are you okay, Mira?” he asked gently, trying to dismiss the strange sensation he was experiencing.
She looked up at him and smiled gently. “I’m alright. I heal quickly, so everything is fine.” she replied softly. She was beginning to see why her sister was so fond of him.
Kai let out a small sigh and rose to his feet. “Princess... you do realize that Aion was the one who cast that spell...”
Something in the pitch-black darkness stirred slightly at the mention of the name 'Aion,' yet neither of them was aware of what lurked within the cave.
Mira glanced toward the shadows, blinking curiously. “...Perhaps...” she said, standing up and brushing the dirt and dust off her kimono. “But why did he choose to stop time in this particular spot?” she inquired lightly.
Kai sighed softly, shaking his head. “I can now see why Soren is so captivated by a simple girl like you.” He told her, his gaze fixed on the darkness. He sensed something observing them and contemplated a few spells to prepare for any potential danger.
She looked at Kai, then back at the shadows, and an idea sparked in her mind. “I’m going to uncover what he concealed here.” she declared excitedly as she stepped into the darkness before Kai could protest. Unfortunately, within just two minutes, she discovered and embraced what Aion had tried to keep hidden away. For reasons she couldn’t quite understand, she felt an overwhelming urge to hug him.
Concealed within the shadows that Mira ventured into was Chrono, a long-forgotten time demon characterized by his flowing purple hair and piercing red eyes. He observed the two as they opened the door and uttered a name he wished to forget. As the young girl stepped into the darkness, he instinctively shifted away from her, but it was futile when she reached out and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, causing him to blink in surprise.
Kai let out a soft sigh, sensing no malevolence in the uneasy atmosphere surrounding them. He quietly recited a simple incantation, and soon, a swarm of tiny, glowing fireflies appeared, flitting about. Their light dispelled the shadows, revealing Mira embracing a vividly red demon. This sight elicited a light smile from Kai, accompanied by another sigh.
Mira beamed with delight. “I discovered an adorable demon, Kai-Kai,” she exclaimed with a gentle giggle.
“Fantastic... just what we need, another target for Soren and Sinta's glares,” Kai replied with a resigned sigh. He was acutely aware that being around this princess was not beneficial for his well-being. With that thought, he turned and stepped out of the cave, gazing up at the sky.
Inside the cave, Chrono felt a flush creep across his cheeks at the proximity of the young girl. He was baffled by how she managed to open the door and why she wasn’t frightened of him. Wasn’t she apprehensive about the unknown? He didn’t have the answers, nor did he inquire. Instead, he kept his crimson gaze fixed on the cheerful girl. “W...who are... you?” he finally managed to ask.
Mira blinked softly, then released her embrace, smiling sweetly. “I apologize. I’m Princess Mira from the Southern lands. And who might you be?”
He blinked in surprise. “Southern lands... Isn’t Lady Kira the ruler?” he inquired, momentarily overlooking her question.
The princess nodded. “Mother abdicated a few months ago,” she replied gently. “Did you know her and my aunt?”
Chrono pondered for a moment. “Yes... and I am Chrono,” he answered quietly.
She smiled softly, then blinked in realization. “Chrono... the twin brother of Aion?”
He nodded in silence.
She paused for a moment before rising to her feet. “I understand. So, you’ve been confined for such a long time... and you have no idea what your mother and aunt are up to...” A smirk then appeared on her face as she looked at him.
He let out a silent sigh. 'So, she’s the youngest one... It’s hard to believe she was so timid when I first encountered her.' He mused lightly while observing her. He blinked at her smirk, feeling an inexplicable fear. Why did her smirk unsettle him? He couldn’t quite figure it out.
She smirked again, this time more playfully. “Chrono, what are your thoughts on being one of my knights?”
He blinked once more, slightly tilting his head in confusion. “Knight?” he inquired softly.
Mira took a moment to think before responding with a smile. “It’s similar to having bodyguards around.”
Chrono blinked again, contemplating her words. “Lady Kira... had three guards... yet you refer to them as knights...”
She let out a light giggle. “My guys are knights, while my sister’s are known as paladins. Each of us has our own unique titles.” She said with a soft laugh. There was something about this demon that made her smile more than anyone else, which she knew would annoy two of her knights.
The time demon stood up with a gentle sigh. “I’ll... be your knight...” he declared, removing the clock from around his neck and offering it to her.
The princess blinked in surprise as she examined the clock. “What’s this for?”
“It’s for you... to manage... my powers...” he explained slowly.
She glanced between him and the clock, blinking in confusion. “Uh... are you certain you want me to have something that can do that?”
Chrono nodded firmly. “Yes... it’s only fair since you’ll be my superior.”
She considered this for a moment before pushing his hand with the clock back toward him. “I get it, but hold onto it until we return home, okay?”
He nodded gently and placed it back around his neck.
Still 150 years ago.
Mira hurriedly dashed toward Sinta, who appeared to be quite annoyed, and enthusiastically wrapped her arms around his waist in a warm embrace, as if trying to soothe his irritation. “Foxy-kun!” she exclaimed with genuine happiness, a joyful tone in her voice that seemed to have a slight calming effect on the vexed kitsune, making him relax a little bit.
Sinta emitted a low growl, a sound that could only be described as a mix of frustration and affection directed at his beloved princess. “Why on earth did you choose to spend time with someone other than me?” he inquired in a tone that was undeniably filled with annoyance, his words dripping with a hint of jealousy as he sought an explanation for her actions.
Kira stood beside her sister, Lira, as they both shared a lighthearted moment filled with giggles while observing the interaction between the two, their laughter ringing out like music. However, her attention was suddenly drawn away, prompting her to glance over and blink in mild surprise. “Chrono? Is that really you?” Kira asked softly, her voice laced with curiosity, as Lira turned her head to look as well and blinked in astonishment. “Oh dear...”
Chrono found himself standing next to Kai, feeling a bit uneasy and uncertain about the curious glances that were being directed at him, leaving him to wonder what their expressions might mean in this unexpected situation.
The young princess, with a glimmer of joy in her eyes, gazed affectionately up at her beloved fox companion and smiled sweetly, a gesture so delightful that it caused him to twitch lightly in response, as if he couldn’t help but be enchanted by her charm. “I was really hoping to play with the kitty just this once, you know, and in addition to that, I have also discovered Chrono-chan,” she exclaimed with a radiant smile, her happiness evident in every word.
The fox, momentarily taken aback, blinked lightly as he processed her words. “Chrono-chan...?” he repeated, his tone filled with curiosity as he turned his gaze towards Kira and Lira, only to find Lira pointing excitedly at the intriguing purple-haired demon who had caught their attention. Sinta, feeling a mixture of protectiveness and annoyance, then growled a bit more, expressing his discontent, “So, you chose to play with the panther merely to find someone new to engage with, did you?”
Mira, her eyes wide with surprise, blinked lightly before pouting adorably, her expression a perfect blend of innocence and disappointment. “Foxie... doesn’t like Chrono-chan?” she asked with a hint of vulnerability, her voice soft and full of hope as she sought reassurance from her fox friend.
Sinta flinched lightly then sighed. “Whatever.... Just whatever...” He said, muttering a bit to himself.
The young princess giggled. “I win.” She smiled sweetly as she removed her arms and ran over to Chrono. “Chrono-chan, that's my foxie, Sinta. Try to get along with him, k?”
Chrono looked at Mira then over at Sinta, blinking lightly. He then looked over at Kai without saying anything.
Kai sighed lightly. “Just say yes and go come with life...” He whispered to the time demon before walked into the castle. Something told him that his own princess wasn't happy which he was right about.
The time demon looked down at the princess and nodded softly. Then blinked when someone behind him wrapped her arms around his neck.
Lady Kira moved behind the time demon while he was busy with her youngest daughter and placed her arms around his neck loosely. “Now, now, Chrono. Before you start making friends with my daughter and her fox, shouldn't you change looks?” She asked softly.
Mira blinked lightly then reached up and grabbed her mom's hand. “No touchie, Mother. You have your own to play with. Plus, I like his looks."
Kira blinked lightly then smiled sweetly at her daughter. “I don't want to play with your new knight. I just want to help him before you take him to the southern lands.”
Mira blinked then smiled. “Ok.” She said happily.
present time
Kai let out a gentle sigh. “And then you had the chance to meet him before your mother took him into another room,” he remarked.
Lyra paused for a moment in thought. “Now it’s coming back to me. You returned just in time to rescue Ryan,” she said with a soft sigh, recalling that day vividly when she had been throwing things at Ryan for being unkind to her.
He nodded in agreement. “Yes...” he responded as he rose to his feet. “May I return to taking care of the fox?”
She smiled gently and nodded. “Of course. I’ll go find Chrono and let him know to see sis before she sends over Heei.”
As he walked toward the library door, Kai pondered for a moment. “Aren’t Hiei and Kurama still around?” he inquired quietly.
Lyra stood up from her chair, contemplating for a moment. “Yay! No Heei for a while,” she said with a light laugh as she exited the library.
Kai shook his head, his ears twitching slightly, and returned to tending to Sinta's closing cut.