“Tempus is no more here,”

His voice went in deep within me. I was unaware of him and never had thought that something like this could happen.

Shivers ran down our spine and the atmosphere became tense. I had always seen him doing something out of the textbook, but this..

“Summa, what did you do?”

I asked with a hafting voice.

“You did something.”

Alias spoke as she proceeded forward. Her footsteps banged and her hands remained stiff. She was angry enough to just..

“I did something; you are quite accurate about that.” Summa spoke as he saw her coming towards him, “I have done the very thing I always wanted to do.”

“You can’t make this world a perfect place,” Scientia asserted as we were always about sure what he wanted to do, “Such an idea is courageous, but doing it right is..”

“You’re right; I can’t make this world a perfect place. I have known that for a long time, but then something struck my mind. If I can’t make this right, then maybe I should just create a new one.”

He said with a grim laugh. His hands were open and arms too, with a face filled of evil gesture he looked down at us.

“After all, creation is my forte”

The wind gushed in and fire was ignited all over the place. The land started shaking and water thrashed outside. The lake was overflowing and trees dwindled enough to break apart.

“So, is destruction mine.”

I said as I raised my arm and called upon my weapon of choice. A long doubled headed red spear which had a green pendent on it.

It travelled along the rushed it my palm, I caught it and then lashed towards Summa with my spear facing him.

I rushed in and jumped up in the air. He stood quietly with a pretty smile on his face and in moments I was clear why he had been so calm.

I raised my left eyebrow and saw something being launched towards me. It was an axe. I quickly retracted from my posture of attack to defence, but within seconds I was punched in my stomach which made me fall behind. I rolled twice, but then handled myself. I stood up again to see who my opponent was.

A rather familiar face in front of me, with broad shoulders and a long hair. He wore grey drapes with white garments. A rather mix of dark and fair complexion.

It was Set, one of the highest regarded Elementus.

“Such a stable form. You have grown your skills, for that I must applaud you.”

A rather familiar face appeared in front of me as I looked above.

A man dress in silver drapes and blue overcoat walked towards me to lift me up.

“Set?”

“Yes, young master?”

He outstretched his arm as he spoke with me.

“It’s a pleasure to see after so long.”

I was more surprised to see him there than to be pleasured.

“Set? How are you here?”

Aetas asked with a vivid expression, his hands moved sideways and then towards his head to wipe out the sweat of his forehead.

“Oh….did he not tell you yet?”

We heard a voice stomping towards us. We looked down the corridor. I tried looking that way, but my vision was short and couldn’t tell who it is, although

“Your mother is dead as well. So, now we stand in front of you. Free!”

Soli screamed as he walked through the hallway.

“And now, you shall die too…..Mortis!!!”

He came charging towards me with his fist loaded with energy.

“Summa—“ Aetas tried calling him out, but was shut down by a gush of water which ran inside through the door. He was pushed towards Summa where Set caught him in his oblivious bubble of vacuum.

I had two things to pay attention to, but neither was accessible nor was attend able.

One side Soli’s bare-powered knuckle was finding its way to me and on the other hand I had to save Aetas from Set’s clutches.

Mother was no more. The pendent she wore had been destroyed and the world which Tempus believed was beautiful…… was ending.

I had to grieve for my Mother….no we wanted to, but time didn’t allow us any leverage.

‘Father? Where are you?’

There was no way that someone could kill Tempus, because if he would’ve died then the world would cease to exist.

I raised my spear on towards Soli in hope of deflecting his punch.

“You shouldn’t really feel sad for her, you know.”

Summa spoke out with his hands close his chest.

“The Mother you all believed in was just something you would call….a Homunculi.”

He said which distracted me from my stance and so I took the punch from Soli which made me tumble across the room towards an open balcony.

“Our father was a dirty man or more likely to be the most selfish being I have seen in my entire life. He always played mind games with us, nothing he told was true. I don’t know why you all had so much respect towards him.”

Summa said as he snapped his fingers. In a moment’s turn Scientia and Alias were caught by Flamma and Stilla - the remaining Elementus.

I lifted my head with a baffled expression. In front of me I saw six figures standing.

Summa, Set, Soli, Aura, Flamma and Stilla.

The Five elements of nature, the five Elementus.

“Sorry, master.”

Aura commented as she downed her head and stepped back to let Summa and Set come in front of them.

Soli walked behind and joined Stilla and Flamma.

“We are deeply unhappy to present ourselves in this manner, young master.” Set spoke remorsefully. He clenched his fist to show his dissatisfaction.

“Now that, Mother is no more and Tempus is gone. We have no choice, but to follow Lord Summa’s commands. We now stand before you as your enemies, but know this that we hold no grudge against you…..at least most of us.” He said as he looked at Soli and them me.

Flamma was carrying Alias, with her hands tied behind her back, Alias still struggled her hardest to move.

“Flamma!”

Summa called him out.

Flamma threw Alias down at Summa’s feet. Alias saved herself from getting hurt by outstretching her arms towards the flooe, but then was grabbed by Summa behind by her neck.

“I shall recreate everything and make everything right.”

He said as he pinched her with as much strength he could gather.

I looked outside and a portal was now opened, big enough to fit the whole tower in it.

Summa looked outside as well and then looked at me.

“I have some use for others, but for you…”

He said as he threw Alias back towards Flamma.

She was mid-air and Flamma who was supposed to catch her, didn’t on purpose.

“Alias!”

“Mortis,” Summa said as he saw me screaming,”I care about you, but if I let you live; you’ll become a hurdle for me again. So, it is best that I end you here….for the very first and last time.”

I lost my words and my actions, being speechless was my attitude at the moment. I had no counterattack nor had any suggestion to make this right.

I had been shown that I was just a good for nothing Candidate….again.

I was devastated inside which reflected my actions outside. I stood like a rock for every line he spoke.

“This is not you. What has got you?”

I said as I thought these were my last moments and my last words. I asked the thing which I knew the answer for, but I asked it anyway.

“Righteousness.”

Summa replied with a cold tone.

“Flamma, burn him.” He ordered and then turned around.

Flamma took steps to be in front of everyone. He raised his hands and summoned fire in his hands and then brought them together to produce a beam of fire projected towards me.

I was defenceless and so I just raised my left arm to cover myself to just not see myself burned to death.

But,

“What are you hiding your face for?”

The flames didn’t reach me. I downed my arm and gazed upon an unreal sight. It was Teacher standing before me. He stood between me and the flames with his right hand raised. He tried blocking the flames and as he did he looked towards me.

“Teacher!”

“Mortis, I have never taught you to accept defeat. Stand up, the fate of the world rests on your shoulders.”

He said as flames engorged his right hand which acted as a barrier to protect me and him for time being.

“This isn’t over yet. Tempus isn’t dead, find him.” He continued as he, “Live for me, Mortis…..not just for me, but for everyone. Remember, ‘Never fail….if you do then it’s all over.’” He said with a deep smile on his face and tears which vaporised as they fell.

“Teacher, I can’t—“

“Don’t worry about me. I have lived for more than a thousand years to get past these flames.” He interrupted with hefty laughter, “And about others; they would want to do this as well.”

The ground started shaking and cracks were seemingly opening under us. The balcony was weakened due to flames and it was just a matter of time that it broke to make us go down.

“We don’t have much time.” He said as he supported his right hand with his left, “Mortis, I just want you to keep this in your mind..

‘To break balance, imbalance is necessary.’

The ground showed no mercy and was cracked open. I lost my footing and started falling down. So, I looked above and saw my Teacher getting around in flames.

I had no time to react, I kept falling until I fell down in the water below me. I heard two splashes and in that moment I decided what I wanted to do and what I had to do.

But, unconsciousness took over me and I don’t know what happened after that, till when I saw Ishi die.

Everything I knew, I had lost memories of it, but somehow got them back….