"You could be the king of the world, yet you were still contented with being the five of us. That's the reason why we chose you as our leader, our Headmaster," replied Z.
The Time Mage folded his arms. He was getting curious about the history of the big trio. He had already known that they were friends. But truly, how did an Aki, a Dark Mage, and a Galaxian Mage created an alliance?
"So please, don't throw away your bravery," reasoned Baldwin, as he grabbed Z's freezing arms in an attempt to pry the two away.
Another wave of gunfire reverberated through the air, piercingly loud due to the stillness of the area. The screams had stopped. Gillian merely gave a small smile as he turned his back on the sight before him.
Raiyen heaved a sigh of relief as he felt the Elemental Aura around the area took a dip. He looked around once more.
"This moment shouldn't have been open to me... Something or someone allowed me in..." murmured Raiyen as he glanced back at the big three.
"I still want that Club Sandwich, let's go back before Mavis finishes all the avocados," said Gillian, beckoning the two men to follow him home.
At the very least, in Z's eyes for the day, it ended better than the earlier conversation with Mavislin. He'd hoped that she would have at least simmered down by now.
He was right, as he found the High Queen sitting on Raiyen's bed with a bunch of cookies that Z had been saving up. She glanced at the huge guy and looked away instantaneously.
"Aren't you gonna complain that I've eaten your stash of cookies?" she asks, nervously.
"Nope, that was meant for you. I made them myself," replied Z, with a goofy smile on his face.
"Are you an avid fan of peanuts?" she asked.
He sat by her side and snatched one away and shoved them in his mouth.
"Thank you, Peanut."
Meanwhile, Raiyen walked around the snowy plains, trying to find signs of abnormality in the area. He was just here a couple of days ago and now he was back to revaluate the situation. How many more times this moment was going to let him pass?
"No rips, none other than from me... So why was this moment forgotten in the books? It seems so significant, the Akis would have definitely included it in their archives."
"They did. But not in a way that you expect."
The Time Mage spun around instantly, pulling out his twin daggers, But he was met face to face with no one.
"Identify yourself, Being," commanded Raiyen as he held his blades higher.
"That was quite rude, Time Boy. Don't you think that I deserve a better name?"
A shadow appeared from the dense, winter forest. Raiyen's face went pale as the figure fully emerged from the depths of the frosted kingdom.
"How the hell are you still alive?!" yelled Raiyen as he backed away in fear.
"I could say the same for you as well."
"Hmph, I am a Time Mage. We tend to lie about our age and we can travel past the moment of our deaths as well. But the point still stands. I saw you die. You are not a Time Mage. How did you survive that?"
"I didn't."
Raiyen blinked a few times in confusion.
"Pardon?"
"I didn't survive that death. I'm a version before my death. An echo."
"No way... Benjamin's a problem, now I've got to deal with you as well?!"
"Don't be daft, I've only got one shot at this. I want to set things right with my old pal."
Before Raiyen could react, the figure snapped his fingers and changed the area. The scene of the Old Chapel's living room surrounded both the Time Mage and the unknown figure.
"What the hell is going on?!" yelled Baldwin as he saw the two standing on the rug.
"Damn you..." cursed Raiyen.
With Mavislin's condition, there's no way she could help out in this fight.
"Long time no see, Shadow man."
"Why is this pest in our home?" asked Ysabeau, disgusted at the sight of their visitor.
Even the Old Chapel was starting to get angry with this intruder. But her power was not enough to kick the retired leader of the Congregation out.
"Well, well... I wanted to visit you but it looks like you paid me a visit instead," commented Gillian, with a devilish grin on his face.
"Hmm... Your little Time Boy gave your coordinates away by falling into my Time Frame trap. Your home ain't safe no more."
"We'll see about that. Let's have a full-on duel, shall we? Just outside the Old Chapel. What do you say, Matthew Pond?" asked Gillian, pointing outside towards the back of the area.