Kalen ventured down the hallway connecting the living room to the other rooms of the residence. Far ahead, the stairs leading outside beckoned him, but his thoughts rooted him to the spot, immersing him in deep contemplation. Tears eventually made their way down his cheeks as he clenched his fists in frustration.
I wish I were as strong as her… Damn it… how did she do it?! Is it because of some innate gift that she became so powerful? Or was it relentless training... Argh! Why am I even questioning this? It's unbelievable…
Kalen's head lifted slowly and in a blink, it was caught by the sight of a man in blue and white armor with an emotionless, unwavering expression. On the wall hung a portrait of the man, whose features were so delicate they almost seemed alive. He had white hair with a blue tint and blue eyes that pierced one's gaze like a blade. A few blue strands floated in front of his face as he stood upright, holding a majestic and enormous sword in his right hand. The magical sword, heavy yet wielded with incredible precision, seemed almost twice the warrior's size.
That man, Sirius Temparus… My mother always used to tell me his story before bed… He's the very first of the Temparus, the one they called the Herald of Peace…
[Kalen's room, a few years ago when Kalen was 6]
The young boy's room was a gateway to tales of old. Spacious, with many children's toys. Portraits of ancient Temparus adorned the walls, watching over Kalen, guarding him from any lurking threats. The moonlight illuminated his mother's radiant face, who wore a red and white nightgown.
The woman, with long brown hair, sat gracefully on her son's majestic red bed. Kalen lay quietly beneath his blanket, patiently waiting for his mother to share a bedtime story.
"Mommy, a story please!
"Of course, my darling. Which one would you like tonight?"
"The man with the white and blue hair!"
"Oh, you mean Sirius? Of course..."
She reached over, pulling the blanket around him with tenderness. After this loving embrace, she cleared her throat and began her tale, her soft soothing voice wafting through the air like a lullaby. As she weaved her story, vivid images danced in young Kalen's mind.
"Once there was a man who trained diligently every day, hoping to defeat the wicked Archdemons of Emotion. One day, while working in a field, he was granted a gift: the power to control time... With the help of the people, Sirius made the brave choice to storm the castle of Nerhel, the Supreme Archdemon..."
Kalen pictured Sirius, battling amidst chaotic flames, gripping a long blue sword in his right hand. His face was a mask of resolve, inscrutable to all. Towering at nearly two meters tall, Sirius perfectly donned his blue armor with white hints.
Opposing him were four demonic beings, concealed in shadow, their identities hidden.
"You're no match for us! Filthy human!", a female voice taunted.
Sirius responded not to the woman's jeer, simply clutching his massive sword even tighter. His sharp gaze penetrated those of the demonic entities before him, seemingly immune to fear.
"What's wrong?! Scared?!", boomed a strong male voice.
Despite the repeated taunts of the Archdemons, Sirius remained silent, steadfast against adversity.
"Let's finish him… we won't let him get to Nerhel...", a charismatic male voice declared.
Immediately after those words, the Archdemon lunged at Sirius with blinding speed, fist ready to strike his face. The movement was so swift that even the sharpest eye would have struggled to catch it.
Yet, in a split second, Sirius caught the arm of the man with mixed features who was still lurking in the shadows, halting him in his tracks. This action by Sirius unleashed a powerful gust of wind, scattering the surrounding flames and resulting in the complete destruction of the castle they were in. Sirius was so imposing in stature that his hand was twice the circumference of the Archdemon's arm.
"Oh? You managed to stop my attack? Interesting..."
Almost instantly, the debris reversed in time, fully reconstructing the castle as if nothing had happened. All the Archdemons stared in astonishment at this act, apparently the work of Sirius.
"Unfortunately... Your powers over time won't save you...
Suddenly, power-charged sparks lit up the Archdemon's eyes as he fixed them on Sirius. One blue and one green eye gleamed, emanating a chilling aura that seemed to instill terror throughout the castle, making it shake to its foundations.
"Succumb to fear and terror!"
The sound of his voice boomed with overwhelming intensity within Sirius's mind.
"TREMBLE BEFORE THE ARCHDEMON OF FEAR!"
Suddenly, the shadow concealing Riui revealed his face. This man of mixed heritage was elegantly dressed in a green and black suit, with short black hair styled to the right side of his face.
In retaliation, Sirius gripped Riui's arm even tighter, breaking it in two. As an Archdemon, he felt no pain, but something else stirred within him as he watched Sirius pin him down. For the first time, Riui felt fear. It was no longer his eyes that transmitted terror to humans but the piercing gaze of Sirius, which seemed to signify that his time was near.
"What?! How?!"
Sirius felt not a speck of fear in his presence. His gaze remained unwavering, never having faltered once. He was unflappable, with a solemnity that no other human could ever match. This unexpected reaction sowed real doubt in Riui about the extent of his powers. Was he even an Archdemon after this? If his dominion over Fear didn't work on him, did it mean he was inferior to Sirius?
"Aren't you scared?! It's impossible! I am the archd—"
Sirius cut him off by flinging him toward the ceiling with a sure motion, tossing him aside like an inconsequential toy. Quickly, Riui struck the surface, simultaneously destroying a significant portion of the castle.
"Did he really just do that?! To an Archdemon of emotions?!" exclaimed the voice of a young girl.
Eventually, the darkness that cloaked them unveiled the other Archdemons. From the beginning, Sirius faced the four Archdemons of emotions in a battle where logic suggested he'd be at a disadvantage. However, that was far from the case. Sirius's very presence challenged their status and power.
As Yorgor, the Archdemon of anger, witnessed Sirius's unyielding might, a furious rage consumed him. His red mana burst forth, forming a frenzied aura impossible to ignore. After all, to the demon race, Sirius was but a mere human—no more than a slave. How had he managed to so effortlessly take down Riui?
"You will pay for your insolence, pathetic worm!" Yorgor charged, fists ready to unleash their power. The next moment, time froze under Sirius's command. The world was stripped of its colors, save for Sirius, who retained his. Even with this divine power, Yorgor's form managed to move, albeit at a glacial pace. With a stoic face, Sirius's voice rang out, "You move even with time halted. Admirable, yet it will avail you nothing."
With a swift motion, Sirius swung his colossal blade, shredding the Archdemon into millions of fragments. So swift was his strike that even in frozen time, his motion was nearly imperceptible. But to his astonishment, Yorgor's form reassembled.
"I see... So even your regeneration transcends time?"
With a mere blink, Sirius erased time's existence. The surroundings vanished, and time was no longer halted; it simply didn't exist. Thus, Yorgor had no means to regenerate.
After Yorgor's demise, Sirius coldly eyed Amaria and Keria. Advancing without mercy, he obliterated the two—Archdemons of love and sorrow—with an attack so swift it made the speed of light seem sluggish.
"It's over for you, Archdemons of Emotion..."
Sirius reinstated time's flow, restoring the castle's somber hues. The battleground where they'd clashed for what felt like ages was silent. Amaria, Yorgor, and Keria had vanished, obliterated by Sirius's godly might. His mere human form seemed trivial now, having defeated immortal beings with unimaginable ease.
"You're no mere human! You're much more than that!"
Turning, Sirius faced Riui, whose tattered attire bore testament to the formidable force known as Sirius. With a deep, grave voice, Sirius declared, "I am Sirius Temparus, a human sent by the Archangels, and known as the Harbinger of Peace. My mission is to eradicate the demon race entirely. I will eliminate anyone who stands in my way, be it a god or an Archdemon of Emotion."
[Back to the present, where Kalen gazed upon the portrait of Sirius]
Hand resting on the portrait, Kalen felt a renewed determination. He had once again found the courage to become someone others could rely on.
He clenched his other fist, aware that he must honor the Temparus name at all costs, even if he was the weakest of his lineage. Standing tall and facing the painting of Sirius, he declared:
"I will do everything to become like you, Sirius! And I will surpass my sister! I will train as hard as you did! You'll see!"