"You also seem to have a small amount of choromancy affinity. You should visit the Ethereal Citadel to learn more about the field. Between the two schools, you could alter your point of view and view lessons on anything from any time and any place. Of course, entering such is the first challenge. There are no openings, and it's situated on a narrow floating island and can only be discovered by those with enough affinity. It is my belief you will someday be able to discover its hidden location." Having said these words, he motioned with his hand dissolving the time bubble, thus releasing the two trapped motionless inside.
Now the two were freed from their stasis, Poralis stood and looked at Oren. "So, what brings you to my tower?"
The elf explained the details of what he had learned about this new kingdom of Khehep and its capital Marsgate. He discussed the chain armor of one of the Defenders of Yendora being found in the nearby bog, not one of those which they had just completed, but one in which even the gauntlets were each enchanted with an uncommon demon heart and the shield was one of those proposed for the grand wizard defenders which were soon to be made out of orichalcum then enchanted to absorb a portion of spells cast at the wielder which would then provide an increase to the spell power and magical energies of said wielder to use with their spells.
Oren then looked at the two youngsters. "The children here believe our map and coins may be well out of their history and Yendora has been centuries fallen. On top of which, my own daughter, who has just six years ago left on her trials, was said by both children to have reigned in their past as an elven warrior queen over all the elves in the Great Forest to the south."
Von confirmed his statement, "it's history. Tianna Moonrise was the elven warrior queen after the Great Forest Elves were decimated by the various goblin kin during the Goblin-kind War. She took charge and led the surviving elves into the great forest for six centuries. When they came out, it was with a vengeance and Queen Moonrise led a legion of elves to conquer the walled city of over twenty thousand humans and half-elves living in Marsgate in retaliation of the devastation of their home caused when the old kingdom failed to honor their alliance and bring aid during the Goblin-kind war.
After that, Tianna Moonrise led the remaining elves to the Tall Trees Forest farther to the north closer to the capital of the old kingdom where she ruled and defended against many attempts by King Natel's army to destroy the elves and the forest. The war between the old kingdom ended when Queen Tianna challenged King Natel to mortal combat. As many humans were magicless then and since King Natel V was not as skilled in arms as his grandfather, he attempted to elude Queen Tianna by fleeing only to be killed by a horde of demons.
Five years after King Natel V was slain, the appointed King Fegan VII agreed to a new trade agreement with the queen and the Tall Trees elves, and eventually, his grandson Taldos signed a new alliance shortly thereafter. This alliance allowed elves and humans to mingle freely in both Tall Trees and Khehep, the new capital and finally, the remainder of the country. It also offered magical education to both races equally.
During his lifetime, Fegan VII and Queen Tianna worked together supporting elven and human mages to build up Marsgate, making it the most defendable human city while fortifying Tall Trees and officially declaring the elves there to be Moonrise elves. Together, they worked together to end slavery, bring about an abundance of food and to usher the alliance into a new kingdom, creating a time of peace and prosperity with the exception of the fell spawn coming from the rifts. During this golden time, the name of the old kingdom was completely forgotten or perhaps it was intentionally removed from history."
Monica nodded as Von was telling of their ancient history affirming this was true. Archmage Poralis listened intently to the spoken words, his brow furrowed slightly, indicating a deep concentration. His eyes, fixed on the speakers, reflected a contemplative gaze, as if mentally digesting each word as the subtle tilt of his head suggested an eagerness to understand, while his lips formed a thoughtful line, occasionally parting to signify internal processing.
A gentle nod at certain points in the conversation revealed acknowledgment, further emphasizing his engagement. Occasionally, he would absentmindedly tap a finger or gently stroke his chin, unconsciously manifesting the cognitive activity occurring within. The thoughtful expression on his face conveyed a genuine curiosity and a desire to comprehend the information being shared.
As Von completed his side of the tale, Oren beseeched the wise wizard, "I would like to ask you to see whether it is us or the two young folks here who are not in their right time. I don't know how the magic will work, but I have heard tell it can happen for a person to be moved through their time or frozen in time for a piece then leave their area only to find the world has kept moving around them."
Thinking of the time bubble Oren and Monica were recently stuck within, a smirk crosses his face. "Is it actually possible to move back in time, going against the flow of the river? Or is it only possible to just see where one has been?"
Poralis began, his voice echoing through out from the study. "Moving forward in time is akin to a gentle stroll through a cosmic garden. It requires finesse, understanding, and a delicate touch. You learn to ride the currents of temporal energy like a boat drifting downstream giving it just a little boost to keep it ahead allowing one to witness events yet to unfold and to ride forward into a new era. However," Poralis continued, his expression turning more solemn, "traveling backward in time is an entirely different endeavor. It is a cosmic ballet demanding immense power and precision. Imagine attempting to swim against a raging river's current, but this river is the flow of time itself."
"As you pointed out, Von. Manipulating time backward is a responsibility of cosmic proportions. The potential consequences of even the smallest changes can be catastrophic. The energy required is colossal, and the risks are monumental. It is a path best tread with caution and respect for the cosmic harmony we seek to uphold." The archmage paused for effect. "To answer your question, yes, it is possible to travel in both directions. Backwards is significantly more dangerous than forward. Looking at the past is relatively harmless, but any changes made by traveling there have the potential to cause apocalyptic changes to the time from which you came."
Oren looked a bit worried at this looking back and forth between the two children and the wizard. "What I am asking is, can you do something to discover who is in the wrong time, and put everyone in their place?"
The gravity of the situation pressed upon Poralis like an unseen weight as the archmage's thoughts cascaded like a waterfall of uncertainty. What if Sungrove's timeline had irrevocably shifted, and the attempts at restoration only fueled the chaos? What could have unleashed forces strong enough to catapult two children so far back in time the kingdom he had watched grow in the last few eons had disappeared from their history. A heavy sigh escaped Poralis, resonating with the weariness of an ancient soul grappling with the consequences of such a potential shift and what effect it could have on their future.
On the other hand, what if the entirety of Sungrove, including the Temporal Tower had been shifted forward to a time when everything we knew was lost to the annals of history. How much power would it take to move something this large in one fell swoop? He knew visitors would occasionally leave the town only moments after they entered, but never before they entered, so as to not pass themselves. Chronomancers often used this technique when teaching and learning in order to speed the amount of knowledge passed on compared to what was occurring in the outside world. This same magic occasionally caused visitors to accomplish more during the few days they stayed in town than what they thought was possible, but this was something on a completely different scale.
Despite the concerns gnawing at the edges of the archmage's consciousness, Poralis steeled his resolve. The responsibility of a Choromancer extended beyond personal doubt; it was a commitment to the cosmic balance transcending individual fears. With a determined gaze, Poralis prepared to face the challenge of determining if a temporal manipulation had occurred. After which, he would ponder the true affect it could have on the world or time as they knew it. Whether the affected time belonged to the children, or to the entire town of Sungrove.