As the dense fog that surrounded them began to dissipate, Kairos and his companions found themselves in an unfamiliar yet eerily familiar environment. The air was thick with a strange energy, and the landscape, though recognizable, had an ancient quality that set Kairos on edge. The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows across the land, and a sense of foreboding settled in the pit of his stomach.
A dark shadow slithered along the ground beside Kairos, twisting and warping until it took the form of a large, ominous crow. Its eyes gleamed with an unnatural light, and it perched itself on a nearby rock, watching them with an unsettling gaze.
Eclipse's voice emanated from the crow, low and twisted, echoing with an otherworldly resonance. "Ah, little master, you've stepped into something far more interesting than you could have imagined. This is no mere dimension we've entered—no, this is a relic of time itself. A dimensional gate, forged by powers that should not exist, even in this world."
Kairos turned to the crow, his expression tense. "A dimensional gate? What do you mean?"
The crow's eyes gleamed with dark amusement. "A gate that shouldn't exist, not by the natural laws of this world. But when you've been trapped for thousands of years, as that overgrown lizard was, you pick up a few tricks. Tricks that allow you to bend reality, to twist the fabric of time itself. This place, little master, is the past. A fragment of time long forgotten, but not yet lost."
Kairos' breath hitched as he took in Eclipse's words. They weren't just in another place—they were in another time. The realization hit him like a tidal wave, and he glanced around, suddenly more aware of the environment.
Before Kairos could process the gravity of their situation, a group of figures appeared in the distance. The fog continued to lift, revealing the unmistakable silhouettes of warriors, their forms both familiar and strange. As they approached, Kairos' heart began to race. These were no ordinary people; they were members of the Houses—Draconis, Fenrir, Umbra, and Icarus. But they were younger, their faces unmarked by the trials of the war that Kairos knew all too well.
A sense of dread washed over him as the figures drew closer. Among them, Kairos recognized two boys with the unmistakable features of his aunt Alice Aurelius. They bore the proud and noble expressions of the Aurelius bloodline, but there was a sharpness in their eyes, a hunger for power that Kairos found unsettling.
Lucius Aurelius
Age: 15
Race: Human (Aurelian)
Title: [Young Swordmaster]
Affiliation: House Aurelius, Astella City
Attributes:
Strength: 82.0
Dexterity: 75.0
Endurance: 78.0
Intelligence: 64.0
Wisdom: 70.0
Charisma: 55.0
Luck: 45.0
Mana: 600.0
Skills:
Swordsmanship Lv. 12: Mastery in sword fighting, capable of executing complex techniques with exceptional precision.
Blazing Edge Lv. 3: Infuses sword with celestial fire, increasing damage and cutting power.
Celestial Barrier Lv. 2: Creates a shield of light, reducing incoming damage.
Movement Mastery Lv. 7: Proficient in agile and fluid movements, enhancing combat efficiency.
Special Abilities:
Star Burst: Unleashes a burst of celestial energy, dealing heavy damage to all nearby enemies.
War Cry: Increases the strength and morale of nearby allies in battle.
The first boy, tall and lean with a determined expression, carried a sword that seemed almost too large for his frame, yet he wielded it with practiced ease. The second boy, shorter but with a commanding presence, held a staff that thrummed with latent magical energy.
Remus Aurelius
Age: 15
Race: Human (Aurelian)
Title: [Young Archmage]
Affiliation: House Aurelius, Astella City
Attributes:
Strength: 65.0
Dexterity: 60.0
Endurance: 63.0
Intelligence: 85.0
Wisdom: 80.0
Charisma: 50.0
Luck: 55.0
Mana: 1200.0
Skills:
Magic Lv. 13: Mastery in arcane magic, capable of casting advanced spells.
Stellar Storm Lv. 4: Summons a storm of celestial energy, damaging all enemies within range.
Healing Light Lv. 3: Channels celestial magic to heal allies and cleanse status effects.
Celestial Magic Lv. 10: Advanced proficiency in celestial magic, allowing manipulation of cosmic energies.
Special Abilities:
Arcane Shield: Creates a magical barrier that absorbs a significant amount of damage.
Mana Surge: Temporarily boosts mana regeneration and spellcasting speed.
Kairos stared at the boys, unable to shake the unsettling feeling that he was looking at shadows of the past—shadows that had left a lasting impact on the future he knew. But before he could dwell on the implications, more figures emerged from the mist, and his attention shifted.
Aella's eyes widened as she recognized the figures approaching them. Among them was a young woman with the wings of a falcon, her eyes sharp and calculating, and a man whose arm was covered in thick, powerful feathers, his gaze cold and unforgiving. They moved with the grace and precision that marked them as members of the House of Icarus.
Elara Icarus
Age: 19
Race: Bird Beast-kin (Icarus)
Title: [Winged Sentinel]
Affiliation: House Icarus, Windspire district
Attributes:
Strength: 72.0
Dexterity: 88.0
Endurance: 74.0
Intelligence: 68.0
Wisdom: 65.0
Charisma: 52.0
Luck: 50.0
Mana: 700.0
Skills:
Winged Combat Lv. 10: Expert in aerial combat, with superior agility and precision.
Sky Strike Lv. 4: Executes a high-speed dive attack, delivering a powerful blow from above.
Gale Force Lv. 3: Summons a powerful wind to knock back enemies and deflect projectiles.
Air Magic Lv. 12: Mastery in wind-based magic, allowing for powerful and versatile spellcasting.
Special Abilities:
Wind Cloak: Envelops the user in a protective barrier of wind, reducing damage from attacks.
Falcon's Eye: Enhances vision, allowing the user to spot distant targets and weak points.
Zephyrus Icarus
Age: 18
Race: Bird Beast-kin (Icarus)
Title: [Gale Warden]
Affiliation: House Icarus, Windspire district
Attributes:
Strength: 78.0
Dexterity: 85.0
Endurance: 77.0
Intelligence: 70.0
Wisdom: 60.0
Charisma: 50.0
Luck: 52.0
Mana: 800.0
Skills:
Winged Combat Lv. 8: Proficient in aerial combat, utilizing agility and strength in battle.
Hurricane Blade Lv. 5: Envelops weapon in a swirling vortex of wind, increasing its cutting power.
Wind Wall Lv. 4: Creates a barrier of wind that deflects attacks and projectiles.
Air Magic Lv. 14: Advanced proficiency in wind-based magic, capable of unleashing powerful spells.
Special Abilities:
Tempest Strike: Delivers a powerful wind-enhanced strike, capable of breaking through defenses.
Gale's Fury: Increases speed and strength when fighting in windy conditions.