Flight from Cairo International Airport in Egypt to Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, took around seven hours. Ryan could have teleported. But he chose to fly. He knew it was the best way to avoid drawing attention to himself as a foreigner in Egypt.
During the flight, he engaged in conversation with Fen.
"Fen, can you tell me the details about GoT? I mean the Guardians of Time?" Ryan asked, his thoughts transmitting clearly.
"Sure," Fen replied mentally. "Where would you like me to start?"
"How about their hierarchy?" Ryan suggested.
"Alright. The Guardians of Time have a structured hierarchy. At the base level, we have the Initiates. These are the newly recruited Guardians undergoing training. They're eager but inexperienced."
He paused to let that sink in.
"The next level is the Guardians. These members are active and fulfill various roles. They are the backbone of our operations."
Ryan nodded, absorbing the information.
"Finally, we have the Veterans. These are the seasoned Guardians. They possess exceptional experience and have accomplished significant feats."
Fen continued, breaking down the roles further.
"Guardians and Veterans are divided into two main categories: Regional Divisions and Special Units. In the Regional Divisions, we find Timekeepers, Shadow Walkers, and Chrono-Guardians."
He took a breath before elaborating on the Special Units.
"In the Special Units, we have the Phoenix Squad and the Temporal Integrity Commission. Each group plays a vital role in maintaining the balance of time.
Now, let's break down the highest hierarchy.
First, we have the Elite Circle. This is a secondary leadership tier. They report to the Council of Twelve. Their main job? Implementing council decisions, managing regional divisions, and overseeing tactical missions.
Next, the Council of Twelve. This is the highest governing body. It consists of twelve powerful Guardians. Their role is crucial. They oversee global operations, set strategic priorities, and make key decisions.
"Are you following?" Fen asked Ryan.
"Yeah… But what are Timekeepers, Shadow Walkers, and Chrono Guardians?" Ryan inquired, confusion evident in his voice.
Fen smiled in Ryan's mind. "Timekeepers monitor temporal anomalies. They prevent disruptions in time. Shadow Walkers? They conduct covert operations and gather intelligence. As for the Chrono Guardians, their task is to protect historical events and key figures."
"Hmmm..." Ryan rubbed his cleanly shaved chin. "What will my role be? Am I going to be one of the Council of Twelve?"
"Not quite." Fen shook his head mentally. "You will have a position above them. You will act directly under Chronos."
Ryan lingered, caught in a web of thoughts. Being positioned above The Council of Twelve and directly below Chronos was tempting—almost irresistible. He had seen Paser in action as an Elite Circle member, and it was nothing short of jaw-dropping.
Imagine bending time at will. The advantages would be immense. You could dodge every misfortune. Change the lottery winner number to your own. Who wouldn't want that?
But with such power came questions. Would he be worthy of such a high responsibility? Being directly under the Supreme God felt like a heavy crown. It would mean he'd be expected to act like a god himself.
How long would he need to train for that? Years? Decades?
Fen, who could read his thoughts, chuckled.
Ryan made a straight face look, "Why are you laughing?"
"You're funny," Fen replied, still giggling. "Most people would scream with joy at the thought of becoming a god."
Ryan frowned. "Why should I be happy? It's just a heavy burden waiting to crush me."
Fen couldn't hold back his laughter. "Oh, and don't forget! We can bend time! You could pack a hundred years of training into just days."
Ryan's eyes widened. "That was awesome!" he exclaimed, a grin spreading across his face.
Just imagine: no aging worries, no ticking clock. Play games for hours, stretch time, and still keep up with your life. Or better yet, manipulate time to win the lottery over and over. You could be richer than Elon Musk!
Fen shook his head, disbelief etched on his face. "Is that really your take on the power of time?"
Ryan struggled to contain his excitement. The passenger next to him shot a curious glance, eyebrows raised at his unrestrained giggles.
"No, I just think it would be really cool to have that kind of power," Ryan said, covering his mouth with his hands to stifle his wide smile.
"If you try any of that, I'll have my uncle Thor zap you with lightning," Fen warned, smirking like he had just cracked the best joke ever.
"What the…?" Ryan's face froze. He suddenly remember that Fenrir was Loki's son, making Thor his uncle.
"Haha!" Fen burst out laughing.
"Right," Ryan thought, mentally rolling his eyes.
"So, where is the GoT's headquarter is? Does Chronos hang out there?" Ryan asked, shifting the topic.
"GoT headquarters lies in a metaphysical dimension called The Timestream. And yes, Lord Chronos is the big boss there."
"When will you take me there?" Ryan asked, his curiosity bubbling over.
"In time," Fen replied with a smirk. "But if you jump into The Timestream now? No guarantees you'll come back alive. Might turn into cosmic dust."
Ryan frowned, frustration creeping in. "So, after I finish my training at The Arena of Elements, I can go to The Timestream? I don't have a backup plan, remember? I don't have a lot of savings to spend for years' travels."
Fen chuckled. "Oh, do you assume you will get only one training? Not nearly enough to be a Chronos representative. You'll need to master at least three kinds of weapons. And guns? Not included."
Ryan's frown deepened. This wasn't just training; it was a recipe for suffering. If one training took two years, then six years of hell was on the horizon.
"And at The Arena of Element? You'll endure five different types of training," Fen added, laughing like he just delivered a punchline.
"Damn it..." Ryan muttered under his breath and closed his eyes in desperation until the plane landed at Tribhuvan International Airport.
***
Kathmandu's winter weather was cool, hovering around 11°C. The clouds hung low, but the day was dry. After finishing the arrival process, Ryan stepped out of the airport, ready to find a taxi.
As he walked down the corridor, a voice called out, "Mr. Ryan Lane?"
Ryan turned to see a young man dressed in black pants and a crisp white shirt. He wore a wide smile, though his short hair was a bit messy. It looked like no amount of combing could tame it.
"Yes...? Can I help you?" Ryan replied, curious.
"Ah... I am here to pick you up," the young man said. "My name is Ayush. Do you want to go straight to the Arena, or do you want to try some local delicacies first?" His English was fluent.
Ryan's eyes widened in surprise, "How did you...? Never mind that. Can you join me for a late lunch?"
"Sure, sure!" Ayush responded, eager to guide him.
With a Land Cruiser made in Japan, they set off for a local restaurant. This wasn't just any place; it was famous for its momos, and one of the expensive restaurant in Kathmandu.
Momos are a traditional Nepali dish. They are like dumplings, but with a twist. You can find them filled with various ingredients—buffalo meat, chicken, vegetables, or even cheese. Each momo is wrapped in soft dough and steamed to perfection.
But here's the best part: they come with a spicy chutney. This chutney adds a bold kick. Each bite is a burst of flavor.
The young man skillfully navigated through the bustling Ring Road. He turned left onto Durbar Marg, where the city buzzed with life.
Ten minutes later, they arrived at the restaurant. It stood out with its intricate Nepali architecture. The colors were bright, and the carvings were beautiful.