Timorath stood 1 light-year away from a towering structure that spiraled endlessly into the sky and plunged deep into the ground. The sheer scale of it was both awe-inspiring and humbling, as if it connected the heavens and the earth. Despite its simple design, the structure emitted an undeniable power, an aura that bent time itself.
At the center of the structure stood the Monolith of Time, the true source of this blessed land's unique laws. The monolith was a crystalline obelisk that floated casually at the center of the spiraling staircase. Its surface pulsed faintly, as though alive, with glowing runes that appeared and disappeared like fleeting moments, each inscribed with countless aspects of time laws.
The staircase surrounding the monolith was made of a clear, glass-like material that shimmered under the light. During the day, it refracted sunlight into dazzling beams, scattering rainbows across the surrounding landscape. At night, it absorbed the light of the stars, casting a faint, serene glow that seemed to ripple like the surface of a still pond.
Timorath could feel the monolith's influence from where he stood. The flow of time around the structure was erratic. The trees at the structures ground aged and regressed within moments, the rivers near the structure flowed in reverse before resuming their natural course, and the ground alternated between barren and lush. It was a place where moments collided, where the past, present, and future danced together in chaotic harmony.
As he gazed upon the spiraling staircase, Timorath could feel the subtle challenge it posed. The space leading to it was full of time phenomena and these phenomena shifted with every step. It was an ever-changing path that demanded both deep comprehension and unyielding will. Yet, the staircase was not the only obstacle.
Timorath glanced to his left, where a towering primordial stood, his aura pulsing with raw power. To his right, two more stood, their presence equally imposing. These primordials had driven away all the weaker contenders for the blessed land, staking their claims with unwavering determination. Their postures were tense, their gazes sharp, constantly on guard against one another. They were equals in strength, each silently measuring the other looking for faint weakness.
Timorath's lips curled into a calm, almost amused smile as he probed them, in the process braking their tense silence. "Why don't you leave this blessed land to me?" he began, his tone smooth and confident. "After all, it would complement my law perfectly."
The three primordials glanced at him, their expressions a mix of disinterest and faint amusement. Timorath observed them closely, searching for any hint of weakness or hesitation. Seeing none, he pressed on. "I will owe you three favors if you allow me to claim this land."
For a moment, there was silence, broken only by the faint hum of the temporal energy emanating from the blessed land. Then, one of the primordials,a formless, shadowy entity with tendrils of black mist that shift unpredictably,let out a sharp laugh, the sound dripping with mockery.
"Three favors?" the shadowed primordial sneered, their voice laced with sarcasm. "And what use are your favors to us? Do you think we are fools, Timorath? We all know what this land is worth. Your smooth words won't make us step aside."
Another primordial with fluid, ethereal figure with hazy edges, as if made of mist. added with a smirk, "If anything, you should be the one offering more than mere words. Do you think flattery will change anything here?"
The third, silent until now, spoke with a calm yet dangerous edge. "If you want this land, prove you are worthy of it. Or are you too afraid to test yourself against us?"
Timorath's smile faltered for a fraction of a second, but he quickly recovered. "Afraid? Hardly," he replied, his tone steady but laced with a hint of challenge. "If it's a test of strength you want, then so be it. But remember, once I claim this land, don't come crawling back for my favors." Timorath was very confident in himself as when it came to time that was his domain. But What he wasn't sure is why they insisted on challenging him knowing that he excelled in time laws.
He pondered for a moment about it and immediately dismissed the thought "well,no secret can remain secret forever"he thought. Without a word they moved towards the monolith but after walking for a brief moment together,they dispersed and each one of them went their way.
Timorath watched them disperse, his expression calm. He felt no surprise or concern. "Predictable," he thought, his steps steady as he advanced toward the spiraling structure monolith.
After moving for quite some distance he arrived at a region with time phenomena, his speed slowed instinctively. He extended his consciousness outward, scanning the surroundings with meticulous focus. What he observed was a chaotic regions with time phenomena. In some of these regions, time stood utterly still, frozen in an eternal moment. In others, it flowed unpredictably sometimes rushing forward at an accelerated pace, only to suddenly halt as though it had been forcibly paused.
The region he now stood in also bore the unmistakable imprint of time's distortion. Here, time moved so rapidly that a single second outside the zone equated to a thousand years within. However, to Timorath, a being who existed outside the bounds of time and governed its laws, such phenomena were inconsequential. To him, the region felt no different from any other, as his mastery rendered him immune to its effects.
Timorath moved with an almost carefree ease, his steps deliberate yet unhurried, as if the shifting time laws around the monolith posed no challenge to him. The twisting path bent and stretched with every step, but he maneuvered as though he were simply strolling, his focus unwavering and fixed on the towering spiraling stairs ahead.
Behind him, the other three Primordials were far from enjoying such ease. Luscith, embodying the enigmatic laws of dreams, stood motionless, his glowing, ethereal form flickering faintly. He watched Timorath stride further away, his golden eyes narrowing as the distance between them grew.
He turned his gaze to the other two, Noctyra and Ashrel. Both had also paused, their forms tense with effort as they fought the subtle shifts in time and space. For a moment, all three stood still, their attention on Timorath, who was now nothing more than a figure disappearing toward the monolith.
Luscith's lips curved into a faint, almost amused smile. He glanced at the other two Primordials, meeting their gazes. Understanding passed between them unspoken, and after a brief nod to one another, they all began to move together.
After days of walking through the shifting space, Timorath finally stood before the spiraling stairs. The air here was heavy, filled with a strange power that seemed to press down on him. Time in this place was so intense that a million years here passed in just a single second outside. The energy of time was so thick that it formed a mist, swirling lazily around him.
As he got closer to the base of the stairs, the mist became even denser, almost tangible. Then he saw something remarkable,the time energy had turned into crystals. These golden crystals jutted out from the ground, glowing faintly as if alive. They seemed to hum softly, their sound blending into the stillness of the place. Each crystal felt like it held a piece of the universe's history, timeless and eternal.
Timorath stopped and looked around. The time laws here were so clear, far clearer than when he had stood by the River of Time. It was as if every second, every fragment of existence, was laid bare for him to see. He could feel the flow of time weaving around him, pulling him closer to the monolith.