Zyren tilted his Chronolink slightly, the glow reflecting off his metallic silver skin. He sighed dramatically. "Looks like the others are back." He looked over at Kai, his expression somewhere between begrudging acceptance and mild amusement. "Guess our fun's over, rookie." Kai let out a small breath, his heart still racing from their training. Even though he felt like he could drop at any moment, a part of him almost wished they could have finished that fight. "Come on," Zyren said, stretching lazily before flicking his wrist. His energy flared briefly, and a distortion shimmered in the air before them. "Let's go roll out the welcome mat."
The two stepped through, the fractured landscape of the Fractured Vale melting away as they arrived at the Vortex Chamber. The chamber hummed with latent energy. Zyren stepped towards the control panel and began to make adjustments, until a rift opened up at the platform. Selara stepped through first, her amber eyes sharp and unreadable, her long black hair flowing behind her. Beside her, Saphielle moved with a serene grace, her white wings folding neatly against her back. Lorith followed, his crystalline white energy subtly flickering as he adjusted the straps of his tool belt. Last was Elyssar, her golden-amber fur rippling as she stretched her arms, tail flicking behind her. Selara took a moment to glance around before turning her piercing gaze to Zyren. "Report," she said simply.
Zyren smirked, his usual lazy attitude slipping back into place. He gestured toward Kai with his thumb. "Rookie's been training hard ever since he got here." His ember-like eyes flickered with amusement. "Picked up a few things faster than expected, too." Selara's expression remained composed, but there was a glint of interest in her gaze. She studied Kai for a moment, her amber eyes unreadable. Inside, she was impressed. His growth was remarkable, even among the Time-Keepers, such rapid improvement was rare. But on the outside, she simply nodded, as if this was only expected. "Good," she said. "He will need to continue improving." Kai exhaled, trying to shake off his exhaustion. It wasn't much of a reaction, but something about the way she acknowledged it made it feel meaningful.
Zyren stretched with an exaggerated groan, rolling his shoulders. "Well, since I did my job, mind if I take a break now?" Selara glanced at him, then gave a small nod. "Fine. Just don't vanish for too long." Zyren grinned, giving her a lazy salute. "No promises. Oh and you are coming with me" Zyren said, grabbing the collar of Kai's suit as he dragged Kai backwards. "Woah, woah easy there." Kai said as he stumbled, trying to regain his balance. Kai walked alongside Zyren through the grand corridors of Primarium Castrum, his breathing finally steadying after their intense training. The towering walls were adorned with ancient carvings that pulsed faintly with traces of temporal energy, the glow shifting in slow, rhythmic waves. Despite the grandeur, the silence between them stretched longer than Kai liked. He cast a side glance at Zyren, who strolled ahead with his usual relaxed stride, his scarlet and charcoal-black coat billowing slightly as he walked.
"So..." Kai finally spoke, "Where exactly are we going?" Zyren didn't even look back. "It's a secret." Kai frowned. "Why do I feel like your definition of 'secret' just means you don't feel like explaining?" Zyren let out a lazy chuckle. "You catch on quick, rookie." Kai sighed but didn't press further. At this point, he knew Zyren well enough to realize that if he wanted answers, he'd just have to wait. They walked deeper into the castle, through twisting corridors Kai hadn't yet explored. The architecture changed subtly as they moved, the further they went, the warmer the air became, the usual coolness of the castle giving way to something lighter, more inviting. The walls, once dark stone, began to brighten, textured with smooth marble streaked with veins of gold and silver.
Finally, they stopped before another massive set of doors, towering over them like the entrance to a forgotten realm. Unlike the others in the castle, which were reinforced with metallic inlays and ancient markings, these doors were beautifully intricate, carved with flowing patterns that looked almost like waves frozen in time. Kai raised an eyebrow. "This is.....different." Zyren smirked, placing a hand on the door. The patterns shimmered briefly, responding to his touch, and with a deep, resonant hum, the doors began to open. A warm breeze rushed past them, carrying the scent of fresh water, something sweet, and the faintest hint of sun-soaked stone. As the doors fully parted, Kai's breath hitched.
Beyond the threshold was an enormous waterpark. The shift from the castle's regal and historical aesthetic to this surreal, lively oasis was almost jarring. The cavernous space was bathed in soft golden light, its ceiling high and arched like a vast sky infused with a warm, perpetual glow. Gigantic pools of crystal-clear water stretched across multiple levels, connected by natural rock formations, cascading waterfalls, and intricate water slides that twisted and wove through the entire area. Further in, there were lounge areas shaded by vibrant, oversized parasols, their fabrics shifting in color as if adapting to the mood of their surroundings. Small islands with soft, white sand dotted the pools, some with hammocks strung between palm-like trees that shimmered faintly with traces of temporal energy.
Kai stepped forward, trying to take it all in. "What the...how is this even inside the castle?" Zyren casually walked past him, rolling his shoulders. "Time-Keepers have their own way of making life bearable." He stretched his arms behind his head, sighing contently. "And this place? This is my favorite part of the whole damn castle." Kai's gaze drifted across the lazy rivers, the massive water slides, and the serene floating platforms. Everything about it felt so different from what he'd come to expect from the Time-Keepers. Still in awe, he turned back to Zyren. "So, what? You just come here to slack off while everyone else is training?" Zyren gave him a grin that was far too pleased with itself. "You say that like it's a bad thing." Kai shook his head, exhaling a soft laugh.
Zyren stretched his arms over his head, letting out a pleased sigh. Then, his battle suit shimmered, the fabric rippling like liquid before shifting into something far more casual: bathing trunks. They were the same colors as his combat attire: charcoal black with scarlet flame-like patterns licking at the edges. "Wait, what?" Kai said, Zyren smirked. "What? You didn't think we'd go swimming in full gear, did you?" He gestured at Kai. "Go on. Just will it to change." Kai hesitated before focusing on his own suit. The material of his outfit flickered, then melted away into a new form, shifting seamlessly until he was left wearing a pair of bathing trunks. They were jet black with sleek violet and azure stripes running along the sides. He glanced down at himself, expecting the same old body he had before. Instead, what he saw shocked him.
His physique had changed. No longer the lean, somewhat wiry frame he had as a human, now, he looked newly forged. His muscles were defined, toned but not bulky, like someone who had spent years honing their body for combat. He clenched his fist experimentally, feeling the strength in his own form, and realized this must have been a result of his transformation into a Time-Keeper. Then he looked at Zyren, and nearly regretted it. Zyren's physique was on another level entirely. His silver metallic skin gleamed under the soft golden light, every inch of him sculpted like a statue of a Greek god. His broad shoulders, chiseled abs, and perfectly proportioned frame made him look like someone who had never lost a fight in his life.
Kai exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "Seriously? You look like a damn Olympian god, and I just get 'in good shape'?" Zyren let out a bark of laughter. "Kid, I've been doing this a lot longer than you. Give it a few centuries, and maybe you'll catch up." Kai scoffed. "Yeah, sure. Because that's real motivating." Zyren patted his shoulder. "Alright, rookie. Enough gawking. Let's hit the water." With that, he turned and made a running leap, diving effortlessly into the largest pool with a perfect flip. The splash sent a refreshing spray of cool water toward Kai, who just stood there, shaking his head. "Of course he's good at that too," Kai muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose. Zyren resurfaced, slicking his liquid-metallic hair back as he floated effortlessly on the water's surface. His scarlet ember-like eyes gleamed with amusement as he looked up at Kai, who still stood at the edge of the pool.
"Well? You just gonna stand there, or are you actually gonna have some fun?" Zyren called out. Kai smirked, rolling his shoulders. "Oh, I'm coming in, alright." Before Zyren could say anything else, Kai took off running. He sprinted toward the pool's edge, his powerful legs propelling him forward. Then, with a mighty push, he launched himself into the air, higher than any normal human could ever hope to jump. Midair, he curled his body into a tight ball, grinning wide as he roared: "CANNONBAAALLL!" The impact was instantaneous and catastrophic. Kai crashed into the water with a massive splash, sending towering waves outward in every direction. Zyren barely had time to react before the force slammed into him, drenching him in a second, even as he braced against the current. The waves crashed against the edges of the pool, sending some of the water spilling over the sides.
When Kai finally resurfaced, he slicked his jet-black hair back, laughing breathlessly. "Hell yeah! That was awesome!" Zyren wiped water from his face, blinking a few times before shaking his head with an exasperated chuckle. "Alright, rookie. I'll give you that one." Kai floated on his back, arms spread wide. "Damn, this is nice. I forgot what it's like to just....chill." As Kai floated on his back, staring up at the shimmering ceiling of the waterpark, Zyren casually drifted next to him, arms behind his head. "You know," Zyren began, "this isn't just any water you're swimming in." Kai turned his head slightly, raising an eyebrow. "What do you mean?" Zyren smirked "This whole place, this water.....it's made of condensed temporal energy." Kai blinked, staring at the glowing ripples. "Wait, what?"
Zyren nodded. "As Time-Keepers, we don't actually need food or water like mortals do. Our bodies stay in peak condition as long as we have enough temporal energy to sustain them. But that doesn't mean we don't get exhausted after a fight." Kai thought back to the earlier battle "So, what? This water recharges us?" "Bingo," Zyren said, snapping his fingers. "Think of it like... a reset. Activities like this: swimming, eating, even sleeping etcetera help restore the inner reserves of our temporal energy much faster than just resting normally." Kai swirled his fingers through the water, "So even something as simple as relaxing has a function?"
Zyren snorted. "Well, yeah. But let's be real, sometimes, you just need to blow off steam. That's why we have places like this." He spread his arms out. "Because if all we did was fight and train, we'd go insane. Even Time-Keepers need a break." Kai exhaled, letting himself sink deeper into the glowing waters. A warm, soothing energy coursed through his body, filling the emptiness left by all the energy he had burned. He hadn't realized how drained he felt until now. "...You know, I kinda like it here," Kai admitted. Zyren smirked. "Told ya."