They Called Me FIVE

LANCE

"Will you swear your life to the duty I've given you?" She asks, playing with the strand of her hair. She curl them in her index finger.

"No."

She snap her eyes at me. "And why's that? Are you underestimating me, the Deity of Time, you lowly mortal?"

Her eyes blaze in eerie purple light. I freeze at the images that flash inside my brain. Looking at her eyes. It shows destruction. Only capable in wielding the attributes of time. Cities that fastforward to it's end. Green fields that quickly withered in seconds. Masses of people who grew withered skin, weak limbs and white hairs in an instant.

I don't like the sound of her calling me mortal. Her eyes is definitely saying 'Come on, challenge me. I'll fast forward your time to turn you into ashes in an instant.'

"No. No. That's not what I...I'm trying to say. I said no because I was thinking it's inappropriate of me to offer my life when it was Pente who chose me to become the wielder of death. And Jesper was yours."

She pondered. "I suppose yes. You're right. Pente that self acclaimed justice ridden guy chose you to fulfill his thousand years promise to her."

"This her...is it Efta?"

She groan. My heart skip a beat. I thought I land a landmine. My slip of tongue will cost me the chance to answer my questions. Good thing it didn't. She toppled her teacup in its plate and let it roll in circles.

"Yes, Efta take a huge gamble to save one soul in the gates of Netherworld. Your soul. And that cost her place in the deity realm. If you ask me, it wasn't worth it. The price to pay is bigger than the 'soul' she was after. Love utterly destroyed her Lancelot. And she did it for you."

"I - I don't understand. Please, tell me who was I in the past? Who is Efta? What's my relationship with her? Is Seven -"

Before I could finish what I was about to say, the ground rumbles. Magnus started to twitch. The Twylyth beside me...

I can't believe it. I just witness it. But I still can't believe it's real. Her face slowly withered. Her young features grew thinner and leathery. Until her skin tore off, her hair fell off. The clothes she's wearing remains as it is. Even if the wearer has changed into a pile of bones. A human female body shriveled to a husk.

"Wh - whats going on?"

The deity girl stood up, flip her hair, swish her fingers and her teapots and teacups disappeared.

"That's my cue to leave. Looks like Pente and the others won't let me say things anymore."

In her palm, a Mark appeared. I know the circle embled with the intricate symbols. Out of nothing, a ripple in the air appeared. Distorting the atmosphere in two. Cracking the gravity in half.

A black hole in vertical cut sprang out. I gasp. Portal. Its a portal. She's leaving.

"Wait! What about the demon -"

"Has been taken care of. This is the first and the last time I'll lend a hand in your battles. So you better train. Cultivate your blessings. Find the others. I'm sure this won't be the last time demons will come in this realm."

A transparent bubble texture like appeared inside the portal. And then I can see yellows and greens of meadows. She take a step forward and whispered,

"Don't let Seven die Five."

Then everything fall back into place. The time starts again. The wind ramp the glass windows. The attic creak of string wind. The strong clouds at the sky started to move. Magnus rush inside the room. Screaming, "I'll kill you ugly frog!"

Stops midway and almost ran on to me.

"Wait, huh? Lance?" He look over his shoulder. "Weren't you following me? How did you come up here before I did?"

I couldn't answer immediately. "Hey, where's the Twylyth?! She escaped?!" He shake my shoulder, thrice, before he notice the stinking skeleton of the Twylyth at my side.

"Oh.... She's dead. That's...umm I don't know how you did that but good job." He check on her. Set aside her apron and the shirt to see what's left of her collarbone.

I'm guessing he's searching for the star Mark. Since its gone...Meaning the demon had slithered back to wherever it came from.

Magnus eyed me suspiciously.

"I can't sense any of your blessing in her Lance. Did someone else came here and end her life for you?"

"I... I guess so." I turn my back on him and headed out. He follows me until we're out of the room.

"A deity came here. Jesper's deity. A girl, looking younger than me and had this power to control Time."

"Ah!" He smack his fist in his palm. "That explains the discrepancy in my point of view. Wonder why she froze me? Did she say something to you?"

I shake my head. "No - nothing important. We had tea. It tastes awful. She introduced herself. And then I..." I shiver.

We came down the stairs and pass the counter. Hours ago Magnus just tried to flirt with the Twylyth here. My eyes linger at the table where we had our free dinner. My thoughts trace back to the Alpha Beast.

How can bonds easily dissolve like that? One moment we fought the swarms of enemies, found Sam, defend him from the curse of Blood hogs, and then end up here.

It all happens in a blink of an eye. What exactly triggered him to betray us? What did he saw in Seven to declare us all his enemies?

And does Seven knows about this? Will every people that isn't one of us betray us? Dad, Lista, Meira, Alpha Beast....

Who else?

Ugh, I hate this feeling.

This sickening twisted feeling at the deep of my stomach. Warning me. Telling me it isn't over. That there's still more.

So many unpleasant things will happen. Soon. I have no one except Magnus and Seven. Sam and Jesper has join our group.

I don't want to lose anyone anymore.