Time Freezes, Magical Expenditure Begins

Chapter 65 - Time Freezes, Magical Expenditure Begins

Once Chastain Claude was assured that Duran had fallen asleep, he noticed Arlon Milton joining him. "So why haven't you dropped from exhaustion yet?" He was a bit bemused that Arlon wasn't knocked out.

"Unlike that young rascal who'd gone through hell and more since before dawn this day, I had plenty of rest in the past few days." Arlon shrugged. "Not to mention I hadn't gone through a hellish indoctrination. Straight into a new world of hurt. Which had only one benefit in that it healed an entire body? From within to without in less than an hour. That had to hurt like hell."

Oh, huh, Chastain had forgotten about the earlier endurance tests many went through, and a few failed horribly. He grimaced. "Ah yes, I've been commissioned to assist our watery brethren in dealing with that." Chastain gestured out the window. "Many more will join in once newly resting younglings have dropped from exhaustion."

Arlon rubbed his jaw. "I've heard that several people left as soon as they caught sight of that wave."

Chastain nodded. "It seems there are more complications to that construct than anyone imagined. Take a look at the new imagery that has been received." He motioned to the monitor that was lit up with several clear photographs."

Arlon's jaw tightened as he studied the sight. "Either this came from someone. It's an individual who knows how dangerous it is to swim beneath the waves right now, or there's another explanation."

The young man was quick, Chastain acknowledged. "These came from Deepsea explorers who immediately evacuated as soon as the dragons appeared." He gestured to another set of images. "I think you'll recognize a few of them. They don't look much different from their humanoid appearance." Chastain indeed recognized Tallow and a few others. They'd renounced their humanity forever with this change of form. There was no returning to life on land as a mortal.

Arlon's eyes narrowed when he studied them. "I don't see Andre, but I do recognize Tallow."

Chastain snorted. "That's because Andre is one of the ones." He paused with a sigh. "Who is assisting with putting those to rest for the final time." He tapped a series of images that held faint, ominous glowing objects, becoming tiresomely annoying in their presence everywhere.

Arlon grimaced. "More orbs? If so, how is it they're hanging in the middle of that wave." He tilted his head in confusion.

"They are what's generating the wave." Chastain sighed. "How it was done, I don't know. I know that we're all sick of these things appearing all at once."

Arlon nodded wryly. "In other words, we're all going to be wiped out for a while. this calls for an excessive expenditure of magic." He didn't say it aloud, but Chastain knew he feared many would die from this latest battle.

"It must be done as part of our duties in keeping this place safe." Chastain shrugged. "I'm now initiating time freezer." He sighed. "Else, no one will survive."

Arlon was stunned at his decision. "Did they know this was necessary?" He referred to the other authorities.

Chastain grimaced because he hadn't appreciated the short notice one bit. "Yes, they only notified me when the klaxons began blaring." He pinched the bridge of his nose because something like this was not a good thing to do. "Once the action is initiated for the entire country of Julienne is when those obnoxious things will cease their clamor." He scowled with aggravation. "It is the only way to ensure that our newest fledglings will survive." This extreme tactic of time freeze was only made in times of dire need. From what Chastain could tell, something else besides that wave must've triggered the order for the time freeze.

Arlon glanced at Chastain. "Will this also help other people get the rest they need to get back onto their feet in all ways?"

Chastain nodded. "There'll only be a few of us who'll recall the events soon." He shrugged. "Personally, I don't think it should be cast over the country's entirety, but it isn't my decision." He made a few strokes on the keyboard. "It is done."

The klaxons ceased their noise.

*

Everyone who wasn't affected by the time freezer spell gathered at specific points along the Seaport and faced the gigantic tidal wave headed toward them. They all knew what was at stake if none succeeded in destroying those demon-bearing orbs. No one could understand who'd unleashed the damned things in the first place.

Maribel sat with a frown in a cavern mouth. She was accompanied by Marisol, Andre, Sarah, Dante, and a few others who still remained in the general area. They'd all chosen to stay and battle the remnants of what their parents and some other magicians decided to conjure within the orbs. After footage came out of how Maribel and others destroyed the earthside spheres, now everyone had an understanding of what it would take to eliminate and contain the water-born orbs. "This is going to get awkward fast," Maribel muttered.

Everyone was still exhausted. No one wanted any part of this nonsense, but everyone needed to survive. Marisol yawned. "Better to destroy it now, no longer how long it takes."

"Well said, Marisol." Maurice was balanced on a huge rock and leaning against a more giant shard of stone that kept it from falling out of the cavern.

"You really need to get off that thing." Marisol looked up at him with wryness.

"Meh, I'm fine," Maurice grunted. "It is nice and sheltered from that hellacious wind."

Maribel rolled her eyes at the bickering between them. "Heh, you two are so ridiculous." She grumbled but couldn't help smiling. "Well, at least that hadn't changed between them." She focused on the dragons out there. The graphic imagery she'd received from the two who hadn't lost their humanity yet was coming in handy. It was shared between them and others who were gathered with one goal in mind. Destroy the nasty things so that no more damage ensues.

Easier said than done. Maribel grimaced. "I wondered who else was supposed to give us support." Though she had a feeling, it was absolutely none.

Marisol shook her head. "I haven't heard of anything."

Andre cleared his throat. "From what I can tell, all the empires and kingdoms put their own twists on those orbs." His scowl made it clear what he thought of their actions.

"So, it was intentional?" Maribel realized she shouldn't have been shocked at this betrayal.

After all, the country of Julienne had always been independent. There was no actual government, a collection of states that gathered together every four to five years to discuss affairs. The citizens were vocal about remaining free of the clutches of other kingdoms and empires.

Any actual takeover attempts hadn't succeeded in the five millennia of freedom, nor would it happen now. Not even through the meddling with elements, either. Maribel grimaced. "I should've known that was what they schemed. To take away the freedom of choice from Julienne." She shook her head. "I don't know why it hadn't occurred to me."

Andre shrugged. "No one knew for certain until Duran nearly killed himself twelve years when cracking that one orb." They all fell into silence when recalling those events, and everyone gathered it shuddered in recollection.

"Well, he's been healed to a certain extent," Maurice confirmed. "Whether or not it sticks all depends on how we deal with those incoming orbs now."

None of them wanted Duran's sacrifice to be in vain. Nor the loss of other lives, for that matter. "Time to do this," Maribel muttered.

Everyone settled into various positions that were most comfortable for what they attempted. Then they gathered their energy and poured it into twelve individuals that volunteered as channels. They emptied it into the dragons, who immediately went on the offensive and did precisely what they'd seen in Maribel's actions when dealing with the orbs.

The operation was successful, and the tidal wave collapsed, causing several smaller wave formations to flow elsewhere. No longer was Anemone Seaport threatened, much less other small towns and ports clustered along the various peninsulas that encircle Julienne's main body of land.

The gathered individuals collapsed from exhaustion. However, they had immediate help taking them all to safety this time. Only this time, they were taken to secret locations that no one could infiltrate to murder them for their disruption of a much larger and sinister plot.

*

Deep in a cavern, a being slumbered, unaware of the danger surrounding its homeland. At least until the destruction of those demonic-bearing orbs occurred. The containment of the demonic essence was successful, but the shockwaves perpetuated by the enormous magical expenditure ricocheted everywhere. The creature awoke with a shock and felt the memories from time's passage descending upon it. It was frozen in place as many others were through that spell. However, that only gave it the time to digest what it needed to maintain sanity and plan revenge against the kingdoms and empires that threatened its home and sovereignty.

It seems now is the time for Xinxiang to begin anew in this world. There are fertile grounds and creatures gathered everywhere that can elevate their existence to new levels. Now to find others who're similar to me. I don't want to be the only one in this elevated existence.

After much contemplation and exhaustive research, the creature concluded that its best option was to blend in with the humanoids. "Annoying and so bothersome." There was a ray of hope, though. It appeared more humanoids began emerging from the shadows. As it thought, there were similar creatures to one such as itself. "Now, how should I communicate with them?" That was another problem. It wasn't sure how to assimilate into the languages of the newest generations of the world it reentered. "Argh, so bewildering."

the creature had a headache. "I shall sleep for a bit and then attempt the assimilation once more." With that decision no longer troubling it. The creature did indeed fall into a deep sleep. It also began dreaming, and through that medium, it communicated with everything that could help it join the world. Now it understood there was a particular world it needed to protect. There were also beings it needed to at least observe and determine whether protection was necessary or merely giving advanced education. That was where the communication ended, and the creature fell into a more profound slumber. One that healed and gave it time to rest and formulate a new plan of action based on what was recommended.

*

With the destruction of the orbs, Chastain thought he'd feel relieved. Instead, a sense of uneasiness rose within him. Something ancient stirred, a creature of such magnitude that it could quickly destroy the world. However, he sensed something peculiar going on. It didn't want to end the world. Not at all. Instead, it appeared to be confused and attempting to learn about its surroundings. "The Xinxiang lives." Chastain swallowed in shock. He glanced at Arlon, who seemed oblivious to what happened just then. He was more absorbed in regaining his energy. However, Arlon appeared more aware than gauged at first glance.

"Why are you mentioning the Xinxiang all of a sudden?" Arlon frowned at Chastain. "I thought that civilization died out several millennia ago?"

Honestly, so had Chastain. "I don't know. I could just be exhausted right now." He conceded. "Though I'm receiving the oddest images in my head."

Arlon nodded. "That is why I asked. This is the first time I felt such an enormous pressure in my head." He grimaced. "The beginnings of an ache within my temples too." He rubbed them with a frown. "That is rather irritating, to say the least."

Chastain heartily agreed with him. "I think some kind of creature attempted to communicate with us. It is trying to learn about the world he'd once lived that has changed beyond recognition."

The two men exchanged worried glances.

"I'll go check on Duran." Arlon rose to his feet and hurried from the room.

Of all the people that creature could meet, Duran would have the most memorable recollections that were twisted. It wasn't the most ideal of ways to meet a possible villain in the making. Not that Chastain believed that Duran would turn into one. He'd sure shown signs of such happening to him. "Maybe we managed to change his outcome as well?" Chastain could only hope that was the case. "Bah, too much to do in too little time." He would soon have to cancel out the time freeze spell, but something made him hesitate. "Now, what is going on?" He regarded a few gauges that had the oddest readings he'd ever come across in some time.

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