"You must be kidding me…" Nathan muttered, dumbfounded.
"Woah! It's like an exposition…" Lilo said.
Passing through the map, which turned out to be indeed a portal, the two found themselves inside the heart of the very state that had destroyed the Empire under their god's command: The Crusaders.
"They're not moving."
"Maybe they're frozen in time?" Lilo asked.
"I guess so."
They stood in a bustling city market, except the bustle was frozen. Vibrant buildings in varied colors surrounded them, untouched by war or decay. People filled the streets, but none of them moved. It was as if time itself had slammed to a halt.
"Let's see… what?"
Nathan reached toward one of the frozen citizens. His hand passed straight through, leaving a hollow gap where the body had been. The area around his fingers shimmered with a transparent glow.
"Fascinating. It looks like magic ... but it's not," Lilo said, intrigued.
"Haa… let's just follow the compass."
Nathan pulled the glowing compass from his bag. Once again, it glowed , guiding them down cobbled streets lined with statues, fountains, and shops. The city was stunning, an beautiful version of peace and prosperity.
"Even the people seem… happy," Lilo said.
Despite being frozen, many wore joyful expressions. Children mid laughter. Vendors mid shout. It felt like a memory captured in crystal.
"Did they not know about the war?" Lilo asked.
"They probably saw the Empire as heretics,"
"Because they offended their god?"
"Yeah. It's pitiful. If that greedy king hadn't intervened, the two nations might've become allies… maybe even merged."
"Don't think about it too much, Nathan. We can't change the past."
"Don't worry, Lilo. I won't."
But deep down, Nathan hated how helpless it all felt. The Emperor's arrogance had doomed them all ... ally or enemy. So much death. So much waste.
"Nathan, are you seeing this?" Lilo asked, eyes wide.
"This is… massive."
They stood before a colossal temple, clearly the centerpiece of the city. It towered high above the surrounding buildings, its steps wide and long.
"Well, let's check it out."
"Yesss!" Lilo cheered, going ahead.
At the entrance, a massive statue loomed over them, Vorthakar, most likely. His figure was flawless, his right eye etched with a spiral clock. Time god clichés, Nathan thought.
"Two knights…" he murmured.
"Their armor is so shiny,"
On either side of the gates stood knights clad in bright white armor. They resembled the Empire's soldiers, but with bold crosses on their chests and mantles.
"No reason to waste time," Nathan said.
"Hey! Wait for me!" Lilo called, hurrying to keep up.
Nathan pushed open the temple doors and followed the compass down ornate corridors lined with religious artwork, altars, and silent priests locked in mid step. The scent of incense still lingered.
"This must be it."
"You sure you want to go in?" Lilo asked, hovering beside him.
"Yeah. Everyone's frozen anyway."
The door creaked open into a quiet prayer room. A smaller statue of Vorthakar stood at the far end. A modest fountain bubbled silently on one side. Benches lined the space for worshippers long gone.
"This is all… for real?" Nathan asked aloud.
"Hey, I'm sure something's around here. Let's search."
Lilo zipped through the room, scouring shelves and walls. Nathan sank into one of the benches, tired, of running, of chasing shadows, of carrying weight that wasn't his.
"Lilo? Anything?"
"No… nothing. This place is empty."
"Let's just rest."
Nathan closed his eyes, defeated. The compass had gone dark, and Lilo hadn't found a single clue. But as he sat in silence, something caught his eye, a carving beneath a cross at the front of the room.
"Pray for him and wait for him…"
"Wait, Lilo. I know!"
"Huh?"
Nathan rose, pulled his sword, and stabbed it into the stone floor. Kneeling, he began to pray:
"O Vorthakar, Binder of Hours,you who walk the cracks between yesterday and never,hear this plea from the lips of the lost.Turn not your spiral eye toward me,let memory blur and time forget my name.Still the wheel, still the breath,shatter the day before it begins.To you, I offer what I cannot keepa moment, a heartbeat, a truth once spoken.Spare me your gaze, O Broken One,for those you mark are never whole again."
Silence.
Nothing happened.
Nathan gritted his teeth and stood, frustrated. He turned to Lilo with a shrug.
"Well, I got nothing else. Let's just search the rest of the temple."
"Ugh… it's gonna take forever."
"Nothing I can do, Lilo."
"Imagine if the knights suddenly started moving and attacked us."
"Lilo, please don't say stuff like that."
They continued toward the exit, casually chatting, when a soft glow lit the room behind them. They turned ... and froze.
The statue of Vorthakar was glowing with magenta energy. A voice filled the chamber.
"I'm glad you two figured it out."
"You're… Vorthakar," Nathan said.
"Hello, child. I'm sure you have many questions."
"Of course he does, you hooligan!" Lilo snapped.
"Shhh! Lilo, he's a god." Nathan said, moving a hand over her mouth.
"Haha, don't worry. A little joke won't upset me," the god chuckled.
"…Thank you."
"Then let's begin. You've waited an eternity for this."
Nathan returned to his seat. For once, the questions wouldn't be met with silence. The god of time, Vorthakar, had answers.