Samael blinked a couple of times as he adjusted to the sunlight passing through the wooden windows, casting shadows upon the furniture within.

  Sitting up, he stared at the flowers by the window for a moment as he took a whiff of the fresh morning air. Something he was not used to, as the air in the other sanctuaries would usually be riddled with blood and metal.

  I haven't slept that well in a while.

  Doing a couple of stretches, Samael was off outside as he went by multiple people laughing and trading early in the morning.

  Eventually, after some walking, he finally arrived in front of Nova's house, where he saw the man just in time giving his wife a goodbye kiss.

  "How long have you been here?" Samael muttered as Ajax slowly revealed himself from the shadows.

  "Not long," Ajax replied as he crossed his arms.

  As Nova finally left, the man looked at the two. "Well, you guys are up earlier than I thought. Excited, aren't you?"

  Without another word, he went off as the two trailed him like dogs.

  As they passed by the town, Nova continued to greet the people of the Sanctuary as they too returned the sentiment. If Samael grew up here, he would have thought maybe there was no war.

  The trio continued to march their way until eventually they came upon a hill where cobblestone stairs continued upwards. In front was also what appeared to be some form of gate structure standing alone within the midst of the long staircase.

  As they climbed their way up, Samael couldn't help but stare at the beautiful gardens by the side of the pathway. There were dozens of colourful flowers, some long, some short.

  Taking a whiff of the air, Samael could almost taste how sweet the scent was.

  Lilith would love it here; there are even Ocellia's here, her favourite...

  "Relaxing, isn't it?" Nova muttered, breaking Samael out of his stupor as the boy flinched.

  I was lost in my thoughts...?

  Samael's brows furrowed. A root of discomfort digging in his chest.

  Nova's face softened. "You poor child."

  Samael stared at the man with a gaze of confusion and uncertainty. Him? Poor child?

  Nova held Samael's shoulder as he gave him a comforting smile. "You've been so used to the war that it's practically your life now."

  Samael's jaw clenched.

  Nova was right. His words struck deep.

  Samael had never felt peace like this. Peace like no other. A real and genuine one.

  Ever since he was taken away, he had only known a life of pain. Some he managed to face, while some he ignored and buried. Each day going deeper and deeper until he had forgotten.

  Looking back at the flowers, Samael extended a hand as the petals grazed his fingertips full of calluses.

  Looking outwards, Nova continued his walk up, matching Samael's pace. "You know, we could have trained immediately yesterday at the fortified grounds. After all, we're already running on borrowed time."

  Ajax and Samael glanced at the man as the boy asked. "Then why not?"

  Nova's smile widened. "Because I knew you two were tired, especially you." Nova pointed at Samael. "You've been fighting for so long that your body is not used to the feeling of safety and rest, so I made you rest."

  Samael's lips parted as he halted his steps, staring at the back of the man steadily making his way up the staircase.

  "It must be odd for you," Ajax's voice echoed as Samael shot him a sidelong glance. "All this I mean."

  Samael stared at his calloused palms. For the first time in a very long time, he held not a weapon but simply... nothing.

  Yes, it did feel odd. Yes, he felt unsure. But somehow, it didn't feel all too bad.

  Staring at Ajax's visor, Samael could not help but see a tinge of pity in the man's eyes.

  "You've awakened to the dark side of this world. But the truth is, before this, before the war, this is what the people lived for," Ajax went past the boy as he tapped his shoulder once. "So don't beat yourself up for enjoying what any other kid would have. You're still a person; keep that in mind."

  The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

  Samael could only stare at the two as he stood there for a minute.

  Did he have the right to take a break? To relax?

  At this very moment, thousands were dying in the line of duty.

  He was their hope. A person that can close rifts.

  Did he truly have the right to slow down?

  As Samael stood there, his eyes drifted off to his hand, where void matter slowly circled around his fingers. Giving him comfort and a sense of peace.

  Yes, perhaps he earned this one.

  ***

  As they finally reached the top of the stairs, Nova raised his hand as he took a mouthful of air, exhaling with all he had as he let out a short, satisfied cheer.

  "Welcome to Oros," Nova said as he looked at the two. "This is a more fitting welcome."

  Samael and Ajax stood at the edge of the large circular arena made of greyish stone. The stadium had what appeared to be some form of clock in its massive surface, stretching far and wide with large load-bearing monoliths occasionally sitting by the edges.

  Standing over the ledge, the view beneath was breathtaking. It was a massive city, or rather, it was Oros itself. A life-filled sanctuary where thousands of people lived in harmony and peace.

  Beyond the walls of the Sanctuary were tall and numerous mountain ranges filled with lush trees and birds flying in the bright blue sky.

  "Beautiful, isn't it? This is my life's work right here – my family and my hopes," Nova said with a wide smile.

  "It is," Samael muttered.

  Clapping his hand, Nova took the attention of the two. "Well, enough of that. As much as I'd like to savour this view more, I did not climb those blasted stairs just to enjoy a scenery."

  Nova walked to the centre of the arena as he beckoned the two to come closer.

  "This place, who built it?" Samael asked as he looked around.

  "Oh, this? My family did, or at least my ancestors before me," Nova replied.

  "Why a clock?" Samael asked.

  Nova's smile turned into a smirk as he raised his hand in a fighting stance. "How about you find out?"

  Samael and Ajax exchanged glances as the two slowly readied their blades. However, Nova simply chuckled. "Go wild."

  Heeding his words, Samael's figure charged on like a rampaging bull, sending a dust storm back as he flew like a speeding waggon.

  Ajax, on the other hand, delved within his shadow, traversing forward with a much safer method.

  Nova simply remained calm with a soft smile on his lips as he waited for Samael.

  Closing the distance fast, Codex panels began to fire off one after the other.

  Nova's eyes widened a little as he shifted a little in his stance. During so, Samael took the chance as he took over Nova's space, forcing him even further on the defensive.

  Slashing forward, Samael sent Void Raven ahead as the axe drew an arc.

  Fast on his feet, Nova swiftly dashed back when a burst of a black wave blasted forward, chasing after him.

  Samael observed the attack as he began to retract the wave.

  But Nova did not need his pity.

  Samael's eyes widened as the man's figure seemingly accelerated rapidly, as it almost looked as though he glided across.

  Nova crossed the distance with terrifying and uncanny speed as he delivered a strike upon Samael's torso, sending him flying back. However, he was not done yet.

  Opening his palms as though he was twisting something, green transparent spheres formed in his hands as he threw them forward.

  The discs flew at Samael rapidly as the boy deflected them one after the other, almost reminding him of his training back at Erdun.

  However, Samael flinched as one of the discs flying at him tripled in speed, bypassing his defence as it crashed towards his stomach, causing him to fly even farther.

  Ajax, watching this from the shadows, rose up as he cast.

  "Shadow Bind".

  Multiple tendrils of shadow rose from the ground as it tried to reach for Nova. However, Nova simply smiled at the futile attempt as he raised a finger towards Ajax.

  "Chronal Shift".

  Ajax's body slowed for a moment, shattering his momentum and his fine control as the man stumbled along with his attack being staggered.

  Taking this chance, Nova glided forward as he did to Samael before delivering a hefty blow upon Ajax, sending him flying as his time continued at a normal pace once more.

  Rising to their feet, Nova simply lowered his guard. "That's enough for now; I think I already know what I'll teach you."

  Samael dusted himself as he walked towards the man; Ajax did the same.

  "First of all, I commend you, Samael, for how you integrated your element into your fighting style. Not many know or even understand how to do that," Nova praised. "You too, Ajax; your control of your element is fine enough that it shames Saints of the same level as you."

  "Then what's the issue?" Samael asked.

  "Well, it's not an issue but more so a concept you guys can benefit greatly from," Nova said.

  "What is that?" Ajax asked.

  "Before that, I need to first tell this to you two." Nova raised his hand as he slowly turned it as if he was rotating a lid, where a green transparent orb manifested. "As you two can see, I can manipulate time."

  Ajax's and Samael's brows rose.

  Ajax had seen plenty of rare elements, such as his and Mendez's shadows or Ishkar's blood manipulation. But never something of this magnitude.

  Time.

  A concept and element that wields tremendous potential and power. To manipulate time is to manipulate the very reality around you. Slow it, hasten it or even stop it. These alone can beat any form of strength that exists.

  To think someone actually possessed it was... frightening.

  Nova smiled wryly upon witnessing Ajax's reaction. It was to be expected; his element was one that sent an uproar to the world itself.

  The very act of controlling time was in itself already a power that many wished to govern. For people, time was a currency they could not buy back. For Nova, it was at his palm.

  Samael felt a tinge of understanding. For the first time, he had seen someone like him to a degree. Someone who has a rare element unlike any.

  He wonders, how will the Void fare against time itself?

  "Enough of me," Nova snapped his fingers as the two broke out of their stupors. "Going back to it, I learnt along my studies of elements and upon personal experience a lot of things. Amongst these, I found two that will drastically boost the both of you to a great height."

  "And that is...?" Samael asked.

  "Flux and Domain".