Chapter 14 - The Sign of Life by Melchoir

            Lara, Lucca’s Mother, was still sitting cluelessly in the corner.

            “So, Lucca’s dead?” Lara chimed in, surprising the heck out of everyone. “And her friends… they’re all dead. This Laguna girl… I’ll show her my power!”

            Lara flipped out a frying pan and began to glow in a holy light. A circle appeared on her forehead.

            “That is…” Choronus gasped “The Symbol of Life!”

            “Huh?” Lara calmed down and went back to normal “What do you mean?”

            “The Children are those created in the Gods’ image to protect this Universe, and all other. Those who bear the signs of Life and Death… they are those who must guard the children.”

            “So… I bear a sign… so what?” Lara was confused “What can I do?”

            “Your power is that to bring life to those without.”

            “So can I bring my daughter back?”

            “No. She’s too far gone, as have the other’s. Their Destiny became one of Destruction. However, he may be revived.”

            Choronus gestured to Marshall’s bleeding body laying on the ground.

            “He was killed by a blade, and if we act quickly, he may be restored. I shall guide you in the process. Open your mind.”

            Lara levitated in the air, and hung limply, glowing in a pure and holy light.

            “Yes. I wield the Sign of Life. I am the Protector, and I shall Protect all that exists from destruction by the hands of darkness…”

            Lara channeled heavy amounts of Holy Light into her hand, and aimed it at the corpse of Marshall. Slowly, his face regained color, and the pool of blood began to disappear.

            “Th…ank…you.” Marshall stood up, fumbling for his sword “What happened?”

            “You were revived by the Protector of Life.” Choronus intoned “You have been saved.”

            “T..thank you.” Marshall drew his sword dramatically, and dropped it as his hand gave a violent shake. “Ugh… what’s happening to me?”

            “That blade…” Choronus gasped “The Blade of the Mind… the Psycho Blade. The blade with the power to damage not only the body, but the mind as well.”

            “I see. So, my mind has been damaged. Heh.” Marshall said, his voice dry and emotionless, “So, what are the effects of this?” 

            “It seems that you have no emotions…” Choronus looked puzzled “As if you felt nothing… you do not receive feelings or emotions, my Son.”

            “I see.” Marshall drew his blade dramatically, but it came off dry and hollow “So, what must I do to heal this?”

            “I do not know.” Choronus said gloomily “You must find that on your own. However, that is not the issue now. You can battle without emotions, but Magic is impossible to use.”

            “I see. I suppose I must follow Setsuna?”

            “No. Her quest is different than yours.”

            “I se…”

            “Stop saying ‘I see’ .”

            “So, what must I do?”

            “We cannot navigate the streams of Time through the ‘Gates’ anymore, Marshall. The Mortis-Chronos control the streams of Time, and, now that they are led by the Dei, the strongest of all. Setsuna’s Time Key can open the Doors of Time and lead her directly to the point where she needs to go, but…”

            “So I suppose I must find the Key’s twin?”

            “Yes. The ‘Sword of Time’ , an object never created because of the fear of misuse. You must find it. In doing that you may find yourself also.”

            “I see. So I must find an object never created to find myself, and rescue my friends? That seems, rather risky.”

            “It is. But this is why it must be done.” Choronus held up his hand, and a Gate opened behind them. The two were absorbed into it.

            They traversed the stream of time. Time wove before them, giant blue strands, weaving in an intricate pattern, weaving, and yet unraveling afterwards, and weaving once more.

            “This is time as it should be.”

Then, they were in a different stream. Time wove and flew, but five shadows, each of an enormous size, stood in the path of the weaves. Time’s path stood, and bent around them. Strands of time turned black and disappeared.

            “This is Time as it is. The Dei bend the weavings of Time, and destroy the lives and change the Destiny of those who inhabit it.”

            The strands broke off from each other completely. The shadows grew to a great size. The individual, separated strands burnt off and were gone forever. The shadows became a giant, singular creature. There was nothing.

“And this will be Time if it continues at this rate.”

“So, I must find the Sword of Time.” The two stood in 1000 AD, in the Square. “I understand.”

 “The guru Melchior knows of how to create the sword. Ask hi---“

Just then, a bleeding and dying Melchior appeared.

“Beware… Zeal has returned…”

In the sky, The Black Omen floated.

In the End of Time, Lara still had no clue what was going on.