Where Time Stands Still

Talia Vespera had always been meticulous, a trait passed down through generations of her family in Lunaris. Her parents were farmers, but not in the traditional sense. In a world where chrono energy had replaced the need for physical labor, they held tightly to their traditions. Lunaris was one of the few places that still clung to the old ways, resisting the current of time that seemed to pull everything forward. 

For most of her life, Talia felt at home there. She spent her days tending to the crops with her parents, her hands calloused and her heart content. The days were long but simple, a rhythmic flow of planting, harvesting, and tending to the land. But something always lingered in the back of her mind—a sense that she was meant for more.

The moment she discovered what chrono energy could do, everything changed. It wasn’t just about speeding things up or making life easier but about the endless possibilities. Time itself could be molded, and Talia, who had always believed in the natural order of things, suddenly felt the weight of her limitations. How could she stay confined to the slow rhythm of Lunaris when the world was racing ahead? The more she learned about chrono energy, the more she wanted to be part of it. To harness it. To use it and protect it.

That desire could only lead her to one place: the Chrono Knights Academy, a place that felt as far from Lunaris as one could get. Her parents were strict people who deeply cared for their daughter, but also honoured their traditions. Traditions Talia felt like she was meant to break if she were to follow her heart.

Yet… How would she face her parents? How would she tell them outright that she was rejecting their way of life? They seemed to loathe anything related to chrono energy… that meant they were bound to loathe her as well.

That’s why one night… she snuck out of her house, and never looked back. Guilt gnawed at her for not saying a word, but talking to her parents felt even more heart-wrenching to her.

Instead she held onto a thought; maybe one day she could come back if she were to become successful…

Maybe then they would accept her.

Talia decided to only move forward from that day on. The transition to the modern way of life however was… rough. She was no longer just a farmer’s daughter—she was a cadet, a potential Chrono Knight. Talia worked harder than anyone, driven by the guilt that ate away at her for abandoning her parents, her heritage. She wanted to be the best, to prove that she hadn’t made the wrong choice, to herself more than anyone else.

But even now, as a Chrono Knight, Talia couldn’t shake the feeling that she had left something behind. Every time she adjusted her chrono bow, she could feel the weight of her upbringing pressing against the back of her mind. The meticulousness in her actions wasn’t just a trait—it was her way of maintaining control, of making sure that her choice to leave hadn’t been a mistake.

Because if she did succeed as a knight, at least her betrayal wouldn’t be for naught.

◔

The soft hum of the Chrono Strider’s engine filled the air, a low vibration beneath Jessie’s seat as he stirred awake from a nap. His eyes blinked open to the sight of Mira sitting across from him, her violet eyes focused intently on the holo-display in front of her.

For a moment, Jessie blinked, groggy and disoriented, before a grin tugged at the corner of his mouth, as he loaded up his next quip.

“Mira? What is happening? You’re not just a voice in my head anymore… You’re actually here!”

Mira looked up from the console, flashing him a cheeky grin. “Last I checked, yeah. Figured I’d finally join you all in the flesh, seeing as we’re out of Neotera’s network. Can’t exactly be the tech wiz from behind a screen this time.”

“It’s weird seeing you not surrounded by monitors. I half expected you to still be a floating hologram.”

She rolled her eyes but chuckled. “I’m full of surprises, you see. Besides, someone’s gotta keep an eye on the tech while you swing your sword around.”

Jessie smirked, “You know me. I prefer a hands-on approach.”

Rhea turned from the front seats, her arms crossed as she eyed the squad. “Focus. This isn’t a standard mission. We’ve got chrono distortions popping up in Cyrillia, and we’re not sure what Malik is doing to cause them. The tech he’s dealing is dangerous. We’ve got to shut it down from the source before it spreads.”

Mira’s expression turned serious as she brought up data on the holo-display. “From what I’ve gathered, there are time fractures in the area. Not enough to affect the entire town yet, but it’s getting worse. If we don’t stop it, things could escalate fast.”

Jessie leaned forward, studying the display. “So, what’s the plan?”

Rhea’s eyes narrowed as she glanced out the window at the desolate wasteland stretching ahead. The Chrono War had destroyed many parts of the earth in its wake, and created countless distortions in others. Cities were formed, civilized and peaceful, yet there were still people who denied that, leaving all the way out here, cut off from modern society and its technology.

“We find Malik and shut down whatever tech he’s using. We’ll have to move carefully—he’s been dodging the Chrono Knights for a while, and we still don’t know exactly where he’s hiding.”

“I’ve heard stories about guys like Malik. He’s slippery. We’re gonna have to dig him out.” Dax commented.

Talia looked out the window, “And I’ve seen towns like Cyrillia before. People out here live by their own rules. It might not be easy to get them to cooperate.”

Jessie sighed dramatically. “Great. A wild goose chase through a secluded town, and we don’t even know if they’ll help us. What could possibly go wrong?”

Rhea turned back to the group, her expression firm. “We’ll play it smart. No assumptions. If the people are hiding something, we’ll find out soon enough. But we stick to the mission—locate Malik, neutralize the distortions, and get out in one piece.”

As the Chrono Strider hummed on, the small town of Cyrillia loomed closer.