Between Moments

As Leegna limped through the twisting alleys, his mind wandered to the stories he'd heard as a child—stories of the Twelve Time Guardians. Each one was said to represent a different facet of time, existing in perfect balance, ensuring the seamless flow of past, present, and future. But there was more to the legends than mere protectors.

He had always thought them to be myths, tales meant to scare children into respecting the natural order. But the pain in his side and the lingering shadow of their presence told him otherwise. The Guardians of Fate, as they were sometimes called, were far from benevolent.

-Leegna had learned from Yuj that not all Guardians were bound by a sense of justice. Some reveled in their power, using it to manipulate outcomes for their own gain. Others were strict enforcers, punishing any deviation from the timeline, no matter how small.

Two of them came for me, Leegna thought, his mind racing. But which ones?

He recalled the stories about how they worked. The Guardian of the Present was ruthless, enforcing the stability of each passing moment, while the Guardian of the Future could twist fates before they even had a chance to unfold. It made him wonder which ones would come after him next.

But there was one thing he knew for certain: each Guardian possessed powers that went beyond mere mortal comprehension. Some could manipulate memory, others could erase entire lifetimes from existence. And the most terrifying among them could reshape time itself.

-Leegna shuddered. He needed to be prepared, and for that, he needed Yuj. If anyone knew how to fight back—or at least survive—it would be the creature he had made his contract with. But even as that thought crossed his mind, Leegna felt the weight of the ring on his finger. The second level had saved him this time, but the power felt incomplete, as if something far greater still lay dormant.

-As Leegna staggered away, barely clinging to consciousness, the two Time Guardians watched from the shadows, their forms shifting between the ethereal and the tangible. They were cloaked in a silence that was as ancient as time itself, their presence barely perceptible to the mortal eye.

The Guardian of the Present, a figure of shimmering shadows, observed with a cold, calculating gaze. "He has disrupted the timeline," the Guardian intoned, voice like the creak of ancient machinery. "Such defiance cannot go unpunished. His survival is an anomaly."

The Guardian of the Future, glowing with an unsettling light, turned its gaze toward the flickering remnants of the temporal disturbance. "His actions have created ripples. We must act swiftly, or the balance will shift further. He is more than just a mortal meddler; he is a potential catalyst for chaos."

The Present Guardian's eyes narrowed. "He used the power of the second level. Such artifacts are not to be trifled with. It is evident he is more than he appears—a seeker of forbidden knowledge."

"His precognition is a threat," the Future Guardian replied. "It allows him to foresee and evade our interventions. If he continues on this path, he may uncover truths that even we cannot control."

-The Present Guardian extended a shadowy tendril, its form rippling with dark intent. "Then we must increase our vigilance. We cannot afford to underestimate him. He has already shown that he can alter the flow of time, if only slightly."

The Future Guardian's form flickered as it spoke. "I will prepare the others. This breach must be contained, and if necessary, we will deploy additional forces. We cannot allow a mortal to unravel what we have safeguarded for eons."

The Guardians' forms began to wane, slipping back into the folds of the temporal fabric. The Guardian of the Present's voice lingered in the air, a final, chilling note. "We will not fail. The timeline must be preserved, no matter the cost."