Yuj's Gambit

From the moment Yuj laid eyes on Leegna, he knew. There was something different about this human—a strange blend of vulnerability and raw potential. Yuj had spent centuries trapped within the confines of the Twelve Guardians, bound by laws far older than his will, and now he stood on the cusp of breaking free.

-Freedom. The word had lost its meaning long ago, yet now it surged in Yuj's mind, whispering its seductive promise. The Twelve may have been content with their eternal servitude, but Yuj was not. His ambition was boundless; he craved more than just liberation from the Guardians' shackles—he craved transcendence. The highest level of celestial power awaited him, if only he could manipulate the right pieces.

And Leegna Eflok was his most valuable pawn.

He watched Leegna from the shadows, not merely as an ally, but as a tool. Leegna's power—his ring, his unique ability to Leap through time, his potential—was the key Yuj needed to fulfill his dream. The Time Guardians, with their rigid rules and blind obedience, could not see what Yuj did. They underestimated this young, anxious human. Yuj, however, had long since learned to see beyond appearances. He had orchestrated this from the beginning, weaving himself into Leegna's fate through the pact they made.

-The pact. A flicker of a smile crossed Yuj's lips as he recalled that night, the first time they met. The desperation in Leegna's eyes, the eagerness to seize control over a life that had spiraled out of his grasp—Yuj had taken full advantage of it. He played his part well, offering Leegna the gift of sight, the ability to perceive the shadows and celestial beings, all while hiding his true agenda.

Leegna thought he had power, but in truth, it was Yuj who held the reins.

-As they moved through the shadowy corridors of the tower, Yuj's mind wandered back to the Time Leap. He knew the cost it extracted from Leegna—his life force chipped away with every leap, his mind slowly unraveling as memories from different timelines collided. Yuj needed Leegna to remain intact, at least until the last moment. Once the Time Guardians were out of the way, Yuj would seize his opportunity to break free from the realm and rise above them all.

The Twelve may have created the pact, but Yuj was always cleverer. He found the loophole, one that only Leegna could exploit. It had always been the plan.

With Leegna by his side, Yuj would soon reach the highest level of celestial being. And yet... something tugged at his conscience, a vague sense of unease. The boy had begun to change. He wasn't as naïve as Yuj had once thought. Each battle, each victory, was honing Leegna's instincts—and Yuj noticed it. The way Leegna's eyes lingered on him, how his questions seemed sharper, more pointed.

Could he suspect? Yuj dismissed the thought. No, Leegna was still reliant on him, trusting him. After all, they shared a common goal—defeating the Twelve Guardians. Yuj had ensured their journey was aligned. But Yuj couldn't ignore the nagging feeling in the back of his mind. Leegna was becoming... unpredictable.

-Their journey toward the upper floors of the Time Guardians' tower was far from over. As they neared the third floor, Yuj's mind raced with anticipation. This was the next step. The third floor was where everything would begin to unravel, where Leegna's strength would be tested—and where Yuj's master plan would come to fruition.

But Leegna couldn't know the full truth yet. He needed to believe that their goals were still aligned.

As they paused before the final ascent, Yuj turned to Leegna, allowing his face to soften with the appearance of concern. "Are you prepared, Leegna?" His voice was smooth, carefully laced with subtle encouragement. "The Time Guardians will not go easy on us. You'll need all of your strength and the power of your ring."

Leegna's expression was unreadable, his blue eye glowing faintly from the strain of the pact's power. But there was something else in those eyes—something Yuj hadn't anticipated. Confidence. Leegna had begun to understand the depth of his abilities, and that was both a blessing and a curse for Yuj's plan.

-They continued their journey upward. As they walked in silence, Yuj's mind continued to churn with calculations. Every step brought them closer to the confrontation with the remaining Guardians. It was only a matter of time before Yuj revealed his hand and used Leegna to eliminate the Guardians for him. And after that, there would be no need for Leegna.

The time was coming.

But as they reached the door to the third floor, something strange happened. Leegna turned to Yuj, his expression colder than usual. "I've been thinking about this next step," Leegna said, his voice calm but steady. "I know more than I let on, Yuj. I know what lies ahead—and I know the truth about you."

Yuj's heart skipped a beat, but he kept his face neutral. "What do you mean, Leegna?"

Leegna smiled, a chilling smile that Yuj had never seen before. "You think I don't know? You think I haven't seen your plans, your ambitions? I've known for a while now, Yuj. I know you're using me. But that's the thing... I've been using you too."

Before Yuj could react, Leegna's cloak shimmered, revealing the full extent of his power. The Velvet Shroud enveloped him, and Yuj felt a sudden surge of danger.

Leegna had turned the game on him.

The path ahead was no longer certain. Yuj's carefully laid plans were crumbling, and for the first time in centuries, he felt real fear.