Gravity and Time

Gargoyles—despite their demonic appearance were a race of creatures that were a form of chimeras created by the angels. Their purpose was to protect the church and serve the priests. For years they guarded the holy house of God and drove out any sinners who intended to harm it. However, in this modern era, gargoyles are rarely seen in churches due to them becoming more ferocious and hard to control.

But Aeron’s church was different. The strange priest was the master of two powerful gargoyles whose magical powers were unbelievable to behold. The male gargoyle was Ojorr, a battle-crazed manic and the female gargoyle was Gnavu who was more calm and gentle.

Ojorr smiled like a deranged person while Gnavu turned away shyly.

“It has been far too long my friend Baxter!” Ojorr shouted cheerfully. “You must come down to the church more often!”

“Like hell, I will if that’s how you two are going to greet me! The first time me and Iris came to this broken down place you attacked us!”

Ojorr's response was a booming laugh that made the whole room shake.

“I remember! That was such an exciting battle! Your skills with the sword were commendable!”

“S-sorry about him,” Gnavu said in a quiet voice. “Fighting people is Ojorr’s way of introducing himself…”

“So trying to cut our heads off with a giant sword is this man’s way of introducing himself!? Damn psycho!”

“Of course!” Ojorr chuckled. “How else can I engage with others? I am a Warrior of God and I must satisfy my existence with blood!”

I grumbled in frustration as I watched Ojorr continue to laugh manically and try his best to stand in a sort of cool pose.

“As we all share the same breath let us dance with death to heighten the value of our lives!”

Those were the first words Ojorr said to be when we first met.

Around the first week when me and Iris moved to Eleiweth, we toured around the whole city and came across Aeron’s church. The moment we entered Ojorr descended from the ceiling and engaged us both in battle. Iris and I struggled against the male gargoyle and the fight was going to get more intense until Gnavu and Aeron stepped him to stop it.

But at that moment in the secret room, I was alone as Ojorr and Gnavu summoned their weapons into their hands and approached me with murderous intent.

“H-hold on!” I shouted while waving my hands in a panic. “I-I don’t have a weapon! I’m supposed to fight you both bare-handed!?”

Ojorr shrugged.

“I see no problem with that.”

“I do!” I retorted. “I’m a Null! At least give me a weapon!”

I turned over to Aeron was standing idly while humming to himself.

“Do not worry my child…Summoning Magic: The White Needle…”

Appearing on the ground right next to me was a small circle portal that gleamed with a blinding white light. Levitating out of the portal was a long sword decorated in a gorgeous white sheath and coated in golden attachments.

“Holy crap!”

I shouted as I gazed at the beautiful sword.

“Language child,” Aeron chastised me. “This is the House of God.”

The priest then picked up the long sword and held it out towards me.

“This is the sword of Sir Mordecai, a Holy Knight who has defended Eleiweth from any evils of the world. He has been returned to the Lord two years ago due to illness. My church was a second home to Mordecai which he visited every Sunday. After his passing the members of his family gave me his sword for safekeeping.

“They felt nothing but grief when seeing the holy blade being hung in his empty quarters. I accepted the request from the mourning family and have since kept it safe.”

The blindfolded priest gently grabbed my left hand and placed the White Needle on it. The blade felt very heavy the bones in my hand feeling like they would snap like twigs from merely holding it.

“W-woah!”

The weight was too much for me so I nearly dropped the holy weapon. But I quickly reached out with my other hand and caught it before it could hit the floor.

As I was struggling to lift the blade, Aeron continued his explanation about it.

“The White Needle was crafted by the greatest dwarven blacksmiths who used twenty-shards of mithril gems. After it was finished the previous priest of this church, my master, blessed the sword with holy water. Thanks to the blessings of God the White Needle was imbued with great powers that would strike down any unholy enemy!”

I unsheathed the White Needle the blade was large and let off a glow similar to a shooting star in the night sky. There were also small clouds that surrounded the blade itself as if it were a tower that was resting in the very heavens.

“Wield it well…”

“Are you done yapping Master?”

Ojorr said aloud while yawning.

“O-Ojorr! Don’t be disrespectful!”

Gnavu scolded her male partner while stomping her foot.

I smirked as I got into my battle stance. Not in the style of Terra Form but in the ways of the Tortoise.

“Ready when you are!”

Ojorr grinned while Gnavu looked away shyly.

“Alrighty!”

Ojorr placed his greatsword on his shoulder.

“Let the battle begin!!”

Instantly, Ojorr and Gnavu disappeared from where they stood. The two were flying around the room so fast only leaving behind images of where they a seconds ago. As their wings flapped they mimicked the deafening sound of loud thunder on a stormy night. I was tempted to cover my ears to avoid the pain of the booming volume but I endured it and held out the White Needle.

“Those two are getting serious right from the start!? Give me a break!”

I readied myself as I felt the intense wind pressure from their wings blowing against me. In a split second, I saw the image of Ojorr appear right in front of me and instantly swung the White Needle with a downward motion. The attack did not hit as Ojorr vanished from my sight.

Gnavu also did the same thing. She appeared right next to me and I tried to get her but just like Ojorr, I couldn’t. The first half of the battle was just me swinging the longsword while looking at a child playing with a bat.

There was a method to my madness though. I was swinging to hit my opponents but to get my arms used to the heavy weapon. After my tenth swing, my muscles were able to adjust to the changes.

“Are you ready friend!?”

Ojorr shouted as he dived towards me. He wore a wide grin as he readied his sword for a powerful slash attack.

I stood my ground and grumbled.

“Finally done flying around like a bunch of dirty flies!? Hurry over here so I can beat your ass!”

The male gargoyle sucked in a lot of air and screamed at the top of his lungs.

“Gravity Magic: The Force of God!”

Ojorr then held out his free right hand which emitted a strong forceful pull. My body was lifted from the floor and attracted towards the male gargoyle as if I were a magnet.

“I KNEW YOU WERE GONNA START WITH THAT MOVE YOU FREAKIN’ JERK!!”

I howled at the gargoyle while I flew towards him. Despite my body moving against me I still managed to lift my arms and counter Ojorr’s sword with my own.

The magic affinity of gravity was a powerful one that was derived from the earth's affinity. The skill to control the foundations of the earth itself. Many great mages who wielded this affinity were recorded in history as Earth Shifters, ones who have changed the structures of Ocaleveth itself.

“Nice counter friend! Now for the next one—Gravity Magic: The Otherside of the World!”

The room turned upside down as if it was an hourglass and I started to fall from the floor that was the ceiling to the ceiling that had become the floor. As I was descending, Ojorr flew to me and tried to slice me in half. I fought back and the gargoyle engaged in an intense sword fight as we fell. However, my attacks were easily parried since it was difficult to fight at my best while falling.

Ojorr strikes were heavy to the point that after every attack I felt like the bones in my arms were shattering like glass.

Seconds later, I quickly noticed I was inching closer to the ground/ceiling and to avoid any major damage I rolled to soften the blow. I got up and immediately attacked Ojorr with a high jump mixed with a downward swing.

The gargoyle blocked me easily and the two of us began to push against each other with all our strength. Ojorr smiled crazily like a hungry toddler who was just given their favorite meal.

“That’s the spirit, my friend!”

I aimed my sword at Ojorr’s stomach but the gargoyle anticipated such a move and jumped backwards. Refusing to even give him a second to breathe, I charged at the one-eyed beast with a flurry of slashes.

Sadly, each of my hits either parried or blocked which frustrated me. Near my wit's end, I grabbed the gargoyle by his shoulder and head-butted him.

Ojorr groaned in pain as he clutched his forehead and eye. I took the chance to try and swing at the monster but instantly found myself to be tied up.

“W-what!?”

I had forgotten that I was fighting two enemies.

Using her whip, Gnavu wrapped me up and pulled me over towards her. Despite her slim appearance she had strength that could over ten big muscled men.

As I was forcefully pulled towards her, Gnavu palmed me right in my stomach which made me feel like my insides imploded.

I released a cup size worth of salvia from my mouth after the strike and desperately tried to regain my normal breathing patterns. But Gnavu was cruel and proceeded to kick me away with great force and then pull me back with her whip. The moment I got close to her she would palm in the stomach with all her strength again. From afar the scene would’ve resembled a game of paddle ball. Gnavu was the paddle and I was the poor ball.

After the twelfth or twentieth hit, Gnavu had stopped and quickly released from her whip. But immediately after she then used the very same whip to slap me down to the floor as if I was a fly. As my battered body bounced off the wooden ground like a rubber ball Ojorr appeared right before and kneed me in the back.

“This is great! This is a BATTLE!!!”

The insane gargoyle then used his leg to launch me into the air and started to charge up another magical attack. Purple smoke came out of his greatsword and his one eye started to glow like an intense flame.

“Gravity Magic: Uranus’s Palm!”

The purple aura fired off from the blade and flew towards me like a hawk. I quickly recovered in the air and blocked the magical attack with the White Needle. The instant the light touched the blade it was absorbed into it.

After seeing that I was left completely shocked.

“This sword…can absorb magic?”

“Indeed.”

Aeron called out to me, answering my question despite being so far away.

“The White Needle is a holy blade that absorbs mana. Because you are a Forsaken you are unable to unleash the sword’s full capabilities, but its basic function is still in effect. However, do not let your guard down! That sword will not save you from those two for long!”

As the priest was talking to me I could see both Ojorr and Gnavu coming at me.

“I already know, you asshole of a priest!”

I screamed out in anger as I used the White Needle to block the attack from both gargoyles. The moment the three of us clashed against each other I did a spin attack hoping to hit the monsters.

Ojorr managed to back away in time but Gnavu’s left wing was cut. The female gargoyle hissed as she felt her wing get sliced.

But two seconds later, Gnavu placed her hand on her ripped wing which released a light blue aura.

“Time Magic: Rewind of the Singularity…”

The blue light then covered the wound and a moment later when the light faded the wound was gone as if it never existed.

I clicked my teeth as my little proof of damage was undone.

Time magic was another hidden category that was within the air affinity. It is one of the most ancient and rare types of abilities that any mage from any race could wield. It is said that some of the members of the Council of Chronos also could use time magic and words that it so intense that they could possibly change the foundations of history itself.

Gnavu, being a mere gargoyle, is not that powerful but her time magic is still something to not be underestimated.

“Don’t lose focus my friend!”

Ojorr came from behind me while laughing.

“The fight isn’t even near finished!!”

“Gravity and time…these two are the worst combination.”

As me and Ojorr clashed, I tried to keep my other eye on Gnavu who was floating behind me.

“Gravity Magic: The Rebound of the Hecatoncheires!”

The gravity turned on itself and I no longer felt myself falling. As if I was in a pool I was beginning to float in the air aimlessly. While I was doing constant backflips against my will, Ojorr flew at me.

“Ha! Take this!”

The swing that Ojorr delivered was devastating. If I wasn’t quick enough to block with the White Needle I would have been cut in half. However, my luck wasn’t that good. Despite avoiding being turned into a two-piece the weight from Ojorr’s strike was as strong as a hurricane and blew me back.

“SSSSSHHHHIITTT!!!”

“Plant Magic: Spiniensis’s Children!”

“H-huh? Did I just hear plant magic?”

I turned around to see Gnavu who was strangely using plant magic to enchant her whip. Seconds later her weapon became linger and was covered with painful-looking thorns.

‘How the hell is she using plant magic!?’ I screamed inside my head. ‘Her affinity should be air! There is no way she could use earth-based spells—it’s impossible!’

The thorned whip rose and snapped towards me like a snake aiming to devour its prey.

“This is gonna hurt—“

And it did. It really did.

As the whip wrapped itself around my body the thorns dug into my flesh. I released a high-pitched scream of agony as my body was torn from the inside.

“I-I’m sorry Baxter!”

Gnavu apologized while bowing her head.

“FUCK YOU BITCH!!!”

I shouted back with tears in my eyes. The female gargoyle cowered at me enraged yelling.

“Hmph! There is no need to apologize woman!” Ojorr stated aloud as he flew down towards us. “This is a battle! Someone is destined to get hurt, lose a limb, or best of all—DIE!”

Gnavu turned to Ojorr and huffed.

“You fool! All you have in that head of yours is blood and violence! That is exactly why we got divorced!”

After hearing those words my brain had forgotten the unbearable pain I was feeling and my eyes comically nearly popped out of my sockets.

“WHAT!? Y-you guys are a divorced couple!?”

Ojorr sighed while shrugging.

“Yes~, for some reason we fell in love many years back but we have since broken it off ten years ago—“

“It was eleven years ago!” Gnavu hissed. “It was on Christmas Eve right under the tree while Master Aeron was passing out clothes and food to the orphans! Geez! Can’t even remember the day when our relationship ended!”

“Honestly I’m surprised we married in the first place. As far as I can remember you never took the relationship seriously. Always focusing on prayers, doing the chores in the church, and cooking those awful—GOD AWFUL OMELLETES!!”

Gnavu’s face turned red with rage. As she opened her mouth to yell back I could fully see her scary-looking fangs.

“YOU ASSHOLE!! ALL THOSE TASKS I DID WERE FOR THE SOLE REASON OF MAKING OUR RELATIONSHIP WORK! I PRAYED FOR OUR MARRIAGE, I CLEANED THE CHURCH BECAUSE IT WAS OUR HOME, AND I TRIED TO MAKE YOUR FAVORITE MEAL FOR YEARS!!”

“Who on this planet told you omelets was my very dish? My favorite dish is waffles! Not to mention that I didn’t ask you to do any of that!”

“So when we made that vow many years ago what did you expect from me!?”

“I expected you to fight alongside me in bloody battles until the end of our lives!”

“There you go again! You know not everyone has that awful murderous mindset! Argh! You are a barbarian!!”

“Excuse you! I am no barbarian! I am a Warrior of God!”

“WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?! LITERALLY, WHAT IS THE—“

“THE DIFFERENCE IS THAT I DO IT FOR GOD!!”

“I AM CERTAIN GOD DOES NOT STAND FOR MINDLESS MURDERER YOU PATHETIC EXCUSE OF A—“

“Ojorr…Gnavu…”

The calm voice of Aeron echoed throughout the room. The two gargoyles silenced themselves as their master spoke.

“Please save your relationship issues after the battle. It’s time for the two of you to activate…Eden.”

Both Gnavu and Ojorr faced Aeron with different shocked expressions. While Gnavu seemed horrified Ojorr was overjoyed.

“A-are you serious, master?” Gnavu asked while stuttering. “Don’t you think that is a little too much for Baxter?”

Aeron answered, “This must be done. I will not repeat myself, activate Eden.”

Ojorr cackled.

“Hurrah! It is time for the Grand Finale! Be ready my friend!”

“This isn’t funny Ojorr!” Gnavu shouted. “Don’t you get it!? Master is basically telling us to kill Baxter!”

“And as lowly familiars, we must obey! Start Eden Gnavu!”

“Argh! You’re the worst! I-I’m so very sorry Baxter!”

Gnavu released me and I fell to the floor bleeding profusely from the holes given to me by the thorns. As I forced myself to stand I witnessed the female gargoyle start to spin around in a ballerina-type dance while her whip flew her like her and released a snow of red sparkles all over the room.

“Plant Magic: Gaia’s Love…”

“Plant Magic again?” I said aloud. “How is she…?”

“Didn’t you know my friend?”

I turned to see Ojorr with folded arms staring at the dancing Gnavu while grinning excitedly.

“The whip that Gnavu uses is the spine of an old Dryad, the nymphs of the forest. Within it is the remaining magical power of the earth.”

“Even so—there is no way Gnavu would be able to use the full capabilities of the weapon unless she was an earth affinity!”

“That is true in normal cases, but Gnavu is able to…cheat the system by using her time magic.”

“C-cheat the system?”

“The Dryad’s spine is like a garden full of my seeds waiting to be planted and grown. Gnavu’s ability to use time is similar to how God raises the sun and sets the moon and vice versa! In truth, Gnavu is using constant time magic to make the plants grow and manipulate the time within it!”

“T-that’s insane! Gnavu’s time magic is that powerful!? I thought she only could rewind or fast forward to certain moments in time!”

“And that is exactly what you are seeing, my friend. Gnavu is about to create the Garden of the Beginning by speeding up the process. From what would usually take years it will take Gnavu a single minute…”

“Time Magic: Origin!!”

Springing from the ground the floor was thousands of grand trees and gorgeous bushes. The wooden floors were also covered in a blanket of grass and dirt that soaked my shoes.

A minute later, the once dark room was now a boundless garden that was brightened up a morning light. The smell of fresh air softened the senses in my nostrils and my muscles relaxed. I could hear the endless sounds of insects and other small critters moving around in the trees and grass.

“W-what is this?”

“Are you not a believer?”

The voice of Ojorr echoed throughout the forest, the male gargoyle no longer standing beside me.

“This place is the Garden of Eden! The first grand form of nature that became the home of the elves and the home to the First Great Spell! This is the Birth Place of All Life!”

“Don’t be so dramatic Ojorr!”

The voice of Gnavu replied.

“This is not the real Eden. Just a cheap imitation.”

“Regardless, it is the perfect battleground for our powers to be fully realized!”

I looked up to the bright morning sky to see Ojorr descending from it like an angel. His arms were open as if looking for an embrace and his one eye was writhing around.

“It is time!”

The bright sky then turned dark and the very stars of space hovered around him.

“While Gnavu creates the earth I will make the heavens! Can you handle the power of the beginning my dear friend—BAXTER!?”

I spat out the blood that was in my mouth onto the clean grass and looked up at Ojorr with a confident grin.

“If you two are bringing down the power of the beginning then I will bring the end! I will destroy this garden and everything in it!”