✧ Chapter 9 ✧

The mall became the equivalent of a silent audience after watching an anti-climactic scene in a movie theater, leaving the room itself with a sense of uneasiness. Everything that was frozen in time wasn't aware of anything going on. Amethion was staring down at Styra as she gazed back at him with determination.

"You have chosen an option that was not mentioned. However, that in itself was a test to understand your true desires. This is not something that I can grant you alone. Just now, I have looked through for any glimpses of your past. My Eternal Light is not showing me anything so your decision is accepted. However, it will come with risks and consequences," he warned.

Amethion began to lay out another proposition for the regulations of his request.

"You have an unfathomable power, unlike anything I've had the experience of fighting. It seems you truly are The New Guardian that was possibly foretold to exist. I will do what no other guardian has done to anyone and give you the power over time throughout the entire Omniverse. I will lay out an immense quest through the Eternal Light for you to persuade or fight against my brothers and sisters to prove your capabilities. Not all will agree but, I am willing to make that sacrifice to prove a point that I have felt might be true for quite a time. So long as you do not kill them of course. However, I will ask for one favor. In the event where everything is reborn, will me back into existence so that I may guide you. Alright?"

As great as this sounded, Styra couldn't understand what he was saying. She was hearing all of this talk about, Eternal Lights? Quests? Rebirth? Her face showed visible confusion as Amethion also started to notice how hesitant she was to answer it.

"Let me break it down for you. See this light in the middle of my chest? This is the Eternal Light Of Time. There are nine more that are quite similar to it but hold different powers over the creation of all things in existence. Find the other nine to help you discover your origins. I cannot use the power any longer to assist you once this has been done, but I can grant any necessary knowledge that you may want to know. Do be wise with this power, the true consequences of abusing it will indeed devastate all realities known and unknown to you. Remember to tell them I sent you."

Amethion took the Eternal Light Of Time out of his chest as he handed it to her. As she touched it with care, the brightly lit wonder shined before her eyes. Once again she saw the omniversal symbol of time, which glowed a vivid indigo in all directions no matter how she analyzed it. All of the sudden, the light formed into luminous flashy particles that flew towards the diamond star symbol that was imprinted on her armor. The power began to affect her strength and hyperactivity almost instantly. Her eyes awoke from the sensation of it coursing through her body. Then the Eternal Light Of Time started to speak from within, whispering the words "RainbowFall Arena" to her. The power died down as Styra was able to keep calm and collected after finding a particular interest in what it was. Looking at Amethion with inquisitive thoughts, she had a feeling he might know what she heard.

"There was this voice inside me saying something about an arena. Do you know who that was?" she asked.

While Amethion didn't entirely know what the voices really were either, he was impressed by the fact that she would be worthy enough to hold his power. Nonetheless, having some experiences with the voices, he stated the reason why she may have heard them.

"When using any Eternal Light, there is a certain agency about itself that it will have. It is its own entity whose main purpose is to serve and answer the wielder's commands. In this case, your eagerness to find them reveals their location to you. While this gives you many powerful advantages, Prism does have the ability to control all ten. The challenge is mastering the bond shared between the trust of an Eternal Light with its original guardian," said Amethion.

A bond? Styra pondered how exactly she would be able to form a relationship with that many powerful guardians in the Omniverse. Besides that, she was also fixated on asking him too many questions that still bothered her mentally.

"Amethion, I'm sorry. This has been randomly bugging me for a while. Do you know why I have these powers?" she asked.

The Guardian Of Time slowly guided her carefully towards the closed portal. With his wise words, he began to reveal the cold truth behind her anxious thoughts.

"That is for you to solve. Use this Eternal Light by focusing your thoughts on one command relative to its power. Once the search is done, all things will come to light."

Even though Styra still wanted to know as much as she could hear, she did remember what Flight had scorned her for at the Nebules Tower. There was no time to waste.

"Alright. Thank you, Amethion. I will do my best to finish this to the end. Hope to see you again," she said.

He watched as Styra took note of everything around her. She decided to choose two things to bring with her: the surviving chie from Perenorbius and Flight himself. Instantaneously, they appeared from wherever their current frozen positions were to the front of the fountain. Deep down she believed the both of them had that much significance. They felt like the only family she had left.

When she was on the verge of leaving with them, a few thoughts crossed her mind with valid apprehension. She decided to use the Eternal Light Of Time to ensure things would be alright after leaving. The diamond star began to shine a bright purple color, indicating that a specific change had happened in the Omniverse. The first command was that Perenorbius would be protected with what was called a Time Shield to keep anyone from invading it while she was away. The second one scheduled a future event to happen where once they disappeared, StarSpace and its orbit would return to normal time.

Finally, after completing both commands, Styra had one more question lingering in her brain.

"One last thing. Are you sure you will be okay here? You can come with me if you want," she said with optimism.

In hindsight, Amethion had thought about the possibility of that offer popping up long before she mentioned it.

"No, I am fine. Their weapons are futile to me, for I am a product of The Void itself. Farewell on your travels, Styra. Do not forget our promise."

Saying goodbye reminded her of the handshake at the Nebules Tower. In return, Styra decided to show her appreciation to him by using this custom as a means to part ways. At first, Amethion told her he wasn't exactly open to indulging in any sort of deep cultured relations that involved other living things. Nevertheless, Styra was quick to latch onto his large hands and shake them slowly until a gradual sort of friendship was built from it because of their willingness to look past the strange nature of one another. They were hesitant to let go of the time spent talking together too, but it had to be done. Just like that Styra, Flight, and the chie were gone.

Amethion stood before the army of frozen drones, poised and confident that what he did was the right choice.