Sacrifice: Time of Mine

"Wow, Avion, I just met you and I'm learning so much about you." Arcansas said in a monotone, "I never thought you're so creative."

"Oh, shut up! It's cool once you get used to it, is it not, Nequin?"

"Yes, Master Avion! I, Nequin, will protect the honor and integrity of this name!"

"You're already failing..." Alisera commented.

"He's louder and noisier than me. Interesting."

Right after Arcansas said that with her monotone, Nequin opened a door in the hallway they're walking through.

"This is my special room, Master Avion. This is where I paint in the memory of my creator."

Avion entered and saw an empty white canvas.

"However, each passing day, I'm slowly forgetting my creator's face. Even if I look back to my previous arts, I feel that it is wrong."

Strangely enough, when the three saw this room, they felt that it was the loneliest room in all of the ones they saw.

"My creator taught me how to paint. He wants me to have a hobby. He didn't want to see me do nothing while waiting for his orders. Uithuz Aver, my creator, isn't a cold and harsh man, I thought at that moment. He's just kind and caring, however, he is also passionate about his studies that he cares not about the outside world. I think that he wants to share what he feels and that's why he told me to get a hobby. But now... now that he is gone... my passion is waning."

Hearing this, Avion stood behind the canvas.

"I think it's because you just lack the reference. Can't I be your model next time?"

"Master Avion..." Nequin then sat in front of the canvas and took a paintbrush soaked in black paint.

"Oh, no, not now, of course." Avion laughed and took the paintbrush from his hand.

"... I'm sorry, Master Avion."

"What are you sad for? There's always next time."

"..." Nequin didn't respond.

"Ah, I get it... unlike the Lord Sorcerer, I won't go away. Also, I control time, I wouldn't die. So there will always be next time. Here, let me paint a happy smile on you." Avion used the paintbrush to paint a giant smile on Nequin's featureless face.

"Oops, that looks creepy. Let me add eyes." Avion continued painting as he drew two circles as a pair of eyes for Nequin, "There! You look much better!"

"..."

"Eh? Do you hate it?" 

"No, Master Avion. I'm very happy about it." Nequin responded.

Avion then patted Nequin's head, "If you're happy then you should scream."

When Nequin heard this, his hands clenched tightly and trembled.

In the unmarked territory of the Arcansas continent, there was a mysterious shout that rivals the volume of a volcanic eruption.

"Argh!" Avion immediately covered his ears in pain.

The hole base trembled from the mere shout from Nequin as it raised its hand as a form of celebration.

After Nequin shouted, the pain in his ears finally disappeared.

"Ah... Master Avion, did I hurt you?"

Avion released his hands and raised them up, "WAAAHHH!!" before patting Nequin's back with a smile.

"I thought you're sad for a second there!"

"No, Master Avion! As long as my happy face exists, I will never become sad! My happiness is immortalized!"

"Eh? Doesn't that paint will eventually wear off?" 

"Hahaha! No, Master Avion! This is already permanently marked!" Nequin scratch it and showed that it wasn't removed.

"Wow, very good!"

Both Avion and Nequin laughed together.

Alisera and Arcansas looked at each other. They already thought that it was a sweet scene but then these two just suddenly burst out laughing.

"Avion is something, huh..." Arcansas commented.

"Yeah... Avion really is something..." Alisera blushed and nodded.

After that, Nequin led them to the Lord Sorcerer's room. He opened the door and it only showed closed windows and a table behind it.

On top of the table was a pocketbook with a letter underneath.

"Please, take it, Master Avion."

Avion walked inside the dimly lit room and took the pocketbook.

"This is the special elesp book?"

"Yes, Master Avion. And the other is the letter which my creator left for you before he went away." Nequin then closed the door and said to the two women.

"Let us give Master Avion some time alone."

"Oh, I thought you're only a freak." Arcansas commented again which Alisera nodded to.

"Hmph! I am properly raised up by my creator."

Back inside the room, Avion's hands felt cold while quivering. After a moment of hesitation, he slowly opened the letter and read its content.

"Dear Avion Teller," he whispered as he read it.

"You must have got a lot of questions but I cannot answer any of them directly. We cannot be in the same world together...?" Avion raised an eyebrow.

Outside, although Nequin was booking the door, both Arcansas and Alisera had their ear pressed again the gap. Nequin was slender, after all.

"I want to know your comments about the attendant I left for you. He will help you greatly in your adventure. But remember well that you are there to learn so do not abuse him or the elesp book."

'Wait, I was brought here to learn?'

"I hope that the progress of your study is well even though you interrupted mine. You might be wondering what I am saying. It's not weird, you and I are different after all. And if you're curious about the special elesp book. It's a cheatbook I left for you. You just need to read it once and you will learn how to temporarily unlock all of your potentials. However, I repeat, don't abuse it. Everything is in place and your power had been greatly restricted to follow the rules of the world."

The further he read, the more Avion is confused.

"I can't wait to be at that point. However, everything should go with a process first. Anyway, that's all. I wish you good luck. I only gave you the cheatbook because something big is going on there. But since you arrive, I have to make way. You're younger, after all."

"P.S. I just realized that the cheatbook is too much so I put a restricted time on it. I don't want you going wild with it. You only have five minutes per day whether you stop, slowed down up, or whatever you do to the world's time."

"Second P.S. I just realized that five minutes is too long but I'm just barely in this world so bye. Also, to let you know, you're welcome, the  Absol  Mind worked, but she still waged wars anyway. Well, at least, she's not being manipulated. Yours truly, Uithuz Aver."