The Sphere of Time

by TIME, S. O.

  Since the party, Kou and Hitori have been leaving early in the mornings to train for university. They stay together for their general studies and exercise, but split up in the latter half of the day to practice using their crystals.

  Kou receives his afternoon training from other red crystal users, most of whom are veterans. Since red energy users have high intensity but low stamina, they mainly focus on sprint-based exercises, practice fast-paced attacking techniques, and cycle through heavy weightlifting regimens.

  Hitori's afternoon training is more varied—as those with white crystals are healers, they practice endurance running to improve their stamina, meditation to increase concentration, and energy precision techniques to help with efficiency while healing. In addition to these exercises, several hours each day are dedicated to studying physiology.

  This morning, Hitori has already left for her run. Kou is late, but I sense his energy approaching. Despite the mansion’s epic proportions, Kou and Hitori still prefer to train outside. If they are concerned at all by the gathering storm clouds, they show no sign.

  I meander over to a cliff that affords me a good view of the jogging trail and the forest beyond. I know Kou will pass by here soon—he'll scramble down the side of the cliff in order to catch up with Hitori rather than run the gentler, but longer slope to the south.

  “It’s almost time,” a voice says from behind me, making me flinch. It’s the same voice from the roof. It’s her. My pulse quickens and I feel myself growing hot. Hesitantly, I turn to look at her, trying to catch my breath.

  “You've got that startling entrance down pat, haven't you?” I ask with a weak smile. She doesn’t laugh. I decide to change my tone. “Time for what?” I try again. She ignores the question.

  “This is where everything truly begins. I wish you the best of luck…for both our sakes.”

  She looks at me and hesitates for a few seconds. Then she glides over and wraps me in her arms. She moves her head over my shoulder, and in a voice that shakes with conviction, she speaks.

  “Things will only get harder from here. I hope you’re prepared.”

  Her words are anything but comforting, but before I can say anything she squeezes me tightly and I feel my energy draining out of my body. It stings, like a thousand syringes stabbing into my skin and drawing my blood. I can’t move. The pain is surreal, but there is nothing I can do to stop it. After a few moments of agony, she lets me go. I sink to my knees and look up at her, vaguely noting the dampness on my cheeks as she wipes tears away. The air is difficult to breathe, making my head spin. My dizziness causes the black lines on her face to appear as if they are moving, stretching, like spilled ink running over fresh paper. I feel weak and heavy as I stand—much heavier than I did before.

  “What…what did you—” I begin. Before I can ask anything, she fades away and a Tear opens right above me.

  From it spills a massive, snow-white beast with four eyes, six legs, and a long, scorpion-like tail. It takes only a startled second for me to recognize the creature from the skeleton in Hana’s lab and the images in the veteran’s building—a nymian. Though, this one looks…sick. As it lands, it lets out a rattling breath and black sludge drips from its mouth, melting into the ground like acid. The moment the strange ichor hits the ground, the grass ashes away and the soil beneath writhes and darkens.

  The nymian looks around and screeches—I can hear its terror and confusion at being ripped from its home and abandoned in this strange and overwhelming place. I automatically hold out a hand, preparing to create another Tear that will send this creature away, but the sound of pounding feet distracts me. I turn to see Kou sprinting toward me and the beast.

  “Watch out!” he cries.

  I turn around in time to see the massive beast swing at me with one of its huge claws, but I don’t bother dodging. I can only be touched if I choose to be touched. The claw will pass harmlessly, right through—

  Pain—sudden, unfamiliar, mortal pain surges through me as its claws dig into my skin, tearing strips of it away and sending me flying into a tree. I gasp and wheeze as I fall to the dirt, half in amazement and half in agony. My vision blurs and I touch the wound with a single, trembling hand. I feel hot liquid coursing down my body. Even through my damaged vision I can see I am painted red.

  It’s blood, I realize. It’s my blood. I’ve never seen myself bleed before. Terror rushes through me, charging every nerve and sending dizzying waves of panic through my mind. I fight it, trying to make sense of the situation, gazing around frantically to find where Naomi has gone. Wondering why she has done this to me.

  She is nowhere to be found.

  Confused and gasping for breath, I feel my consciousness slipping away from me. I can be sure of nothing—only that I am fading.

  “I’m coming!” I hear Kou cry.

  I try to face him, but even the effort of looking up makes my head spin. My vision remains blurred, but I can see enough to note that he is glowing bright red as he runs past me to charge the beast. He leaps, aiming a high kick for the creature’s center mass. With a crackling explosion, like a block of ice dropped into boiling water, the creature’s exoskeleton splinters. Cracks branch outward like fractured glass, and it screeches out in pain. It charges at Kou, but he side-steps and jumps, kicking it again in the same spot. This time, parts of its natural armor start chipping off. Black liquid drips from the wound, hissing into the soil as it burns away any scrap of green that it touches. In shock, I realize, Kou’s actually breaking through.

  The beast attacks with the same claw, but Kou manages to dodge again. However, he doesn’t see the beast’s second attack—with its tail, the creature swipes forward and strikes Kou square in the chest as he is coming back down. Kou is launched through the air, but he manages to land on his feet, clutching his chest with one arm. I wouldn’t be surprised if the hit fractured a number of bones.

  Still, Kou stands strong. He looks at me and we make eye contact.

  He actually sees me.

  I dare not say a word. I focus on trying not to pass out. Kou runs to me, but the beast, while injured, is not defeated. It charges headfirst into Kou, who goes flying again. With a crunch, I hear him land on his back nearby. He groans and stays down. The beast screams to the sky once more and then refocuses on us.

  I drag myself toward Kou. Though he is only a few meters away, each movement feels like a hundred kilometers. Kou turns his head to glare at the beast, and I can tell from his widening eyes that the creature is coming toward us. I hear the heavy beat of its stride as it quickens its pace, but I can't afford to look back. Right as I reach Kou it shrieks again, so near that my ears ache, and I see its shadow fall over us. With a hoarse cry of effort, I summon the last dregs of my energy and create a Tear just large enough to send the creature careening back into space.

  The Tear snaps shut and I look at Kou. He's staring at me, mouth hanging open and eyes unblinking with shock. I try to speak, but at that moment my body gives up.

  My vision goes blurry again, and I fall into darkness.

  Chapter Eight

  I open my eyes to an unfamiliar ceiling.

  “It’s about time you woke up!”

  I look to my left and find Kou sitting on a chair beside me. The room we’re in is small, with just enough space for a bed by the door, a table on the far end next to the closet, and a few chairs next to the bed. Kou is dressed in a uniform I’ve never seen him wearing before. It’s dark gray and has his family insignia on the left shoulder patch, with the Matsuo symbol on his right. Kou is looking right at me with a huge grin on his face. I was right. He can see me.

  “Not much of a talker, huh?” he says after I don’t reply to his statement. I swallow hard before I say anything.

  “No, it’s just...how did I get here?”

  He turns his head slightly and then lets out a laugh. “I was hoping you could tell me that, stranger. Hardly anyone ever goes to that area of the mountain. You caught me by surprise.”
/>
  I can’t exactly tell him that I’m Death. Or that I’ve been following him and Hitori around this whole time. I have to lie to him…

  Or maybe I don’t—not entirely.

  “I…I don’t know,” I finally respond. He looks at me puzzled.

  “What do you—”

  The door beside us opens and Hitori walks in. She’s carrying two cups of what I assume is tea, based on the smell. She sees me awake but immediately looks away and sets the tea down on the table beside the closet. Kou laughs a bit awkwardly and quietly whispers to me.

  “Sorry about that, she kinda thinks you tried to kill me.”

  She thinks I’m here to kill Kou? For some reason the thought of her seeing me that way makes my chest feel heavy. She sits in the chair beside Kou, but still refuses to look at me. She puts her hand on his and holds it firmly.

  “So, like I was saying before, friend, what do you mean you don’t know how you got here? Why are you here?”

  I don’t know why they can see me, but I need them to let me stay. Then I can try and figure everything else out once I’m able to think straight again.

  “I’m sorry, I just don’t know. I can’t remember.”

  Kou sighs. “Okay, what do you remember? Can you tell me your name?”

  I look down at my hands and fidget with them. I shake my head and say nothing more. Kou sighs even more deeply.

  “What about that mask of yours? We tried taking it off, but it seems to be attached to your face.”

  I shake my head again. I don’t know the answers to any of these questions. I feel myself heating up.

  “What happened to your condenser? I’ve never seen anybody without one.”

  I shake my head again, as if it is the only action I know how to do. I feel a sharp, heavy energy hitting me from his direction. I think it’s coming from Kou since I’m not answering any of his questions, but when I look up, I see it’s actually coming from Hitori. She’s glaring at me with eyes so hot and dangerous that I get goosebumps.

  “What did you do to Kou? Were you waiting for us to be apart to attack him? How much is my father paying you?” she demands.

  “Hey, hey, let’s calm down a bit.” Kou turns to Hitori and puts his hand on her cheek so that she turns to look at him.

  “I already told you before that we were both attacked. He saved my life.”

  Hitori’s energy calms a bit but I can still feel uneasiness within it. At least I can still feel and read energy.

  “But when I got there I didn’t see anything. You two were alone.” Her gaze focuses back on me. Kou looks at me too, with excitement in his energy.

  “How did you manage that? I thought we were both goners. How did you get rid of that strange nymian?”

  My heart skips slightly, a visceral reaction to the memory of the attack. I hesitate before answering, but quickly decide to go with a partial truth.

  “I have the ability to open portals. Tears into space. I used one to send the beast away.”

  Both of them stay quiet, but Hitori’s hand tightens around Kou’s. Kou, on the other hand, shows no tension. He grins.

  “But how can you do that without a condenser? What type of energy do you use? Is it some kind of advanced purple technique? I’ve never seen anything like that before.”

  “Uhh…”

  In truth, my energy comes from the souls that created Death long ago. But I can’t really tell them that.

  “I…I don’t know. I don’t remember anything.”

  I look back down at my hands, but to my surprise Kou puts a hand on my shoulder, giving it a friendly squeeze. When I look up he gives me a sympathetic smile. I can't help but smile back. He drops his hand and turns back to Hitori.

  “Hitori…I don’t think he’s lying.”

  “But that doesn’t make sense! There’s no way he doesn’t know. There’s just no way we can trust him—”

  “Then trust me.”

  Kou quickly gets out of his seat and goes over to the table where Hitori left the cups of tea. He grabs both and brings one over to me. I take a sip of mine—it’s good, though it’s a little cold now. Kou impatiently tosses back most of his before continuing.

  “I need you to believe me. He saved my life. Really.”

  Hitori takes a deep breath and then sighs. She looks at me with calmer eyes.

  “Could you demonstrate it for us?”

  I blink, confused by her sudden request. “Demonstrate?”

  “Yeah, your ‘ability.’ Show us a Tear.”

  I feared someone would ask this. I don’t actually know if it’ll work. What will happen to me if I can’t do it? Will they kick me out? Hitori gets up from her seat with her arms crossed.

  “Well?”

  I have no choice. I have to try. I take in one final deep breath before I get out of bed. The movement causes a throbbing ache to arise from my chest, but I force myself to ignore it. My movements still feel far too heavy; I’m still not used to this planet’s gravity. As I step onto the cold floor, I note that I am barefoot and wearing white pajamas. I turn to the window and raise my right hand, focusing on creating a Tear to a field of flowers on the lower part of the mountain. I feel my hand begin to tremble and nothing happens. I can’t feel anything except the sweat on the back of my neck. Before I have a chance to try again or beg them to understand, the door opens once more and Hana walks in.

  “No, no, you get back into bed!”

  She runs over to me and gently taps my left shoulder. She’s wearing a white lab coat, as usual. I get back into bed, and she grabs my cup of tea.

  “This is cold. Kou, be a dear and fetch him a new cup, please.”

  Kou smiles and does as he’s told. He leaves the room and I’m left with Hana and Hitori. Hana turns to Hitori and grabs her hands.

  “Hitori, I know you worry for Kou, and I can’t thank you enough for it, but this boy is no threat to either of you.”

  Boy? I’m older than everyone on this planet combined. What is she talking about?

  “But how can you be so sure?” Hitori asks with a frown.

  “I know because the results from the tests we ran on him are back.” She turns to me with an apologetic smile. “We needed to find out more about you,” she says. She turns back to Hitori. “The clothes he had on showed DNA from a nymian, albeit an unusual one. This boy’s own DNA is...special, and he doesn’t even have a condenser. He’s likely from a different Branch of Humanity. That would best explain why he’s not in our registry.”

  Hitori stays quiet, thinking about everything that Hana is saying. I should have assumed Hana would look into my being here. Especially after taking me into her home.

  “Do you have a place to go?” Hana asks me.

  I shake my head. If they decide to kick me out, I have no idea what to do.

  “Do you remember where you came from?”

  I shake my head. “I can’t remember anything…I don’t know anything about myself.”

  Her energy spikes momentarily, and I feel confusion in it. She squints her eyes a little and gently taps her index finger on her chin.

  “You know, we have so many rooms in this house—we can fix one up for you until you feel better. It would be terrible to just throw you out when you clearly have amnesia or PTSD from what happened. You can stay as long as you need to. Welcome to our planet, Vitannia.”

  Hitori crosses her arms, her lips pursing. She opens her mouth to speak but then shakes her head a little and abruptly leaves the room. Hana seems about to follow after her, but she stops and turns back to me.

  “Our drones caught what happened out there. I have a lot to talk to you about, but that can wait until after you’ve rested.” She smiles at me and bows gently. “I want to thank you for saving Kou’s life. If you hadn’t sent that nymian away, Kou might not be here right now.” She lifts her head, and as she walks out she says, “In the closet you’ll find clothes that should fit you.”

  The door slides shut after her and I’m left
alone. I look in the closet and see it’s full of clothes, but a growing ache at the back of my skull sends me back to bed. I turn off the lights and close my eyes.

  When I open my eyes again I’m standing on a field littered with lifeless bodies, and a shadowy figure moving toward me.

  Chapter Nine

  A red sun is rising behind the figure, casting a long shadow. The earth and air are grey, awash in ash. I know this place—it’s the same barren land that had plagued my thoughts back in Vale. There are no ruins—instead destruction is evident in the small craters that pit the ground, the blasted remnants of trees, and the bodies. I realize with growing unease that the same sickly, black weeds are growing in this field—but not out of the cracks in cobblestones. Instead the twisted stems reach out from large wounds in the corpses.

  The shadowy figure walks toward me, their dark clothing damp and heavy. Crippling darkness emanates from them, and I instinctively try to step back. I can’t. I can’t move at all. As the figure advances, their energy grows more intense, the mere presence of it filling my body with a feverish ache. I try to force my paralyzed body to run or scream, but I am rooted to the spot. The dreaded buzzing fills my head, and I close my eyes as my head pounds with brutal rhythm. The waves of pain are throbbing at the same pace as the figure, shaking me with each step.

  I jolt forward, gasping for air. I’m in my bed in the Kurosawa infirmary, lightheaded from panic—but out of that hellish field.

  I barely have a moment to catch my breath before the door opens, and Kou enters with two cups of tea.

  “Sorry for the wait! Hitori ran out and I had to calm her down,” he says with a smirk on his face. It goes away after he sees me.

  “Man, are you feeling okay?”

  “Yeah, I’m fine,” I swallow hard, pushing away the lingering emotions of my vision.

  “Mind if I take a seat?” he asks, gesturing at the chair next to my bed.