THE KEEPERS OF TIME

The air crackled with anticipation as Chronos, new power with the mantle of time manipulator bestowed opon him as a time traveler on his 17th birthday, he can only travel to the past but can't change the past, he stood before his family and his people. The celebrations had been joyous. His siblings, each blessed with unique powers, stood beside him, their faces etched with pride and a touch of apprehension. Aurora, his elder sister and his favorite, with her power to teleport, felt the weight of responsibility settle on her shoulders. She knew that her brother's training would be arduous, a path fraught with challenges that could forge him into a great time keeper that he was destined to be. He had twenty stages to pass in becoming a great and powerful time keeper because he was unable to control his powers like the rest of his family and to overcome all the obstacle in those stages each of his siblings would have to help him over come that journey.

The first stage of Chronos's training began with a journey to the land of the Elves. Aurora, ever the guiding hand, led him through the shimmering portal she conjured. The Elven lands were a tapestry of vibrant greens and shimmering waterfalls, a stark contrast to the rugged terrain of their own kingdom. The air hummed with ancient magic, a palpable presence that sent shivers down Chronos's spine. Their mission was to collect a mystical history, a chronicle of the Elves' ancient wisdom, held within the sacred grove.

The task, however, was far from simple. The grove was guarded by the Elder Tree, a towering sentinel with branches that stretched towards the heavens. The Elder Tree was sentient, its roots reaching deep into the heart of the Elven realm, and it possessed a fierce protectiveness over its secrets. To gain access to the history, Chronos would need to prove his worth, to demonstrate a level of understanding and respect for the ancient wisdom that resided within the grove.

Chronos and Aurora, desperate for answers, sought out the elders of the Elven village. They hoped to find a clear explanation of how the dark forces plagued the elves home. However, the elders, while well-meaning, offered only a confusing jumble of tales.

Hulla, a portly elder with a booming laugh, claimed the darkness was caused by a giant, hairy spider that had stolen the sun and replaced it with a giant, glowing moon made of cheese. Zharia, known for her love of gossip, insisted the darkness was the result of a curse placed by a jealous witch who was upset the elves had better hair than her. Daye, a stern elder with a penchant for dramatic pronouncements, declared the darkness was a punishment from the gods for the elves' excessive consumption of honey. Finally, Monroe, the village's most eccentric elder, claimed the darkness was a result of a mischievous pixie who had swapped the village's shadows with a particularly smelly batch of fermented mushroom juice.

Their stories, a mix of absurdity and unfounded fear, left Chronos and Aurora utterly bewildered. But then, Eldora, an ancient, wise elder, stepped forward. Her story was different. She spoke of a terrifying invasion, a force of darkness that had descended upon the village, destroying their king and their strongest warriors. Her words resonated with a chilling truth that the others lacked. Eldora promised to lead them to the sacred grove, a place she believed held the key to understanding the darkness. Chronos and Aurora, their hope rekindled, knew they had found the right guide.

The air hung thick with the scent of pine needles and moss as Chronos and Aurora followed Eldora, the ancient Elven elder, deeper into the heart of the sacred grove. Eldora, her face etched with wisdom and time, moved with a grace that belied her age. Her voice, though soft, carried a weight that resonated with the very essence of the forest.

"The darkness that has descended upon our village," she explained, her eyes filled with a deep sadness, "is a consequence of forgotten knowledge, a history that has been lost to time. The ancient ruins hold the key to understanding this darkness, to unraveling the secrets that have been buried for generations."

Chronos, his brow furrowed in concentration, listened intently. He could feel the presence of the dark forces, a palpable sense of unease that lingered in the air. "But how do we find this history? How do we unlock the secrets of the ruins?"

Eldora smiled, a faint glimmer of hope flickering in her eyes. "The history is not a book, young one. It is woven into the very fabric of the ruins themselves. It is a story that whispers through the stones, a song that echoes through the ancient halls. You must learn to listen."

Aurora, impatient with the cryptic conversation, shifted her weight impatiently. "Can we just get to the ruins already? Time is of the essence," she muttered under her breath. "Hmmm, have you forgotten that we are time aurora",Chronos said. "Ok!! and have you also forgotten that neither you nor I can stop time from moving or do I have to remind you that only Meridian, can freeze time".

Eldora, sensing Aurora's impatience, nodded. "The path to the ruins is long and treacherous, but the journey itself will teach you more than any history book ever could."

With that, she led them deeper into the grove, the path winding through a maze of ancient trees, their gnarled branches reaching out like skeletal fingers. The journey to the ruins had begun.

As they journeyed deeper into the forest, Aurora couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right. Eldora's knowledge of the dark forces, so detailed and specific, seemed almost too perfect. How could she know so much? What secrets was she hiding?

That night, as Chronos slept soundly, Aurora couldn't sleep. She whispered to her brother, "Chronos, I don't trust Eldora. She knows too much. I think she's hiding something."

Chronos, weary from the day's travel, simply chuckled. "Aurora, you're just being paranoid. Eldora is a kind woman, she wants to help us. You just need to calm down."

Aurora sighed, frustrated. She knew she had to trust someone, but her gut screamed at her to be cautious. Her suspicions lingered, a dark cloud hanging over their journey.

The days blurred into weeks, the forest growing denser and more ominous. Eldora, with her gentle smile and soothing words, seemed to be their only guide through the treacherous paths. She even offered them a handful of herbs, claiming they would boost their strength and endurance.

Aurora, her suspicions still simmering, hesitated. "Are you sure these are safe?" she asked, her voice tight with apprehension.

Eldora chuckled, her eyes sparkling with a deceptive warmth. "Of course, dear Aurora. These herbs are a gift from the forest itself. They will make you stronger, faster, more resilient."

Chronos, ever trusting, accepted the herbs without question. Aurora, though hesitant, eventually agreed. They were weary, and the promise of strength was tempting.

The herbs tasted bitter, but they felt a surge of energy coursing through their veins. Eldora, with a knowing smile, led them deeper into the forest, towards a dark, gaping cave.

"This is the way," she said, her voice taking on a chilling edge. "The way to to the scared grove, where you can find the mystical history."

As they stepped into the cave, a cold, damp air washed over them, carrying with it the scent of decay and sulfur. The darkness seemed to swallow them whole, and the herbs, instead of giving them strength, left them feeling weak and dizzy.

Suddenly, Eldora's smile vanished, replaced by a cruel sneer. Her skin, once fair and smooth, began to crack and peel, revealing a monstrous, grotesque visage beneath.

"Fools," she hissed, her voice a guttural growl. "You thought I was your friend? I am the enemy, the harbinger of darkness!"

With a terrifying shriek, Eldora transformed into a monstrous demon, her eyes blazing with unholy fire. Her claws, sharp as obsidian, extended, ready to strike.

Chronos and Aurora, their bodies heavy and sluggish, stood frozen in terror as Eldora lunged, her demonic laughter echoing through the cavern.

Eldora's transformation was a terrifying spectacle. Her once-human form dissolved, replaced by a creature of pure nightmare. Her skin, now a sickly green, stretched and contorted, revealing jagged claws and razor-sharp teeth. Her eyes, once warm and inviting, glowed with an infernal fire, and her laughter, a chilling cackle, echoed through the cave.

Chronos and Aurora, their bodies heavy and sluggish from the poisoned herbs, could only watch in horror as Eldora revealed her true nature. They had been naive, trusting her gentle facade, but now they understood the terrible truth. Eldora was no benevolent guide, but a demon of the Dark Underworld, a creature of immense power and cruelty.

The realization struck them like a bolt of lightning. They had been lured into a trap, their trust betrayed by a creature who had orchestrated the downfall of the elves village. The infected elves, the whispers of darkness, the strange sickness that had gripped the elves – it all pointed to Eldora.

But the most chilling revelation was her rank. Eldora was a demon of the Upper Class, ranking eighth in the Dark Force World. This meant she was not merely a pawn, but a powerful player in the demonic hierarchy. The Dark Force World was divided into three classes: the Highest, with only five demons, the Upper, with ten demons, and the Lower, which housed countless demons.

Despite being in the Upper Class rank eight, Eldora's power was immense, exceeding even many of the lowest Class demons put up together. She was a force to be reckoned with, and Chronos and Aurora, weakened and unprepared, knew they were facing an impossible battle.