The Time-keepers

Darkness, that was the first thing that Kai recognized, not the soft embrace of sleep, but a cold, suffocating void. His mind clawed towards consciousness, as he woke up with a sharp gasp. His body tensed as his senses caught up to him all at once. The air felt thick, humming with an unfamiliar energy, as a faint smell of ozone filled his lungs.

Blinking rapidly, his vision adjusted to his surroundings. The room was vast, to his left Kai noticed lines of towering glass vats filled with a deep violet fluid. The liquid moved unnaturally, it's currents shifted as though it was alive. The glow emitted from the vats bathed the silver walls of the room in an eerie pulsating light. Kai's stomach twisted as he realized that this liquid was similar to the condensed temporal energy he when Zayne showed him the orb of temporal energy.

"What the hell....?" he muttered, pushing himself up from the platform he had been lying on. His limbs ached, but his body felt.....different. Its felt lighter and stronger. A glint of movement caught his eye. Across from the platform, the large empty wall was polished like a mirror, it's surface rippling faintly, as though reality itself wasn't fully settled. Instinctively, Kai climbed down from the platform and stumbled towards it, he braced himself against the wall as he locked eyes with his reflection. Or rather, a stranger staring back at him. His once-average frame had transformed, lean yet powerful, as he took off his shredded t-shirt, he saw that his muscles were sculpted like those of highly trained athletes. His posture was no longer hunched or hesitant but upright, exuding strength and confidence.

His eyes, once a dull black and unremarkable, now had a faint otherworldly glow, similar to Zayne's, but with a flicker of an azure aura around them. They pulsed faintly, shifting in intensity as if reacting to his emotions. His hair, once perpetually messy, now held an unnatural vibrancy, each strand seemed to be infused with energy. It flowed gently, as if caught by an invisible breeze, refusing to stay still. Kai exhaled sharply, his hands trembling slightly as he reached up and touched his face. Everything about him felt sharper, more defined, as if he had been reshaped into something beyond human.

Before he could begin to process it, he heard the sound of soft footsteps come up to the entrance of the chamber. He turned sharply, his instincts flaring, only to see a woman standing at the entrance. In a jolt, Kai realized that this was the same person that had saved him from the Leviathan. She had long black hair that cascaded down her back, shimmering like a flowing river of polished obsidian, her amber eyes glowed in the dim light, like orbs of molten gold. Her expression was unreadable, a mix of curiosity and assessment. "Finally awake I see, you took quite a while" she said, crossing her arms. Her voice was smooth but it carried an unmistakable authority. She wore a sleek, form fitting coat, it's material white, with accents and designs in gold.

Kai hesitated. "Who- where am I? what are those?" he said pointing towards the vats of liquid. The woman exhaled, stepping closer. "You were badly wounded after your fight with the Leviathan. These" she gestured at the vats, "are containers of concentrated temporal energy, it helps us heal and stabilize the body of Time-keepers. It is what allows us to exist outside the boundaries of reality, and fuels our bodies and our Hexs. As for where we are, we call this place the 'Primarium Castrum', this is a Nexora that was built by the very first Time-keepers, a place where we can seek refuge from the Leviathans in order to train or discuss important matters." 

At the mention of the word Hex, a memory of his sword flashed Kai's mind, but before he could ask any further questions, the woman turned on her heel. "Come, we need to prepare you properly", something in her tone made it clear that arguing was not an option. Reluctantly, Kai decided to follow her. The corridor they walked through felt surreal, the walls rippling slightly as though the very space around them was not fixed. As they walked, several rooms caught Kai's attention, a library, a dining room, a...laboratory? and what appeared to be a room full of organized statues, with plaques at the foot of each one. Eventually, they entered a large chamber, the walls decorated with what Kai interpreted as gemstones of various shapes and colors, all of which combined to form mesmerizing symmetric patterns. At the center of the room there was a circular platform. Strands of radiant energy swirled above it, shifting colors and patterns like living fabric.

Kai eyed it warily. "And this is....?" "A Time-keepers attire is more than clothing, it is not made of steel, leather or fabric" the woman explained. "It is woven from the purest form of temporal energy, serving both as armor and a conduit for your abilities. The Sectam Factorem," the woman explained, gesturing her hand at the apparatus in front of them, "will tailor yours personally for you. Now, step onto the platform and let it handle the rest." Kai nervously stepped onto the platform. Immediately, the energy lashed towards him, wrapping his limbs like unseen hands. He tensed as the device wove the threads of temporal energy around his arms, legs and chest, shifting and reforming as if reading his very essence. As the swirling light around him faded, Kai looked down at himself, his breath catching at the sight of his new suit. His suit was unlike anything he had ever seen: sleek, intricate and pulsing faintly with power.

His top was a fitted, long-sleeved combat tunic, seamlessly integrated with gloves that extended from the sleeves. The fabric was jet-black, smooth yet pulsing with temporal energy, offering both protection and unrestricted movement. The ends on his sleeves bore dark purple accents at the wrists, which extended into intricate patterns resembling ancient sigils at the palms and knuckles of his gloves. They glowed with a faint light as Kai clenched his fists. Over his tunic, he wore a high-collared, sleeveless coat that ended just below his knees. It's edges glowed with soft azure markings, forming intricate, ever-shifting patterns of flowing energy. The most striking feature of the coat was the symbol emblazed on Kai's back: a glowing azure broadsword just like his Hex, the tip of the blade facing downward, with wings unfurling from the point where the guard met the blade. The symbol seemed to pulse with his own heartbeat, it's presence both ominous and commanding.

His pants were crafted for combat, composed of the same jet-black, flexible material, reinforced at the knees and along the sides with thinly woven threads of temporal energy. Azure and dark purple markings ran subtly along the fabric, appearing faint until he moved, at which point they glowed ever so slightly, as if reacting to his presence. Covering his feet were sleek, armored boots, lightweight yet unyielding, shifting subtly as he adjusted his stance. They provided both stability and fluidity, making it ideal for combat across unstable terrain. This was not mere clothing, it was armor, a conduit for Kai's abilities, and a symbol of his new path. It fitted him perfectly, as if it was an extension of his very being, crafted not just for him, but from the very essence of his body.

The woman examined him for a moment before nodding. "It will adapt as you grow stronger." Kai flexed his fingers, enjoying the feeling of the energy humming through the suit. "Not gonna lie, this feels badass" Kai said, with a confident grin. The woman gave him the slightest smirk before motioning him towards the door. "Come now, the others are waiting for us."