OoC: Here it is. I am updating Chronos' appearance for this, so check it out.
Here is the link.
BiC:
“Are you ready, Chronos?”
The Dark Eye nodded his head to the avatar that stood before him. The avatar smiled and placed his hand upon the other’s shoulder. “Do not worry, Chronos,” the avatar said with its even voice, which Chronos took to mean it was trying to steady him. “I am confident that I can take you to the Core. There should be no problems.” Kenjin’s avatar was rather bolder than its actual manifestation, Chronos thought dully.
That mystic needs a little less egotism in his lectures. “I heard that,” the avatar said in a slightly hurt voice, but its smile widened. “You try my position and not developing one.”
“I wouldn’t know,” the Dark Eye retorted. “I do not know what it means to be egotistical, Kenjin.” The avatar issued a huffing noise with indifference.
“Has anyone ever told you what a mood killer you are, Chronos?” Before Chronos could issue a reply, he found that his mouth refused to obey his commands to inform Kenjin what a fool the mystic was. Briefly, a thought entered the Dark Eye’s mind to use the Arm Striker, but of course it would not work. Kenjin’s powers were too unique for the staff to work properly. “Wise choice, my friend,” the avatar said. “I would hate to have to nullify the existence of your precious weapon for such a small trip.”
Chronos had learnt how Kenjin transported others to the Core through the use of physics and mathematics. It was a simple operation in which Kenjin lowered the density of the reality surrounding them, then transported the weakened particles through the dimensions to the Core. Chronos himself felt nothing of the teleportation, but that was not out of the ordinary. The MetaSkin that shielded his body was difficult, Kenjin had often said, to break down for a vacation in the Core, but its effects on its owner did not waver. Before long, the laboratory that Chronos referred to as home vanished, replaced by the dimension of darkness that Kenjin referred to as home. He had only a brief glance of the avatar before it vanished, joining with the existence that surrounded Chronos. The Dark Eye glanced at the ground, where the yin-yang symbol was etched into the area just beneath his boots.
It is nice to see you again, old friend. The mind voice that Kenjin’s true self used floated through the Dark Eye’s metal brain, slightly muffled.
I trust you have been well. “Your
deshi continue to grow, and my experiments have yielded several answers,” the
ronin answered.
I am glad. I apologize for leaving them so unexpectedly with you. My battle with that youth has left me…somewhat indisposed, and Elrick is far too busy with Nenet to be intruded on. “What have you summoned me for, Kenjin?” The Dark Eye had been the protégé of the mystic too long to be fooled by his distracting words.
I have decided to send you somewhere important, Chronos. Somewhere where you may learn more than you ever have in your dank laboratory. Tell me, do you remember Kat? The ebon knight nodded; Kenjin’s daughter, though a thought of her had not entered his mind for some time. “She is the girl whom you once sent with the
deshi to find a weapon. They failed to do so. I have not heard of her since.”
Yes. Kat has been hiding for some time. I wish you to find her, Chronos, and return her here to me. “Why would I need to do that, Kenjin?” asked Chronos. “You are merged with the Core. Can you not handle this sort of task on your own?”
The mystic laughed.
For someone with no emotion, Chronos, you have a wit that is almost comical. The Core does allow me some…ability, but such ability must be carefully used. I cannot retrieve Kat without her fulfilling her intended task in this world. Do you remember it, Chronos? “I believe you asked her to obtain the Black Ixis, correct?”
Indeed. You have a somewhat-sharp memory after all, even with amnesia clouding it. Yes, the Black Ixis, which created the Master of Darkness, must be found by Kat before she can be returned to me. Find Kat, and the Ixis, and bring them to me. A query entered the dark knight’s head, and he said, “Why am I charged with doing this, Kenjin? What does this have to do with me?”
The very question that I hoped you would ask, Chronos, and the very question that I wish I could explain to you. But, alas, that would disrupt the path I have foreseen you must take. I can reiterate that, by taking on this task, you may learn more about yourself than in your laboratory with your cadavers. The Dark Eye nodded. “You can tell me nothing more?”
No. But will you accept? “It seems that the choice is out of my hands, is it not?”
There is always a multitude of choices, Chronos, but only one correct one. “Then I will choose the correct choice, and take this journey.”
Excellent. I will provide you with the details of Kat’s location, or where she was seen last, and where the Black Ixis is currently located. Oh, and Chronos? “Yes Kenjin?”
You know that young deshi you now train, named the Aura Master? “Zorlo, with whom I left some pieces of my left arm.”
Yes. I think it would be wise for him to come with you. He and a young lady named Selene, who I understand is involved with the deshi. Look after them, Chronos, and find yourself.
Though he thought it a strange request, Chronos could do nothing but say, “Yes, Kenjin. I will look after them.”
***
To Chronos, the place he now stood before sparked memories of comrades past.
The tavern was still there, after all this time. It seemed like years since he had been there with Tuariv and the other Knights. The sign still read
The Green Dragon, though it looked a little worse for ware, now dull with some of the letters needing repainting. Despite the sign’s lack of attention, the Dark Eye could tell that the bar was very much alive from the lights inside. Kenjin had often told his comrades that
The Green Dragon served the finest ale in all the lands, but Chronos, lacking a sense of taste, did not know if that was true. The
ronin walked up to the oak door, upon which was painted a dragon of emerald, and carefully opened it with his remaining hand.
The Green Dragon‘s customers, all of whom were aware of its long history of harboring various…unique characters, did not glance at Chronos’ strange clothing or his appearance, and carried on with their conversation. The Dark Eye, after scouting out the entire tavern, walked up to the barkeeper, who was busy cleaning a glass with a washcloth. Chronos approached the keeper and handed him several gold coins, the universal currency for those who did not wish to deal with exchange rates. “Two rooms for the night. One for me, and another for my guests. I want them with windows in case we need to make ourselves scarce. Understood?” The barkeeper, a wise man, nodded his head silently, and handed Chronos keys for each room. “Thank you. Also, I want ale brought to my table when my guests arrive.”
Kenjin had told him enough to begin the operation, Chronos thought as he returned to his table. The mystic had been kind enough to tell the Dark Eye where Kat lived, which happened to be in very close proximity to
The Green Dragon. Chronos would visit her later tonight, when Zorlo and Selene were asleep upstairs, and bring her back to the tavern.
No, on second thought I might take one with me. Then he and the others would begin the trek to the Black Ixis.
Chronos settled in to wait. He had chosen a place by the fire, as it was a chilly night, and he did not want Selene and Zorlo uncomfortable. Chronos himself sat as far away as possible, not wanting to risk the chance of any melting.