Audel Emporio
Old man Agrieveous led me into a confined cave, and I followed cautiously, growing increasingly skeptical of his intentions. Unable to hold back, I asked, "Are you planning to kill me or something?"
"Wish I could," the old man chuckled, finally coming to a halt. He turned to face me, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "This should do the trick."
I stood silently, watching as he summoned a cube-like artifact in his right hand. It floated in the air, glowing brightly and illuminating the surroundings. The light revealed the true scale of the cave system—it was massive. Small lakes dotted the area, but instead of water, they were filled with a pearly blue liquid.
Before I could voice my curiosity, he explained, "Water from the remnants of ancient times. It's from the Time River itself. Each of these pools plays a vital role in manipulating time. To be precise, we're in a space where time runs faster. In contrast, the outside world is slowed down."
"Making it ideal for training since I'm short on time? How clever!" I finished his thought.
"However," the old man straightened his posture, "your body is a factor that can't be ignored. While you could surpass your previous limits, it might also destroy your mortal form in the process."
Gulping, I drew my sword and said, "Enough scare tactics. Let's fight now."
"Easy, boy. I'm an old man. I can't possibly hope to win against you," he replied with a smile.
"But—"
"But I'm a Diviner, you'd say, right?" He read my thoughts, and I fell silent. His laughter filled the cave. "Rejoice. You're already stronger than me. You just don't realize it yet. That's why I'm here—to help you unlock that power."
In an instant, he lunged at me, his wooden cane striking with surprising speed. I blocked the attack and met his weary eyes. "I still have questions. Aren't you the leader of an organization? Why are you alone?"
He pushed back, creating distance between us. His voice echoed through the cave. "I'm not alone, boy. And I never will be."
He attacked again, this time landing a blow on my shoulder. I stumbled back, using mana to stabilize myself. His relentless assault continued, each strike precise and calculated.
"Not bad," he muttered, his face amused. "Wise use of mana."
I pivoted, delivering a roundhouse kick with mana surging through my leg. He blocked it effortlessly with his knee, but the move gave me enough momentum to push back and create some distance.
I stood ready, waiting for his next move. Instead, he gave me a wry smile.
"You're unparalleled in close combat. I'll give you that. However," he disappeared, reappearing right in front of me, "your body is weak right now." His fist struck my sternum, sending me flying backward.
Ignoring the pain, I used the momentum to prepare a long-range attack.
"Will of the Wind!" I shouted, swinging my sword to create sharp wind slashes aimed at the old man. The attack sliced his wooden cane in half.
He smiled wryly. "The wind is faster than any other element. You used it well, forcing me to parry instead of dodge."
I stood firm, catching my breath. "Wait, about your cane. Didn't it belong to that old lady? Was she really your wife? What about the boy from the wagon?"
"They're here," he said, turning toward the cave entrance.
To my surprise, the boy from earlier appeared, accompanied by a young woman I didn't recognize. The boy had sharp features and blonde hair, resembling his grandmother, who stood beside him with an air of elegance.
"Meet Benon and my beautiful wife, Dareia," the old man introduced.
While the boy remained silent, Dareia spoke up, "As you can see, regressor, I'm a Diviner as well. The Diviner of Metamorphosis. I can change my form, unlike my old husband."
The old man chuckled. "It's not even my real body, darling. I'm much younger than this."
"Yeah, sure," she teased, her eyes narrowing as she noticed the broken cane. "My cane. Did you break it again?"
"No—it was him—" he stammered, but she pulled his ear, scolding him like a child.
"It's the 62nd time already!" she shouted, her voice echoing through the cave. She turned to her grandson. "Benon!."
Without a word, the boy reached for the broken cane. Blue light radiated from his hand, and the cane was restored, looking as good as new.
I stared in awe. "Who are you? The Diviner of Time?"
Dareia released her husband and replied, "No, dear. He hasn't earned that title yet. But you're partially right. He's a divine being like us, able to manipulate time—but only to rewind it. And you've just seen a glimpse of his power."
The old man dusted himself off and added, "My grandson, Benon, is a very promising fighter. He's second to none in close combat within the organization."
"So, he's a member too? That explains it," I acknowledged, then turned to the deceptively young lady. "What about you, Mrs. Dareia?"
"She's the vice-commander," the old man answered for her. He then added, "It's time we get back to training. The three of us will help you in your further training."
Seeing my visible confusion, Dareia clarified, "Oh, I won't be fighting. But I'll certainly observe and offer my remarks."
The old man tossed his cane to his wife and summoned a glowing sword out of thin air. As my eyes adjusted, the sword's light dimmed, revealing intricate runic patterns etched into its blade. He gave me a wry smile. "I won't hold back against you. And neither will he." He gestured toward the young boy, who had already assumed a defensive stance.
For the first time, the boy's expression shifted. A faint smirk played on his lips, and he spoke in a low, almost whisper-like tone. "Give us a good fight, Mr. Emporio."
Without hesitation, I leaped backward, covering nearly 40 feet in an instant. Drawing my sword, I faced the half-god beings before me. My heart pounded with a mix of excitement and apprehension.
"I'm ready!" I shouted, my voice echoing through the cavern.