The Time Stone Crystal

Chapter 34 - Rome, 264 BCE

Kairo and Weng fixed everything in the palace, but they were still not too complacent because they knew Hyperion was very cunning. Anytime the beast will be there to conquer and disperse terror. Brith and Vinity have also returned to their respective Dimensional places to protect their territory.

"Hi, Weng!" Thiara greeted her.

"Hi!" she replied.

"Are you ready for our next trip?" Thiara asked.

"Of course. Kairo has already told me where we are going. And you?" she also asked. She has been able to talk to Thiara often; their relationship has improved, unlike before.

"Of course. I'm always ready for those who want to destroy us, you, and the others."

"Especially, Hander?" she was saying seemed to mean something.

"Yeah." Thiara smiled. "Why did you say that?"

"Nothing. I notice that you and Hander spend a lot of time together. Is he your boyfriend now?"

They also walked while observing the vast palace of Kairo and noticed Thiara blushed at what she said.

"Ah... I-I don't know if that's the right name to called. But..."

"But ...what? Has something happened to both of you?" She couldn't help but asked it to Thiara.

"Huh?! Uhm..."

"Just tell me, and don't be ashamed. I know you like Hander, but that's okay."

"Hmm. You're right. It's because my heart is so stubborn; I'm already in love with him since the day I met him. I couldn't restrain myself from surrendering to him everything I had when we were in Israel."

"Really? Wow! Congratulations, Thiara. What did Hander say to you about what happened?"

"Nothing."

"Nothing? Why? What's wrong? Didn't he say he was going to marry you or settle down after we perfect;y did our mission?"

"He didn't say anything, but I could just feel it; that’s what he has planned every time he touches and stares at me."

"Are you satisfied with that? It would be best if you had asked him about that, Thiara. You need to make sure your feelings towards him that you want to give justice for it. If I were you, I would never stop until I knew what I am in someone's life!"

"Just like Master Kairo and you? You’re lucky, and you won his heart. Master Kairo is one of the luckiest serious people I have ever met."

"Sometimes he’s rude and arrogant."

Thiara smiled. "Yes, and that's part of his character."

"I think Hander loves you. Maybe he's not just telling you often, and men are meant those things frequently in their character. They don't want to say what we want to hear even if I just miss him, and we find ways to express it.

"So? Something happened to you and Master Kairo?"

"Yes. I admit, and I won't deny it. I love Kairo more than my life, and he's the only man I've loved in my whole life."

"We're in the same situation, Weng. I let Hander admit his feelings for me, and I will not force him."

"That's right. Oh, I'll be back inside, and maybe Kairo is already looking for me."

"Okay, go ahead. I'm going to go to the others to get ready as well."

MEANWHILE, Margareth and Jigger were meet in a garden. Coincidentally, the two were on the same path, so they couldn't help but talk to each other. It was almost embarrassing to face each other, but they had no choice. Sometimes life is unpredictable, and it let the two people bumped into each other.

"Hi!" Jigger greeted the woman Margareth.

"Hi!" Margareth replied.

"How are you?" he has the guts to ask her.

"I am fine. And you?"

"I am fine, too."

“You will leave later, right? Be careful to your journey,” Margareth replied sparingly.

“Thank you. And you too, be careful here.”

“I'm just here at the palace. Just protects our Master Kairo and Lady Weng.”

"No problem. Master Kairo and Lady Weng are my priorities now.”

The woman was slightly sad. "Good."

"And you?"

"Hmm?" She looked straight at Jigger. "What do you mean, Jigger?"

The young man slowly approached Margareth. “You know what I mean, Margareth. Ever since then, you have never left my mind. I just want to ask you this too. Did someone flirt with you when you were still in Italy?” he asked seriously.

“Y-Yes! He wants to marry me.”

"What?" Jigger's voice seemed angry.

“I mean⸻I still don't give him my answer, but he wants to marry me. Of course, I don't just sit on something that I know I'm not in love with that person. How did you find out about that?”

“It doesn't matter anymore. So, it's true that someone is flirting with you. What are you up to that foolish man?”

“I have no plans. I have someone I want to be with forever, but he doesn't seem to want to be with me,” she said. The tone of Margareth’s voice also seemed uncertain.

"And who is that?"

"Not important. He doesn't know that I love him.”

"Maybe you just didn't tell that man that you loved him."

“I'm not still saying it, but I know he felt that. Not everything needs to communicate, and men have that great instinct.”

“You know, men don't need to know how a woman feels about everything. What if that's not how they feel? What if they just fail to wait for women who don't express their feelings. You should just say it from now on so that there is nothing that seems to have a problem anymore.”

"What will I say?" Margareth asked.

Jigger was a little too hard on her. "It's up to you if you don't want to tell me⸻"

"I love you, Jigger!"

Surprisingly, Jigger looked straight at Margareth. "What did you say?"

"I-I said… I-I love you!" in her raspy voice.

Jigger smiled. "As I expected that you have the same feelings with me.”

"Yes!" She bowed. “It has been a long time. But I know you don't either⸻ ”

He quickly approached Margareth. "That I don't love you?" Then he touched Margareth's waist. "And who told you that?"

"It doesn't matter anymore."

"Wait, that's my line!"

Margareth smiled. "Sorry."

“I love you, Margareth. You know that you are the only woman I have always cherished. When I saw you in Italy, I am unease and longing to feel you in my arms. I feel that you are the woman who meant for me. I told myself then, and I will marry you in any church in the world.”

"Really?" Margareth's face showed pleasure as she hugged Jigger almost as well. "

"It's just you and no one else."

"How can you marry me if you're still traveling today?"

"When I come back, we will have our own family."

"What if⸻"

Jigger quickly sealed Margareth's lips, and the two of them shared the warm, intimate passion they had brought with each other. A kiss of longing and love that only the two of them ever knew until they finally gave themselves over to prove the promises they wanted to settle down quietly.

  EVERYONE is ready for their departure. Kairo first talked to his staff, what he will leave to Vixen. They are there to listen to him.

“As I said, you don't have to worry anymore when Hyperion's men attack. The whole Dimensional wrapped by the power of the stone crystal, and if it's time for them to do something we don't like, I'm here right away. I know that Hyperion will not attack here either, since my power protects the whole area,” he told everyone.

“Be careful, Lord Kairo. We know that Hyperion is not a mere opponent and that he fights for his wishes. I just hope he stops his delusion,” Minister Khalil said.

“Everything will be fine, but for now, you have to take care of our constituents. I leave everything to Vixen will the one my right hand of my palace.”

"Hopefully.  As long as we are here, nothing bad will happen to your palace. I just hope you come back soon and recover the stone crystal from Hyperion. The people of the world are in danger because they are already experiencing many things such as pandemics, natural disasters, and others,” said Vixen.

"Does Lady Weng know what happened to her world?" Minister Khalil asked.

At the same time, Kairo glanced at Weng, who talked to the others, and then turned to Minister Khalil. “Yes. She already knows what's going on, so I always remind her to be brave.”

“It's good then. Take care of Lady Weng always, Lord Kairo. She is a good mortal, and I can see it in her eyes.”

“Thank you, Minister. Alright, and we won't be around much longer.”

"Take care!" They said in chorus.

Kairo walked towards them as Weng watched him approaching. She was also there on the side of their horse that they would use on their journey.

"Let's go!" Kairo said to everyone.

Kairo helped her get on the horse next to her. As they did, he again took her hand and lifted it to use the Time Stone Crystal's ability that they could head to the place that, if called, was the third of the seven portals.

From her hand was the blue energy that covered their body and in front of them opened a portal that would take them to Rome, 264 Before Christ era. Every season has its time portals, which is one of the most dangerous because it leads to a place where it is full of darkness.

They didn’t waste their time, and they left the palace immediately. Weng hadn't traveled much around the place yet, but Kairo promised her that they would go back there and live there forever.

THE YEAR 264 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. It was known as the Year of the Consulship of Caudex and Flaccus (or, less frequently, year 490 AB urbe condita. The denomination 264 BC used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.

The first recorded gladiator bout occurred in Rome. True to the origins of the gladiator battles, this bout was in honor of the deceased. In this case, the outbreak was in recognition of Decimus Junius Brutus Scavea and considered a private rather than public affair.

Weng is amazed by a place much older than they had ever been to in Israel as their horses again traveled to a house whose design was almost solid stones, just like the ancient civilization. Soon their horses stopped while a few people were waiting for them.

"Welcome to Rome, Master Kairo!" the man greeted, who seemed to be accompanied by his staff.

"Thank you," Kairo replied as they got off the horse.

"My wife and the others are waiting for you inside."

"Alright."

She was staring at a man of another race who was in his mid-forties. She also noticed that they were wearing silver armor and had red feathers on their helmets on their heads. She felt like it was the symbol of their reigning territory.

"I want to introduce you to all our guests who have come from other places," said the man who they followed when they reached inside.

A woman who was beautiful and her body was full of golden accessories approached. “Welcome to our place, Master Kairo. Just feel at home,” she said.

“Thank you, Aurora. I am happy to be back in your place,” Kairo replied.

"I know your colleagues are hungry too, and c’mon, at the dinner table," Brutus said.

"Thank you, Brutus."

They just followed them, and she also felt quiet while took a glimpse from side to side. She once again admires the structures there especially, and it is no longer visible in her time. God! I was so lucky to have arrived at this place! I will indeed write this in my journey book!