Hourglass of Time
1052 Words
Regaining his focus, Klaun resumed his visualization of the Golden Light Mantra.
When one cycle concluded, the same decayed and dreadful shriek echoed within his mind, the pain across his body lingering still.
He sensed, perhaps mistakenly, that this time the agony was shorter than the day before.
As his body gradually returned to normal, a fierce determination flashed in his eyes, and he continued his visualization.
By noon, he felt a notable difference: the screams in his mind had softened, and the pain throughout his body had lessened considerably.
Klaun extended his hands, delighted to find the dark patches on his arm had visibly faded.
He exhaled deeply, his spirits lifted, and went off to prepare a meal.
The energy expended on the Golden Light Mantra, combined with his persistent aches, had drained him quickly, and his previous meal was now well-digested.
Once he was sated, Klaun resumed his visualization with no intention of resting.
The full moon appeared before him, entered his brow, and flowed through a designated path to the Heart Chakra, pausing there briefly before journeying to the heart. He envisioned his heart as a radiant red sun, illuminating his internal organs in a golden light. Finally, the red sun settled in his dantian, casting rays of light throughout his body.
This visualization technique had become second nature to Klaun, as effortless as breathing.
Two hours later, most of the dark spots on his skin had nearly vanished.
After another two hours, as the sun dipped low in the sky, the dark patches were entirely gone. His skin returned to its natural state, with a faint luster akin to jade.
Klaun concluded another visualization session as black smoke seeped from his body, filling the room with a faint stench.
The demonic whispers, now barely audible, rose once more before quickly fading away.
In his mind’s eye, Klaun saw a new vision:
An octopus-like creature writhed wildly in a sea of golden flames. The beast’s head and tentacles were studded with eyes, emitting black smoke as it burned.
The smoke circled the creature, thinning with each loop.
As the fire consumed it, the monster’s form dwindled until, at last, it transformed into an hourglass filled with golden sand.
The hourglass spun gently, traversing a span of space before arriving at another scene, revolving slowly around a massive crystal orb.
Klaun’s awareness hovered there, detached, as if he were a bodiless entity, pure consciousness floating in this strange realm.
Examining the scene, he realized this crystal orb was the very same one he had glimpsed during his morning visualization.
Now, the faint golden glow on the orb’s left side had faded.
Where am I? How do I leave this place?
The moment that thought surfaced, Klaun’s awareness seemed to plummet, hurtling him back into his body.
The pungent stench filled his nostrils, and he nearly retched.
He staggered to his feet, opened the window, and quickly headed toward the door.
Passing a dressing mirror, he stopped abruptly.
In the mirror stood a man with fair, radiant skin and a rosy glow to his complexion.
With sharp brows and bright eyes, his face bore a unique charm, even the hooked nose exuding a touch of appeal.
Handsome indeed!
Strength might be fleeting, but beauty? That’s forever!
Klaun ran a hand through his hair and stepped out of the room, inwardly amused by the Golden Light Mantra’s unexpected “beautifying effect.”
In high spirits, he entered another room and began another round of visualization, determined to ensure every trace of the demonic influence was expelled.
After this familiar visualization, his whole body felt refreshed, with only hunger reminding him of the ordeal’s toll.
A light chuckle escaped him as he relaxed fully, indulging in four generous bowls of rice.
As he rested, Klaun began pondering a new purchase—a clock or watch for better timekeeping. The lack of one hampered his ability to immerse himself in the proper dawn and dusk visualizations.
The methods for crafting the Clear Mind Talisman and Golden Light Talisman had already been internalized.
The golden substance he saw in the crystal ball after his dawn visualization, known as Solar Essence, was an ingredient for the Golden Light Talisman.
Meanwhile, Moon Dew, an ingredient for the Clear Mind Talisman, could be obtained through a dusk visualization.
While unsure of the talismans’ full potential, Klaun was eager to see what powers they might hold after witnessing the strength of the Golden Light Mantra’s advancements.
With a thought, he summoned his consciousness to the crystal orb’s realm.
The orb’s purpose was clear: it served as a container for storing Solar Essence and Moon Dew.
Yet, the function of the hourglass created by the demonic entity remained a mystery, awaiting further experimentation.
The hourglass, mounted on a brass base, held a shallow layer of shimmering golden sand, motionless within the crystal casing.
As Klaun attempted to move the hourglass with his mind, he found it immovable, seemingly fixed in place.
To his surprise, touching the hourglass felt as though he was brushing his own skin—a strangely exhilarating sensation.
Klaun chuckled inwardly, slightly embarrassed at his fleeting sense of “self-touch,” but still ran his mind over the hourglass a few more times, intrigued.
After another bright flash from the brass base, an intuitive understanding dawned upon him: the hourglass now possessed two abilities.
First, it allowed him to perceive time accurately down to the quarter-hour.
Second, he could expend the golden sand within—what he now called the Sands of Time—to temporarily halt time in his immediate surroundings. More specific testing would be needed to unlock its full potential.
Returning to his body, he eagerly murmured, “It’s a quarter to six.”
While he lacked a clock to confirm, the light outside seemed to support his assumption.
Next, Klaun took a silver coin, tossing it lightly into the air.
As it began to fall, he concentrated, channeling the hourglass’s power. Instantly, the coin seemed weightless, frozen mid-air.
He sustained this effect for three to four seconds before the coin resumed its descent.
Catching the coin, Klaun’s awareness returned to that strange realm, where he saw the golden sand completely depleted.
Such an incredible power… I shall call you the Hourglass of Time!
- Writer
