Gryphon Lord

Chapter 1

Eun Jin lay on the lathe alone. His mind raced between seeking to make his grandfather happy or saving his life. For years he has been living with his grandfather and knew him well. This relationship became more apparent after his father left his mother for another woman. However, the man of strength and wisdom was now laying on his deathbed, looking to gain that old heirloom he dearly loved. Their family heirloom—the painting called the Geographer by Vermeer, has been burned to ash by Eun Jin’s father after their fight with Eun Jin’s mother. That’s why he took the blame himself and decided to travel back in time even before the painting was placed in the hands of his grandfather’s great grandfather. These things run inside Eun Jin’s head while the only sounds he could hear were the sound of his breathing and the beating of his chest. He was adamant, but he chose to persevere and lay there silently.

Dr. Barca, the general-turned-scientist, walked back and forth in preparing for this experiment. They were going to create an experiment that could change the world or the universe per se. Hence, they are careful.

“Eun Jin, do you hear me?"

Dr. Barca asked the laying Eun Jin. Although Eun Jin was on the lathe, he was immobilized. A set of restraints kept his hands and feet from moving. Like a sculpture set in an exhibit, he couldn’t move, not even an inch. His head was also fully supported by a device that checks his brain activity and vital signs in real-time.

“I can hear you well, Doctor.”

Eun Jin replied in a robotic and monotonous manner. His mouth couldn’t move, to reply for himself. That’s why only the AI’s voice became his lips.

“Okay. Now, I'm ready. Just tell me when you are.”

Dr. Barca told Eun Jin with a sense of doubt in his voice.

Although Eun Jin lay on the lathe seemingly paralyzed. His heart was out in the open through the hole in his chest. A spherical-metallic device was placed below his heart. This device, although looking like metal, was moving together with the beat of his heart. It felt as if it was living. This was the Timesphere. A device that Dr. Barca created to allow a person to merge themselves with the metal and travel back in time with their physical body intact.

“Yes, Doctor. I’m ready.”

The same old monotonous voice replied, but dedication emanated from Eun Jin’s eyes. He was ready. At that same time, Dr. Barca pressed a button on the holographic screen before him. His hand twisted an ethereal projection in the air while the Timesphere started to turn into liquid and seep into Eun Jin’s heart. Eun Jin suffered silently.

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The room was wide. Darkness embraced the whole place as there were only a few sparks of light that brightened up space. All of these arrangements were in consideration of Eun Jin’s desires. He wanted to create something spectacular not in the brightest places, but in the darkness. He said that ‘Grandpa Daejeon loves to always say the phrase: “the greatest inventions happen not in the stage of applause but in the unorganized rooms of the lost.”

Inside the darkness, Eun Jin’s grunts resounded. He suffered for ten minutes now. His barely clothed body showed glints of silver every now and then. His bare heart was covered with black spots that swam together with the blood. Sweat oozed out from Eun Jin’s body like a waterfall. However, hidden from the eyes of the mortals, Eun Jin opened his eyes. He stood up, but he was not in his body. He was freely floating inside the room with what Albert Poncious, the famous physicist who discovered the element called ‘Poncium,’ called the ‘soul.’ This was a new experience to him.

While Eun Jin was enjoying his fresh experience, his suffering body became more behaved. The grunting lessened. However, the bear heart was still pumping fast and the silver gleam was all getting back to the bottom of the heart, forming the Timesphere.

“Eun Jin, if you can hear me, try touching the Timesphere.

Dr. Barca hollered to the air in hopes that Eun Jin would hear him. However, it wasn’t a disappointment at all. As soon as Eun Jin heard of Dr. Barca, he was ready to touch the silver-looking spherical device under his heart. Then he touched it.

The moment his soul touched the Timesphere something strange happened. He was sucked by the Timesphere and transported into a dark place. He couldn’t comprehend whether he was standing or sitting, or even how much time he stayed inside that gloomy space. However, what he knew was that he is somewhere far away from his physical body. Eun Jin floated in that emptiness for moments that felt like an eternity. Then a flash happened.

He was sucked back into his mind. However, he went into the whole loop of living his whole life again. He saw the smile of his father after he was born and the happiness that they had as a family. He also went on to repeat his fight against Argus, who became his best friend now. He remembered the dreadful face of his grandfather on his deathbed, as well—and the yearning of Dido from Mars.

Eun Jin opened his eyes. He was back. Cold sweats pour out from his forehead as Dr. Barca was covering his opened breast. The room smelled of a particular flower scent. His mouth also tasted this flower—a bitter but relieving taste.

“You’re awake.” Dr. Barca saw the eyes of Eun Jin lit up and said in a relieved voice.

“Yes, Doctor. It was an experience I will always remember.” Eun Jin replied through the AI attached to his head.

“Thank God, your grandfather’s elixir worked.” Dr. Barca said.

“You are my fifty-seventh subject, and the only thing that kept you from going insane was the Sojourner's Elixir your grandfather made. He was right. There’s a correlation between Poncium and the Luna Leaves…” Dr. Barca went on and talked long while Eun Jin was thinking of another thing. He saw it. He saw it in his vision—The Geographer by Vermeer. He then remembered why his grandfather had a peculiar desire of having long hair compared to the usual cut that Korean men want.

After the endless chatter of Dr. Barca, Eun Jin aired out his concern.

“So when are we doing the 2nd phase of the experiment, Doctor?”

“We’ll do it tomorrow. For now, you need to rest and take a Reset Pill. Your body is still getting a hang of things. It needs to recuperate and heal your cuts.”

“Okay, Doctor. I understand.”

When Dr. Barca mentioned the Reset Pill, Eun Jin remembered his best friend, Argus. Argus’ great grandfather created the Reset Pill after the Poncium War. This pill was miraculous enough to heal a fatal wound within 24 hours. However, since it acts as a booster drink, it is not advisable for people who are already in their old age. Park Daejeon, Eun Jin’s grandfather, was already 139 years old. Hence, it was not advisable for him to take the Reset Pill. Another thing to consider is that the reason for his disease was the corruptive property of a solar flare. His body was decomposing.

After a few minutes, Dr. Barca opened Eun Jin’s mouth and placed a tiny pill that will dissolve itself. It was the Reset Pill. After Dr. Barca made Eun Jin take the Reset Pill, he then started talking to the holographic imagery in front of him.

“Dr. Hans Barca. Scientist. The experiment was a success. The chemical transfusion of the Poncium Timesphere to the subject’s body was at 30 percent concentration. The Poncium’s blending property enabled the heart to think that it was blood…” Dr. Barca recorded his findings of the said experiment while Eun Jin’s eyes started to close. His body was starting to relax. His mind started to reminisce about the memories he saw in the memory lane. Eun Jin’s eyes went black.

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“Rise and shine, Boy.” Dr. Barca spoke loudly to Eun Jin and broke his dream of Dido. Eun Jin’s eyes opened up and saw the barrel of a man walking to the lathe.

“Good morning, Doctor. You’re quite happy.” Eun Jin replied through the AI.

“Well, of course! This study of mine took me at least a decade, and today is the day we put the nail to the coffin, and show the world what man is capable of!” Dr. Barca declared. However, it only took him a few moments to realize something and said in a soft and determined voice. “You’ll be alright, boy. Believe in me.”

“Yes, Doctor. I believe in you.” Eun Jin replied in the same monotonous manner. However, his eyes were showing his determination to finish the experiment and return home with the painting.

“Okay. We’ll start with you standing up and losing those restraints.” Dr. Barca said while he pressed something on the holograph and immediately the lathe moved and made Eun Jin stand. The restraints then released one by one to allow him to walk and stand on his own two feet. Eun Jin stood straight, but his chest was not showing any signs of wound or whatsoever. The Reset Pill made it possible for him to regenerate his body fast enough to not even show a scar.

“Thank you, Doctor.” Eun Jin said in a hoarse voice.

“Now that you’re already standing up, you should be able to control your system now and clothe yourself.” Dr. Barca said.

“Yes, Doctor.” As Eun Jin said these words sheets of fabric suddenly moved from his spinal armor. Eun Jin wore a dark blue tight fit suit that outlines his highly toned body. He stood there like a god on Olympus.

“Okay. This is it, Eun Jin. Are you ready?” Dr. Barca told Eun Jin while his hands were busy optimizing the system to initiate the next stage of their experiment.

“Yes, Doctor. I am ready.” Eun Jin said while he moved his body and did simple stretches.

“Okay. You need to stand on the circle.” Dr. Barca replied while checking out if Eun Jin missed something.

“Noted.” Eun Jin said as he approached the circle embedded within the floor of the dim room. It was a golden circle. However, it was not gold. Instead, it was a glass filled with a gold liquid that was moving fast. It was glowing.

“Wait a bit, Eun Jin. Dr. Argus sent you a note.” Dr. Barca said with a worried face as he clearly forgot what Argus said.

As soon as Eun Jin heard what Dr. Barca said, he opened up his hologram to check for the note. There he found it at the top, clearly, Argus wrote and sent it a few hours before.

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Dear Eun Jin,

I received your note. I am fully aware of what you need and want to do. However, I will help you tell your wife about what you are about to take. I am going back to Earth after my Mars voyage. Hopefully, you don’t break the continuum so we can remember you fully.

For the advancement of our cause.

Ik’r Alp Hasir (The hills provide help.)

Your Friend,

Argus Russo

P.S. Please don’t kill Hitler.

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Eun Jin read the letter and a smirk appeared on his face. He was glad. His heart was at peace.

“I’m ready, Doctor.” Eun Jin said to Dr. Barca as he pocketed his smile and put his all on the experiment.

“Okay. Thank you, Eun Jin.” Dr. Barca affirmed and thanked Eun Jin, and pressed the golden button on his holographic imagery.

After the actions of Dr. Barca, the golden circle where Eun Jin stood started to move, and another circle floated above Eun Jin to put him in a field. The golden liquid of these two containers ooze out and created a barrier where Eun Jin can’t even see Dr. Barca or the room anymore. However, at that very same time, a hole opened below Eun Jin and started putting armor over him. This armor was the standard military uniform of this era. This armor was light but looked like something from the dark ages. A few claps of the armor. And Eun Jin was fully armored from head to toe. He was ready. Then a vacuum started to appear amidst the golden liquid. They twirl and twirl inside the vacuum. Eun Jin was ready.

“5.” Dr. Barca’s voice aired as the golden liquid was diminishing from Eun Jin’s eyes. Eun Jin saw the white-haired senior in the distance, while the whole room where he stood earlier disappeared and turned into glass. Eun Jin also saw the distant Earth and the blazing Sun. The stars arrayed the whole place for they were inside one of the world’s orbital spaceports.

“4.” Dr. Barca’s voice sounded again, but this time Eun Jin was sold out for the cause. He was ready.

“3.”

“2.” The vacuum started to lift Eun Jin off the ground.

“1.” He jumped in.

Then the whole world became black.