Master of Time

There is no doubt about it.

This suffocating presence. This overwhelming magical energy.

This is the Dragon God Ingra!

No, not the Dragon God himself. Only a sliver of his essence and powerful intent, projected as an astral entity from my master. Because if Ingra is here in person, everything in this room and the surrounding miles, including myself and the village would have been reduced to ash.

His presence is the like sun itself, incinerating everything and reducing everything to cinder.

I should know. I was there when Ingra approaches the Great Garden where my parents had lived. His every step turns the earth into flowing lava. His every breathe burns the world away. And with a flap of his wings, the Great Garden becomes but a burning hatred.

This is the might of a Great God, unrelenting and uncompromising. All that below them will be washed away by their power. Even the Goddess of Moon herself does not appear in the mortal world in person on the account of the destruction she will bring forth.

But what is Ingra doing here!? Why is a fragment of his power inside my master?

"M…master!"

I call out to my master, as his entire body is engulfed in the divine flames that cannot be extinguished by any mortals. It will never die.

Seeing that, I fear for the worst.

But to my amazement, master did not perish like so many others from memory. Master did not scream even when his flesh melts off his body. He does not yield even though he is under unfathomable pain and suffering. The divine flames do not burn on the physical plane, but also in the spiritual plane.

His soul is suffering as much as his body. Yet – Master shows no fear, no aguish?

Is this the might of God?

"Fucking dragon. When the fuck did you place a curse on me!? Goddamn it!"

Master shouts something in his divine tongue before everything change in an instant. It might be the magic of his world. The magic of science?

The astral projection of Ingra vanishes like it is but an illusion. And my master is sitting on the couch with an annoyance expression.

His body is uninjured.

A dream…? No. It was real. But the room!? Even if master could heal himself and suppress the essence and intent of a Dragon God with his willpower, why is the room remained unmolested.

It was burning just a moment ago.

The only explanation I can think of is somehow, time has been rewound. This only happens in legends, in the time when the Black Mage walks the land.

But then why can I still remember? I should not remember if time has rewound.

"Master…?"

I drop to his side, attempting to tend him.

Master smiles warmly at me and pats my hands gently. He is a God. There is no doubt about that, but unlike the Dragon God, only warmness radiates from him, enticing my heart.

Even the Goddess herself did not elicit this emotion. In her presence, there is only utter tranquility. It feels somewhat hollowed.

"Tell me, Eliana. Who is the Dragon God Ingra?"

Master wants to know.

And I reveal what I know of the Dragon God to him.

I have only met Ingra one time as a child. I was spared like the others because Ingra shows no hostility to me or anyone in the Great Garden. If he did, the dark elves would have been extinct long ago. Ingra was simply wandering the world, searching for something or maybe someone.

The Dragon God did take interest in our Goddess, hoping to meet the Goddess in person.

Sadly, the Goddess never came despite how much we have pleaded and prayed. Ingra decided to seek her out personally. He left afterwards, but the damage had been done.

Most of the elves in the Great Garden had died, meaninglessly. The Great Garden itself becomes a hot and fiery place. The divine flames will never be extinguished unless Ingra desires it so.

"Fucking dragon…"

Master curses. He seems to hold a grudge against the Dragon God. He then smiles at me. This warming smile pierces through my very being and nudges my heart.

I have never felt like this before, not in the thousands upon thousands of years I have lived. The flames that day did not kill me, but it takes away everything I have ever loved. I did not care of any individual since.

"Maybe I will avenge your parents one day. If not, I can bring you some sort of comfort and heal that scar you carry for thousands of years. That is a promise."

Master assures before asking questions about what had just happened. I didn't hear the question since his vows to avenge my parents constantly echoing in my head. And what did he mean by healing my scar?

I am not injured. There is not a single scar on my body.

"Eliana?"

Master breaks me out of my stupor. I didn't realize when my vision has become blurry.

"I'm sorry, Master."

I try to stop my tears, but they keep flooding out, unrestrained. If anyone can kill a Great God, I believe my master can. Even the divine flames can be extinguished so effortlessly.

My tears only stop when master takes me into his warm embrace. I could feel his heart beating steadily upon my palm and finger. It is very calming, taking me into a dreamless sleep.

When was the last time I have such a good sleep? Will I be alone once I wake up again?

I hope my master remains by my side, now and forever. But that is only wishful thinking. He does not belong in this tiny place. There is simply nothing for him here. Regardless, I want to wish.

"Did you sleep well?"

Master asks me when I slowly open my eyes.

"Master! I thought that you…"

I utter and pull myself up off the bed. I am no longer on the couch.

Master must have taken me over to the bed and tug me in while I sleep. It must have been so gently since I am always on guard. Even the slightest sound, I would have woken up.

"You thought I would leave? This isn't a one-night stand, you know."

What is a one-night stand? A night stand that left here for one night? It sounds strange, but somewhat logical.

"Although I must leave since there are many things I have to do, I will always make time for you, Eliana. Just request it and it shall be done."

Master points out with a smile.

"In that case. Please stay with me for a little bit longer, Master."

I request. He nods and allows me to continue to rest against him. I want this moment to last forever, but as an elder, I must attend my responsibilities. Master also have his own responsibilities. Perhaps, one day, this moment can last forever.

I close my eyes once more, feeling his heartbeat. It is soft and steady, uncompromising and unyielding, no matter what.

"Eliana. If you have a choice, would you leave everything behind?"

I nod slowly. Is Master asking me to go with him? I would. I really would. But I can't. Not until I know my people are safe and prospering.

However, if Master desires it, I will carry out his wish.

"Yes Master. If that is your wish."

I response.

"My wish huh?"

Master pats my head gently, caressing my hair and ear. Master looks sad. Perhaps it is not the answer he wants to hear.

However, he did stay with me for days. At least it feels for days.

Time flows strangely in his presence.

Only a couple of hours have passed in the outside world.

Master takes the potions and several storage rings with him. He decides to unlock magic on his own in a control environment back in his world. He did ask me more questions about the curse and if there is any solution to the problem.

To my understanding, the burning curse that the Dragon God Ingra places upon Master will constantly consume his magic, fueling the divine flames, which in turn inflicts unimaginable suffering on his body and soul.

What sort of grudge did the Dragon God Ingra has against Master to do such a thing?

However, the curse remains dormant as long as there no magical energy flowing through his body. He would live in perfect health and comfort if he does not attempt to practice magic.

Master simply laughs when I attempt to persuade him from his intention.

He already has the magic of science from his world. Is there a need to learn my world's magic?

"I have suffered worst, Eliana. I'm not going to let a puny Dragon God tells me what to do, huh. Besides, if there is a will, there is a fucking way!"

If there is a will… there is a way?

I smile at that.

Perhaps with Master, there is always a solution to every problem.