Child of Time (6 page)

“Thorans I believe is the name or their race.” James
offered when the story was ended.

Marisa busied herself cleaning up from supper but
interjected. “I didn't know any Thorans lived on Thane, especially
this close.”

“Me neither.” Was James reply. “They are a quiet
people that rarely leave their caves. I heard that they are almost
all earthbenders.”

“And telepaths too.” Kiyan said.

“Speaking of which how are you feeling? I mean
telepathically, Carlisle told us.”

A feeling of relief came over Kiyan, he had been
trying to figure out a good way to tell them. “Carlisle taught me
how to block the things I didn't want to feel and I have been able
to send messages and feel people and things around me in the last
couple days.”

“What do you mean feel things?” James asked.

“I was able to feel and see light from animals and
trees when I concentrated.” Kiyan explained.

“But empaths or even telepaths can't sense an
unintelligent life unless........ But that's impossible. Never
mind, off to bed with you.” James seemed troubled.

Settling into bed, Kiyan felt for Kendra and was
greeted by a distant but still clear, good night. Settling down he
let sleep overtake him.

Another dream, Kiyan thought, feeling dread welling
up inside him, wait this one was different. It felt like a dream
with its vague unclear characteristics. Seeing himself in a stone
chamber with a doorway he walked towards the door and opened it.
Seeing a field outside he crossed it in one step. Another door
stood in front of him, this one with a lock. Feeling a cold metal
object in his hand he looked and saw a key. Opening the door he saw
another room with walls lined with books and a man sitting with his
back to the door. This was a dream and that man would be something
strange, probably a conjuration from the last couple days. Kiyan
gathered his courage before stepping up to the man and tapped him
on the shoulder.

“What is this place?” He asked.

The man stood and turned slowly. Feeling the face of
the man more than seeing it, Kiyan jolted as he recognized the
energy that had taken control of his body earlier that day.

“There is no need for fear. Even Kendra can't stop me
from talking to you. How could she. It would be like trying to stop
the suns from shining. I am you, or to say a part of you that you
haven't remembered yet. This place represents the knowledge of the
lifetimes that your ancestors have lived. I am here to guide you
and awaken the memories that you need. I am the keeper of ages. The
memories you hold can be called upon in the form of your past lives
should you need guidance.

Kiyan felt a flood of energy and a new feeling of
calm. Sleep with peace child. Sleep again claimed Kiyan as he felt
the keeper's calm persuasion.

Chapter Four: The High Council

Carlisle and Joshua sat in the council chambers of
the academy wondering what everything was about. Carlisle was more
surprised than he had been in years. The feeling of surprise was
something he had begun to get accustomed to of recent. As a seer
there was few things that he hadn’t some sort of premonition about.
But then again Carlisle had never had any dreams that involved
ascended. He had spoken to other seers who had mentioned the same
phenomenon. Joshua was more settled than Carlisle because he felt
that in time all would be revealed.

“Shall we begin?” Kendra asked when everyone was
settled. “Unfortunately the temporal strands were not easily traced
and many possible futures had to be searched for clues. Still there
is little that we are certain of. What we do know is that Corban
and Draxos will be near Kiyan in the future. Their time lines orbit
an unknown force that we believe is Kiyan. To what extent we don’t
know yet. Unfortunately we will have to wait for time to reveal
those details”

“Are we sure that Kiyan is the key?” One of the other
ascended queried.

“He has manifested power beyond what he should even
if he were an unascended” Kendra explained. “I felt energy that can
only be that of one descended from the first when Kiyan bent. There
are some glimpses of the future that would seem to indicate that
the outcome of coming war depends on Kiyan.”

“So you have indeed found the first one after he was
lost to us in the shadow war?” The thoran questioned.

“Not exactly. Prometheus was a different ascended.
Until Kiyan awakens there is no way to be sure. He may be
Prometheus reborn or another ascended entirely. The like has never
been witnessed before.” One of the other ascended offered.

The water elf spoke next. “Is the dark one awakening
as well?”

“We fear he is the one that the drakken will to be
obeying in their conquest of this universe.” Kendra explained.

“Have they entered this universe yet?” The thoran
posed the question.

“We have found a weak place in the fabric of
space-time that we think they are preparing to pass through.
However this soft spot is years in the future in this time stream.”
The other ascended said.

“Will the time war affect the joined world” The water
elf questioned.

“The first ascended constructed these worlds as a
refuge, the nebula is charged with temporal energy so the worlds
exist in their own time stream while maintaining sync with the
primary flow” Kendra explained. “Any ripples or deviations will be
absorbed by the nebula.

“We have already seen deviations and have taken some
measures to correct the timeline but even so we have seen the
possible futures degrading.” The last ascended commented. “Our
highest priority is to protect Kiyan until we know exactly how he
fits into everything. We fear that this war will be the greatest
war we have ever had to fight.”

“We have pledge to protect these worlds.” The thoran
announced, it would be an honor to be allowed to help Kiyan regain
his power.

“We also wish to express the same sentiments.” The
water elf offered.

“Thank you for the offer. Kiyan could benefit greatly
from your considerable skills” Kendra paused. “I should stress that
Kiyan is the first of his kind ever to exist. From what we have
seen, He is integral to the future.

----------

Kiyan woke with a start. The memory of last night's
dream still fresh in his mind. Reaching out with his mind he felt
for Kendra with a question but stopped when he felt a strange mind
nearby. Realizing the other mind was in the same room as him he
focused on the area where he felt the presence. The shape and
features began to take shape in front of him.

“Who are you?” Kiyan demanded.

“
I followed you last night in your dream”
The
apparition responded in Kiyan's mind. “
You met the keeper of
ages.”

“How do you know about that?” Kiyan was more than a
little disturbed by the intrusion into his own dreams.

“
Oh Kiyan, I have waited lifetimes for this day. I
want to get to know you better.”

The door creaked as Marisa opened it. “Not up yet?
Must have been some dream last night.”

Kiyan was sure she would see the stranger and call
James.

“
Kiyan only you can see me
” The stranger spoke
again.

“Well the cat got your tongue? I'll make pancakes
this morning if you don’t dawdle.” Marisa promised.

“I'll be up in just a moment.” Kiyan stammered as the
stranger walked in front of Marisa who didn't even bat an eye.

“You'd better, the ceremonies continue today and I
want you to comb your hair after you take your bath and remember to
wash behind your ears.” Marisa instructed as she climbed down the
stairs with Kiyan's laundry.

Feeling haunted, Kiyan hurried with getting dressed
and rushed down stairs. Marisa watched with concern in her eyes as
Kiyan didn't even manage to slam the door. Perhaps he was even more
worried about the ceremony today after the events of the last few
days. He shouldn't be afraid about what the village people would
think of him. Several had come and wanted to congratulate him on
his good luck. A bender of all the elements, what are the odds.
Marisa shrugged off her worries and turned to making breakfast.

Walking towards the lake Ray swooped down next to
Kiyan and shifted into his squirrel form then scrambled onto
Kiyan's shoulder. He must have felt the disturbance in Kiyan's mind
then because he promptly leaped off Kiyan’s shoulder and shifted
into his land form and began probing around with his sense.

“
Unless he sees from your eyes, he can't see me
either.”
The stranger spoke again.

Letting his mind connect more broadly with Ray, Kiyan
opened his eyes and focused on the stranger. Ray promptly swung at
him with his trunks. The stranger avoided the strike by simply
disappearing with a flash.

“
I mean you no harm, in fact I am compelled to
protect you.”
Kiyan was getting more and more scared by the
moment.

“
This is going to be even more difficult that I
had thought. You have to understand. I’m sorry that it had to be
this way.”
Kiyan felt space reeling for a moment. Things
shifted back into focus in a second. His surrounding were
different. Again he was in the library from the dream. Kiyan’s
antagonist stood facing him.

“How?” Kiyan tried to form a question.

“You recognize this place don’t you?”

“It must be some trick.” Kiyan was more confused than
ever. “It was only a dream. Why am I here?”

“Let me explain.” another voice entered Kiyan's mind.
“This place represents the knowledge gathered throughout our
lives.”

“But I'm just twelve I don't have any past lives.”
Kiyan was unsure what he thought anymore.

“Time is an illusion young avatar. Ascended are not
as immortal as you might think. We regenerate every few thousand
years. It’s as close to death as we get. Most times we are merely
regenerated and recover our memories and continue where we left
off. This is the repository of these lifetimes. Most of our line
has lived until we chose different existences. Some of our
descendants such as yourself are born linked to the
repository.”

“How is that even possible?” Kiyan was still not sure
what this all meant.

“Young avatar, we are bound together as one yet we
are separate. The time vortex connects us all. It is the one moment
that links all time and space.”

“I still don’t know why I am here. What does this
have to do with me?”

“Because you are the last one born in our line. You
are Prometheus's son.” The stranger that had appeared to Kiyan
earlier flashed into existence in front of him.

“That is what I was trying to tell you. I’m your
father. The time vortex connects us both as avatars through the
library of ages. When you began awakening your powers, I was able
to find you.”

Kiyan felt a voice calling him, it seemed familiar
yet distant. “Don't keep Kendra waiting and tell her Prometheus
hasn't forgotten her” Those were the last words Kiyan heard before
reality began to reshape. Looking up, Kendra's face was the first
thing he saw.

“What happened to you? I couldn't even wake you.”
Kendra appeared shaken.

“Prometheus said to say he hasn't forgotten you.” If
the blood could drain from an ascended’s face, Kiyan was sure it
did from Kendra’s.

“Impossible.” The single word was all Kendra said
before disappearing.

Kiyan continued on toward the lake not sure what to
think. Ray walked beside him still disturbed over the incident.
There was nothing either of them or even Kendra seemed able to do
about it. The idea that he was never quite alone was hard for Kiyan
to get used to. Hearing the sound of footsteps behind him he
turned. Prometheus looked worse than Kiyan felt.

“Forgive us for doing what we did. It was the only
way for you to understand that we mean you no harm. You have a long
hard road ahead of you. Our experiences will always be beside you
waiting to help you. You are one of us.”

“How many... Whatever they are?” Kiyan the whole
concept was still confusing.

“Hmm, well there are three avatars and five ascended
archons in your ancestry. And they are all independent and live in
many places. One of them has even been sleeping in orbit of the
joined worlds” Prometheus explained. “He exists as the suns. They
are his form and he watches over the refuge and heals the chosen
ones.”

“So...... So is the keeper of ages....?”

“He was one of the first in our line. He is old and
watches more than interceding when it comes to the affairs of the
rest of us.” Prometheus spoke with a glimmer of mischief.

Before Kiyan could react he felt a rush of the
familiar power and with a flick of his hand the earth erupted under
Prometheus' feet and sent him flying toward the lake.
“Forgive
me for channeling my power through you like that young avatar but I
am rather unable to respond in person at the moment. Old
indeed!”
Kiyan heard the voice of the keeper in his head.
Before striking the water Prometheus arrested his flight and flew
back to Kiyan.

“
That wasn't fair keeper and you know it.”
Kiyan heard Prometheus’ voice in his head but knew it was directed
at the keeper, something like being in the same room as other
people having a conversation.

“
I already apologized, besides you know King
Arthur can't just drop everything and respond to an
insult.”

“
I thought you liked being Merlin in that
era.”

“
That spot was already taken, so I must make
due.”

“Don't worry you will understand in time. You might
even learn to ignore the rest of us. They are all rather proud of
you, like a bunch of meddling grandparents. Some even say that you
will become the most powerful one of us all.” Seeing Kiyan’s
bewildered expression Theo shook his head. “You will understand
eventually I promise. Besides I seem to remember you are supposed
to wash behind your ears.” Prometheus disappeared following the
last statement.