But before anyone could answer, Lumi—who had already changed into dry clothes—ran into the room. Her golden and gray eyes were wide open, full of fear. "Mama," she whispered, pointing at the Treaty Stone. "That stone... is crying."
And from that crack, it was no longer light that seeped out. The first drop of black blood fell, wetting the obsidian altar.
That black blood dripped slowly, as if the stone was bleeding from an invisible wound. Each drop left a thick stain on the obsidian altar, absorbing the ceiling crystal light and transforming it into something gloomy and organic. The smell of old iron and wet earth permeated the throne room, piercing the nose sharper than any magical mana aroma.
Lumi trembled violently. "It's in pain."
Nyxaria didn't move. Her hands were still clenched at her sides, her black nails digging into her palms until her pale skin turned white. Inside, Mara screamed silently. This is my fault. I'm the one who brought it into the water. I'm the one who struck that stone. Level 999, incalculable statistics, and I failed to protect a piece of stone. "My lord," Seris approached, her voice low. The wound on her temple had stopped bleeding, but her face was pale with exhaustion. "Aldric is being brought here. He's at the west workshop."
"Quickly." One word from Nyxaria felt like a command cutting through the frozen air.
Lazarus moved his still-intact left hand, gathering the remnants of dark green energy. Small bones from the scattered floor began to vibrate, crawling like insects toward the altar. "That stone... is losing resonance. I can feel it. Like life flowing out from the crack."
[System Feedback]Artifact Integrity: 91.5%.Degradation Rate: 0.5% per hour.Estimated Total Failure: 7 days, 23 hours, 42 minutes.
The countdown had begun. Mara forced herself to breathe, even though Nyxaria's body didn't need it. Focus. Analyze. Artifact damage—needs repair. But what kind of repair? This isn't a weapon that can be reforged. This is history made manifest.
Hurried footsteps sounded from the corridor. Aldric entered, his breath panting, his white hair disheveled and his leather apron still dusty from the forge. His sharp eyes immediately went to the Treaty Stone, then widened. "By all the gods that have died," he muttered. He approached without asking permission, rough hands accustomed to holding iron hammers hovering above the stone without touching. "The crack is cutting the memory flow. Look—here, the Third Witness's signature, nearly erased. And this blood... that's not physical blood. That's the manifestation of a historical wound."
"Can you fix it?" Nyxaria asked, her voice flat.
Aldric drew a deep breath. "Fix? No. Preserve? Maybe." He looked at Nyxaria, a direct gaze rarely made by NPCs toward her. "Artifacts of this class aren't bound by material, but by meaning. The crack is in the meaning layer. To stop degradation, we need something that can freeze time—preserve the moment before total destruction."
"Name it."
"Essence of Eternity," Aldric said. "Temporal purity liquid, taken from the core of an Elemental Guardian at Lake of Stillness. That lake... is located in the eastern highlands, in a territory where time moves differently. Everything that enters will experience extreme slowdown. But its Guardian, an elemental entity level ninety-five, is protected by the same temporal field. Fighting it is like fighting in a dream—all movements feel like moving through frozen honey."
Lazarus sighed. "Again something unreasonable. Isn't there any material that can be bought at a regular shop?"
"This isn't about ordinary things," Aldric cut in. "Essence of Eternity can only be obtained by defeating the Guardian in its native habitat, because that liquid is its core. Once the Guardian dies, the Essence will evaporate within minutes if not contained in a special vessel." He took out a milk-blue crystal vial from his pocket. "This is a Timeshard Vial. Can only contain one. And we only have one chance."
Nyxaria looked at that vial, then the stone still dripping black blood. Eight days. Travel time to Lake of Stillness? "How long is the round trip?"
"At normal speed, three days," Seris answered, who had already opened her mental map. "But if we force speed and take a shortcut through the gorge... maybe two days. Plus battle time and return. We must move now."
"I'll go alone," Nyxaria said. "Faster."
"No," Seris insisted. "That lake has territorial mechanics. I've heard legends about that place—a zone where time isn't linear. Needs more than just power to navigate it. Needs someone who can read the environment. That's my job."
Lazarus raised his broken hand. "And needs someone who can manipulate life and death energy, if that temporal effect tries to erode our essence. I might not be able to move fast with this hand, but I can craft temporary bones." He smiled bitterly. "Besides, who else will provide dramatic commentary at critical moments?"
Nyxaria looked at them one by one. Seris, with determination in her eyes. Lazarus, with unwavering loyalty despite his damaged body. Lumi, still gripping her robe, her heterochromic eyes full of fear but also resolve. They chose to come. Despite knowing the risks. This isn't a quest from the system. This is choice. Mara felt something strange in her chest—not weakness, but a kind of new burden that actually compelled her to act. "We depart in ten minutes," Nyxaria decided. "Bring light equipment. Seris, arrange the route. Lazarus, prepare replacement bones for your wound. I'll arrange Lumi's needs."
"Lumi's coming?" Seris asked, slightly hesitant.
"She's the one who can see irregularities. A lake like that must be full of system anomalies." Nyxaria looked at Lumi. "Do you want to stay or come?"
Lumi gripped tighter. "Go with Mama. That stone is crying... Lumi can help."
Aldric nodded, handing the Timeshard Vial to Nyxaria. "Be careful. Essence of Eternity is extremely sensitive. Once the Guardian dies, you must contain it in the vial before the third count. If not, it will vanish into the time stream."
Nyxaria accepted the vial, storing it inside her robe's folds, alongside the dying Treaty Stone. Two artifacts, one storing the past, one would secure it. "Guard Sanctuary," she commanded Aldric. "Increase defenses. If Inquisitors come, use all emergency protocols."
"Ready, my lord."
The morning sun had not fully risen when they stepped out of Obsidian Aegis. The sky was bluish-gray, the air thin and cold. Seris led, shooting through paths invisible to ordinary eyes—animal tracks, rock gaps, roads that could only be read by high-level scouts. Lazarus followed behind, his right hand now supported by a temporary bone structure tied with cloth, emanating dim green light. Lumi sat in Nyxaria's lap, wrapped in a warm robe, her face buried in the Demon Queen's shoulder.
The journey through the highlands was like entering a painting not yet dry. Fog hung low, touching skin with biting moisture. Trees were sparse, oddly branched, as if growing against gravity. Natural sounds were dulled, like from behind a glass wall. This is the effect of Lake of Stillness, Mara thought. The temporal field is already starting to affect the surrounding area. Like a debuff zone before a boss fight. They didn't talk much. Each person conserved energy, focused on footsteps. Seris occasionally stopped, checking signs on the ground, then changed direction. Lazarus muttered small mantras to maintain the group's stamina. Nyxaria just walked, at a pace adjusted so others could follow—a strange awareness for an entity that could shoot faster than sound.
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The first day passed with tense monotony. They rested only once, swallowing dry rations and water. Night arrived quickly, the sky filled with slowly blinking stars, as if suspended. "We'll arrive tomorrow noon," Seris said as they sat around Lazarus's small purple fire. "The terrain is getting heavier. I can feel... the thickness of the air. Like walking through water."
"That's the temporal effect," Lazarus explained. "Our bodies are starting to experience slowdown. Tomorrow, at the lake, it will be dozens of times stronger." Nyxaria observed Lumi already asleep in her lap. The child's breathing was slow, regular. But beneath her eyelids, her eyeballs moved rapidly. Dreaming? Or seeing something?
"My lord," Seris suddenly whispered. "I have a question."
"Ask."
"Why don't you use [Shadow Step] to go directly to the lake? Save time."
Nyxaria looked at the fire. "That area likely has an interdiction field like the one the Inquisitors used. Or worse, space-time distortion. [Shadow Step] could be thrown off or take us to the wrong point in time. Safer by land." Seris nodded, satisfied with that answer. But inside, Mara was slightly lying. The real reason? I'm afraid. Afraid that teleportation will damage the Treaty Stone more. Afraid if there's an error. Level 999 power doesn't guarantee precision in anomaly territories.
The night passed. Morning came with thicker fog. They continued the journey, and slowly, the world around them changed. Colors faded into shades of gray and pale blue. The sound of their footsteps sounded like delayed echoes. A bird flying above appeared to move in frame-by-frame, like broken animation. The air felt thick, restraining every movement. "We've entered the influence zone," Lazarus said, his voice sounding at normal speed, but as if coming from afar. "Prepare yourselves."
The lake appeared suddenly among the fog—a perfectly mirror-like water surface, reflecting the gray sky without ripples. Around it, no wind. No sound. Even the fog seemed frozen in place. In the middle of the lake, a small island with a single tree branched like a hand reaching for the sky. Under that tree, a pale blue glowing figure sat cross-legged.
Elemental Guardian Level 95. They stood at the lake's edge. Seris drew a breath, and her breath came out as a vapor cloud moving very slowly, freezing in the air for several seconds before finally disappearing. "The effect has already started," Lazarus muttered. He raised his hand, and his movement looked like moving through thick liquid. "I need twice the time to wave my hand."
Nyxaria felt it too. A subtle pressure on every muscle, every nerve, like something pulling her backward. But her monumental VIT and INT statistics reduced the effect significantly. She could still move relatively normally, though not as fast as usual. "The plan?" Seris asked, her words coming out with effort.
"I'll approach the island. You all stay here, watch Lumi." Nyxaria handed Lumi to Seris. "If something happens, use [Sanctuary Beacon] to escape."
"But my lord—"
"This is an order."
Seris closed her mouth, accepting the half-asleep Lumi. Nyxaria stepped onto the lake's surface. Her foot didn't sink; the water froze beneath her boot sole, forming a temporary ice layer that held her. Each step left frozen ripples that slowly disappeared. The Guardian on the island opened its eyes. Two points of bright blue light, without pupils, without expression. It stood, its body made of water crystal that kept shifting slowly, like a video played at low speed.
[System Feedback]
Entering Chrono-Locked Zone: Lake of Stillness.
Temporal Debuff Applied: Movement Speed -85%, Cast Time +300%.
Guardian Entity Detected: Eternal Watcher (Level 95 | Elemental)
Minus eighty-five percent? Mara felt Nyxaria's body as if being pulled by thousands of invisible ropes. But still fast enough. The Guardian raised its hand. From the lake's surface, frozen water pillars rocketed upward, then launched toward Nyxaria in a beautiful yet deadly spiral motion. Their speed was extraordinary for this slowed environment—apparently the Guardian was immune to its own territory's debuff.
Nyxaria didn't dodge. She activated [Sovereign's Barrier], a transparent shield appearing around her. Ice pillars struck, shattered into pieces, but the shield only vibrated. Damage absorbed.
But the Guardian didn't stop. Its body emitted blue waves spreading in all directions. Those waves passed through the shield without obstruction—not a physical attack, but temporal magic. Nyxaria felt it directly: the world around her became even slower. Her movements now like moving through tar. This isn't an ordinary debuff. This is time authority. Level ninety-five can have skills this strong? Mara observed the interface. No new status effects. But her perception was clear: time slowed more extremely.
The Guardian advanced, floating above the water, approaching. Each of its movements was elegant and precise, like a dancer who knew every step was already determined. Its hand made of water crystal sharpened into a long ice sword.
Nyxaria decided not to play around. [Void Severance] cooldown was ready. She raised her hand, gathering INT energy. But the gathering process felt very long—three hundred percent longer. In the normal world, this only needed half a second. Here, it needed almost two seconds.
The Guardian seized that delay. Its ice sword slashed, slicing air at a speed contrasting with the slow environment. Nyxaria tilted her body, but the sword's edge touched her shoulder. [Sovereign's Barrier] absorbed damage, but there was a strange sensation—like cold that immediately aged. It can manipulate time on objects it touches! Mara realized. Its touch can accelerate aging, or slow reactions. No other choice. She had to end this quickly.
[Void Severance] finally gathered. Nyxaria slashed her right hand toward the Guardian. A purple rift appeared in the air, moving forward at a speed still hindered, but still inevitable. The Guardian tried to dodge, its body glowing bright blue. But [Void Severance] was a slash that ignored physical barriers. That rift passed through the water crystal body, cutting it in two. No explosion. The Guardian froze, then began to shatter into blue light particles. From inside its chest, a core pulsing like a heart made of pearl-blue liquid appeared—Essence of Eternity.
Now!
Nyxaria jumped forward, ignoring the time slowdown. She searched for the Timeshard Vial, opened its stopper, and reached her hand to that core. Blue light particles began scattering, evaporating into the air.
One.Two.
Her hand closed around the core, pushing it into the vial. Crystal gleamed, then pearl-blue liquid filled the vial, glowing with its own light.
Three.
Vial closed. Essence secure.
[System Feedback]
Rare Material Obtained: Essence of Eternity.
Chrono-Locked Zone dissipating.
The temporal field around the lake began to melt. Fog moved again. Sound returned—wind hissing, water splashing, their own breaths. The slowdown vanished. Nyxaria returned to the lake's edge, the gleaming vial in her hand. Seris and Lazarus looked relieved. Lumi smiled slightly.
"Done," Nyxaria said.
But before they could celebrate, a machine-like sound buzzed in Mara's head.
[System Feedback]
External Communication Attempt Detected.
Source: Eclipse Merchants Network.
Message: "We detect acquisition of Chrono-Artifact grade material. Offering 750,000 gold coins for immediate trade. Respond if interested."
They're monitoring? How? Mara was shocked. But then she remembered—Eclipse Merchants had an extensive information network. Maybe they had sensors for rare energy fluctuations.
Nyxaria ignored that message. "We return."
The return journey felt faster, as if the world wanted them to complete their mission quickly. They arrived at Obsidian Sanctuary as the afternoon sun began to set, the sky orange and purple. Aldric was already waiting in the throne room, with ritual equipment prepared—silver bowl, rune-carved rod, moonstone powder. He immediately took the vial from Nyxaria, his eyes sparkling. "Perfect. Pure Essence. Now, we must unite it with the Treaty Stone with an alignment ritual. This will take several hours. The process must be delicate—if not, we could damage the stone further."
"Do it," Nyxaria commanded.
Aldric began. He poured the Essence into the bowl, mixed it with moonstone powder, then recited mantras in ancient language that sounded like the rustle of time. Blue light radiated from the bowl, flowing to the Treaty Stone still lying on the altar. The crack on that stone began to glow, absorbing light. Lumi sat on the floor near the altar, watching with wide eyes. Seris and Lazarus stood behind, tired but alert. The process was slow. Nyxaria stood still, observing every change. She saw that crack slowly begin to close, like a wound sewn by light thread. Black blood stopped dripping. Pale blue color returned to the stone's surface.
[System Feedback]
Artifact Integrity: 92%... 93%... 94%...Degradation Rate: 0.5% per hour... 0.4%... 0.3%...Stabilization in progress.
Success. Mara drew a relieved breath. But she couldn't be completely happy—there was still five percent damage that couldn't be repaired. But at least degradation was slowed. After three hours, Aldric stopped the ritual. He was sweating, his face pale. "Done. I managed to stabilize the artifact. Degradation now only 0.1% per day. The Treaty Stone will last... maybe years before needing maintenance again."
Nyxaria nodded. "Thank you."
Aldric smiled tiredly, then bowed and left the room. The atmosphere in the throne room became calmer. Seris and Lazarus sat on benches, finally allowing themselves to rest. Lumi approached the altar, extending her small hand to touch the Treaty Stone. That stone was warm, pulsing slowly like a sleeping heart. "It's not crying anymore," Lumi whispered.
Nyxaria placed her hand on Lumi's head. "Yes. Thanks to everyone's efforts." Lumi looked at her, then suddenly her face contorted. She groaned, her body trembling.
"Lumi?" Seris stood up.
Lumi fell to the floor, shivering violently. Her skin reddened, her breathing became short and fast. Her heterochromic eyes flickered—the golden one glowed too bright, the gray one became dim like a dead screen. "What's happening?" Lazarus knelt beside her, his bone hand touching Lumi's forehead. "She's burning up. But the system doesn't detect disease. No status effects!"