The corridors of the Primarium Castrum stretched out before Kai once more, but this segment of the castle felt different. Unlike the regal, polished halls he had walked through before, this section had an unfinished, almost raw quality. The walls were still inscribed with ancient patterns, but they seemed less refined, their intricate designs giving way to exposed veins of dark metallic surfaces with threads of faintly pulsing temporal energy. It felt like the castle had peeled away a layer of it's pristine facade to reveal it's very lifeblood.
Occasional bursts of faint sparks flickered from exposed conduits, casting brief shadows that danced across the walls. The soft hum of machinery grew louder the deeper they ventured, joined by distant clanks and mechanical whirs, echoing faintly like the heartbeat of the castle. Selara walked ahead with her usual brisk, purposeful stride. Her white and gold attire remained immaculate, seemingly unaffected by the dirt that was kicked up in their training session earlier. Her posture, as always, was the perfect balance of grace and authority, stepping with precision, like someone who has walked these paths countless times before. Kai, however, felt like and intruder inside of a living, breathing relic. His eyes darted from one strange detail to another: panels embedded into the walls, flickering with shifting symbols, they looked alien yet strangely mesmerizing. Metallic coils snaked along the ceiling like dormant serpents, pulsing faintly with rhythmic streams of energy. The air itself carried a faint metallic tang, mixed with the subtle scent of oil and burning metal.
They soon arrived at a massive archway, it's design stark and unadorned compared to the ornate structure of the castle Kai had observed previously. The metal framework twisted upwards like jagged teeth, and beyond it lay a cavernous space, a chamber that felt less like a room and more like the hollowed chest cavity of some ancient mechanical beast. Selara didn't pause as she crossed the threshold, but Kai slowed, his breath catching in his throat. The workshop was vast, it's ceiling lost in the darkness above, supported by thick crystalline beams that crisscrossed like the skeletal remains of some forgotten titan. The walls were chaotic tapestries of clutter, shelves overflowing with strange devices, half assembled constructs, cracked gears, coils of what appeared to be copper and silver wiring and fragments of multicolored crystals that glowed with a soft, eerie light. Strange blueprints were scattered along the walls, held up by jagged metal pins.
Amongst the mess, there was something else that caught Kai's attention. All around workshop, anthropomorphic machines moved with uncanny precision. Some were tall and slender, their elongated limbs limbs glided gracefully as they soldered delicate circuits with laser thin beams of light from their finger tips. Others were short and bulky, their hydraulic joints hissing softly as they carried around crates overfilled with strange components and disassembled parts of random machinery. Their metallic bodies gleamed under the flickering light of suspended energy orbs, their surfaces etched with runes that pulsed faintly like veins beneath the skin.
One particularly curious construct, a spider-like machine with multiple glowing eyes, scuttled across the walls, it's spindly legs clicking softly against the metal as it tinkered with a loose panel. It let out faint mechanical chirps, as if speaking in some long forgotten language. Despite their peculiar appearance, none of the automata seemed mindless. Each moved with deliberate purpose, their actions fluid, like artisans deeply engrossed in their craft. Kai's gaze swept across the room, instinctively searching for it's master. He expected to easily spot the towering Lorith amidst the chaos, but there seemed to be no sign of him. Just the hum of machinery, the rhythmic clatter of tools, and the faint glow of temporal energy drifting like mist through the air.
Selara didn't seem concerned. She walked confidently to the center of the room, stopping near a massive workbench cluttered with half-finished devices. Crystals, wires and strange tools lay scattered in an unorganized mess across the table. Coils of tubing hissed softly, releasing faint bursts of steam that curled into the dim air. Without hesitation, Selara called out, her voice slicing through the ambient noise with sharp authority: "Lorith, we are here."
At first nothing seemed to happen. Then, something shifted. Kai's eyes were drawn to one of the towering crystalline structures near the workbench. He assumed that it was just part of the architecture, but as it turns out, it wasn't. Slowly, with the faint sound of grinding stone and creaking metal, the structure moved. It stretched from it's resting position with an almost lazy manner, sharp crystalline edges refracting the dim light in fractured rainbows. What Kai had mistaken for one of the jagged pillars revealed himself as he spread his limbs. His arms were etched with glowing rows of crystals, his chest carved from layers of translucent shards of the same crystals, veins of energy pulsing faintly beneath the surface like molten gold.
Lorith stood to his full towering height, his form blending perfectly with the crystalline beams. Kai felt foolish for not noticing him sooner. When Lorith turned his head, his gem-like eyes glinted with an internal glow, a strong bright white light emanating from deep within. His gaze locked onto Kai, as his giant crystalline face extended into a grin. "Well, well, well, looks like a tiny bug has found it's way into my workshop. How should I squish you now?" he said, his voice was rough, like grinding stone. Selara crossed her arms, her serious demeanor unchanged despite the towering figure standing before her. "Lorith, is Kai's Chronolink ready?" she said, her voice firm but with a subtle undertone of familiarity.
Lorith let out a sound that was something between a deep chuckle and the rumble of shifting stone. His crystalline form shifted slightly, the refracted light dancing across the walls as he moved with slow, deliberate manner." Why so serious Selara? No 'hello,' no 'how are you doing, Lorith?' Not even a ' your workshop looks magnificent as ever.'" His tone carried a hint of sarcastic offence, through the faint glimmer in his gem-like eyes betrayed his amusement. Selara's lips twitched, almost imperceptibly, perhaps the closest Kai has seen her come to a smile. "If I started with that, we would be stuck here indefinitely, listening to you gloat about you work."
Kai blinked, glancing between them. He hadn't expected Selara to be someone capable of bantering. Lorith gave another deep rumble, clearly entertained. "Fair enough." With surprising grace for someone of his size, he turned towards a cluttered workbench, pushing aside what looked like a partially disassembled gauntlet with far too many wires spilling from it. From beneath a pile of metallic scraps, Lorith dug out a small, sleek device, a bracelet-like structure that roughly resembled a wristwatch, made entirely from a polished jet-black metallic substance. It's design was minimal yet elegant, with sharp, clean lines that hinted at both advanced technology and ancient craftsmanship. At it's center, where a traditional watch face might have been, there was instead a transparent crystal embedded within the metal. The crystal shimmered faintly under the ambient light but remained clear, like untouched glass.
Lorith held it up, inspecting it with a nod of approval before tossing it to Kai. Despite the causal gesture, Kai stumbled, barely managing to catch it, the device felt both cool and unnervingly precise in his grip. "This," Lorith said, gesturing towards the bracelet, "is yer Chronolink whelp. It'll keep ya connected to the rest of use, no matter where you are." Kai turned the device in his hands, noticing how smooth and flawless the metal felt. "Go on now whelp, don't be shy" Lorith rumbled. Hesitantly, Kai slid it onto his wrist, clicking the latch as it secured the device firmly against his skin. The moment the cool metal settled against his skin, the transparent crystal at the center reacted immediately. It absorbed a faint pulse of his temporal energy, drawing it in like a breath. The clear crystal shifted, taking on an azure glow that mirrored the hue of Kai's temporal aura. The crystal glowed with a soft, vibrant azure light.
Kai stared at it, mesmerized by the subtle shift. "Whoa....this is sick" he muttered under his breath. Selara lifted her own wrist slightly, revealing her own Chronolink, as it materialized in her wrist. Unlike Kai's, hers was a radiant golden color, the crystal at it's center glowing faintly with a warm, golden hue that perfectly matched the aura she had displayed during their training. The design of the device was similar, but the gold seemed to compliment her suit perfectly. Lorith raised his massive crystalline arm, showing his own Chronolink. It's metallic surface was a stark white, contrasting with his translucent, gem-like form. The crystal embedded within his device glowed with a soft, pure white light.
"They are attuned to their user's temporal energy," Lorith explained, his voice a steady rumble. "The color reflects the user's temporal aura, and your connection to time itself. It will disappear when not in use, and reappear when it senses the owner's desire to use it." Kai flexed his wrist, watching the azure light shift with his movements. "This is....extraordinary. Incredible craftsmanship." Lorith chuckled again, "of course it is, it was crafted by The Lorith Shardveil, the greatest craftsman to ever exist across infinite realities." Selara sighed, shaking her head slightly. "Do NOT let it get to your head." "Oh, it's far too late for that," Lorith replied with mock glory, spreading his arms as if presenting himself as a masterpiece. Kai couldn't help but smirk at their dynamic.
Selara shifted her attention to Kai, as she turned towards him. She tapped the crystal in her Chronolink lightly. "To communicate with others," she explained, "simply touch the crystal and channel your temporal energy. Focus on the person you wish to reach and let your energy seek theirs. The connection will form naturally." "Uh huh," Kai nodded as he touched to crystal of his own Chronolink, focusing on Selara. He imagined reaching out with his energy, picturing her presence clearly in his mind. Selara's Chronolink began to emit a stronger glow than normal and when she tapped the crystal lightly, a holographic image of her materialized in front of him, an exact replica, detailed down to the faint glint in her amber eyes. Simultaneously a holographic projection of Kai emerged from Selara's Chronolink, almost indistinguishable from the real Kai. The projections flickered slightly, stabilizing as they maintained the connection.
Kai's eyes widened. "Whoa....this is....unbelievable." Selara arched an eyebrow, her holographic double simultaneously mimicking the gesture. Then she tapped her Chronolink again, severing the connection, causing the two holograms of herself and Kai to flicker out instantly. Shen then proceeded to tap her Chronolink again, this time summoning another figure. In a few moments, a holographic projection of Elyssar materialized in front of her.
"Oh? Miss me already, my darling Selara?" Elyssar's voice carried through the projection, laced with her usual teasing tone. Her emerald eyes glowed with a hint of mischief within them. "Or is it about our little fledgling?" "Hello, Ely," Selara said, her voice once again commanding, "I need you to escort Kai to his Solarium. Make sure her is settled in. We are currently at Lorith's workshop." "Sure thing, Lara. I will be there in the blink of an eye." The projection bowed mockingly before silently fading out.
Selara turned towards Kai. "The Solarium are personalized living quarters made specifically for each Time-keeper. It is a place you can relax or engage in casual recreation." "Sound pretty sweet." Kai said, his tone was calm but he felt a jitter of excitement in his chest, as his mind was buzzing with more questions, but he decided that he would probably get the answers sooner or later.....that is if his brain wasn't already fried beyond repair from the absurdity of his surroundings.