Elements Short Story Competition

[Silkenfist]

ETERNITY

The majestic shape of the pyramid grew constantly larger as the two men – one with delicate elven features, the other a young broad-shouldered Human – approached. Surrounded by the solemnly humming time factories it had been the focal point of their journey for the past hours.
“Are you sure, this is the right place?” the Human whispered. The other man just cackled quietly.
“It is not a matter of place, Jefferson. It is a matter of time. If we are in the right time, this is the only place to reach.” He sped up the pace as his feet left the sand and hit the solid limestone that made the first step of the pyramid’s entrance.
“The spell should have brought us to a time where nothing exists except Time’s realm itself.” Jefferson nodded. He didn’t mind the lecture. In fact, he sort of requested it when his companion – of whom he still had to ask the name sooner or later – stumbled into the tavern and asked for someone to join his expedition to the temple of Time. The other patrons had turned down his request with a laugh, but Jefferson had remained calm. The man had sounded like a madman (and still did), but the prospect of finding the long lost temple of an Element was not to be turned down.
“I shall lend you my company, Sir” he had replied when the other patrons had turned their back on them again “…under the sole condition that I receive an equal share of what is wrested from the temples.”
“If that is so, I reject your offer in your own interest. There is nothing but knowledge and wisdom for me to seek.” The man had turned away again but Jefferson had insisted.
“Then it shall suffice for me to share the knowledge you retrieve. Of course, for this understanding to achieve, I will need to match your current knowledge of our destination. If you are willing to teach, that is.” And so they had gone to purchase the spells and supplies with the Elf instructing Jefferson about their destination: The temple of Time where the Guardian Elementals kept the secrets of the world and were knowledgeable about past and future – given that one would be able to approach them, of course.

So far, that pursuit had been without serious problems. They both had journeyed through the desert before and knew how to avoid Shrieker incursions and Antlion pits. And the Rewinding spell had worked just like a charm, bringing them close to the very doorstep of the temple they seeked. But now they had entered the home turf of Time. And while that particular Element was not exactly notorious for undue cruelty, there surely was resistance to be expected. Just as if their fears didn’t need further fuel, the men could soon hear a distant clicking sound around them, coming closer the deeper they went into the stone-wrought labyrinth. When they finally identified it, it was almost too late. Mandibles!
“Quintessence!” the Elf screamed and with a quick movement, both men produced a small flask from their belts and downed the contents simultaneously. Their bodies left the physical plane just in time to avoid the starved horde of Scarabs that dove through the corridor towards them. Moving slowly through the swarm of insects, they continued.
“I never asked you… if it is not treasure, you seek – what is your reason to risk your life and sanity, venturing into Time’s realm.” Jefferson looked at the elvish traveler with suspicion.
“Call it a spiritual journey, if you will… there are some questions that only a master of time can answer. There are some ghosts in my past I need to clear.”
“And you expect me to believe this?” He felt unable to disguise the disdain in his voice.
“Of course not. But my motives shall not concern you just like yours are not bothering me.” The Elf looked at his cohort but received no answer from him. They quickly left behind the Scarabs and turned towards a hallway that ended in an adorned door of solid gold.
“After you, my friend.”

They passed the door to enter the king’s chamber – the centre of Time’s keep. Hourglasses filled hundreds of shelves to each side of the room, enshrining a path towards a diamond-crested altar before which an illuminated figure was poised. Its appearance was that of a female Human but its quick and graceful movement gave away its nature immediately. They had expected nothing less than a Guardian Elemental here anyway. Tensed, they watched as the Elemental produced a turtle shield and a gilded spear while assuming battle stance. A cold and metallic voice rang through their ears.
“Intruders! You should know better than setting foot on this ground.” The first spell hurtled towards them but it struck nothing but empty air between the phase-shifted bodies.
“Hold on!” The Elf yelled, showing empty hands and dropping one knee to the ground. “We are not here to pillage but to beseech. We mean no harm to you or your shrine.”
“If that is so…” The Elemental’s face remained stern and motionless as an emptied flask appeared in her hand. A single amber drop fell to the ground. “…then will you explain to me, why I would preconceive an Entropist attack on the temple? Are you the enemy or did you merely clear the path for them?”
“Yes and yes for the two of us.” A sudden smile appeared on Jefferson’s face as he stepped forward past his dumbfounded companion. “It was quite hard to track down your sanctum but fortunately I had some… help.”
“Damned fool” came the hissed reply from behind. “Do you expect me to just stand aside and allow your desecration?”
“Of course not” Jefferson replied calmly “I expect you to lend me your full support. Tell me… how exactly do you feel right now, my friend? Do you feel the sore muscles? The cold sweat? The warmth slowly crawling through your veins towards the heart? Just as if someone laced your potion with Aflatoxine?” Carelessly, Jefferson discarded the empty bottle. “Don’t worry about your equal share, though. I came to seek death and we all will get to make his acquaintance today.” He turned to the Elemental when he heard the Elf fall to the ground and cry in his dying throes. In his final moments his anger had suddenly disappeared and a panicked fear had crept into his eyes instead as he watched the two adversaries – seemingly ignorant to his own fate.
“NO... You must flee! Run for your life! Flee before it is too late!” he pleaded as the first Malignant Cells already wretched themselves from his body.

“I am afraid that is not an option.” the Elemental solemnly replied, watching the Elfs last breath turn into another cankerous cell crawling threateningly towards her. “But I will impose justice for the life that has been taken in the sacred halls”
“Tough words for a girl with her back to the wall” the Entropist replied. He watched the army of cells spread out and divide further, driving one attack after the other against his opponent. Wave after wave drove the Elemental back. The shield gave her some time to retreat by stalling the cells that struck it, but the damage soon began to show and it would be just a matter of time before she would be overwhelmed.
“Yield!” the Entropist cried triumphantly “and your death will be quick. This shrine is forfeit either way.”
“How quaint – do you think, a mere bundle of diseased flesh was enough to overcome one of us?” The Elemental had reached the far end of the hall and retrieved another shield. As the wave of cells launched themselves at her again, she produced her new equipment – a crimson buckler inscribed with a fire emblem, charring and destroying the enemies that struck her.
“Oh, you decide to pose a challenge after all?” Jefferson smiled and raised an arm. “Then I shall match your challenge – Mutate!” He gestured at the remaining cells in an effort to infuse them with the necessary quanta to develop their full potential and bring down not only the weakly Elemental but the entire temple around them. Alas, no magic sprouted from his hand and more cells crashed vainly into the Elementals shield. Desperately, he launched another attempt to use his magic but to no avail. Struck with disbelief, the Entropist dropped to the ground on his knees. Shivering, he held a hand before his face only to find his fear verified – the purple aura around his arm indicated clearly that it was he who was mutating. Helpless he watched the last of his army die and the Elemental directing her full attention to him once again.
“Do you really think, ‘Jefferson’, that an Elemental capable of Precognition would allow herself to be overrun that easily? Now then, tell me: Do you feel it? The wrenching feeling in your guts? The itching just below your skin? The pain in your bones and muscles being stretched and shifted?” The former Entropist before her had lost all distinction and features already, his shapeless mass slowly reforming itself.
“I am quite disappointed, though. I thought your kind would be able to at least notice a Mutation potion when they are slipped one.” She observed the final stages of reforming, unable to hide her delight when she recognized the new shape he was assuming.
“Well then – It seems that the two of you will get to fulfill your promise after all.” With a subtle gesture she cast a spell through her spear and the last intruder vanished.

The man awoke in the desert. His memory was blanked from any trace that could explain how he arrived at this place – or his very identity for that matter. The only thing he remembered was the temple of Time and the Elemental he had encountered. It was the only thing about his past that he remembered but it was a lead after all. It was what kept him going for seemingly endless miles until he reached the small town at the brink of the desert. Gathering his last strength, he stumbled towards the local tavern to address the patrons:
“Does anyone feel adventurous? I could need some help on an expedition to the temple of Time.”

[icybraker]

...
This is beautiful.
No, I'm serious. This is one of the best themed short-stories I have ever read.
I applaud you. I'm definitely going to vote for this one. I would up your karma, but it seems the system is not working/has been removed.

[Kurohami]

Wow, this is one meaningful story. But every time I read a fiction that has something to do with change in time I get a headache, for my brain seems to involuntarily jump into the eternally looping sequence, and knock itself out. Anyways, very well done. I had to read it twice to savor how the end of the story merged with the beginning.

[Scaredgirl]

30 minutes left. You still have time to submit your masterpiece.

[Scaredgirl]

Competition has ended. Thanks for everyone who participated.

The voting thread will be here shortly.