The Atlantean Compensator 64 The Forbidden Floor 2

The two were so frightenned they didn't even make a voice.

The door closed on them automatically, and the room was really dark except for the little light sneaking in from the window.

A voice of an old man cracked their ears..

"...Two love birds have come to sing me a song!

How wonderful."

Herald and Elara do not recognize this voice.

Herald comes a bit closer, and asks.

"...We've come in peace sir.

Where are you?"

The old man laughed.

"It is better for both of you to not see me.

As you can notice, your love bird isn't feeling very well..."

Herald doesn't understand.

"My love bird?"

What do you mean..."

He looks back at Elara....

He is shocked...

NO!

HE IS TERRIFIED!!!

Elara is undergoing something he cannot even comprehend...

She's getting older by the second.

Her unmatched beauty is dying, as her skin got dry and sloppy.

Her long soft black hair turning all white and frenzy...

He holds her in his arms and asks the unknown old man.

"...WHAT IS IT THAT YOU'RE DOING TO HER???"

"...Nothing that i would have liked to do.

This room was forbidden for a reason, especially at night."

The old man replies.

Herald is getting all worried about what might happen to him and Elara if they pa.s.sed any more time in here.

But he can't get out with her like this.

"...Please stop it! We're Atlanteans the same as you!!

How could your powers harm us to begin with!??" Herald asks confusingly.

The old man stays silent for a little bit.

"...Define harmful!

She isn't necessaly undergoing any pain right now beside the one we undergo everyday.

Time.

It's an ultimate truth."

Herald. "...But she's getting too old very quickly!!

She might die at this rate!"

"Hmmm....

What would you give to save her, Herald!"

The Geezer asks.

Herald stays silent, he wasn't ready for such question.

"Why haven't you used your powers in order to save her?

You could've came back to the moment before entering this room and none of this would've happened.

Now, she might die because of you.

So what is that you are going to do, Mr Herald!"

Herald is getting angry and agitated.

He activates his powers immediatly to see what cost will it take in order to save his companion.

Five...YEARS!!!!

The old man. "...The clock is tickling Herald.

Was it too big of a cost for you to make?"

Herald has no idea what he can or should do...

He's certainly not a selfish person but 5 years of one's life...

Even the pace of these events took him by surprise.

He didn't expect any of this so his mind isn't working well at all.

Suddenly, as Elara started turning into bones and flesh...

Time rewinds itself back again, Elara started getting younger and younger...

Herald looks at her and feels relieved, seeing her beauty back again..

"You have disappointed me Herald.

How could you not save a person's life when it's in your hands?

Especially someone of such importance...

Even 10 years....is nothing compared to that!"

Herald looks ashamed of himself.

The man continues. "...Even if you chose sacrificing that time, it wouldn't have been sacrificed.

You didn't pay attention to the 5 minutes into the future you normally see.

I expected you to be more composed, you'll live situations tougher and colder than this one.

But I won't be too harsh on you, you're still adjusting to your reality.

Let this be a valuable lesson for the future.

Isn't that right, Heracles?"

*Indeed, Grand Master". Heracles replies out of nowhere.

He appears out of the darkness, lighting the room up with a little flame on top of his finger.

Herald is shocked.

"...Master!

You were...here all the time?!"

Heracles. "Yes I was.

And that is one of the luckiest things to happen in your life.

Both of you!"

The old man also appeared next to Heracles.

Tall and white, Beard long enough to reach his chest.

His hair even reaches his legs!

But what was surprising is his posture, he looks healthy and strong!

Herald didn't know how to react except for appologizing.

"...I am very sorry for my behavior...Grand Master!

And for breaking the rules as well..Master Heracles."

Heracles replies.

"You were lucky to come into this specific night..

If He had been asleep, Elara would have been a rotten corpse by now.

Curiousity kills in some cases."

The Grand Master smiled.

"That is just the young spirit... Something I miss dearly.

And no I wouldn't have killed her if I was asleep.

Don't take me for an Old man Heracles!"

"My appologies Sir." Heracles says immediatly.

He continues.

"Anyways, it's time to go..

Didn't I tell you that tomorrow would be an important training?

Go get some rest now."

Herald. "Yes Sir."

All 3 got out of the room, leaving The old man alone in there.

Herald is picking Elara on his back.

As her body is heavily tired from what happened to it.

He could not look towards Heracles, and the latter did not look at him either.

As the two were entering their room.

Heracles says. "Sleep well!"

And continued his way outside..