Chapter Text
A strange Elder visited today. One could call him ugly. His skin twisted and misshapen around his bones. Nefertiti saw something else in him though. She knew he was kind. That he understood much more than he let on. However, his eyes seemed sad, haunted. You couldn't tell by just looking at him though. It was something that only occurred when certain things were said, when certain topics were discussed. His name was Chronos.
Father asked me to come to the study. I knew he wanted me to meet this strange Elder. He talked about him all the time to me.
When I entered the room, Chronos smiled. It was warm, welcoming. "Hello Nefertiti."
My eyes glanced over him, observing his physical features in recognition. "You must be Chronos."
"So Khonsu's talked about me, has he?" He turns to my father, shaking his head. "It's really not a good idea to fill your daughter's head with all the terrible adventures we've had," he jokes.
Khonsu laughs. "You're mistaken. They were fun."
"Fun, yes. But they were still terrible decisions."
Khonsu turned to me again, this time with a more serious look on his face. "Can I see your hand?" He asks quietly.
Internally, I sighed. Sometimes I wished that it wasn't like this, and wasn't poisonous. I moved closer, holding out my gloved hand.
Chronos took my hand. Taking off my glove, he turned my hand over, exposing the patch of shiny iron that covered my palm.
He inspected it, turning my hand over and over again.
"Interesting."
Suddenly, he took my hand and pulled me closer, whispering into my ear 5)3 words: "you have a lot to overcome in the future, but you'll make a lasting impact on those around you."
He stared into my confused eyes. Out of the corners, I could see my father staring at Chronos, tight lipped.
He and Khonsu continued to talk like old friends long after I had left.
*****
I feel eyes on me. Not just those of Nut, who’s trying to give me a lecture, but someone else. It’s an aura I’m not very familiar with.
“Listen to me when I’m talking to you!” I feel a hardened aura palm slap my cheek. I look at her, not saying anything. I hold my tongue. It’s best not to fight her.
She frowns. “You’re hopeless. I’m trying to teach you!” She looks at my hands, where black streams are coming off them in a failed attempt to coat my skin with my aura. She continues, “You’ll never be able to control your aura if you can’t even do this!”
I flinch at these words. I recognize the truth in her words. I’ve been working on this for months. My sister has been able to accomplish similar tasks with no problem. Father has been patient with me, but it’s still slow progress. I work better alone.
“It’s not my fault.” I whisper. I try again. My black aura swirls around my hand, like it did in Nut’s example, but it doesn’t seem to stick to my hand. I focus, trying to concentrate on my thumb. THe thumbnail manages to turn black. I look up, excited, but Nut has focused her attention on my sister. She’s managed to cover her entire arm in her violet aura. I look back to my hand to notice that it’s back to where I had started.
“I think I’m done for the day.” I say quietly and walk out of the room. I hear Nut make a smug grunt, as if she knew that I couldn’t do it.
***
At times like these I would normally go to Father’s study to relax, to think. Father would continue the lessons, showing at least more progress than what I accomplished earlier. With Chronos here though, I feel uncomfortable going there. They’re probably busy catching up on all the lost time.
I walk into the forest near the house, heading toward my favorite ancient tree that has a hollowed out trunk. Crawling into the trunk, my head comes to my knees. I pick up a piece of wood and circle it around my palm. Countless times I’ve wished that I wasn’t different. I stare at my hand. The iron palm seems to have spread around my hand since the day I was attacked. Blood has filled my palm from where the wood has pierced my skin. I don’t stop though. This pain doesn’t seem to affect me. I feel it, but am drowning in my thoughts. All the while whispering, “I hate this. I hate this. I hate this.”
I feel a hand on my wrist. Looking up, I see the time worn face of Chronos.
****
Chronos POV
I look at this young Elder with the bleeding hand. In my head flashes many questions. How long has she done this? Probably countless. How long has she hated herself? Probably all her life. I decide there that for the first time in my life I will tempt fate. I will change her fate. So many strands of time show her becoming a monster. Many others show her to become a great figure who inspires generations afterwards. A leader to the humani. She needs more than this. She deserves more than this.
I reach out for her wrist. When she looks up at me, I see her tear streaked face. I see. She’s managed to internalize her hatred. I know how this will turn. When taught a different experience, she’ll lash out against the oppressor. I’ve decided that it will be my task to make sure that doesn’t turn to society.
I try to give a comforting smile, hoping that time hasn’t warped that too. “How about we talk?”
She’s silent. I can’t say that I didn’t expect this.
So I just talk. “I’ve known your father for a long time. He’s made a lot of decisions, both good and bad.” I take a deep breath. “I have to say his choice of wife was a bad one.” My face twists in disgust. “She’s spiteful and self centered.” I watch her face, seeing her swallow hard. “She’s a terrible teacher too. I was watching those lessons.”
“Watch what I do.” I wait until she has her eyes on me. “The trick is to picture the end result as clear as day. Make your imagination your reality. Envision the sight, feeling, smell of your aura covering your skin.” My hand is now covered in my own aura. “You try.”
I see her give it a try. She closes her eyes. I can tell she’s concentrating on the image in her mind. Her hand flickers black, then back to her skin tone, then black again. Without a doubt, she has the basics down. A very good background in the basics based on how quickly she’s getting this. “Good. It wavers, but it’s good.”
She opens her eyes to see the flash of a black hand. I see a smile on her face. It’s wonderful, it really is.
“How much magic do you know?”
“I’m familiar with the basics of all four elements,” she says hesitantly.
I raise my eyebrows, impressed. “Is that so?”
She nods. “I’m good at learning from books.”
“You can only learn so much from books. Experience is important too.” Her eyes stray downward.
I sigh. “You’re a fast learner. What you lack is confidence.”
It’s quiet for a while. Do I really want to do this? I could be teaching time magic to the most dangerous Elder. But she has so much potential! Yes, she needs a guide. Maybe some proper love, and some friends.
I chuckle, “Your father’s going to be mad at me.” I take a deep breath and say, “Come to Danu Talis with me. You could be my apprentice. It won’t be easy but it’d be better than staying here.”
It takes her a while to answer, but I hear the words. “...I would like that.” I feel her loosen up after saying those words.
Grinning, I stare up the tree trunk. “I’m glad. Now. Tell me about this tree. It’s been through a lot.”
I listen as she tells me the tree’s history. Apparently lightning hit it the day she was injured and she hollowed out the damaged part herself. She tells me about that day. Her thoughts, her fears. I see her excitement at seeing Danu Talis and meeting Aten formally.
I see the light in her eyes, despite the darkness in her heart.
Good. I know I’ve made the right decision. I won’t let society break her.