Aeon

The portal swirled open, kicking up a fair amount of dust and dirt into the air. The wildlife around quickly running away, frightened by the sudden appearance of matter as the robed sorcerer stepped through the dimension and into his closed off pocket of the world. Aeon, a land that eclipsed the laws of reality, outside of space, overlooking the flow of time, a land where Asheron often came to reflect on events as they began to unfold in the rift.

Aeon was, in fact, much like Tamriel, creatures, plants, rushing water, it was it’s own replica of the land, shaped by the chronomancer to reflect his own separate vision of the world. Atop of a large hill sat a small cottage that belonged to him, guarded by four larger guar. The sorcerer approached, and they came up to Asheron like trained mutts, he’d kneel down and pet one, before greeting the other three.

“It has been a while, but likely not for you four. I am glad to see you all safe.” Marcus Asheron smiled, looking at them all. In truth, only very select few would even be able to reach his pocket dimension, so he knew their safety was likely never in any actual danger. “Come, let’s get you all fed, shall we?”

The guar started to run torwards their troth, waiting for Marcus to deliver substance they needed to survive, it was not normal food, but rather, a special brew of ingredients he would feed them. It kept them alive in Aeon, kept them eternal, ever-living beings of the unnatural land. Once he had finished feeding them, he made his way inside.

The cottage was cold, dark, and small. There was no lights that came from the windows, other then a faint blue hue that outlined each of them. If one was to look out of them, they would not see the world of Aeon outside, but rather a long fabric of space, with a beautiful rope that extended on in both directions for infinity. This was where Marcus watched the timeline from his own pocket world. The rope sometimes broke off into smaller branches, before fading into existence. Most alternate realities were never infinite, ending in disaster.

Marcus shifted himself into his small kitchen, starting a hot kettle for tea he would brew himself. Several minutes were spent idling and staring out the window before his kettle began to cry, he quickly brewed himself a hot cup of tea and took a seat at the window in the living room. He watched as the stars shifted, and fabric of time and space wove together in emanating beauty.

Much had happened in the past few days that was still a lot for the so called “demigod,” to process. He had let himself fall in love over the course of a couple of months, but then when the one thing he loved so dearly in the world was brought great harm, he was unable to predict her -several- deaths. The harsh vampire that captured her tortoured her beyond a simple timely repair. She would live forever with those memories, and there was nothing he could do about it. He couldn’t lie to her, that wasn’t fair to her, and would only cause more pain and suffering later.

Marcus reached into his robe and removed the soulstone that captured the creature that had made those scars on Alyssion. Looking into it gave him much anger and grief. How hopeless he had been to protect that which he loved most. He risked much by holding her hostage, and even worse, made Alyssion target of another attack the longer he did. He knew his opponent almost too well, and sadly, her power far outweighed his.

He looked back into the crystal, his gaze glaring deep into the darkened abyss. He saw the struggling soul of Vesper, desperate to get out, desperate to get back to her, even he could see right through her veil, she may act tough, but deep down, this soul also yearned to be with her lover. He knew the pain. Right now he felt equal to her, the way Alyssion had been injured, he felt hopeless.

It was in that flash of regret that he felt that icy touch upon his shoulder. His heart sank.

“The Sandman… predictable as ever.”

Countless defenses were set up in the Land of Aeon if another being, mortal or immortal, if another being made its way into his reality, he would of known in an instant. Alas, she was able to slip by, unnoticed. How long had she been here? Was she waiting for this exact moment? What did she want? Well that was nearly clear, she wanted what he took from her, surely.

“H-how did you get here?” Marcus was caught off guard, turning his head slightly, slight fear in his voice.

In the corner of his eye he could see her divine figure, glossy white hair, glowing, mysterious red eyes gazed back at him. She stepped forward slightly, the pale illumination of the spacey sky made her figure glow, blackened dark armor with metal wings spewing from it’s back. Her pale skin white as the cosmic stars, she licked her lips, revealing a snake like tongue that thirsted for power.

“Come now Marcus, you really think you’d be any steps ahead of me?” She smiled, moving next to the man, she looked down at him.

“I suppose I should of expected as much, Duchess.” He did not look up at her.

“Quite rude to not invite me in, don’t worry though, I’ll treat myself as royalty.” She hissed, taking a seat next to the sorcerer across from him. She had helped herself to some of the tea Marcus had made.

Marcus quickly tucked the soulstone into his pocket, but Duchess simply laughed.

“You are trying to hide her from me.” She smirked.

“For what she did to Alyssion? I will not simply let you have her.” Marcus seemed angry.

Duchess giggled, “Surely, I will admit, she did not listen to me, I told her to stay away… but truly, she just likes to have fun. She’s much like me,” and with a snap of her fingers, a smaller golden rope appeared in front of the Duchess. “What is the world without a little chaos, afterall, Marcus?” She smiled deviously, a flicker of dark red magic spewed from her fingers, infecting the middle of the rope.

Marcus quickly peered out the window, sure enough that dark red began to create a mild storm in the timeline. Branches began to twist out in every direction.

“Stop. Duchess.” He glared at her, rising quickly to his feet.

The Duchess laughed, continuing to play the villian, twisting ropes of infinite realities out from the golden spool. “Don’t you remember all the fun we use to have together?” Her tone turning flirtacious, she flicked her tongue again. “Don’t you miss that, dear?” She grinned.

“Time has changed. Leave this reality alone.” Marcus rose a hand, chains began to spring from the ground and attach themselves to the Duchess.

“All work and no play,” The Duchess pouted. “You forget your roots, boy.”

“And you forget yours, monster.” Marcus began muttering an incantation.

“You know full well your spells have no effect on me. I value your attempts though. I will give you one offer.”

Marcus’s true intentions were not on Duchess, but infact, distracting her enough to drop the red storm. It had worked, slowly the timeline began to fade back into it’s golden state. “What is your offer, witch.”

“Give me Vesper. I will ensure you that she will not waste my or her time on you or your precious girl again. In return,” Duchess looked back outside at the timeline, “I will spare this reality.”

Marcus took out the crystal again. He stared into it, seeing Vesper. Alyssion would be distressed to know that the source of all her pain was free. However, immunity from the Duchess, she was often one of her word.

“In return, never show yourself again.” He handed her the crystal.

She flashed her fang, “That wasn’t part of the deal, but we’ll see what I can do, Prince Charming.”

Her being quickly faded to dust, and she was gone.

He needed to go check on Alyssion now, to make sure she was okay.