The Frozen Hour

Anna lay on the ground in the villa's garden, breathing heavily from exhaustion. She was tired and just wanted to go back to her room. However, just because she wanted it didn't mean it was right. She wanted strength too, and the pain and exhaustion were just steps toward her goal. As Anna strengthened her resolve, she stood up from the ground and looked at White as she spoke,

"What's next?" Her voice held determination like never before.

White turned around and looked at her.

'She still wants to do more… huh… well, she is Starborne, alright.' White thought when he looked at Anna who was standing before him exhausted yet determined.

"Let's just finish with a few simple exercises." White said as he looked at Anna.

Anna nodded at his words and spoke

"Okay!"

White started to perform push-ups, squats, lunges, and etc exercises to help Anna relieve the tension in her body after the ten round run they just had. Anna followed suit, copying his every movement down to the smallest detail. The way Anna copied him didn't feel normal or human at all.

Damien, who was watching both of them through the window of his room, raised an eyebrow as he thought.

'I believe her cognitive ability was enhanced after she awakened.' 

Damien continued to stare at them for a few more moments after which he sat down at a nearby chair and closed his eyes in deep thought.

Anna's cognitive abilities were not only enhanced. No, they evolved into something which only time will tell. 

After a few minutes of simple exercise, White spoke

"We've had enough for today. You should go back now, Miss Anieal"

Anna looked at White as she spoke

"And do what?" she asked.

"Hmm?"

"I've been laying on the bed like a log for more than a month and after awakening I don't even feel very tired. The exhaustion goes away within a few minutes." Anna spoke as she pointed out all of the changes she felt till now.

"I understand. Miss Anieal but we shouldn't overdo it" White spoke in a caring tone.

"I understand your worries, White. However, as an awakener my body should be able to handle much more than this."

"As you say, Miss Anieal." White said while nodding and asked

"What do you suggest we do, then?" 

"Let's spar." Anna said, her eyes burning with intent to fight.

On that White nodded and moved towards the clearing

"Let us begin." He said as he lazily stood within the clearing.

When Anna saw that she shook her head as she thought 

'I know, I'm much weaker than you but you could at least act a bit pressured' and smiled wryly as she looked at White

"Yes!" she declared as she ran towards White.

A plan formed in her mind as she neared White, She threw a kick at his upper body which he dodged by ducking down. As soon as he ducked down Anna followed suit with a low sweep kick. Much to her surprise White jumped while ducking down, her leg only swept air. Anna stepped back and carefully studied White's every movement.

While White simply stood there as he spoke

"Is that all?"

Anna didn't answer, instead she moved once again and tried to land a low kick to his shin, White moved his leg and landed a palm on her abdomen.

"You're only focusing on how and where to attack. You need to anticipate your opponent's counters too, Miss Anieal." White spoke as he observed Anna

Anna nodded and moved once more. She went for a punch to his chest which she stopped and rotated her body as she tried to land a punch using the back of her fist. White once again sidestepped and tried to kick her legs however Anna moved her legs closer to him and went for a jab to his abdomen, White moved back and spoke

"You are learning." he praised.

Anna however stayed silent as she stepped forward and followed him trying to land a blow, The exchange continued for quite some time until White landed a blow to her abdomen, causing her to fall to her knees.

Anna's body was swollen in a few places due to continuous punches and palm attacks by White, However none of that mattered to Anna as she stood up and looked at White as she spoke

"Again!" she demanded.

"I believe we should stop it here. Miss Anieal" White spoke as he looked at Anna with confusion. He paused for a few moments and spoke before Anna could reply to his words.

"If I may ask… why are you pushing yourself so hard?"

Anna turned silent and looked at White for a few moments then she spoke in a heavy tone.

"I don't know…"

"Hmm? What do you mean?"

"If I don't do it now, I may come to regret it."

"It doesn't explain much."

"Just a feeling… I guess. You could call it intuition."

"I see…" White nodded and spoke after thinking for a few moments.

"Alright then. We'll continue this training until you believe you're ready to face whatever it is your intuition is warning you about."

"Okay." Anna nodded at White words and soon both of them left the garden.

***

In Necron City stood a building with blue-tinted glass windows covering it gracefully from all directions. Its modern design paired with the moonlight looked heavenly. People could be seen bustling near the building pointing to the activity even during late into the night.

Within an office room of the building, A dark blonde short-haired man with dark blonde moustache sat at a chair while he held hands of a woman with black silky hairs with blue at the end. She had dark blue eyes and she wore a gown the same colour as her eyes.

The woman spoke in a worried tone

"Are you sure about this, Edwin?"

"I have no other choice, Natasha." Edwin spoke in a heavy tone as he was looking at the dazzling Necron city through his windows.

"But…"

"We can't back down. I agreed when they came to me so I must see this to the end."

"But what if… they fail?" Natasha asked in a worried and scared tone.

"The turners corp. might fall… But we have a chance to become greater and to leave those Starborne pests behind." Edwin Turner spoke as he looked at Natasha with determined eyes.

"Hah…" Natasha heaved a sigh as she looked at Edwin and moved forward for a hug, Edwin hugged her back and Natasha left while her few parting words echoed in the room

"I hope you made the right decision, Edwin… I truly hope so."

"Hah… I hope the same, my love" Edwin said with a sigh.

"You are worried for nothing." A gentle voice came from the other side of the room.

Edwin turned around to look at the red-masked man sitting at his office chair.

"Lord High Priest." Edwin said in a calm tone.

"We will make our move soon. Lord Turner, I hope all your preparations are complete."

"They are." Edwin answered with a submissive tone

"Good, very good." The high priest praised as he started to chuckle.

***

Within the huge expanse of a dazzling blue sea multiple small islands could be seen together however what truly caught one's attention was the tower floating above a hole in the sea. The white and black tower was engraved with golden carvings all over it. Its very walls radiated an aura of mysticism.

Inside The Night Tower a room filled with golden runes of different shapes and sizes were engraved enclosed in a lotus like design. Fair skinned, golden and night-like black long-haired woman seemingly in her thirties, her face looked like it was made by the world's most talented artist. She donned a flowing celestial gown with cream and midnight-blue layers, adorned with golden stars, constellations, and cosmic motifs. The off-shoulder design, elegant drapes, and shimmering accents evoke the grace of a night-sky goddess. Her eyes were closed however she was sweating profusely. Around her the runes were illuminated with a bright gold light.

The runes started to dim as she slowly opened her deep blue eyes which had star like symbols in them.

"I finally found her…" She said, her voice tinged with excitement and expectation.

"We'll meet soon… Curse breaker." She said as she stood up and looked out of the window with a small smile on her face

***

Anna was currently laying on her bed as she thought about all of the events which took place today.

'I feel like I am running from something I can't see.' Anna thought as she closed her eyes and entered her mind plane.

Anna walked towards the massive egg which stood at the centre of her mind plane's dark sea. As she walked close she saw a change which she hadn't seen before.

The golden threads of the egg were coming out from it and were entering the sea…

"What's happening?" Anna spoke in confusion.

The golden threads soon stopped and the egg returned to how it was before.

Anna looked at the egg seemingly trying to find out what was happening but she was unsuccessful in doing so.

Anna stood there looking at the egg for a few more moments and soon left the mind plane.

Anna heaved a sigh as she thought.

'Where is my easy life…'

Suddenly, Anna felt a warm feeling in her heart.

"Ugh!! not this again." Anna spoke in an irritated tone.

After awakening Anna would randomly feel warmth and cold grip her heart, first she had thought maybe her hypothalamus —A region in the brain, acts as the body's thermostat, regulating and maintaining body temperature— had started to glitch out after the accident but she soon dumped that theory as she only felt this at random and very rarely, but it was still annoying.

"I don't even know why it is happening…"

'Should I ask brother about it?' Anna thought about talking to Damien regarding this feeling she gets but soon she shook her head.

"No… not yet, I'll ask him tomorrow." Anna said as she closed her eyes and drifted to the dreamland.

In a room of lavender blue walls with intricate celestial carvings, A white wood long office table could be seen at the centre and a shelf filled with books was placed on the left wall. A window stood behind the chair, where Damien now sat. as he looked through a report provided to him by One.

Suddenly tapping noise could be heard in the room.

*Tap* *Tap*

Damien turned his head towards the direction of the sound and saw a white and black feathered pigeon tapping at the window with its beak. Damien stood up and walked towards the window and opened it. The white and black feathered pigeon entered the room and perched up on Damien's shoulder.

A White cloth was tied to the pigeon's left leg, Damien untied the cloth while he patted the pigeon and as soon as he was done with untying the cloth. The pigeon left the room

'One way message huh…' Damien thought as he saw the pigeon flying away, Damien walked toward the chair and sat on it.

Damien unfurled the cloth and checked the contents within. He saw a symbol of a towering hourglass framed within a fortified crown, cradled by blooming lotus petals and a crescent moon. A golden arc and scattered stars shimmered faintly around it, whispering of forgotten time and celestial power.

As soon as Damien saw that symbol only one word left his mouth.

"The night tower?" Damien tilted his head in confusion.

"Why would those eccentric believers of Goddess of Night send a calling pigeon to me?"

"Wait… did they really send it for me?" Damien's thought caused his eyebrows to crease.

'What do they want…' Damien wondered, massaging his temple with his thumb and index finger.

Soon, he stopped and closed his eyes while heaving a sigh.

"Hah…"