Caleb sat staring out the window at the bleak landscape of Reinheit Citadel.
“Are you listening, kid?” asked Midnight. Caleb turned back into the room to meet Midnight’s harsh glare.
“Of course,” Caleb said. “I just don’t see what the fuss is all about.”
“That child is here in charge of things when he shouldn’t be,” Midnight said. “Coming at us with that smug attitude, and we didn’t even get to meet with who we’re supposed to meet.”
“Then why don’t we go find them ourselves?” Chelsea asked.
“Because that child is watching our every move,” Midnight said, looking over his shoulder at the closed door to this antechamber on the Citadel’s second floor.
“You have a serious beef with the Crystal Family,” Chelsea said.
“For good reason,” Midnight said.
“The Crystal King is the one who took Nocta from him,” Mineria said sadly. “And before that –”
“Before that they’ve been meddling in everyone’s lives too much,” Midnight said. “If it weren’t for them, I never would have been the master of Midnight Bridge.”
“And I wouldn’t have had you as a teacher,” Caleb said.
“Don’t praise them for that,” Midnight said with a glare. “It’s one thing to have a choice in where you go, the life you live. It’s another thing entirely to have your role in the universe forced upon you by a meddlesome king who puts himself above everyone else.”
“And Prince Glen wants us to find the rest of his family,” Ingrid said. “So you’d have to face the King again.”
“That’s not so bad, is it?” Adelaide asked, earning an incredulous stare from Midnight. “I’m just saying. If you don’t like him, you’ll get to tell him to his face. And if he tries to force any of us to do anything, we’ll just say no.” She grinned at that.
“Don’t be so cocky,” Midnight said.
“I’m with her,” Chelsea said, putting an arm around Adelaide’s shoulders. “In fact, I’d like to see these so-called royals try to force us to do anything. They’ll find out real fast how far that’ll get them with us.”
“Yeah!” Ingrid said. “You’ve gone through bad stuff with them because you’ve been alone, and because they took advantage of you when you were young and weak. But now you’re older and stronger, and you’ve got all of us.”
Midnight let out a heavy sigh, then looked at Caleb. “What’s the matter? This all sounds like your sort of stuff to say.”
Caleb blinked. “I, uh…” he started, faltering.
“Caleb?” Chelsea asked.
“I just…” Caleb stopped, taking a breath. “What’s this transformation thing I’m going through? And why does the prince want my power? I don’t really get what’s happening to me. If he needs special Time Magic, why doesn’t he just ask for your help?”
“I’m glad he didn’t,” Midnight said. “But… that’s interesting.” He nodded. “All right. Forget about the prince, forget about his family for now. We need to talk to someone else here, and we need to get you through what’s happening to you. Complete your transformation.”
“You’re still not going to tell me what that means?” Caleb asked with a chuckle.
“Knowing doesn’t mean I can explain it,” Midnight said. “You seem to be a special case.”
“Why’s that?” Caleb asked.
“The way the people who know what’s happening are treating you,” Midnight said. “And the fact that you weren’t just called to the Edge of Time – where I’ve never been – but called through its entirety, to its deepest, farthest parts, to meet with someone I didn’t even know existed.” He shook his head. “I don’t know what it means. But you’re different from any Time Mage I’ve ever trained, met, or even heard about.”
“I’m not sure how I should feel about that,” Caleb said with a weak chuckle.
“Well, let’s just get going, then,” Chelsea said, standing up. She reached out her hand to Caleb. “Whatever it is, the best way to find out is to dive into it, right?”
Caleb took her hand, nodding. “Right.”
Midnight led the way out from the antechamber and into the halls of the Citadel. The massive main chamber was surrounded by multiple floors of these halls, with walls and doors to one side and the main chamber to the other. They were on the second floor, and hurried towards the front of the Citadel before climbing.
“All the way to the top,” Midnight said in a hushed voice.
They passed three Rein Knights, none of whom paid their group even the barest glance. They reached the very top of the Citadel, a circular chamber with a high, domed ceiling and a single door.
In front of that door stood Prince Glen, flanked by two Rein Knights.
“I thought you might desire to speak with the Matron,” the prince said, smiling that strange smile of his.
He never seems genuine. Like he’s smiling because… why?
He’s so young. It’s hard to think so ill of a child, but he’s an Enchanted, so he’s probably far older than I am.
Why does his smile unnerve me so?
“We do,” Midnight said, fixing the boy with a resolute gaze.
“No need to look so harshly upon me, Mister Midnight,” Glen said with a laugh. “I merely wished to see you off, and wish you luck on the journey ahead. I expect great things from you.”
The prince stepped aside, and Midnight led the way forward wordlessly, stepping through the door first, followed by Mineria and Ingrid. Caleb gestured for Chelsea and Adelaide to go ahead of him, and then took up the rear, sparing a glance for the prince as he went.
That smile again. The way his eyes follow me…
I hope I’m wrong about him.
Inside, Midnight stepped back to close the door behind them, and then all gathered in the small room. It was a bare space with no windows and towering ceilings. Across from them, behind a meager, featureless desk, sat a woman.
She had the same white eyes and hair of the Rein Knights, and dressed completely in white, but she didn’t wear the emotionless expression of the Knights. Instead, she surveyed the group with a knowing smile.
“I did not think I would see you again, Mister Midnight,” the Matron said. Her voice was layered, filling the room with multiple voices, a strength and resonance that said she was far more than she seemed.
“It’s been a long time, Matron,” Midnight said, nodding once. “Can you tell me about the little prince? What’s he doing here?”
The Matron’s smile didn’t waver. “I know not,” she said. “He arrived without warning or explanation, and seems to have an uncanny power over my Knights.”
“Power over them?” Midnight asked. “But that’s —”
“Dangerous?” the Matron asked. “I know. For that reason, I hope you can find his family quickly. I don’t trust that boy apart from his father.”
“Do you know what’s become of the Crystal Family?” Mineria asked.
“No,” the Matron said. “The boy does, but he’s only willing to tell one.” Her gaze locked onto Caleb, and he felt a sudden, intense pressure.
Like the Knights at The Brig!
But why…?
“Yes, you are something special,” the Matron said. The pressure suddenly abated, and Caleb gasped for breath.
“Care to explain?” Chelsea asked, hands on her hips.
“All of you will find out in good time,” the Matron said. “In the middle of a transformation… yes. Yes, indeed. Mister Midnight, you know the protocol.”
“That’s why I’m here,” Midnight said. “But what I don’t understand is why the boy can’t use my powers. What’s different about Caleb? And why does he of all people know?”
“You’ll find out what’s different about him in time,” the Matron said. “But why the boy knows… I cannot be sure. No doubt it is troubling.” She held out her hand, and in a burst of light, a small, slim booklet appeared in her hand. “For you,” she said, eyes on Caleb.
Caleb stepped forward and took the booklet, staring at its featureless cover. “What is it?” he asked.
“Your passport,” Midnight said in a hushed tone. “You need three stamps. Those will get you into the Court of Time.”
“Court of Time?” Caleb asked.
“I provide the passport,” the Matron said. “Each of the Masters of Time provide a stamp. Three stamps in hand, and you can travel to the Court of Time, where you will face a test. Pass the test, and your transformation will be complete. And then you may finally understand what is becoming of you.”
“Why can’t anyone give us a proper answer?” Chelsea asked. “Should we be worried about what this transformation is going to look like?”
“Possibly,” the Matron said.
“It’ll be fine,” Midnight said, cutting off Chelsea’s retort. “I’ll make sure of it.”
“Attached to a student, are you?” the Matron asked. “I never thought I’d see the day.”
“Anything else you can tell us?” Midnight asked, turning half towards the door.
“Always in such a hurry,” the Matron said. “Know this, Mister Midnight: his transformation will not be the same as yours. It will be unlike anything we have ever seen.”
Midnight nodded once, then made for the door. “We’ll be back.”
“I’ll be waiting,” the Matron said.
The smile never left her face.
Prince Glen wasn’t waiting for them outside, and they made it out of the Citadel and all the way down to the dock unobstructed. There they stood, waiting in front of placid waters, in a land where no breeze stirred the air.
Caleb held the passport in his hands, looking at it closely. There were three pages at the front, each with a label above it. First Chronoshin, then Chronokon, and finally Chronosei. Each had a large space for a circular stamp.
But there were six more pages after that, unlabeled, with no script or markings whatsoever.
“How much can you tell me beforehand?” Caleb asked.
“We’ll travel to each of the Chronolytical Locations,” Midnight said. “Starting with the one you’re familiar with, and working our way towards the beginning. Chronokon – Time’s Twilight Hour. Chronosei – Time’s Birthing Cry. At each one, you’ll get a stamp from a Master of Time. Those three stamps let you go to the Court of Time, where you face a test.”
“What kind of test?” Caleb asked.
“It differs for everyone,” Midnight said. “But one thing is constant – you will struggle to understand anything that’s happening. In a way, the outcome of the test is entirely outside of your control. I…” He gazed out into the distance, a harsh gleam in his eyes. “I can’t explain it. The Jurors of the Court, they can see Time in a way I don’t think anyone else can, and they can use that to look into a Time Mage, see the very core of their being…”
“You passed the test, right?” Chelsea asked. “What happened after that?”
Midnight looked up. “Our ride’s here,” he said.
Down came the gondola, piloted by the Starway Maiden that had brought them to Reinheit Citadel. She brought the boat to a smooth stop at the edge of the dock, and everyone stepped aboard.
He can tell me what happened with his test, right?
So why won’t he?
The gondola soared up and away, the world transforming into the kaleidoscopic beauty of the Celestial Starway.
But Caleb’s mind was far from the marvelous sights. His heart was heavy, his mind troubled.
What’s going to happen to me?