"So what do I look like? Is Soul a pianist? Do I become a 3-star meister? Is Black Star some sort of god-killer? How about Kid? Did he replace his father?"
Alduin felt an anger mark formed on his head as Maka barraged him with a eruption of questions and Soul, who Maka insisted that he should know, was just sitting there waiting for his turn.
"I'm from the future, alright! So if you know anything from the future, you will probably change it in some insanely horrific way. So stop asking me about that!" Alduin roared at Maka. This "I'm from the future" act might be something he will regret for sure.
"All I can tell you is that Chaos will destroy the universe in the future. So unless you stop him, there is no future. The dragon who gave me the power of the Voice gave this mission in exchange."
"So you're here now and we know about Chaos. See the future is changed already." Soul smugly stated. "So we don't need to worry."
"You mortals always think that you know everything, don't you?" Alduin was now fully annoyed. "Chaos will crush you like a bug and then use your blood as toothpaste. Even if you do know he is coming, that won't stop him."
"Wait a minute….who are you calling mortals?" Soul wanted to strangle Alduin's neck but when Alduin is angered, no one is allowed to touch him. With one swift movement, Alduin did a judo throw and flipped Soul right off his feet and onto the floor. "Sahlo….." He mocked as Maka ran up to Soul.
"Why did you do that for?" Maka grabbed her book but Alduin grabbed her wrist instead. He was nose-to-nose with her and his piercing gaze frightened her to drop the book.
"I am fucking serious…."
Alduin let her go and Maka quickly supported Soul back up. Alduin sat on the chair, rubbing his head in frustration. As he calmed down, he gazed at Soul and Maka, who nodded and sat with him, willing to listen to what he has to say.
"Finally…..Look I need to get the artifact that Death is putting up as an award."
"You mean, the contest award? I've heard that the artifact is just a stupid hourglass." Soul laid back on his chair, precariously balancing it.
"Hourglass? It can't be….." Alduin felt his mind race back to when he saw his father in human form. Akatosh was an old gray-haired wise man with weathered eyes and a noble stance. He would dress in the clothes of a priest.
And in his hands was an hourglass. One that he would turn at the rise and fall of ages.
"WHAT THE HECK!"
Alduin was disrupted by sudden shout as Soul and Maka gawked at a purple-blue spectral orb forming on the table. As quickly as it had came, the orb dispersed, revealing an bag.
On it was a note:
You are right indeed. And I think these will be useful.
-P from the future
"Oh brother….." Alduin sighed as he took the note. "Looks like you are playing along with this future huh?" Alduin thought as Maka opened the bag.
"You won't believe this…." Maka looked down into the bag. "This is a bag containing hammerspace! Look!" Maka pulled out a giant steel shield that would have clearly broken a normal bag. The shield had the logo of a dragon on it and was of a kite design. "A shield?" Alduin questioned his brother's choice of arms. Personally, he was more of a "oh my god I'm a fiery dragon" type of fighter. But Alduin guessed he had no choice.
As he picked up the shield, testing in one hand, Alduin noticed a glowing inscription on the back. "Oh you smart-ass son of a bitch!" Alduin praised his brother. The inscription was Alduin's most used word. "Yol….." He whispered and sure enough the inscription responded as if enveloped him in glowing tendrils of light.
"And we have...candles?" Maka and Soul were completely oblivious to what just happened and Alduin noticed the candles. "Pass them to me. It's just to test a new power."
Placing then neatly on the table, Alduin let himself relax naturally. Then focusing on a single point, Alduin whispered:"Yol…" True enough a small focused stream of dragon fire burst from his mouth and ignited the candles, causing both Soul and Maka to gasp.
As they burnt, Alduin heard the whispering within the candle smoke. Yes, he was correct. Those were whispering candles. The language was in the Dragon language but Alduin willingly translated it for Maka and Soul, who managed to hear the whisperings too.
"Well done, young one. You have indeed inherited the Thu'um well. But I will be unable to give you any more. Instead, the words have travelled to Earth itself, waiting for you to retrieve them, to use them. As a final parting gift and a weapon to use against the rising Chaos, I impart the Shield of Paarthurnax to you."
"Calling me a young one huh, little brother?" Alduin thought as the candles fully burnt out and the smoke enveloped the shield in a holy mist. Then as if it was dragonskin itself, scales began to form on the shield itself as the weapon compressed, becoming smaller and smaller, before turning into a band of dragonscales.
"What the heck? The shield just turned tiny." Soul exclaimed . Alduin put the band on his left wrist. On the scales were inscribed another word, Spaan. In other words, shield. "What does it do?" Maka asked as she and Soul looked on. "This." Alduin stated. "Spaan…" The band exploded into the same dragonscale shield as before and another 'Spaan' made it return to its band form.
"Woah, now you are awesome!" Soul patted Alduin's back but a glare caused him to recoil away. "So what do we do? Wait a month for the contest to the hourglass?" Maka inquired.
"No, we don't wait. Waiting will surely get us killed. I need to find the other words and understand your world better. I guess I have no choice but will you help me?"
"Of course, you idiot. You took a big risk trusting us with your mission so I'm honoured that you think we can help. How about this? We start with a practice session tomorrow. Against Black Star you obviously prevailed with your voice but can you match us without it?"
"You want me to fight you without my voice? I rather die than do that."
"C'mon, bro! Your voice is powerful but your form of fighting is bringing you down. You just need some practice. Trust Maka. She's great at training people."
"Are you sure?"
"110% sure."