CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Traversing through the Lower City streets, the Prince found the unwavering stillness to be almost unsettling (narrowly avoiding death by unstable ground or mistimed acrobatics several times, his regained Rewind ability proving invaluable in learning from numerous missteps).
But there had been no sign of any guards or creatures to drain contained Sands from for the past fifteen minutes and with no stored Sand Tanks left to draw from at the present time, the Prince was starting to feel especially vulnerable. Perhaps it would have been best to follow Asha's advice and bring a fellow soldier along for a bit of company, he thought.
Watching an unaware Prince from afar, a mysterious being viewed his movements with great interest. Everything was going exactly as planned and perhaps, there was still a chance that this resilient foe could be turned to their leader's cause...
What happened to the Prince next, proved especially detrimental. Archers surrounded him from above and with no Sands to turn back time, he could only attempt to run for cover as fire arrows continued to be aimed not at him, but the surrounding environment (closing off a number of exits as the Prince became entrapped by the ever-growing flames).
The mysterious being made their presence known, the Prince being shocked to discover it was the Old Man, now completely corrupted by the Sands of Time.
He looked like a twisted angel sent down from the heavens, with wings that encompassed a lot of what was viewable behind him, a mixture of yellow and black colors proving striking against the flames.
'I knew you'd come, young Prince,' the Elder mocked. 'With my renewed insight, I can see a multitude of possible outcomes and react accordingly to any move made by those I choose to focus my attention on. Oh, and do not even think of running back the way you came.'
'Stop this!' the Prince shouted. 'Elder, you can fight this corruption. Remember the many trials you guided me through, all the conflicts you coerced me out of for the greater good... Please, I do not wish to harm you.'
'Your pleas fall on deaf ears, Prince!' the Elder stated, as he ordered the perched archers to resume aiming fire arrows while preparing the necessary Sands for the transformation ritual. 'Now, prepare to join our cause anew or die!'
The Prince continued trying to rewind time back, knowing how fruitless his actions were as the enchanted flames edged ever closer to his person and encompassed him within its cruel touch, the familiar feeling of corruption overwhelming him as he screamed in pain as his features visibly transformed before the Elder's eyes, a twinge of humanity struggling to fight through the corruption as he let out an unseen tear at seeing his pupil fall to the Sands of Time's power.