CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Light Path

The Prince groaned as he gradually opened his eyes and got to his feet, only to find himself back in the mysterious magical void once more, the distinct hourglass standing out amongst the bleak scenery.

Before he could stop to contemplate his sudden return, he got startled by the voice that had seemingly drawn him back into this realm. It was the Old Man, visibly looking in good spirits despite the Prince knowing he'd been forced to kill his corrupted form moments prior.

'Elder?! But I thought you were no longer among the living? What are you doing here?' the Prince stated with great relief.

'Alas my Prince, I am technically among the deceased now,' the Old Man responded in a calm, almost fatherly tone. 'But when you chose to slay me with dignity, something truly unexpected happened. With the Sands that were escaping from the opened wound, I could feel my soul being dragged out of what was formally my own body and into that amulet upon your person. Hence, I find myself here, a new resident inside your head.'

'Wait? We're having this conversation within my own mind?!' the Prince said. 'But how is that even possible?'

'Your guess is as good as mine,' the Old Man replied. 'But regardless of the circumstances that brought us here, it appears fate has afforded me a second chance... to at least help you in stopping that shadow from doing any more damage to the world. Perhaps even redeem what I've had a small part in creating.'

The Prince said nothing, looking away from the elder as he struggled to look at his friend in the same light as he once did.

'I can understand your reluctance to hear the words of one who so distastefully deceived you,' the Old Man said with heartfelt sympathy. 'It is because of me that the corruption has now spread itself into you. But it is also due to my shared presence within your mindscape, that this corruption hasn't already started to manipulate your every waking thought. See for yourself.'

Turning around, the Prince was horrified to see the elder's words were true and saw the Dark Prince contained within a floating hourglass above, that the Old Man brought down lower for a better look with strange arm movements.

'By the gods themselves!' the Prince stated with renewed horror.

The Dark Prince fruitlessly attempted to intimidate the Prince from within his containment as he maliciously responded, 'Or a potential god in the making. Why are you listening to the words of this decrepit, old fool? It's because of him that I now exist and will make things better for you too, if you'd simply leave your durable strength of will at the door and allow me more control over your body in the physical world.'

'I will never willingly submit to your silver-tongued lies parasite!' the Prince said in retaliative outrage. 'The Elder may have made mistakes, but he's also displayed great remorse for what he's done. You on the other hand, openly expressed grand plans of taking all that power for undoubtedly selfish and monstrous gain. I honestly have no reason to trust what you have to say, after you almost made me do unspeakable deeds to innocent lives!'

The Old Man smiled, knowing that he successfully managed to get through to the Prince and greatly weaken the Dark Prince's hold over him for now.

And as the Dark Prince's containment was newly lifted up into the black void above, the Prince and Old Man could hear the corruptive alter-ego spouting out particularly venomous vocabulary that only served to prove to the Prince, how much of a deluded child the Sands made him sound without any degree of morals or humanity to keep him in check.

'Thank you for willing to stop and listen to what I have to say Prince,' the Old Man said. 'It is a relief to know that all that time spent away on the Island of Time, has not completely eroded you.'

'Forget it. It was a mere pleasantry,' the Prince said. 'Now in regards to our continued alliance for the foreseeable future, I think we should start calling you something more deserving of such a position. Tell me Elder, what is your true name?'

'It is... Zurvan.' the Old Man responded.

'Named after the Lord of Time himself?' the Prince stated.

'A certainly fitting name considering the circumstances, wouldn't you think Prince?' the Old Man jokingly commented.

'Very well then. It is good to have you by my side once again during a time of crisis... Zurvan.' the Prince said as he bent down slightly and gently placed a hand on the Old Man's shoulder.

'So... how do you propose I get out of here and wake up back in the city streets?' the Prince questioned. 'There isn't exactly an obvious exit in here either.'

'Might I suggest drinking from that fountain over there?' Zurvan answered, his back turned to the Prince as he sat on a figment in the form of a chair, concentrating his energies on containing the Dark Prince. 'And don't worry. So long as I am here, I will use every bit of strength I have to hold your darker personality at bay.'

'Thank you.' the Prince said, as he proceeded up the staircase to the mysterious fountain once again. But just as he was prepared to start drinking...

'Drink and remember.' It was that familiar voice again.

'Zurvan, did you hear that?' the Prince inquired.

'Hear what?' Zurvan said, 'Only thing I 'heard' as it were, was your silly comments. Now please, return to the physical world and resume your journey.'

'That is odd. Surely the Elder... I mean Zurvan, should have been able to hear this mysterious voice as well from within here,' the Prince thought. But these lingering questions could be dealt with another time, as he began drinking from the fountain (this time generating the symbol of a hourglass above it).

'Remember the Eye of the Storm,' the mysterious voice eloquently said.

And as the Prince drank, he felt himself being lifted up off the ground once more, feeling detached from everything for the moment. It wasn't long before that all-too familiar pain in his skull flared up, as he remembered how to slow down the flow of time for everything that surrounded him (akin to moving about in a pool of mud), while he continued to move about completely unencumbered during its effects. As always, access to this power was limited only by the amount of Sands stocked up within the amulet. So he had to use it only for situations that desperately required its chrono capabilities.

Waking up once again (this time as proper flesh and blood), the Prince could overhear chatter from unaware guards who were examining the remnants of his previous battle.

'What happened here?' one guard said obliviously. 'The Elder... defeated? A mass squadron of soldiers slaughtered en masse. Who would be so capable of defiling our King's rule?'

'That would be the mortal man standing before you now,' the Prince said. 'Apologies for the mess, but these allies of yours were spoiling the mood.'

'It's the Prince!' another guard shouted. 'Catch him, so he can be brought before the King!'

'You're welcome to try.' the Prince cockily commented as he pulled out his sword, ready for a fight.

After defeating the four guards, the Prince placed his sword back in its hilt, a few nasty sword slashes received (but nothing too serious that couldn't be resolved with a few necessary supplies from the Resistance).

'Best I hurry now and get to Darius & the Resistance members,' the Prince said to himself. 'Wouldn't want to miss out on a raid as big as this!'

And as the Prince raced off into the unknown, Zurvan could only smile from the depths of the Prince's mind. Unknown to the Prince, he was following the path that would ensure Babylon's renewed hope, so long as he kept the corruption subdued and guided him wisely along his journey.

Whether he knew it or not however, the Dark Prince continued to plot and scheme from his containment, knowing the old fool could not keep up this resilience forever.