CHAPTER NINETEEN
Light Path
The Prince had not managed to get much sleep the night before, confiding with Zurvan about the nightmare and how long he truly had, before even Zurvan's skills would be of no use against keeping the corruption's ever-lingering presence at bay.
Zurvan did what he could to remain optimistic in his renewed advisory position. But when pressed by the Prince for a specific timeframe, Zurvan confirmed with great reluctance that it was likely about three days, before he would be unable to hold the Dark Prince back any longer from taking full control and fling the world into an even greater peril.
The elder was many things to the Prince and a liar was certainly not one of them. And as he returned his presence to the physical realm, Zurvan from the security of the Prince's mentalscape could only look down on himself for having to state what he did to the Prince. It stung him to know that despite his best efforts, he was only prolonging the inevitable.
'Now is not the time to start doubting yourself and your skills Zurvan.' a female voice said to the old man as she placed a hand on the upper portion of the chair figment and moved her upper body down to Zurvan's level. 'Right now, the Prince needs you to keep him stable during this crisis. He cannot face all his battles alone.'
'Empress,' Zurvan said with great surprise. 'This place would be the last location I'd expect you to take up residence in. I thought you were no longer among us?'
'Not everything is as it seems,' Kaileena said. 'I am only here before you now, as a mere echo of the Sands of Time.'
'So the Prince wasn't merely hearing things,' Zurvan chuckled. 'It's been you who's been granting him access to powers no mortal man has ever seen. But why not inform the Prince that you're here? That not all is lost?'
Zurvan could sense a feeling of sadness coming from Kaileena.
'Unfortunately, I cannot deliver such a request,' Kaileena replied. 'In order to ensure the best possible outcome for this world's future, I cannot interfere in what is to come. And I would only ask to keep what I've told you to yourself.'
Zurvan expressed frustration at this revelation for a while before finally relenting and confirming to Kaileena that the Prince would hear none of this from him.
Kaileena thanked him for his hospitality. But before her echo faded away from the Prince's mentalscape entirely, she donated some of her remaining essence to Zurvan, enhancing his strength enough that he'd be capable of holding the Dark Prince in place for a few more hours past the expected deadline, wishing Zurvan well as she departed.
Zurvan couldn't help but smile. Somehow, someway... The Prince was going to succeed. No matter what stood in his way, the Prince would set things right and he couldn't wait to see what happened next.