Threads of Identity

Kai didn't have to wait for long. Within a few moments of her hologram flickering out, Elyssar materialized at the entrance of the workshop, her silhouette framed by the flickering glow of Lorith's chaotic inventions. She leaned casually against one of the towering crystalline pillars, as she toyed with a half-finished device she must've snagged on her way in. Her sharp features were partially obscured by the soft gleam of the workbench lights, but the mischievous glint in her emerald eyes cut through the dimness with ease. Elyssar's presence felt like the spark before a wildfire, unpredictable, restless and yet impossible to ignore.

"You called darling?" she drawled lazily, not addressing anyone in particular. Her gaze flickered briefly to Kai with an expression that hovered somewhere between amusement and curiosity. The device in her hand let out a faint click, causing one of it's panels to spring open unexpectedly. Unfazed, she snapped it shut with practiced ease, as if breaking things was her second nature. Selara's posture remained perfectly composed, though the glow in her amber eyes was sharper than usual. "You what to do Elyssar, take Kai to his Solarium," she instructed, her tone steady but carrying an undertone Kai couldn't quite place.

"Let's go, fledgling," Elyssar said, pushing off the pillar with effortless grace. She tossed the device she had been fiddling with onto a cluttered table, her grin crooked and unbothered. "Time to see what kind of space the Castrum thinks is fitting for your vibe." Kai hesitated for a breath, casting one last look at Selara. Something about her stillness in her eyes felt different now, heavier than before. But se said nothing. Taking that as his cue, he followed Elyssar, the soft hum of the workshop fading behind them as they disappeared into the maze of corridors.

The moment their footsteps were gone, Selara's composed exterior shifted. She turned to Lorith, her arms falling to her sides, fingers curling slightly as if grasping invisible threads of tension. "Lorith, it has happened," she said, her voice low and stripped of it's usual commanding edge, now a low confession laced with gravity. "What happened? Did he finally manage to trip over and stab his own face with his sword?" Lorith rumbled, as he leaned on an oversized chair next to his workbench, his tone rough with mockery but lighthearted. Selara didn't smile or even blink. "What we initially feared," she replied, her words cutting through the workshop's ambient hum. " What we thought when he was first brought here. It is true....."

The crystalline giant froze. The faint glow pulsing through the jagged lines of his body dimmed slightly, as if his entire form tensed. Slowly, he straightened, the humor in his expression vanishing as he sat upright, his expression turning grim. "Are you absolutely sure?" he said, his voice dropping to a low, resonant growl, no longer playful, now anchored in something far older and heavier. The crystals on his body refracted the light around the workshop differently now, casting sharp, fractured shadows across the cluttered floor. "Yes....without a doubt," Selara replied as she met his gaze without flinching. The workshop seemed to fall into an unnatural silence, as if the very walls of the castle were holding their breath.

At a completely different section of the castle Kai walked beside Elyssar, the rhythmic sound of his footsteps echoing softly through the corridor. This section felt like a whole new place, different from the others Kai had seen, less regal than the meeting hall, less chaotic than Lorith's workshop. The walls were sleek and curved, crafted from polished silver metallic alloys woven with faint veins of dark blue energy that pulsed gently. Tall arched windows lined one side of the corridor, offering glimpses of endless temporal expanse beyond, a swirling tapestry of shifting lights and fractal patterns that defied logic. On the opposite side, occasional alcoves were crafted into the walls, housing intricate sculptures, depicting warriors fighting fearlessly against monstrous beasts. Each time Kai glanced at them, they seemed to change subtly, as it time itself played tricks on their form.

Elyssar walked along in a carefree manner, skipping along as she hummed an unknown melody. As they walked down the maze-like corridors of the castle, Kai found his gaze drifting to Elyssar's outfit. It wasn't the simplicity that caught his attention, but how.....casual it seemed. It felt almost too light for someone perpetually involved in deadly battles against creatures that defied reality. Her outfit was strangely simple: a sleeveless, form fitting black top that clung to her frame, the neckline dipping just enough to be noticeable without being overly provocative. Her exposed arms and midriff were well toned, hinting at the strength beneath her playful demeanor. She paired the top with denim trek shorts that accentuated her figure. Fingerless gloves covered her hands and a thin strap ran across her waist, holding a small pouch, likely filled with random items she snagged from Lorith's workshop. Her bare feet had padded soles, similar to a cat, which made no noise as she walked. Her hair was a rich, dark auburn with subtle streaks of copper. It was loosely tied back, a few strands framing her sharp, teasing eyes.

Elyssar caught him glancing, a sly grin creeping across her face as her emerald eyes gleamed with mischief. "Aww what's the matter darling?" she teased, turning around to fully face Kai as she cocked her head slightly. "Never seen a woman wear anything less than a full suit of armor?" Kai's face flushed slightly, though he tried to mask it with a scowl. "It's nothing like that," he muttered, pointedly looking away. "It's just....your outfit..." he said hesitantly. "What about it, hmmm?" Elyssar replied, leaning towards Kai, her tail swaying lazily like a ribbon caught in a gentle breeze. "Just....seems a bit revealing for someone who fights deadly monsters on the daily." Kai blurted out, his face feeling warm. Elyssar let out a light laugh, the sound echoing slightly off the pristine walls. "Relax bucko, not everyone here walks around in their battle gear 24/7. Besides" she gave him and exaggerated once-over "aren't you the overdressed one here?"

Kai blinked, glancing down at himself. His suit, still in it's sleek, battle ready form. Up until now it hadn't occurred to him that it could be anything different. "What do you mean?" he asked, genuinely puzzled. Elyssar rolled her eyes dramatically, as she crossed her arms over her chest. "You suit is made from condensed temporal energy, right? You can freely shift it into whatever form you like, combat mode, casual, whatever. Just will it to change and it will, unless you like looking like you're about to charge into battle every time you walk down the halls."

Kai stared at her, then down at his suit." Wait...so I can just...will it to change?" "Yeah, genius," she said with a wide grin, giving him a playful nudge with her elbow. "Did Selara not explain that, or was she too busy being all serious and mysterious?" Kai frowned slightly, but he decided to play along. He focused inward, grasping at the temporal energy of his suit. He imagined it to be something simpler, more casual. Almost instantly, the suit responded. The material shimmered, shifting around as if it was alive. It reconfigured itself to a lightweight, black T-shirt, with the emblem on the back of his coat now at the back of his t-shirt and dark violet cargo pants, with azure markings running down the seams.

Kai blinked, clearly surprised. "Now this, is neat" he remarked. Elyssar let out an approving whistle. "See? Not bad." Though I kind of liked the whole 'brooding warrior' vibe. Made you look edgy." Kai huffed in mild frustration but couldn't help but smile. "Yeah well....I don't need fashion advice from someone who looks like they just rolled out of bed." Elyssar grinned wider, clearly delighted by his attempt at a comeback. "Ooh, look at you my darling. Growing a spine already eh?" She reached out and ruffled his hair playfully, ignoring his glare. "Well let's hurry up now, the sooner I get you out of my hair the sooner I get to laze around again." Elyssar turned, as she resumed skipping down the corridor, humming the unknown melody.

"Yeah, the sooner the better I guess," Kai muttered to himself, as he resumed walking behind her, as they approached a sharp bend at the end of the corridor. When they turned, Kai noticed a row of doors, each of them uniquely crafted and had the name of a Time-keeper inscribed on them. "We are here," Elyssar said in a cheerful tone, "These are the Solarium. Each of them are personalized based on the present occupant." Each of the entrances were unique, one of them gleamed with a metallic finish, etched in intricate patterns, another door pulsed faintly with embedded crystals, while another one was made of sleek polished wood, decorated by interweaving patterns etched across the surface of the door.

Then, Kai saw the door with his name etched onto it. Unlike the others, his door was forged from a smooth jet-black metal, with faint streaks of glowing azure lines running like veins across the surface of the door. The surface wasn't flat but subtly textured with an intricate design, a spiral pattern that resembled a vertex, it's lines converging towards the center where an emblem, identical to the one on the back of Kai's suit was engraved. His name, inscribed in a sharp angular font glowed with a gentle violet light right above the the vortex pattern on his door.

 "Only you and the people you permit can enter your Solarium," Elyssar explained. "So it's perfect when you need some alone time, by yourself...or with a special someone." she continued, winking at Kai. Kai reached out instinctively, grasping the doorknob firmly. He noticed that it had a gentle, comforting warmth. He slowly turned the doorknob, taking in a deep breath before opening the door, worried about what lay beyond.