Down in The caves of Enlyn

Terrchel asked what happened next and the time portal shifted corresponding to his question, and they were back in the desert of Enlyn, where Arnold and Arlene first met.

Meriella and Terrchel saw Arlene entering the caves on her own. With her laser focus in movements and expressions navigating the plane, they knew she was there on a very important solo mission.

Terrchel: "She must have returned to finish what she started the day she met Arnold years ago, let's follow her".

They entered the cave, and it was filled with luminous crystals, glowing insects crawling and buzzing through the humoured air.

Arlene's boots were dusty, and her breathing increased as the space grew smaller and the atmosphere turned cool compared to the outside temperatures of the desert.

Terrchel and Meriella could feel everything she experienced. It felt like a real-time experience. The cave seemed to have an ecosystem of its own that thrived in its environment. With each step, they all searched the spaces before them with inquisitive glares.

Arlene had a forged golden key with her. The key had a ruby at the top of it that illuminated the cave in shades of red as soon as she placed the key into a wall where there seemed to be a slight keyhole peeking out. All the crystals in the cave turned red and the wall started to shift creating a small entrance way. Arlene slipped through the small space.

Terrchel looked at Meriella and then at the closing space wondering if he would fit but also knowing they needed to hurry and follow her they won't see what happened next.

Nodding at each other as if they read each other's minds. Terrchel speedily rushed through the entrance, but midway Meriella got stuck. It appeared her bust, where her core pulsated, was caught in the closing gap. Panic set in as Terrchel seeing saw her struggle to get through.

The gap pushed up against her but came to a halt. She couldn't help but burst out laughing seeing the distress on his face, despite the extremely important mission they were on, she found humour in the mess which confused Terrchel in the moment.

She looked at him with an intense stare and sternly said "help me you idiot!'

Terrchel: If we miss what comes next I'm blaming you!

Wondering how on he would supposedly help her, 'as if my abilities include boob shrinkage but it's better if I don't tell her that'.

Terrchel: Just push through it's not that BIG of a deal 

Meriella: Are you testing me! Just pull me through make quick. 

He gently grabs her arm tries pulling her through without hurting her, but his mind trails of 'if we going to see what's going on through this entrance, I'm entire going to have to yank her out or go on alone or cut off her armour plates'. 

Terrchel: Look, this isn't working, and we don't have time for this.

She gave him a sad pout.

Mereilla: "Well go, run meet me back here. If you can get that key I can get out of this mess, but don't worry I'm not in pain luckily the armour of my core is protecting me". 

Terrchel: I don't remember saying I was worried, but yeah, I'll come back for you.

Without wasting time, he nodded and bolted through the entranceway, engaging speed and scent to track the surroundings and where Arlene went.

This part of the cave seemed like an entirely different world he stepped into. The heat was extreme and there was a deadly toxin in the air. He coughed and choked struggling to breathe as he wandered deeper into the cave.

Terrchel: 'This all feels way too real as if I'm actively part of the past how is this even possible'. 

I looked back at the entrance I left behind all I could see is the red glowing in the distance and Meriella's golden eyes staring at me helplessly.

She seemed concerned, but I would be way more concerned if she were here with me given the extreme conditions of this part of the cave. I'm kind of glad she got stuck there. I have my environmental adaptation ability, but she wouldn't have survived.

By now, I've adapted to the toxins and the extreme vacuum atmosphere. I spotted Arlene, she had a gas mask over her face she must have known this is the conditions in here and brought it along in her backpack.

In her hand she held a rare transfiguration box with a luminous blue orb inside. She wrapped it in some material and placed it in a case in her backpack.

That must be the celestial orb that fell from the Light Realm, which means it landed here all those years ago? or at least a fragment of it...

It was definitely time to get out of this cave. I sensed a presence besides ours in the midst, but as I followed behind Arlene to the other side of the cave, I realized I still needed to save Meriella and somehow get the key. 

I took a leep and grabbed the key from Arlene's pocket, shocked that I was able to interact with the past event. I ran to the entrance where Meriella waited for me, but sensed a threat approaching.

Ten individuals, to be exact with spears and I could feel their physical strength that they possessed were inhuman.

As I reached Meriella I looked back and saw they grabbed Arlene. I activate the keep and the gap that held Meriella releases her to the ground. As I reach down to help her to her feet one of the inhuman beings somehow grab me too!

Meriella let a cry of shock out and our eyes met. As she watched them drag Arlene and I away. Everything happened so fast.

We didn't understand how this was possible! We're not really present; we're just supposed to be observing the past. 

Meriella jumps up from the ground and runs after us but gets caught in the toxins and gasps for air. I watch as she closes her eyes and coughs uncontrollably stumbling over her feet.

Terrchel: MERRRRIELLA!!

She gets up holding her hands to her face and propels herself upward fly kicking the ceiling above her opening a hole in the cave. I stare in awe, I was worried about her, but I should be more worried about ME!

Narrator: Meriella found herself separated from Terrchel as she jumped out of the cave. She is now on the dessert surface, and she has no idea where the beginning or end meets.

Meriella's pov

He has been gone for quite some time now. I paced up and down in anticipation. Patience isn't one of my strengths, and I wanted to see the discovery of the Celestial energy orb myself, but those things that dragged him away, I've heard rumours about them, with their glowing blue eyes, spears, and horns.

In that moment, I swear one of the men looked me directly in my eyes! Could he see me? But how... And they not only see Terrchel but they can interact with him. This is bad, bad, bad.

I heard rumors about an ancient tribe of warriors who were safekeepers of the celestial energy. They were said to be unnatural beings with the power of guardians that could interfere with time and space as they saw fit, but I always thought that was impossible. 

Did they come here especially for us! Or were they here at the time Arlene came seeking the orb and now that we synced in time, they are automatically detecting us. 

I need to help Terrchel but how will I get through the gas and back to him. I need another way.

If all fails, I'll just hurry back here and re-open the original entrance, but then I'm left to wait and be useless, and I can't allow Terrchel to get hurt in the past! That means our future will be completely altered and hope for Arcadia with it. 

I began scouting the cave for clues to another entrance. "don't worry Terrchel I'm coming". 

As I journeyed throughout the desert, clutching the ruby key in my hand, in search of a new entrance. I activate my Arcadia space AI assistant and ask for information on these strange warriors so that I can be fully prepared for what I'm stepping into. 

The stats read:

The Order of the Temporal Guardians is an ancient group of powerful beings tasked with protecting the integrity of time. Formed by The Light Realm, they defend the timestream from rogue time travelers and malicious entities. With abilities such as temporal awareness, chrono-perception, and temporal manipulation, they maintain balance and correct anomalies. Throughout history, the Order has been involved in significant events, including the Great Time War, protecting the Celestial Energy Orb, and preventing the Time Reavers from altering historical events.

I closed the swatch information tab and took a moment to scout the area of the cave that I've journeyed into. I noticed a sparkle on the ground and looked up. Instantly, a glowing keyhole was revealed in the roof of the cave where I stood. I tilted my head, wondering why it's up here. 

I crouched down into a squat and focused all my strength and agility into my legs, steadying myself and pressing down and launching my body up, Incase the floor beneath opened and I would have a controlled landing, but I was still out of reach with no Terrchel in sight.

I searched the cave, if I could find a rock the stand on or something... As I continued looking for a way to get to him, my mind drifted to the past. 

The Arcadian space information said that these people we're up against are protectors of time and the celestial orb. 

That must be the same orb that was used to revive me years ago, that energy is what's been keeping me alive. Will that mean these Temporal Guardians will automatically see me as a threat, not only for being here in the past but because of the interruption in the natural order?

I'm supposed to be dead. 

I stumbled across a tunnel. I guess the best option is following this and seeing where I end up. I might be lucky and find Terrchel.