~We're finally getting closer into the main point of the story! By the way, the 5th and 6th chapters are in Latin. The characters will tell you what "Tempus of Tenebrae" means but Tempus Castrum basically translates to Time Castle. And "Tempus Praestes" translates to Time Keeper.~

-TazTree

Eden and Arine entered into a room that seems to be a dining room for 2 people. The tall chairs were a gradient of white and pink, as well as the table.

Arine and Eden took a seat opposite of each other. Arine shuffled in her seat while Eden cleared her throat.

"I know you must have many questions now. You may ask me anything you'd like." Eden extended her arms.

"Why is the whole castle white and pink?" Arine blurted out.

Eden looked confused, then smiled. "It is white and pink to represent the season. White represents the winter solstice, pink represents the vernal equinox, golden represents the summer solstice and red represents the autumnal equinox."

"Oh."

"You-you know it's supposed to be the time for spring, right?" Eden said carefully. Arine nodded. "But for some issue, we cannot change the season to the current one. We are stuck in winter."

"Wait," Arine held up a hand. "You control the seasons?"

"Well, yes," Eden shrugged. "We control time, seasons, day and night from our god and goddess Nox and Lux."

"Wow." Arine breathed. 

"And you have that power too." Eden said quietly.

Arine looked down at her hands. "It's strange to think to have that power. I still am not fully convinced."

Eden gently took Arine's right arm with the watch. "That is a lovely watch. It is the watch for Thornes."

"But my father—well, the King of Rose-Grayen gave me this. He is not a Thorne..."

"You must've remembered wrong," Eden shook her head sadly. "You—you're family name is...well, your family has unique powers not all Tempus have. There are families who are able to control seasons and control actions using their mind. They have a bit more...magic to them. It's certainly a wonderful thing, but many fear these families so these people have to be protected. You were put in a Kingdom on Earth to cover up your powers."

"I-" Arine leaned back in her chair, too overwhelmed to say anything.

Eden looked at her with pity. "Would you like for me to go on?"

Arine held up a hand. "I just-I need some time to process this."

Eden nodded sympathetically. 

Arine had never thought her life was a lie. That it was just something to cover up for something more dark. All these hints of being someone with magic, not really, well human...

She was so blind.

"What does this make me?" Arine whispered. "With this power? Being feared by people?"

"Arine," Eden's voice cracked slightly. "You are one of the family's with, what the people from Earth call 'dark magic.'"

Arine slammed her fists on the table. Eden pushed back from her chair, shocked. 

"No-no. The-the King had always taken care of me. Always. And-and he despises the ones with dark magic. I cannot-I cannot have this power. I can't."

"Arine, Arine, dear Arine," Eden coaxed. "Your power is not bad. It does not make you a villain. The King does not know yet of your power. Neither does the Queen. You still have a chance for them to accept you."

Arine felt tears fall on her cheeks. Eden wrapped her arm around Arine's shoulder and stroked her hair. Arine had a feeling that Eden was used to this; dealing with new Tempus Praestes who didn't know their identity, taking care of them. 

A few minutes passed with them being together. Then Arine pulled away and looked at Eden. "You've been so kind to me. I'm just so lost and—"

"It's okay," Eden hushed her. "It happens to all of us."

"How can I...how can I repay you? How do I help you?"

"Dear, there's nothing you need to do to repay me. You have other struggles ahead of you," Eden paused. "Though, about the seasonal issue we're having now, there is someone who can fix it but we cannot find him."

"Who?" Arine breathed.

"Marvin Graydown."

Arine stood up swiftly. "I know him! Well, I haven't met him but I've been trying to find him this whole time!"

"You have?" Eden asked incredulously. 

"Yes!" Arine nodded eagerly. "A traveling guard from my Kingdom reported to us that Marvin Graydown could fix the season. Though only some people know where to find and see him."

Eden pointed at her. "And that's the issue. The Tempus Kingdom has been trying to find people who could find him. They say that the person would...just know where he is?"

"Well I feel a tug in my heart. And right now it's tighter which I suppose means he's nearby?" Arine started to get excited.

"Really?" Eden exclaimed, sharing Arine's emotions.

"Yes!"

"Well, I suppose it isn't too big of a surprise. Marvin would stay nearby the Kingdom all the time. Though I do not know where." Eden sighed. "Poor boy. He's been safe from people when he was young, his family name hidden, until some people found out. Ever since then he has been in hiding, and without the families of magic, the seasons get mixed up."

Arine's throat became dry. The King. The King wanted Marvin dead. The King wanted all the Graydowns dead. The King was a threat to Marvin. She decided against telling Eden now. She seemed worried enough knowing there were people threatening Marvin.

"Why is it that I'm able to find Marvin?" Arine inquired.

"That's a good question," Eden said, her face pensive. "I'm not positive but maybe because Marvin is one of the Greater Families and you are too. Greater Families can find other Greater Families?"

"Greater Families are the ones with 'dark magic?'" Arine made air quotes. 

Eden laughed. "Yes, they are," Eden stood up from her chair. "Tell me how you are feeling now."

Arine stood up too. "My feelings...cannot be expressed in words. Everything is confusing and clear at the same time. In my Kingdom before, I had a garden. Every year it would not die in winter. Apparently it was because with my powers I made the garden have spring...and like I protected it. I was it's protector. And when I touched a flower, it withered when I was thinking of it withering. Also, during the long winter, my Kingdom was in a lockdown but I wished to see my garden at night so I climbed down the window to do so. The first time I did it, my window was open and when I thought of the past where it was closed, it just closed."

Eden nodded understandingly to all of this. "The watch is your special item. With it, it makes your powers more efficient to use. Just think of the past you want and the future you desire."

Arine touched the top of her watch carefully. She then looked up at Eden. "What do you know about my parents?"

"I don't know much," Eden said ruefully. "I know they were as powerful as you. I knew their names, Enya and Aquilla Thorne. And they cared so much about you. I didn't see you as a child, Arine, but I knew your name. They devoted their lives to you, to keep you safe. You were their last thoughts in their death. They wanted to put you in this Kingdom, the Rose-Grayen Kingdom. They wanted you to have a chance in normal and safe life."

"But...that isn't possible now." Arine said.

"That isn't exactly true," Eden shook her head. "But after knowing your true identity, it's almost impossible to go back to the way things once were. You will be more aware of your powers, and others will recognize you as part of the Greater Families."

"I suppose...but I don't know. It's such a—such a hard time now. Everything is just leading into another issue." Arine admitted.

"It is," Eden agreed. "With the seasons not being timely, with Marvin being at risk, with all the Greater Families being at risk, with everyone in the world being at risk, with our mandate not being fulfilled...it is truly a Tempus of Tenebrae." Time of Darkness.

Arine shivered. She rubbed her hands together, trying to ignore the cold rising in her. "How long have I been here?"

Eden looked perplexed at that. "Oh, I am not sure. In Tempus, time does not matter to us. It goes the same unless the seasons change. We do not have days, months, years like the Earth does."

"Wait, so I could be stuck here for days, months, or years?" Arine shrieked. 

"I don't think it has been a day yet. You came not too long ago," Eden coughed. "Is it an emergency for you to go back?"

"Well...the whole purpose for me was to find Marvin and going back would seem like a waste. I might go back after finding Marvin." Arine answered.

"In that case," Eden looked at Arine directly in the eye. "Would you be willing to accept my proposal to stay here for a few days?"