(UNDERGOING EDITS) Gift of the Future (Ninjago au book 8)

Chapter 5: To the Realm of Time

Cole was surprised at how well Krux held himself together as Acronix exited the city. The Time Devine wasn't doing so well himself, which was to be expected.

The golden streaks of tears that ran down his face were almost mesmerizing.

Acronix slowly continued forward, his shoes scuffing the ground below.

"Your power?" Krux asked softly as he neared his brother, extending a gentle hand to the child in his arms.

Acronix only shook his head.

Krux looked down at Hiros limp body and pulled the ever present packet of tissues from his pocket. He took the small water bottle from his other pocket and wet one of the tissues before gently wiping the blood from her face.

Acronix couldn't form the words, but Krux knew from the way he tried to speak that he appreciated it.

"Nix?"

Acronix looked up from Hiros face and into Krux's eyes.

"What do we do now?"

Acronix's gaze fell to the side. He didn't know what to do. None of his dreams ever showed him. "I-" His voice faltered. "I don't know."

Kairos' voice spoke softly in the back of his mind. 'Go to the home realm. Something about this feels far too familiar to me.' It felt so quiet.

Krux noticed the change in his brothers stature. "What is it?"

"Chronos. I have to go to Chronos."

"Well you sure as the cursed aren't going alone." Krux furrowed his brows.

"We don't know what the realm would do to anyone without the power of time, Krux. I'm not-" Acronix paused before softening his tone. "I'm not losing you too."

"I could go?" Morros voice spoke.

Acronix turned to Morro. "I don't want... Anyone else to get hurt.

"I know what death is like. I'm not afraid to try for the sake of your sanity."

"I am. I'm afraid." Acronix pulled his daughter closer to him.

"You have reason to be. But that's our reason for not wanting you alone. We don't know what you'll do to yourself. Krux was jailed for a month and a half and you nearly let yourself starve to death." Morro looked down at the child and pulled the communicator out of his ear. "I heard everything. I saw your dragon disappear."

"I questioned everything he said instead of going back. I got my child killed."

Krux quickly snapped at his brother. "No you didn't."

"Then who did? Who didn't go back for her? Who questioned every word Lloyd said? Who let his fear control him?"

"Acronix. It was a mistake. You're allowed that. You're human."

"A mistake that killed her, Krux."

A quiet, "Let me go." Could be heard. Obviously belonging to Jay. He rounded the trucks corner and stopped. Cole soon followed. Jay's eyes locked with Acronix's and didn't move.

The conversation they'd had half an hour ago felt like a pit that neither could escape.

Bear the grief of your fallen child to stay with your family longer. It's not something you'd wish on your worst enemy.

Jay slowly neared Acronix keeping their eyes together. As he got closer, he could hear the words that barely managed to escape the man.

"I put him through all that just for this. Nine months, for what?" The words stopped as Jay's hand touched his arm.