Chapter 53 - Hidden in Time

"Your predecessor's tomb is in Fengfu but also not there. Meaning, it is somewhere in time. So, you need to learn how to use your power first if you want to go there and hear her last words. About the broken necklace and the message, you must find the Gnome Queen Lida. She's the only one who can mend it but you can only go there once you master the ability to manipulate time."

"Ugh, I'm having a headache thinking about this power of manipulating time." She sighed and briefly stared at Skrider... then a smile instantly broke on her face. "Teach me how to manipulate time."

The cat-cactus smiled with her presumptions. "Sorry, I'm only a scribe. I don't teach. The first person who can guide you will be your mount but the rest relies on you. Next, you need to find the rest of your accessories that was passed on to you by your predecessor which are in the hands of her disciples."

"What were those?" The young lady was an eager listener and learner. Everything she heard excited her, most of all, knowing her biological parents was probably alive and had a chance to meet them after she learned to harness her power.

"You already have the three: ring, necklace, and the staff which is the portrait. That portrait has two functions but you can't use them now in your state. You need to find the anklet and the crown. If you have all five, all of your hidden powers will be unleashed and could send this world into oblivion if you can't control it. So, learn to control your emotions and power first."

She was about to speak again but Skrider's finger shot a light. In that instant, a literal zipper zipped her lips, shocking Xinyi to the core. It was her first to see a zipper and amazed for it held her lips from opening.

"I told you, let me finish first... Look at me and listen well," said Skrider. Xinyi nodded.

"Good, what I'll tell you next is very important, so listen well. Be... wary... of people wearing a blue stone in their bodies. That blue magic stones give them temporary power. These people are also after Fengfu City now because they can find those stones in the mines there. These were also the people who wished to steal the diary because the person who sent them believes he can manipulate time once they got the diary. "

Xinyi muffled some words and tried to unzip her lips but she couldn't.

"Listen..." Skrider said like a father scolding a child to be still. Xinyi obeyed and fixed her eyes on him.

"If you'll ask me where to find these stones, don't worry, they are also hidden in time. So, please learn how to use this power first. And oh, something came up." Skrider closed his black eyes and when it opened again, it turned to gold. He was like this for a few minutes, then its eyes became black again and looked straight at Xinyi.

"Go back to Fengfu now. The war is starting. Your husband could be in danger if you won't go now." After speaking, Skrider waved a hand and the zipper disappeared.

"What war?" she blurted out in a hurry after her mouth was freed.

"Someone is controlling the Goding nation's King and his name is Mafan, another Chiangda. You better hurry."

"How did you know this?"

"Remember, I'm the scribe of all Chiangda and your husband is a Chiangda, so is Mafan."

"Tell me how to stop this war or this Mafan."

"Use the power you know best, controlling animals. That's all I can tell you."

"As you said this is war, just tell me how to stop Mafan?"

"Don't make me break my oath. It is detrimental to my life, but have confidence that you can stop him. I can send you directly to Fengfu now but you can't bring Nianshi and the others with you. No one is allowed to come in my space but only you and other Chiangdas."

Xinyi understood and felt her blood boiling in equal mixed emotions of exhilaration and nervousness to fight in a war with her powers. "Just send me back to Nianshi. Are you coming with me?" she asked.

"I'm with you always, but you need to learn how to summon me but the easiest way is by coming in through the diary."

"Okay, send me to Nianshi now." Xinyi stood there, ready to return to dragon's side, but before Skrider sent her...

"Remember, first, don't leave the diary behind. Second, learn to control your emotions. Third, learn how to use your powers. Last, learn more on how to fight without using your powers." After speaking, Skrider waved its hand up but...

Xinyi held Skrider's hands again. "Wait! I have one last question for you. Do you know what will happen in the future?"

Suddenly, Skrider vanished and his voice flowed with the wind. "I don't know. I only write the past. Go now." And Xinyi found herself sitting on Nianshi's lion's head and the diary was already in her hand.

"I'm glad you're back, my lady, but hold on tight and get ready to fight," said Nianshi. This alarmed Xinyi and glanced around her. There, she saw men sitting on their flying mounts and they had blue stones on their foreheads and right hand.