Masteria Through Time

Chapter 3: 1000 Years and Counting

Using the Time Portal, Dr. Jang traveled back in time and met Naricain of the past in the Krakian Jungle. There, she explained that she was a time traveler who had come from a thousand years in the future in order to give him a warning from his future self. In order to convince him, she told him details of what would happen the next day, with Naricain hoping to seize the Antellion by confronting Crimsonheart and ultimately destroying him.

Naricain was surprised that Dr. Jang knew about his ambitions, but he noted that he had no plans to kill his father, adding that he would never even think to consider it if Crimsonheart were to surrender, or even just come to understand him in the least. Dr. Jang called Naricain a poor thing and claimed that his dilemma was why she didn’t understand family, as she wondered why Naricain would ever expect the man who had always stood in his way and driven him from his home to listen to him.

Naricain simply told her that if she could not comprehend the bonds of family, then he could not explain it to her. Unimpressed, Dr. Jang continued and told Naricain that in spite of seizing the Antellion and killing his father, he would ultimately fail, as the Grandmasters would destroy the Antellion, rather than let him have it.

To her surprise, Naricain approvingly called it a fine plan, causing her to remind him that the Grandmasters would end his ambitions and trap him in a statue for a millennium. Naricain merely laughed and apologized before asking her to continue. Dr. Jang then told him that Subani would trap him inside a purgatory, which surprised Naricain, as he believed that his brother was a coward. When Dr. Jang explained that it would cost Subani his life, Naricain wondered whether Subani and the others had sacrificed everything because they believed in their cause, or whether it was simply because they hated him that much.

He then thanked Dr. Jang for traveling to the past and told her that he would have made the same choice as his future self. When Dr. Jang asked which choice he meant, Naricain told her that it was the choice of keeping such a beautiful and wise advisor by his side. (A/N: Please kill me.) He then asked her whether she could help him alter his plan, after which they began to work together to change the future.

Back in the present, the traveler and Lukan fought through the monsters of the Phantom Forest and made their way inside Crimsonwood Keep. As Lukan surveyed the old interior, he suddenly had a strange sensation, which he described as the same feeling of creeping dread that he had felt when Crimsonheart had fallen.

As the traveler searched the room, they came across a faded journal that described how Crimsonheart had brought the Antellion to Maple World with the Grandmasters. In the next several pages, they read how the native Krakians had brought offerings to the people of the Keep, and how Crimsonheart had decided to share the blessings of the Antellion with the Krakians for their benefit. The next pages were difficult to read, but hinted at a user of dark magic in Krakia.

(A/N: I’d assume that this is likely a reference to Naricain himself. The other possibility is that it’s a reference to Dr. Jang, who’s going to change the past by using her scientific genius to corrupt the Krakians. Since the people of ancient Masteria have no idea what science is, they’d likely attribute it to dark magic.)

Realizing that the rest was too faded, the traveler continued on and noticed that there were several clean boxes and a desk, which stood out against the rest of the dusty room, as though they had been used by someone recently. Just then, they noticed that there was light seeping out of cracks that had appeared across Naricain’s statue. Lukan realized that Subani’s seal had nearly vanished and wondered how it could have happened.

The traveler pointed out that the Antellion had been destroyed a thousand years ago, and so the world would still remain safe even if Naricain escaped. However, Lukan noticed a portal nearby and pointed out that it was being powered by the fragment of the Antellion which Naricain had stolen. Realizing that someone was helping Naricain, the traveler decided to search around for clues. Inside the new-looking boxes near the desk, they discovered books about the languages of Versal, with Dr. Jang listed as the owner, though the traveler was unsure of who that was.

(A/N: Becky was literally worshipping Dr. Jang in the intro quests, I’m pretty sure that we ought to know who she is. Becky also doesn’t show up here because the intro quests were added several years after the blockbuster.)

Searching through Dr. Jang’s desk, they discovered that it belonged to the Masteria Research Institute and contained the blueprints for the device. The traveler was shocked to learn that the machine was a Time Portal powered by the Antellion fragment, whose power spanned across spacetime, and that it had only been calibrated to travel back to the past, not the future.

Lukan immediately realized that Naricain wanted to prevent the Antellion from being destroyed. Vowing to stop Naricain and Dr. Jang, Lukan decided to enter the Time Portal. Though he tried to dissuade the traveler from following, claiming that they had already done much by helping him, the traveler told him that it was their responsibility to act when anything threatened Maple World, regardless of the time period.

The pair then entered the portal and the traveler soon awoke in the Krakian Jungle, where they realized that they had gotten separated from Lukan. After fighting through the jungle monsters, which had strange mechanical devices strapped onto them, the traveler reunited with Lukan at the entrance to Crimsonwood Keep.

(A/N: We emerge to a point several days after when Dr. Jang landed. Naricain was meant to execute his plan the day after Dr. Jang landed, but her changes to the original plan resulted in it being delayed enough that it still hasn’t been carried out by the time that the traveler and Lukan arrive. The mechanical devices on the jungle creatures are hints at Dr. Jang’s new plan.)

The traveler was surprised to find that Lukan’s injuries from his time in the present had vanished, leaving him restored to his original state from a thousand years ago.

(A/N: Note that Lukan never meets his past self from this time period, even though there ought to be one, since our Lukan hasn’t been displaced at this moment in history. This is a hint at an important revelation that we get towards the end of the latest Masteria storyline expansion.)

The traveler asked Lukan about the presence of the nearby monsters, to which he explained that he was just as confused, as the Keep was meant to be a safe haven. The two then entered the Keep and met with Crimsonheart, Subani, and the other Grandmasters. Lukan immediately grew emotional upon seeing his leader alive, much to Crimsonheart’s confusion.

Upon seeing Lireni, Lukan immediately grew furious until the traveler reminded him that Lireni’s betrayal had not yet happened. Crimsonheart then asked Lukan who the traveler was and how they had managed to break past the barrier on the Keep. Lukan explained that the traveler was a hero who had saved his life, and that it was because of them that he could warn the others of events yet to come.

After Lukan explained the full situation, Crimsonheart noted that the traveler seemed to fit with Lukan’s story, as he had never seen such strange clothing before. When the traveler explained that they had come from a thousand years in the future, Crimsonheart realized that Naricain’s ambitions were truly timeless.

Lukan then added that Naricain’s ambitions had only grown, and that he was being helped by someone who also came from a thousand years in the future. He explained that she had built the Time Portal using the Antellion fragment, causing Subani to note that Naricain’s ally was truly formidable. Lireni wondered whether his ally was the mysterious Dr. Krakia, to which the traveler told her that they only knew that Naricain’s ally was a scientist named Dr. Jang.

(A/N: In the original storyline, Dr. Krakia was the archnemesis of Professor Foxwit. In NxProse’s drafts for future storylines, it was revealed that Dr. Krakia and the Alchemist, the man who was helping Naricain invade Maple World, were the same person. Here, Dr. Jang has the name of Dr. Krakia as an homage, although virtually all the backstory of the original character has been retconned. This is one of my least favorite parts about the storyline, as Dr. Krakia/the Alchemist was a much more compelling villain that Dr. Jang.)

Delgrund asked what a scientist was, to which Lukan explained that they were magicians of the future with mysterious powers, such as the ability to use magic without spells, instead using only scrap metals and flashing lights. Upon hearing Lukan’s explanation, Lireni told them that many of the local creatures had recently changed, having been seen with suspicious machines strapped to them.

She explained that the people of the Krakian Empire were whispering about a person named Dr. Krakia, who had been seen around the area recently, and so she wondered whether Dr. Jang and Dr. Krakia could be the same person. The traveler replied that it could be possible, as they had noticed that the machines outfitted on the enhanced creatures they had fought had come from the future.

Crimsonheart then asked if it was true that Naricain would kill him, which Subani pointed out seemed even less likely than Lukan’s story of time travel. Though he admitted that Naricain was proud and covetous, Subani refused to believe that his brother was evil. Lukan insisted that it was true, as both he and the traveler had seen it with their own eyes.

Crimsonheart then wondered whether he was not he guardian that he had thought himself to be, as he found it shameful that he would be deceived by Naricain. However, he noted that it changed nothing but their alertness, as their duties were still the same as they had always been. As he and the other Grandmasters began to head out to augment security around the Antellion, Delgrund noticed that Subani was deep in thought and told the boy to mind himself.

He explained to Subani that he likely wouldn’t be able to succeed in persuading his brother if Crimsonheart couldn’t have brought himself to do it. Subani sadly told him that he had once been close to Naricain, whom he fondly called Naric, and wondered whether Naricain would stop if he were reminded those memories.

However, Delgrund told him that obsession destroyed happy memories, and that Naricain only cared about the Antellion. As someone who had watched them grow up and viewed them as sons, Delgrund told Subani to remember that he and Naricain were different, and that they always had been, warning him that thinking otherwise would put him in grave danger.

Elsewhere, Dr. Jang reached the end of the lake that was upstream of the Krakian settlements and polluted the waters with a chemical substance. (A/N: In a future storyline, we learn that the substance is called Naricain’s Blood, which contains a trace of the Antellion’s power.) As the polluted waters flowed downstream to the Krakian Empire, the native Krakians were corrupted and transformed into monsters.

As the people of Krakia devolved into beasts, Dr. Jang and Naricain walked through the ruined villages and surveyed the situation. Dr. Jang told Naricain that with the corruption of the Krakians, he now had an army to attack Crimsonwood Keep. A pleased Naricain called Dr. Jang a true genius, noting that the Keep would easily fall. He then admitted that his original plan seemed crude in comparison.

As he turned to look at her, he noticed that her hair was disheveled after getting caught in the jungle. Though a flustered Dr. Jang claimed that it was a mess, Naricain admitted that he found it quite fetching. (A/N: If I have to suffer through this trainwreck of a romance any longer, I’m gonna inject Naricain’s Blood straight into my veins.) He then decided that they ought to move on to other business, as the sacrifice of the Krakians wasn’t something that he took pleasure in.

Back at the Keep, the traveler helped the Grandmasters clear the enhanced jungle creatures around the area, which made them certain that the machines on the monsters had been built by Dr. Jang. They then noticed Subani leaving the grounds alone and decided to follow him, believing that he was acting on his own. The traveler followed Subani far from the grounds of the Keep and discovered him confronting Naricain.

The traveler immediately hid and observed the two speaking. Naricain greeted Subani and noted that it had been so long that he had almost thought that Subani had forgotten their secret, that they could communicate with each other through dreams. Subani replied that he had wanted to talk to Naricain as well, and that he knew that Naricain would hear him if he spoke through their dreams.

Naricain softened and asked if Subani still knew that he was the only person that Naricain could trust. Subani confirmed it and replied that Naricain could tell him anything, adding that their father would forgive him if he truly repented. Naricain then confided that he had been angry and confused, and that he had felt as though he had crossed a line that he could never return from.

Subani entreated his brother to turn back, explaining that it was never too late. However, Naricain then added that there was only one thing stopping him, which was that he now knew that he was right. Suddenly, he unleashed a powerful attack of dark magic upon Subani, who collapsed in pain. As Subani reeled from the betrayal, Naricain explained that he hadn’t wanted to do it, but he knew that Subani was going to be his greatest obstacle, and so he was willing to turn on his brother if it would allow him to succeed.

Subani begged him to stop, reminding him that they were family, but Naricain reminded him that it hadn’t been by choice, and neither was having a family and losing it. He then explained that without Subani and the others, his actions would not pain him so, adding that it was precisely why he needed the Antellion, as he could end that sort of suffering and ensure that he would never lose those who were precious to him.

As he moved to unleash a final blow, Subani begged him once more to stop, calling him Naric, to which Naricain told him that he hated to be called that. Just as Naricain unleashed his attack, the traveler rushed forward and blocked his dark magic. Though he had no idea who the traveler was, Naricain claimed that he didn’t care and shot another dark spell at the traveler, who was overwhelmed by Naricain’s power. As Naricain unleashed the finishing blow, Subani jumped in front of the traveler and took the full attack, instantly killing him.

(A/N: Not that Subani did much in the original timeline besides seal Naricain, but he does even less here, existing only as a stepping stone for other characters’ development. It’s such a shame when you think about what they could’ve done with this story instead of making it a conflict between angsty teenage brothers.)

A twinge of regret hit Naricain, who asked Subani to forgive him, even though he added that he couldn’t forgive Subani for the same. The furious traveler confronted Naricain, who asked why they opposed him, claiming that his plan was to create a peaceful world. He then asked the traveler once more not to oppose him, summoning a horde of corrupted Krakian warriors as a warning.

As Naricain retreated, the traveler fought through the waves of Krakians until Crimsonheart and the Grandmasters arrived. The shaken traveler apologized, claiming that they could have protected Subani from Naricain if they had been stronger. Crimsonheart told them that there was no blame, but asked the traveler and the Grandmasters to give him some privacy.

As Crimsonheart stared sadly at his fallen son, his mind turned to the day that he had brought Naricain home, scores of years ago on Versal, where he had introduced him to Subani and his wife, Glona. As Subani had turned away in embarrassment, Glona had told her husband that he was being shy. However, Crimsonheart had ordered Subani to present himself proudly. As the two boys introduced themselves, Crimsonheart had reminded them that brothers were expected to support and protect each other.

Back in the present, in the Krakian Jungle, Dr. Jang asked Naricain what had happened upon his return. After a pause, Naricain told her that the plan had gone perfectly, though she noted that Naricain did not appear happy. When Naricain remained silent, she asked whether it was another mysterious aspect of family. Naricain then changed the subject and asked about her plan to destroy the Grandmasters. Dr. Jang explained that she had enhanced the compound which she had used to mutate the Krakians, which was now strong enough to infect the Grandmasters, pleasing Naricain.