Element of Time

Element of time is as elusive as the element of space, probably even more since there aren't many ways we humans can make use of it. The concept is too vague for us to wrap our heads around.

That's why understanding the element of time and aptly employing it in your profession is even more difficult than getting techniques and spells related to it. There were not many time-element rankers in the past. And those who were didn't describe enough about what they thought of using that element for themselves. The power of time manifested differently within each of them. So it was difficult to draw a linear relation.

Only one thing is common among all time-element rankers. Most of us have a drug addiction to deal with the side effect that comes with using time-related techniques and spells. That's because most of us have to deal with uncontrollable bouts of time dilation.

Experiencing time dilation can be the most wonderful, most beneficial, most bizarre, and most horrible thing.

Wonderful because it alters your perception of time than your peers around you, allowing you to experience the passage of time differently than them.

Beneficial because when you see everything in slow motion, you technically have more time to think about the right countermeasures in case you are being attacked.

But slowly that time dilation starts looking bizarre because no normal ranker would be able to keep up with you even when you want to have a normal conversation with them outside the battles.

Practising the element of time changes your perception of time slowly but surely. It either makes you experience things happening around you slowly or at a fast rate depending upon the technique and spells you are using.

Soon you'll find that your normal sense of time is being overwritten by the altered perception.

Your normal sense and the altered perception, therefore, would fight within themselves to define what's normal for you. This often results in time-element rankers experiencing sudden bouts of altered time perception even without them employing any techniques or spells at the time.

Soon, the advantages of having a time element are overshadowed by this side effect. Experiencing a time dilation when you don't want it can make you angry and anti-social because of the frustration that comes with it.

Imagine you are talking normally with your party members. Then suddenly the altered perception hits you and you have to hear their voices in slow motion. These voices stop making sense when the altered perception is cranked to a sufficient degree. And when you start talking, the party members with normal perception of time won't be able to make sense of what you said in a rapid-fire speech. Then imagine almost all human interactions like that. Horrible, right?

Therefore, a time-element ranker has no choice but to use some drugs to keep these bouts to their minimum or curb their effects. It can turn out to be pretty vexing otherwise. I'm no stranger to using this "time-tested" remedy myself.

It is considered bad luck to have a time element. First, you'll have to struggle twice as hard as normal people with normal elements if you decide to continue your ranking journey while keeping that element at the centre. You will have to face difficulties in getting appropriate technique and spell suitable for your nature and profession. You will have to get them at a way higher cost even if and when they do become available to you. And third, you will have to deal with the side effects.

But it's not like the element doesn't come with an advantage.

First, when you get a handle on your element, it becomes almost impossible for anyone to kill you instantly during an ambush.

Second, you will be the most deadly force mid-battle because of your spot-on counters and extraordinary responses even by rankers' standards.

This is especially true for close combat experts with the time element who can tear through the opponent's defence like a thin sheet of paper. The time-element mages can't be interrupted during their spell-casting. That's because they're already done speaking out the incantations before their opponents thought of disrupting them.

Third, elements of space and time are special in the way that they are derived from the fusion of all the great elements in different proportions. So theoretically, you'll be able to use any great element for yourself. Although you won't enjoy 100% affinity in any of them, you can introduce variations in your profession to make up for it.

And finally, the fourth advantage. As the element of time is a derived element born from the fusion of all the great elements, its spells won't create a conflict even if you decide to practise any other ranking technique.

The effectiveness of the time-element spells would decrease as a result. But you won't have to struggle as much to get a decent ranking technique. Neither will you have to resort to working harder than most of your peers just to keep up with them. Plus, the bouts of time dilation would be less frequent and less severe than what you'd get if you practise in the time-element ranking technique.

Furthermore, choosing to practise in any other element won't turn out to be a bottleneck in future when your mastery over your time element increases. You can always decide to choose a time-element ranking technique the next time when you rank up without having to regress in your journey. The zero-conflict advantage with other great as well as derived elements extends in this pointer as well.