Memory 2: aging

Chrno stood on the sodden, frozen ground. Even though it was so cold, he was sweating. It felt like his blood was boiling, like his soul was on fire. His mind seemed hazy, he could only think of one thing: he wanted to hurt Shor, he wanted to kill her. Rosette was doomed and it was this demoness's fault. She had to die for that. Involuntarily he let out a loud war cry before he pounced on Shor and tried to slash her with his skeletal scythe.
Asmaria's chant rang out over Stonehegde:

Heaven is closer
I'm waiting for salvation
Heaven is closer
This is our celebration
Now we can fly
With the wings of an angel
So high in the sky
through all the danger
Give me silence
Look into my eyes
I will ease all your doubts
Don't desperate
I hold your hand

Her radiant white wings spread, a warm light surrounded her. & # 8222; Ro ..- rosette?& # 8220; The nun was breathing heavily and leaned against a dead tree. When she looked at Asmaria, she jumped backwards & # 8222; What's wrong with you? You look so ... old! & # 8220; Rosette put her hands on her frightened-looking face and fished a small mirror out of her pocket. & # 8222; Oh God ... & # 8220; she moaned. The picture in the mirror was the one for the 35-year-olds. Chrno stood over the lifeless form of the demoness Shor. A malicious laugh escaped his throat and he enjoyed the satisfaction. His eyes radiated madness and not even Chrno understood himself. She was dead. This sentence gave him an almost childlike pleasure. Then he heard steps behind him. Small, hesitant steps; he didn't have to turn around to know who they belonged to. & # 8222; Chrno ... please calm down again. & # 8220; - & # 8222; Hah! Asmaria- calm down? Why should I?I want to savor my triumph! & # 8220; - & # 8222; You can do that later, now you have to help Rosette! Please do something! & # 8220; The devil looked over at his partner. The scratches she'd worn when the stopwatch splintered were easy to see from this distance, but they didn't seem to be the real problem. And then he saw it: Of course, he thought. ° As long as I remain in my true form in the human world, the necessary strength will be withdrawn from her soul and she will visibly age. And without the stopwatch, I can't transform myself back! If I don't think of something soon she will die! ° & # 8222; If only the clock hadn't broken ... & # 8220 ;; Asmaria sighed.
& # 8222; - wouldn't be broken ?! & # 8220; exclaimed Chrno. & # 8222; Why didn't I think of it right away? Now that we're there, we can use Stonehedge to go to the watch's builder!& # 8220; B-but that means ... that we have to go to the world of devils and demons !!! & # 8220;
& # 8222; On the direct route to hell. & # 8220;
Chrno raised a hand meaningfully. The setting sun bathed Stonehedge in a deceptively warm light. & # 8222; What is that? & # 8220; asked Asmaria excitedly and stared at the illusions that had just arisen of the long destroyed Seine, which were only completely transparent and gradually solidified their shape. Stonehedge was what it used to be again: a circle of stones with a smaller circle and an altar behind it. The setting sun threw its light through a narrow window and Stonehedge shone brightly. Asmaria knew that the Druid people who once lived here had built Stonehedge as a temple. At a time between lunar and sun cults, which represented their religion, its builders wanted to represent the equality of sun and moon; The moon shone through the window in the rock every evening and the sun once a month.The two planets had been gods to the people, divine brothers and sisters. & # 8222; Come on. & # 8220; said Chrno, lifted the rosette and carefully carried it into the center of the stone circle, directly towards the glaring light. Asmaria swallowed, then followed him.

Darkness. Rosette saw nothing but darkness. Was it night Or were their eyes still closed? Somehow she didn't know. She sat up with difficulty. The many cuts burned like fire. She noticed that her hands were shaking. & # 8222; Chr ... no .. & # 8220; Somehow the calling didn't work. She tried again: & # 8222; Chrno! & # 8220; So what. Her voice sounded firmer. But would he hear her? & # 8222; Chrnooo! & # 8220; Then she heard the rustling of thick fabric very close to her. & # 8222; I'm here. & # 8220; Suddenly her vision became clear, and dim firelight fell into the small room. & # 8222; Where am I Chrno? & # 8220; - & # 8222; This is Mihaly's house, the one who built your stopwatch.& # 8220; He came over to her and sat on the floor next to her makeshift bed. He looked at her with a pitying look that Rosette was almost angry. & # 8222; What is it? & # 8220; she crowed, but she didn't have to wait for the answer. Her subconscious had already successfully suppressed it, but now that she saw her hands, she could no longer escape the painful memory: After the devil Shor had destroyed the stopwatch, the spell that held Chrno in his (half) human form was broken and she had aged suddenly. & # 8222; Shit! & # 8220; she cursed and pulled her little scratched mirror out of her pocket and looked into it with grim anticipation. & # 8222; Oh God ... how old am I now ?! & # 8220; She looked skeptically at the small wrinkles around her eyes. & # 8222; Rosette ... & # 8220; Chrno began, his voice trembling with concern. & # 8222; You have a maximum of 3 days ... until you .... & # 8220; - & # 8222; WAAAS ???In 3 days I will stretch out?!? & # 8220; - & # 8222; Uaah, don't get excited !! & # 8220; cried Chrno, horrified. & # 8222; Look what happens !! & # 8220; He reached out his hand to her hair and held a strand in front of her nose, which was just about to turn gray. & # 8222; Oh God. & # 8220; Rosette whispered again. & # 8222; Oh god- oh god- oh god-oh god- oh god !!! & # 8221; At that moment the rustling of cloth sounded again and an old man held his head through a half-tattered curtain. & # 8222; Ah that & # 8220; Miss & # 8220; is awake! & # 8220; he said with a mocking undertone in his voice. & # 8222; Yes, the MISS is awake! & # 8220; she yelped back while Chrno held up her hands soothingly and said: & # 8222; This is Master Mihaly, Rosette. He can build you a new watch. & # 8220; - & # 8222; Maybe I can build her a new watch. & # 8220; - & # 8222; Maybe?& # 8220; asked the devil doubtfully. & # 8222; Maybe. & # 8220; said the old man and fastened the curtain to a hook on the wall so that more light fell into the small room. & # 8222; I can easily manufacture the case .... but the hands ... & # 8220; - & # 8222; What about the pointers? & # 8220; asked Asmaria, who was now standing behind him in the door. & # 8222; The only one who can mine the metal from which the hands have to be made is a contentious centaur who has not come out of his mine for 4 centuries ... & # 8220; - & # 8222; We can surely persuade him to give us something! The pointers are so tiny ... & # 8220; Zerus looked at her seriously. & # 8222; I doubt it will be that easy, because the centaur demands human sacrifice. & # 8220;