Once again, I found myself in a place of blinding radiance. I didn't know where I was; there was nothing but an infinite, white void. It felt like the air itself was made of static, humming against my skin.
Suddenly, a force pulled me at a speed that felt faster than sound. The white faded, and I was thrust into the middle of the cosmos, surrounded by stars and swirling galaxies.
I knew I had been here before, but I didn't understand why I had returned. The cold, vast silence of space pressed in on me, making me feel impossibly small.
A light approached me, and as it drew closer, I recognized the Time Sword. In an inexplicable moment, it lunged toward me, plunging itself directly into my heart.
I was paralyzed. My perception of reality began to fracture. Shards of images and memories flooded my mind, chaotic and overwhelming. I was so confused that I couldn't tell if what I was seeing was real or just a horrific nightmare. My head throbbed, a dull, rhythmic ache that pulsed in sync with my frantic heartbeat.
In a flash, the world shifted.
I was back on top of the building in the middle of twilight. The sky was painted in bruised purples and oranges, fading quickly into the deep navy of night. I fell to my knees, clutching my head in agony. Someone immediately grabbed my shoulders, calling out my name.
"Master Aren! Master Aren, what happened?"
I looked up, stunned. It was Lavender, standing there with Ora. I couldn't believe it; I just stared at her, speechless. The sight of her—alive, breathing—felt like a dream I was terrified to wake from.
"Lavender?"
Overflowing with shock at seeing her alive again, I pulled her into a tight, desperate hug. I could feel the rapid rhythm of her heart against my chest. She was startled.
"Ma-mas- Master Aren?! W-wh-what are you doing?"
"Hey Aren, you're being a bit aggressive. At least pick the right place," Ora teased.
But her joking stopped when she saw the tears streaming down my face. "Wait... why are you crying?"
I stood up immediately, my voice trembling. I told them we had to leave—right now. They were shocked when I announced we were fleeing the town of Hayem tonight. The urgency felt like a physical weight pressing against my lungs.
"What are you talking about? It's already night," Ora said. "I thought the carriages wouldn't be back until tomorrow."
In my panic, I shouted, "We just have to leave while there's still time!"
Ora noticed my agitation and the raw fear in my eyes. "Wait... did something happen? Don't tell me... did you go back in time again?"
I shook my head, admitting I didn't fully understand what had happened. I was still terrified, looking around frantically, fearing the assassins were already nearby. Every shadow stretching across the rooftop looked like a blade waiting to strike.
"I'm confused too, but someone from Candal is coming to kill me. They'll succeed... they'll kill both me and Lavender."
I punched a nearby post, the impact jarring my arm, and wiped the tears from my eyes, consumed by self-loathing. "I couldn't do anything to save Lavender. I couldn't even save myself."
"I'm so weak... I can't even protect my own life," I added, my voice breaking.
I was filled with rage at my own incompetence. I knew what I should have done when we were attacked, but I had stood there like a helpless child. I had power, yet I let Lavender die right in front of me. I wanted to protect her, but I couldn't even defend myself.
I grabbed Lavender's hand and hurried down the building, my heart racing. I knew that as long as we were in Hayem, Candal's men were watching.
In the midst of my panic, Lavender suddenly pulled back, stopping me in my tracks. She turned and wrapped her arms around me in a tight embrace. "Please, Master... calm down first."
The sudden gesture broke my tension. My focus shifted entirely to her hold; her warmth was the only anchor in my spinning world.
"I don't understand what you're saying, but I can feel how afraid you are," she whispered. "I don't mean to overstep, but you won't be able to think clearly if you act purely on impulse."
Ora agreed, stating that panicking wouldn't help. "I don't know anything about this attack you're talking about, so you'd better tell us exactly what's going to happen so we can prepare."
I took a deep breath, the cool night air stinging my throat, and tried to settle my mind. She was right. Fear was clouding my judgment.
Lavender let go, and I thanked her. We went to a room inside the building where I explained everything that was destined to happen in the coming hours.
Based on my memory, in about an hour, Candal's assassins were scheduled to strike. They were there specifically to kill me. I didn't know why, but I was the target.
Ora was puzzled. She saw no reason for Candal to want me dead, especially since I had just arrived in Hayem. My only connection to them was buying Lavender from their slave trade, but that didn't seem like enough reason for a death sentence.
I asked Lavender if she knew why her former master would want me dead. She furrowed her brow, looking just as confused.
"I'm sorry, Master, but I have no idea why Master Omrad would want you killed. But I do know that of our three masters, Master Lazarus is the one who controls the assassins."
I described the two assassins I had seen. Lavender confirmed their identities: Cebe and Lily. They were Lazarus's personal enforcers, used for high-profile hits. She didn't know the full extent of their powers, but she knew Cebe could manipulate shadows and spears, while Lily used steel fans to create lethal wind blades.
"If we don't know their weaknesses, it will be hard to fight them—especially if they work together," I said. "If they attack again, we won't win."
The Time Sword was powerful, but I wasn't. I wasn't a trained killer; I had no real combat experience. I decided that the best course of action for now was to run. I admitted I was afraid because I couldn't see a way to beat them. Their energy levels were double mine, and they were from a different race, making them naturally stronger.
Ora and Lavender agreed to the plan. We hurried to the transport hub and managed to secure a spot on a merchant carriage heading east.
I knew this was the opposite direction of Basin Province, but we didn't have time to be picky. We needed to be out of Hayem immediately. I couldn't gamble our lives just to "test" my abilities against elite killers.
"We can take another route to Basin Kingdom later," I muttered. "It'll take longer, but at least we'll be alive."
Ora sighed from my shoulder. "You know, we wouldn't be in this mess if not for your choices. I told you that taking Lavender would lead to trouble."
She reminded me that ever since I chose to save her instead of letting her be, I had taken on a heavy burden. She said I still had time to change my mind, but whatever I decided, I had to accept the danger that came with it.
As the carriage rumbled down the road, the rhythmic clatter of wheels against stone filling the silence, Lavender turned to me, her eyes full of curiosity. "To be honest, I'm confused... is it true that you have the power to go back in time?"
I looked at Ora, hesitant. She had warned me before never to reveal my abilities to others for my own safety. But Ora just sighed. "I'm not a fan of telling people, but if you truly trust her, I won't stop you."
"I trust you, Lavender. I know you won't tell anyone," I said.
"I promise, Master Aren. My loyalty is yours alone."
I showed her the Time Sword and explained it was a Celestial Item—a weapon of the Prime Spirits, far more powerful than a standard spirit item. I revealed its ability to manipulate time but admitted its limits: I could only freeze or rewind time for five seconds.
"It drains a lot of my energy, so I can't use it constantly," I explained. "But when I 'returned' from the future... that was different. The Time Sword acts on its own to keep me alive. I think it pulls me back to a point where I can still avoid death."
Lavender was in awe. She said she had never heard of such a thing and praised me for being special. I scratched my head, embarrassed, but Ora cut in.
"Don't go praising him! I'm the one who gave him that power. If anyone deserves praise, it's me!"
"Don't be a killjoy, Ora," I shot back. "How is she supposed to praise you when you're just a floating light?"
I then mentioned that Lavender also possessed a Celestial Item. I told her I had seen her use it to protect me.
"I... used my power?" she asked, bewildered.
"Yes. You were incredibly strong. Thank you for being willing to help me like that."
Lavender shook her head, explaining that she was afraid of her power. She had known she had a spirit item for a long time, but she never tried to learn its abilities because people always got hurt whenever it manifested.
"I think it acts on its own because you're afraid," I suggested. "The item reacts to your emotions. Because you're scared of people, it lashes out to protect you. It consumes energy and objects... it's dangerous, but it didn't burn me. That means the fire follows your heart."
Ora added that Celestial Items are special because they follow their masters' will. It's possible for the fire not to harm those who aren't seen as threats.
"Hear that? If you accept your power and choose to use it for good, no innocent people have to get hurt," I said.
Lavender smiled, saying she wasn't sure if she could do it right, but for our sake, she would try to be brave. I thanked her, but then I gave her a stern look.
"Don't you ever sacrifice yourself for me like that again. I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if anything happened to you."
"I don't know if I should apologize," she teased, "since I haven't actually done anything 'reckless' yet for you to scold me about."
I reached over and ruffled her hair. "Just... just listen to me, okay?"