Yuki slowly opened her eyes.
The first thing she saw was the flickering light of a campfire dancing across the stone walls of a cave.
Her body felt heavy.
Her head throbbed.
For several moments she simply stared at the ceiling, trying to remember what had happened.
Then it all came rushing back.
Weston.
The battle.
The strange power.
The portal.
Yuki immediately sat upright.
Across the fire sat an old woman calmly watching her.
The old woman smiled.
"So... you're finally awake."
Yuki instantly reached for her sword.
"Who are you?"
Her eyes narrowed.
"Where am I?"
"I was fighting Weston."
The old woman remained calm.
"My name is Chiyo."
Yuki looked around.
Only then did she notice ropes around her wrists.
Her expression darkened.
"Why am I tied up?"
"I don't have time for games."
"Untie me."
Chiyo sighed.
"I knew you wouldn't listen."
"That's why I had no choice."
Yuki pulled against the ropes.
"Listen to what?"
The old woman's eyes became serious.
"You traveled one hundred years into the past."
Silence.
Then Yuki laughed bitterly.
"You're insane."
"Untie me."
But Chiyo continued.
"One hundred years ago..."
"You were supposed to be married today."
Yuki froze.
"...What?"
"You were the daughter of this kingdom."
"You were a princess."
"You were a bride."
Yuki stared at her.
"What nonsense are you talking about?"
"I've never been married."
Chiyo shook her head.
"Because you died before the ceremony was completed."
The cave suddenly felt colder.
The old woman's voice echoed through the darkness.
"Your wedding was destroyed."
"Your family was slaughtered."
"Your kingdom fell."
"And as you lay dying..."
"You swore revenge."
Yuki's breathing slowly became uneven.
For some reason...
Those words felt familiar.
Painfully familiar.
Chiyo continued.
"You said you would return."
"You said no matter how many years passed..."
"You would come back and destroy those responsible."
The old woman lowered her eyes.
"And then..."
"You were reborn."
The campfire crackled.
Yuki's hands trembled slightly.
Memories she couldn't understand flashed through her mind.
A white wedding dress.
A burning castle.
Blood.
Screams.
Tears.
Someone calling her name.
Someone she couldn't remember.
Yuki clenched her fists.
"No..."
"It can't be."
Chiyo leaned forward.
"When you were unconscious..."
"Didn't you hear someone crying?"
Yuki's eyes widened.
The image instantly appeared in her mind.
A young woman crying.
A face that felt strangely familiar.
Almost like looking into a mirror.
"...I did."
Chiyo nodded.
"Because that was you."
The cave fell silent.
Yuki lowered her head.
Her heart pounded violently.
"But..."
"I'm engaged."
"My life is already different."
Chiyo smiled sadly.
"Your future changed."
"But your past never disappeared."
Yuki looked directly at her.
"If this is true..."
"Then tell me everything."
"Who destroyed my wedding?"
"Who destroyed my kingdom?"
"Who are you?"
The old woman closed her eyes.
"The last answer doesn't matter."
"But the first two do."
She slowly began her story.
---
"One hundred years ago..."
"You received a marriage proposal from the eldest prince of the southern kingdom."
"But you rejected him."
"You chose his younger brother instead."
Yuki listened silently.
"The eldest prince became obsessed."
"Jealous."
"Consumed by hatred."
"The day of your wedding..."
"He started a civil war."
"He manipulated nobles."
"Corrupted soldiers."
"And turned your own kingdom against itself."
Yuki felt anger slowly building within her chest.
"The war destroyed everything."
"But he wasn't alone."
The old woman's voice became darker.
"He worked with a man named Vesper."
Yuki immediately recognized the name.
"Vesper..."
"The scientist."
Chiyo nodded.
"The same monster."
"He experimented on people."
"He enslaved survivors."
"He turned this land into a wasteland."
"Your family died."
"Your people became slaves."
"And you..."
The old woman paused.
"...you died watching it happen."
Tears slowly formed in Yuki's eyes.
Not because she remembered.
But because somehow...
Her heart believed every word.
"What about Michael?"
Chiyo's expression softened.
"He survived."
"Barely."
"He sought revenge."
"But Vesper captured him."
"He sealed him inside a Zero Body."
"And hid him from the world."
Yuki lowered her head.
"So everyone suffered..."
"Because of one man's jealousy."
Chiyo nodded.
"Yes."
The old woman pointed toward Yuki's sword.
"And now..."
"You are the only one who can finish what began one hundred years ago."
The cave became silent.
For several moments Yuki said nothing.
Then she spoke quietly.
"My friends."
"What about them?"
Chiyo smiled.
"They came here because of you."
"Michael."
"Raithasu."
"The others."
"When you cried..."
"They followed."
"And now they are trapped in this era alongside you."
Yuki slowly closed her eyes.
Everything suddenly made sense.
Even Douma's final words.
"If you go there... you'll find your past."
A single tear slid down her cheek.
She finally understood.
When she opened her eyes again...
The hesitation was gone.
Only determination remained.
Her hand tightened around her sword.
A dangerous flame burned within her crystal-blue eyes.
"Pixie."
Her voice was cold.
"Your time has come to an end."
---
Meanwhile...
Several days earlier...
Deep within the forest.
Hina slowly opened her eyes.
Sunlight filtered through the trees above.
Her head hurt.
The world spun.
A young man crouched beside her.
"You're awake."
Hina blinked.
"Where am I?"
"Who are you?"
The young man smiled.
"My name is Pixie."
"I found you unconscious in the forest."
Hina immediately sat up.
"I need to go."
She began walking away.
But Pixie called out.
"Wait."
Hina stopped.
She turned around cautiously.
Pixie stepped closer.
"I have a strange request."
Hina frowned.
What?"
He scratched the back of his head.
"Will you pretend to be my girlfriend for one day?"
Silence.
Hina stared at him.
"...What?"
Pixie laughed nervously.
"I know how that sounds."
"But I really need help."
Hina immediately shook her head.
"I don't even know you."
"And I have my own problems."
Pixie nodded.
"Then let me help you."
"No matter what your problem is."
"Even if it's finding someone."
"Or killing someone."
Hina narrowed her eyes.
"Who are you exactly?"
Pixie smiled.
"I am the son of the Southern King."
Hina froze.
That changed everything.
She and her friends were trapped in an unfamiliar era.
Finding people would be nearly impossible alone.
But a prince...
A prince had influence.
Resources.
Information.
After a long moment...
Hina sighed.
"Fine."
"I'll help you."
"But only for one day."
Pixie grinned.
"Deal."
---
Present Day...
The wedding hall sparkled with golden light.
Hundreds of guests watched the grand staircase.
Then—
The bride appeared.
Wearing a magnificent white dress.
The entire hall fell silent.
Pixie and Hina looked up.
The bride slowly descended the stairs.
Elegant.
Beautiful.
Almost unreal.
Pixie smiled politely.
"Hina."
"Meet my future sister-in-law."
The bride stopped before them.
"Hello."
The moment Hina saw her face...
Her eyes widened.
The girl looked exactly like Yuki.
For a moment she couldn't even speak.
The resemblance was terrifying.
Almost impossible
Before Hina could ask anything, the bride's mother gently took her arm.
"Come."
"There are guests waiting to meet you."
Hina could only stare as the girl disappeared into the crowd.
Questions filled her mind.
But elsewhere...
Far beyond the castle walls...
War drums had already begun to sound.
BOOM.
BOOM.
BOOM.
Armies were gathering.
Banners rose into the wind.
Soldiers sharpened their blades.
And the Great Civil War was finally about to begin.