I got this.

I got this.

I got this!

It could be thought of as mundane.

No one in that room cared much about it, and to those who did, it was surely just for glory, pride, or renown.

But to that boy of milky eyes, failing here was no different from bleeding out alone—destroyed by an undefeatable opponent.

Obliterated by an unreachable sword.

***

A new day greeted the Nation of the South.

It was the end of May. The summer heat could already be felt under the merciless assault of the sun.

Near the center of a beautiful green forest, was a fragile young man of black hair and white eyes lying in the grass.

Although he couldn’t hear anything at the moment, he knew the birds were singing because he watched them all fly away in the same direction.

Although he couldn’t say anything at the moment, he knew his voice was ringing.

Although he couldn’t remember anything at the moment, he knew there was something still undone.

He had come to this place for a reason; he just wasn’t sure why. Everything was somehow odd. The breeze was fresh but his skin was burning... must’ve been the sun. His skin was burning but he was cold... must’ve been the breeze.

His thoughts wandered here and there with no clear direction, as if an invisible veil covered his eyes.

Soon, he felt vibrations on the ground. Heavy steps seemed to be coming closer, he thought that person might be able to help him.

...

Help?

Help with what?

Help him why?

He noticed a slight discomfort on his throat, that must’ve been the reason he needed help.

The steps grew closer, and then closer... and closer.

And closer.

And closer.

And closer.

And closer.

And closer.

And closer.

And closer.

And closer, and closer, and closer, and closer, and closer, and closer, and closer, and closer, and closer, and closer, and closer, and closer, and closer, and closer, and closer, and closer, and closer, and closer, and closer, and closer, and closer, and closer, and closer, and closer, and closer, and closer, and closer, and closer, and closer, and closer, and closer, and closer, and closer, and closer, and closer, and closer, and closer, and closer, and closer, and closer, and closer.

What is happening?

Am I concerned?

Am I unpleased?

Am I scared?

...?

Am I scared?

His answer came just then.

His gaze fixed on the stranger that had come to help him. And that was enough to spare him a hint of mental clarity.

The clarity he needed.

The clarity he was about to hate.

Eh...? Y-You are...

A Guardian.

"Ghhgeh—"

"GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaAggghhh!!!!!"

Earlier, when he tried, it wasn’t that he couldn’t speak, it was just that his cords had already been used to the utmost limit.

When he tried to hear something, it wasn’t like he couldn’t, it was simply his fractured mind that had chosen not to.

The birds were not singing while flying together, they were running away.

His brain was not keeping his memories sealed or anything, his head was just opened in half.

The breeze was not fresh, and the sun wasn’t hot. It was his body. Squirming in fever and the lack of blood.

Aldrus lay there, in the beautiful, beautiful green forest.

Howling in agony.

The creature did not attack. It seemed to have had enough with breaking his skull and ripping his lungs out. It just stared at him, immobile.

If there was ever a moment when a person regretted something most in the whole world, that moment was then. Aldrus pleaded in his mind to the gods. He begged for them to have told him to never go search for that fragment.

But it was too late now.

He was now a Holder.

An incomprehensible amount of suffering was now laughing at his dream, his ambition, his naivety.

Time went by terribly slowly, but after what seemed like an eternity, the dying dog managed to notice a figure clad in purple and yellow approaching. He didn’t know who it was, nor if it had bad intentions. But the fact that something—anything at all—had changed, helped him close his teary eyes.

...

"What a disaster... You won’t forget it completely, but this is all I can do for you, boy."

***

Come on, focus...

Aldrus found himself standing before his classmates with his eyes closed. He grimaced as he tried to concentrate on his mental image.

The book is not here now. It won’t be here later either. It’s even further into the future.

Seconds are not enough. Minutes are not enough. Only hours later it will be here, on the ground.

When the sun is gone, right there, in the middle of an empty classroom.

He abruptly opened his eyes.

Remembering his fight with Miss Leona, Aldrus faintly smiled. Just like back then, he knew he wouldn’t be able to catch up to the range of his mental conviction, but those were completely different circumstances. Here, there was no one holding him back. Even if the book couldn’t go hours into the future, he was convinced his efforts were enough to at least match Aiden’s result.

Gathering his thoughts, he exhaled and slowly looked down.

There was nothing in his hands.

I did it...!

The first step was done. He had successfully used [Motion]. Now, the only thing left was to wait and see.

His anxious heart began to settle; the spark of confidence slowly made its way through his mind.

Keeping a straight face today had not been easy for him, but maybe—just maybe, something good awaited him at the end.

Seconds passed slowly. He thought it was ironic, he was now a master of time, yet time still weighed on him in situations like these. Even so, he liked it that way. Being the one in control was exhausting; he wished there was another way to explore the world.

Unfortunately, becoming a selected Holder was the bare minimum to avoid getting killed out there.

And if that’s what it took to find the answer he seeked, that he would do.

Reflecting on these thoughts, Aldrus crossed his arms and closed his eyes, now more relaxed.

However, just as he was getting comfortable with the idea of waiting half an hour for his marvelous demonstration to bear fruit, a dry sound followed by a raspy voice tore him from his growing excitement,

"Aldrus Dagon... Ten seconds."

...What?

He paled.

"...Huh? Is that all?"

"Hey! He’ll hear you!"

"That was the weakest one so far..."

Shifting his gaze in disbelief, he met the dozen gazes shot at his direction.

"His name is Aldrus Dagon? Isn’t he the one who had a spar with Miss Leona?"

"Oh, shut up. At least he managed to do it, you couldn’t even use perception properly!"

Their murmurs echoed all around the room. They filled his heart with dread as his brain refused to process what had happened.

T-Ten...?

Ten seconds. He had failed.

Before long, the raspy voice spoke again, silencing the students in an instant,

"Quiet. Next."

Zorum beckoned Aldrus back to the line without thinking twice.

He obeyed, dead silent. As he walked back, his eyes wandered through the expressions of his peers, unconsciously searching for comfort. Like always, most didn’t care, others whispered at each other, and the rest played dumb.

It was thought of as mundane.

No one in the room cared much about it, and to those who did, it was surely just for glory, pride, or renown.

But to that boy of milky eyes, failing there ended up being no different from bleeding out alone.

Except it was.

He saw Alice looking at him with concern. Aldrus was sure her expression wasn’t that of disappointment, but rather genuine concern for him. Not for the student and his failure; not for her roommate and his mangled hands. But for the man behind those eyes.

Among all the gazes of disdain, concern and pity—the one of truest worry... was hers.

He was not alone now. She was bleeding by his side.

Thank you, Alice.