Rei sat on the edge of the bed, his hands shaking. His throat still ached from the memory of the blade, even if his body was healed. Everyone else moved around the hut like it was a normal morning.
But to him, it wasn't.
He had just watched them die.
He had to say something. Warn them. Even if they didn't believe him, he had to try.
Kajala was tying his boots when Rei stood up. "Can I talk to you guys?" Rei said, louder than usual.
Everyone turned.
"Something's… wrong," Rei said. "I know this is going to sound crazy, but… I've done this before. This morning. This mission. Everything. I already saw it all."
Kajala blinked. "Huh?"
Regulus tilted his head. "Like déjà vu?"
"No. It's more than that," Rei said, stepping forward. "We went on this mission. We fought someone—Maestro. He destroyed us. You all… you all died. I was the only one left. So I… I used my ability."
Elyra narrowed her eyes. "What ability?"
Rei hesitated, breath catching in his throat. "It's… it lets me turn back time. But I have to—"
Suddenly, Rei's chest tightened.
He stumbled back, grabbing at his ribs.
"Rei?" Kajala stood up. "What's wrong?"
Rei gasped, clutching at his shirt. His heart was pounding too fast. It felt like it was going to explode.
"I—" he tried to say, but his vision blurred.
Pain.
Tightness.
Everything spun.
His knees gave out. He collapsed to the ground, gasping like he couldn't breathe. He tried to speak—tried to say the rest.
But his body wouldn't let him.
Rika rushed over. "Rei?!"
Regulus was already at his side, panicking. "He's having a heart attack!"
"What?!" Elyra shouted, grabbing her staff.
Kajala held Rei up, eyes wide with fear. "Rei! Breathe! What were you saying?!"
But Rei couldn't answer.
His lips moved, but no sound came out.
He was dying.
Again.
His head hit the floor, and everything went black.
He woke up again.
Same bed. Same room. Same smell of dust and morning dew.
Same pain.
Same curse.
Rei shot up, hand on his chest. His heart felt sore, like it had been crushed from the inside.
"What the hell…?"
Kajala stirred beside him. "Yo. You okay?"
Rei didn't answer.
Now he knew.
He couldn't talk about the power.
Not the details. Not how it worked.
If he tried...it killed him.
Some kind of curse.
It made sense, in a cruel way. If someone like Maestro knew about his ability, he could use it against him. Maybe the power itself protected him by killing him if he ever explained too much.
He gritted his teeth, furious and helpless at the same time.
"I tried to tell them," he whispered. "But it won't let me."
He looked over at Kajala, who was yawning and rubbing his eyes.
"Guess we gotta pack again," Kajala said.
Rei nodded slowly. "Yeah…"
This time, he would do things differently. Subtle changes. Hints. Moves behind the scenes.
No more talking.
No more dying from words.
He'd fight back silently.
And this time, Maestro wouldn't win.
Rei didn't say anything that morning.
Not about Maestro. Not about the time loop. Not about how he had died twice now.
He just watched.
Every movement. Every breath. Every word they said he memorized it, already knowing what was coming.
He had to move differently.
Kajala was still tying his boots like before. Regulus had already dropped his gear once. Rika was half-asleep, chewing on something that probably wasn't food. Elyra stood near the window, stretching.
"Hey," Rei said suddenly, standing up. "Let's not go the same way we did last time."
Kajala raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"I just have a weird feeling," Rei added quickly, hiding his panic under calm words. "Let's take a different route. Just to be safe."
Kajala squinted at him, then shrugged. "You're the weirdo, but sure."
Rei smiled, just a little. One small win.
The others didn't ask. Regulus was still sleepy, and Rika just mumbled, "Whatever, as long as I get to stab something."
Elyra nodded slowly, watching Rei.
He wondered if she sensed it.
She always seemed to notice more than she let on.
They packed and loaded the van. Kajala, of course, insisted on driving again.
"I call driver's seat!" he shouted. "Rei, sit next to me!"
Rei didn't argue.
As the van rumbled across the dirt path toward Hallin Way, Rei stared out the window.
He wasn't going to let this go the same way.
They arrived just like before. The soldiers. The hut. Vetra. All of it played out like it had in his memory like a bad dream he was forced to rewatch.
Except this time… he stepped in.
"Let me be the scout," Rei said before anyone else could volunteer.
"What? You?" Kajala blinked. "You usually stick with someone."
"Just this once," Rei said. "I can handle it."
Kajala frowned but nodded. "Okay. Just be careful."
Regulus and Elyra went off together. Rika and Kajala paired up like before.
Rei was alone again.
And he ran.
But not into the same trap.
He avoided the alley.
Avoided the corrupted knights.
He ducked into a different shop. Found a better rooftop. Mapped out escape routes.
He didn't fight. Not this time.
Instead, he moved in secret climbing, running, observing.
And that's when he saw him.
Maestro.
Not from the front this time, not in some dramatic confrontation.
Just a glimpse. A figure in gold and white, standing on a balcony, arms crossed like a king surveying his land.
Golden hair brushed perfectly. Golden eyes shining like stars.
Rei felt the pressure in his chest just looking at him.
He ducked behind a chimney, heart racing.
Maestro hadn't seen him.
Not yet.
Rei clenched his fists.
He would fight him but not today.
This loop wasn't about fighting. It was about surviving. Learning. Preparing.
He ran back to the hut by nightfall.
The others returned too.
Kajala had a few cuts. Rika was chewing on some bread she stole. Regulus had dirt on his face.
Elyra looked the most serious, arms crossed, eyes thoughtful.
Rei entered last, looking tired but focused.
"You good?" Kajala asked, nudging his side.
"Yeah," Rei said.
But Kajala kept looking at him.
"You're acting different," he said, squinting. "You're not freaking out like last time. Usually you're jumpy after missions."
"I'm just used to danger now," Rei lied, forcing a calm smirk.
Kajala didn't seem convinced. "Hmm…"
Regulus dropped his fork.
"Again?" Rika mumbled.
Rei sat across from them and looked at each one of them, one by one.
They were alive.
Still here.
Still breathing.
This time, no broken ribs. No crushed tail. No blood on the walls.
Just a quiet hut and warm food.
He said nothing about Maestro.
Nothing about death.
Nothing about time.
But tomorrow?
Tomorrow might be different.
He'd keep trying.
And if he died again… he'd just do it better next time.
The morning air was quiet around the small hut nestled at the edge of Hallin Way. Dew clung to the grass like tiny glass beads, the sun still low behind a layer of thin clouds. Rei stood by the window, eyes scanning the treetops. He had already lived this day once. The memory of pain Kajala's arm breaking, Regulus coughing blood, Rika slumped unconscious, and Elyra screaming clawed at his chest.
He clenched his fists.
Today, they would be split into teams again.
"Same groups," Vetra said, holding a small map as they all gathered outside. "Kajala and Regulus, you go west. Rika and Elyra, east. Rei, north. Let's be quick and careful."
Rei didn't say anything. He just nodded.
The forest was quiet at first. But that wouldn't last.
Not long into his walk, Rei felt the air shift like the pressure before a thunderstorm. Something was coming.
Then, a shimmer in the distance.
From the trees stepped a tall man in a long black coat embroidered with gold. His golden blond hair glistened unnaturally, and his eyes star-like golden irises locked onto Rei with an unsettling calm.
"You're the one walking alone?" the man asked, brushing his hair back in a smooth motion.
Rei tensed. It was Maestro. But… he didn't recognize him.
"You're not from around here," Rei muttered, taking a step back.
Maestro gave a small smirk. "You're sharp. I like that. Let me introduce myself... I am Maestro Prenz. A perfectionist. A commander. A visionary."
He spread his arms with theatrical flair.
"And I'm here to clean up the mess in this region. The corrupted ones? All part of my plan."
Rei's teeth clenched. "You…"
"Ah? You seem like you've seen a ghost," Maestro said, raising a brow. "I suppose I do have that effect on people. That's what perfection does."
He took a step forward, hands glowing faintly with golden energy. "Let's skip the boring part. I want to see what you're made of."
Rei didn't respond. His mind raced. He knew what was coming beams of searing light, overwhelming force. But maybe... just maybe he could do something different this time.
The ground cracked behind him.
Maestro raised one hand. "Come on. Impress me."