Utter darkness. Absolute nothingness. I lay flat in the void, extending my arms and feeling nothing. My fingers grasped at emptiness, finding no purchase.
Then, warmth. A gentle warmth enveloped me from behind. At first, I resisted, tightening my muscles as the sensation caressed my rough back. The ticklish feeling was almost overwhelming, and I tried to pull away, but the warmth persisted. Reluctantly, I gave in, letting it engulf me completely. Curiosity burned within me, and I turned to see the source of the warmth.
Maria. She was there, lying beside me, her arms wrapped around me. Her blonde hair was disheveled, falling in chaotic strands, and her lips—soft and inviting—were turned toward me. In that moment, we shared the same warmth, the same space.
AUDEL EMPORIO
I jolted awake in the sleeping pod, my heart racing. Looking around, I realized I was alone in the tent. I exhaled deeply, trying to calm myself, and quickly checked the bed. Thankfully, it was dry.
I must not give in to lust, I told myself, almost aloud. It was just a kiss on the cheek, yet I had been consumed by greed ever since. I felt ashamed of my thoughts. Being mentally older than Maria only deepened my guilt.
Stepping outside, I was met with an eerie silence, the atmosphere reminiscent of the darkness from my dream. It was still night. By the campfire stood old man Agrievious and his grandson, Benon. Benon noticed me first and waved me over.
I joined them, taking a seat on a wooden log. The scene felt like déjà vu. I remembered meeting Lord Vestiron through an artifact back at the Boltaire Mansion. This was the same setting, except now it was the old man and the young boy instead.
"Trouble sleeping, young man?" Agrievious asked, his tone serious. "Have you been having those dreams again?"
I jolted, realizing he wasn't referring to my recent dream but the visions from my past life.
"I—no, it wasn't like that," I cleared my throat. "What are you both doing here at midnight?"
Benon answered, "We Diviners don't have biological needs like sleep. We were just discussing just about you."
Agrievious kept his gaze fixed on the dancing flames, his eyes distant. "Audel, everything revolves around you. Every action we've taken, every plan we've made—it's all for you."
He paused, then continued, "Audel... I'm no seer like your master. But I can only cling to one hope: you must prevent the day of judgment, no matter the cost. Even if it means abandoning your humanity."
I hesitated. "Well... where did that come from?" I asked awkwardly, unsure of the context.
Benon filled me in. "The day of judgment is a myth, even to us Diviners. To put it simply, it's an event that will bring catastrophe to the living world. Every timeline leads to it. Every ending is fated to face that doom."
"But what happens? And how is it triggered?" I asked, resting my chin on my hand.
Benon's tone turned grim. "God pays us a visit. He judges all mortal beings—and all Diviners alike."
Agrievious added softly, "The Eukaphrotians... they're planning to trigger that event."
"But why?" I pressed.
"They believe they're the chosen ones," Benon explained. "They think God will forgive them, and that the event will bring salvation to the world."
"But you've seen the end, haven't you?" Agrievious's eyes met mine. "In your past life, I mean. It won't end well... Even a delusional man like me can say that with confidence."
"How will they achieve it?" I asked.
"They'll use you," Benon said. "And your variables to influence the force known as Fate."
"Are there other regressors like me? Or just my variables?" I asked.
Agrievious shrugged. "We can't say for sure. The chances are low, but never zero. Most are likely your variables, and you must absorb their mana to refine yourself—to become fate itself."
I remembered what Vestiron had told me that night in the artifact's realm. He wasn't a seer, but he, too, had come from my previous world. This raised another question: Had he hidden his identity even from the Diviners? And if he was from my world, was he a variable of mine—or something separate?
Goosebumps prickled my skin as I asked, "Wait, become fate? What does that mean?"
"Your physical body may be new, but your core remains the same as it was in your previous life," Benon explained. "Back then, you learned to manipulate mana freely—mana, which is life itself. To manipulate life freely is one of the key aspects of fate."
I absorbed the information, slouching forward with my fingers interlocked.
Agrievious broke the silence. "We're doing everything we can to unlock the factor limiting your previous power. It's not an easy task—not at all."
Just then, a silhouette caught the corner of my eye. "Who's there?" I asked cautiously.
A tall figure emerged from the bushes and took a seat beside Agrievious.
"This is the commander of the battle group," Agrievious introduced. "Meet Mr. Oreceles."
"It's an honor to meet you, Mr. Audel," the muscular commander said.
Benon added, "Mr. Oreceles was an Aeon in the Eukaphrotian ranks before joining us. An Aeon is somewhat stronger than a Major in your culture."
"I wonder what rank I'd be if I were in the military," I mused aloud.
Oreceles smirked. "Your core is weak at the moment, but from what I've heard, you excel in close combat. Based on reports, your combat skills surpass those of a Leyten—if not an Aeon."
"But don't let that go to your head, Audel," Agrievious interjected. "Just because you have nearly half a decade of combat experience doesn't mean you can defeat strong opponents who rely on mana. You need to refine your core. Only then will you be ready to face a true challenge."
"Refine it, you say?" I murmured, then voiced an idea. "What if Benon manipulated time to restore my core to its previous state?"
"Too risky," Agrievious replied instantly. "It could break your body."
"But it would work, right?" I pressed.
Before Agrievious could respond, Oreceles placed a large hand on the old man's shoulder. "It's not a bad idea. Let's try a little experiment."
Agrievious sighed, shrugging nonchalantly. "Don't blame me if it brings back your past scars. It might break you mentally. Consider my words."
"Let's do it, then," I said, standing up. "Whatever happens, happens."