The worst had happened the moment they entered the capital. Neven's heart was heavy. Though he had anticipated this moment, actually facing it brought a deep sense of unease and guilt. To save Aria, he had made a decision that went against his orders. He knew exactly what that meant—he was destined to pay the price.

One-eyed Quinn regarded them coldly, his gaze sharp as an ice pick. Without mercy, he ordered his men to bring Neven, Alexander, and Aria to the iron gates. The Lunarshade guards swiftly confiscated Neven and Alexander's weapons. As the hilt slipped from his grip, Neven felt a wave of loss and pain surge through him, overwhelming in its intensity.

"You have no right to do this!" Alexander shouted, his voice filled with impotent fury. Neven remained silent, his eyes fixed on the stone pavement beneath him. He knew this was not just about authority—it was his unavoidable fate.

Quinn’s face was expressionless as he gestured for the soldiers to take them away. “Neven’s desertion is a direct violation of the Lunar Essence Clan’s laws. You will explain everything before the Lunar King.” His tone was cold and unforgiving, as though the judgment had already been delivered.

As they were escorted towards the dungeon, Neven kept his head down, fists clenched. Every step felt like walking on the edge of a blade, the pain inescapable. Aria silently followed behind, searching for some solace in Neven’s posture, but all she found was an endless silence and a heavy burden.

When they were thrown into the deepest cell, the stone door slammed shut, plunging them into complete darkness. The void swallowed them whole. Neven leaned against the cold stone wall, his breathing gradually calming. He knew this was the end he had always foreseen.

Alexander clenched his fists, unable to hold back any longer. “Why didn’t you fight back? Why didn’t you say anything?” His voice trembled with a mix of confusion and anger.

After a brief silence, Neven spoke slowly, “During the trial, I will confess to all my crimes. The Lunar King will punish only me. You need to stay silent—do not defend me.”

“There’s no other way, Neven?” Aria asked anxiously.

Neven remained quiet, only shaking his head. He knew that nothing he said could change the facts. Desertion was an unforgivable crime, and he had to bear the consequences. But at this moment, his primary concern was the safety of Aria and Alexander.

Time passed slowly and painfully in the dungeon, with night finally falling, the darkness growing ever thicker. It was then that the silence of the cell was broken by the sound of soft footsteps approaching from the depths of the darkness.

The three of them froze, their hearts pounding, as they stared into the black void. A tall figure gradually emerged, the torchlight revealing a face aged yet imposing, with a Soul Stone glowing faintly on the back of his hand—it was Sage Solon.

Neven’s heart sank. He knew the real trial was about to begin.

Sage Solon’s eyes, filled with disappointment, swept over the cell before finally resting on Neven. The pain in his gaze revealed how much the elder’s trust in him had been shattered.

Neven, under his stern gaze, slowly approached the bars. “Sage Solon…” he said softly, his voice heavy with complex emotions.

“You know what desertion means for an Executive Commander, don’t you?” Sage Solon’s tone was low and severe, his disappointment unmistakable. “You have let me down. You were one of the most outstanding among the younger generation, and I entrusted the command to you out of trust.”

“Yes, Sage,” Neven replied weakly, gripping the bars.

Aria’s gaze was drawn to the Soul Stone on Sage Solon’s hand, not daring to meet his eyes, while the usually sharp-tongued Alexander remained silent.

After a moment of silence, Sage Solon continued, “Neven, you understand the consequences you face. As your Grand Mentor, I must remain neutral during the trial. You should be prepared for what’s to come—the lightest sentence could still mean life imprisonment.”

Neven took a deep breath and looked Sage Solon in the eye. “I understand,” he answered firmly. “As a Commander, I committed an unforgivable crime. But I had no choice—I couldn’t stand by and watch Aria be harmed.”

A flicker of emotion passed through Sage Solon’s eyes before he sighed and turned to Aria. Seeing her pale face, he shook his head slightly, his tone tinged with concern. “The trial in a few days will determine your fates. Neven has committed a grave offense, and the consequences will be difficult to alter.”

“Sage Solon, Daphne Blackwood kidnapped me. She wants to resurrect Stormblade. Neven left the army to save me,” Aria explained urgently. “Daphne is trying to split the dark spirits—she wants to become Mara.”

“Resurrect Stormblade?” Sage Solon’s expression showed a hint of surprise.

“Before Neven’s trial, please investigate this. Stormblade and Daphne are involved—they’re colluding with Mara,” Alexander added.

Sage Solon raised a hand, silencing their explanations.

“None of this changes the fact that Neven left his post without permission. The trial is inevitable,” Sage Solon said sternly. “Besides Seraphina of Venom, the other Grand Mentors might agree to severe punishment for Neven. I came tonight to hear your explanations personally before deciding whether to assist you.”

The three of them looked up, stunned. Aria’s heart raced, her eyes filled with a mix of hope and doubt.

Sage Solon stepped forward, standing by the bars, staring intently at Neven. “Neven, I hope you can make amends for your mistakes.”

“Sage, what do you want us to do?” Neven asked.

Sage Solon slowly withdrew a softly glowing crystal from his sleeve, placing it gently on the edge of the bars. “This is the ‘Reversal Soul Stone,’ an incredibly powerful artifact. It can take you back to a crucial moment in the past, allowing you to adjust your actions. But this artifact can only be used once at a critical moment—like now.”

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

Neven stared at the Soul Stone in shock, his voice trembling slightly. “When do we need to go back? What chance do we have to change anything?”

Sage Solon’s gaze was deep as a well. “Your trial is imminent, and the evidence against you is nearly irrefutable. However, this ‘Reversal Soul Stone’ can take you back to that decisive battlefield moment to complete your unfinished mission. But be warned, once you use it, you cannot alter any events that have already occurred. You must wait until your past selves have left Voidmarsh before you reappear, or you risk causing a timeline disruption. If you succeed, everyone’s memories will be reset, except for those who returned to the past with the Soul Stone.”

"Sage Solon, since the Aether rescued us, they would naturally think we've been with them the whole time," Aria said, her tone calm but edged with sharpness. "The ‘us’ they remember and the ‘us’ on the battlefield will conflict."

Sage Solon's lips curved into a faint smile, a glimmer of approval in his eyes. "A good question. I recall that Neven left in the morning that day, and the resurrection spell can only be completed under a full moon. So, the Aether encountered you in the evening." His gaze shifted among the group, finally resting on Neven, as if trying to see through to his soul. "Where were you during that time? Who did you meet?"

Neven answered without hesitation, "I was with Alexander the entire time. We only went to rescue Aria and didn’t encounter anyone else." His voice was steady, his expression unflinching.

As Neven spoke, a flicker of doubt crossed Aria’s mind. She cast a quick glance at Alexander, trying to read his expression. Neven had not mentioned the time they spent recovering Essence Power, which made her suspect his account was incomplete.

Sage Solon narrowed his eyes slightly, as if weighing Neven's words. "So, aside from the Aether, no one else saw you." He paused, then his tone sharpened. "At dusk, an injured convoy will return to the Moon Tower. This convoy was ambushed, and all its members are currently missing. Neven, you need to find a way to blend in with that convoy before dusk so that everyone believes you were attacked and disappeared. As for your reappearance, you can claim the Aether saved you."

"But Neven will need to..." Alexander's voice carried a note of hesitation, his eyes darting between Neven and Sage Solon.

"Get injured," Neven said softly.

Sage Solon nodded, his gaze tinged with a complex emotion. "The Reversal Stone will send you back to the critical moment before the battle. This is your only chance." He took a deep breath, his voice growing heavier. "Using it will incur the backlash of time. If you interfere with your own fate, you might lose your memories or face unpredictable misfortune."

Neven and Alexander exchanged a glance and nodded in silent agreement. Aria watched them, feeling a mix of unease and relief. She knew Sage Solon’s favor for Neven was what had given him another chance.

"Ready?" Sage Solon asked softly, his voice uncharacteristically gentle.

"Ready," the three of them replied in unison.

Sage Solon approached the cage, holding the Soul Stone in his hand. He began to chant softly, and the stone emitted a faint glow that gradually intensified. The air was filled with an ancient and mysterious power, as if time itself had come to a halt.

His incantation echoed through the room, like a call from the ancient past. The Soul Stone in his hand started to tremble, its light spreading out like a wave, threatening to tear the space apart. Neven, Alexander, and Aria felt an invisible force enveloping them, as if countless threads were pulling their bodies towards the light emanating from Sage Solon.

"Remember, you will return when the full moon appears," Sage Solon's voice faded into the blinding light, his figure gradually obscured.

With a muffled boom, Sage Solon exploded into a brilliant flash, instantly swallowing the three figures. Time seemed to split open, space twisted within the blinding light. Neven, Alexander, and Aria's consciousness was dragged into the depths of the light by a powerful force, surrounded by a cacophony of voices.

They felt as if their souls were being torn apart, time and space losing all meaning. Their minds were pulled into endless darkness, where their surroundings collapsed and reformed like a never-ending nightmare.

Neven tried to reach for Aria, but his arm disintegrated into countless points of light, dissipating into the void. Sage Solon's incantation reverberated in their ears, deafening, as if it would shatter their very souls. Their bodies were torn apart and reassembled by the invisible force, becoming part of the flow of time, drifting along with it, unable to control their fate.

A blinding white light suddenly erupted from the center, like lightning across the sky, pulling them back from the chaos into reality. With a loud crash, their bodies hit the cold ground heavily, the impact leaving them momentarily breathless.

Aria coughed violently, her mind blank. She struggled to open her eyes, only to see blurred shapes. The sounds of soldiers shouting and the Night Ghouls screeching on the battlefield filled her ears, piercing her soul. Her body slowly regained feeling through the pain, but her thoughts remained muddled.

She forced herself to sit up and look around, seeing only the war-torn battlefield. Smoke floated in the air, warriors clashed in pools of blood, and the ground was stained red. The sky was shrouded in dark clouds, as if the heavens were mourning this brutal battle.

Neven and Alexander were also waking up beside her, their expressions mirroring her confusion and shock. Their eyes met, and in that moment of silence, they all understood—they had returned to the crucial moment, the only chance to change everything.

"We're back," Aria said, her voice tinged with barely suppressed fear and uncertainty. She struggled to her feet, trying to steady herself. Neven took hold of her arm, helping her stay upright on the muddy ground.

The air was thick with the stench of blood and smoke, the noise of battle roaring back into their ears. Aria quickly scanned their surroundings, confirming that they were indeed back on the battlefield. Anxiety surged within her.

"What do we do now?" Aria asked, her voice trembling slightly.

"I may really have to get hurt, Aria," Neven’s voice cut through the battlefield's clamor, his words coming fast. "The Night Ghouls will come at us like a tide, and Mara will show herself too." He gripped the hilt of his sword, courage gleaming in his eyes. "Even having returned, our chances of survival are still slim."

"Look out!" Alexander’s shout shattered the stillness. A Night Ghoul lunged out of the smoke, its movements swift as a ghost.

Neven reacted like lightning, his sword igniting with the golden glow of the Soul Stone. The blade cut through the air, slashing toward the Night Ghoul. With a shrill scream, the creature was cleaved in two, its black blood spraying across the ground. The golden light illuminated Neven’s face, his gaze shining. Encouraged, the surrounding soldiers erupted into a thunderous cheer, their morale soaring.

"Alexander!" Neven turned, pointing to the rear. "Take Aria and get out of here!"

"But—" Alexander frowned, reluctant to leave Neven to face this alone.

"We’ll meet at dusk," Neven interrupted, his voice carrying an unyielding command. The battlefield wind howled, as if urging time forward. "Go! Now!"

Aria wanted to protest, but the words stuck in her throat. In the end, she simply nodded slightly. "Be careful."

Alexander grabbed Aria's hand and started running toward the back of the battlefield. Flames roared, the shouts of soldiers and the clash of metal resounded around them. Aria followed closely, her heart praying for Neven's safety. As they moved toward the safety zone, she couldn't help but glance back, searching for the gleam of Neven's golden light.

At the edge of the battlefield, Sable and Sander were directing the troops to retreat. They rushed over as soon as they saw Alexander and Aria.

"Aria, oh my god, when did you get here?" Sable asked sharply, his face smeared with mud and blood.

"I...I came today to deliver something to Neven," Aria explained awkwardly, forcing a weak smile.

"Where’s Neven?" Sander asked, his voice deep and serious.

"He's still on the battlefield," Alexander said, pointing toward the chaos. "We need to follow the plan and retreat quickly."

"Dr. Sterling, over here, over here," a soldier called, waving among the crowd. "We need help."

Alexander waved back, then ran toward the voice. Aria followed behind, asking anxiously, "Are you sure the ‘you’ of this time has already left?"

"Don't worry, 'we' are long gone. I think Sage Solon sent us to the wrong time; the battle has already started."