image [https://i.imgur.com/FzujELT.gif]

A flicker of irritation crossed Cain's brow. "Why not tell me everything now? And what's the point of retracing your steps? Why not seize the moment and take a risk, especially if we're nearing the end? Playing it safe now seems counterintuitive."

I shook my head, resolute. "I've come this far by adhering to the paths I've previously navigated. Small adjustments are fine, but stray too far, and I risk turning a potential ending into an unavoidable outcome. My past decisions loom large, and if I'm going to make sweeping changes, it'll be once I've returned to the future. The stakes are too high here."

"You mean after you secure the sword?" Cain extended his hand. "Assist me in dispatching Lilith, and you have my assurance. Though I suspect it won't be an issue. It's clear you aren't eager to bow to her whims."

I seized his hand. "Should you ever lay a hand on Belle again," I tightened my grip for emphasis, "know that you'll be the next to feel the sword's blade."

Cain's smirk deepened as he leaned in. "Let's be honest. You'll go for my neck either way." In a flash, he disappeared. The room echoed with Belle's gasp, followed by a chilling crack.

Belle sat up, rubbing her neck. "The Fallen... they're so powerful," she whispered. "Will I ever be that strong?"

I crouched beside her. "Are you okay?"

"Have you ever experienced death?" Belle asked, her expression suddenly blank. "Like, when your health hits zero?"

I hesitated, wondering why she was asking this. "Yes, when I was stabbed through the heart on the way to Endeavor."

Belle massaged her forehead. "Did you see a skeletal woman? She asked who created me." Her hand dropped.

Did she see Death?

Wouldn't Death already know who—or what—had made Belle? Who else could have made her besides the system? Qais was her name—if my dreams were to be trusted.

"That's interesting," I said, rubbing my chin thoughtfully. "If I ever wanted an audience with Death, it seems all I'd have to do is let my hit points drop to zero."

I could consult Venisa first and see if she could provide a better path to Death than my temporary demise. Many questions remain unresolved, and I yearned for clarity on at least a few of them. While our previous meeting may have given the impression of strangers, my dreams suggested a different narrative, compelling me to pursue another encounter with her.

Belle's eyes narrowed sharply. "Don't even think about it."

I rose, extending my hand to her. "It was a passing thought—and I can only die if my head is cut off. So relax."

As she took my hand, her expression remained sceptical. "So, what was that conversation with Cain all about?"

"A deal," I said, helping her to her feet. "Please, don't provoke a Fallen again. Seeing you in pain is intolerable, immortal or not."

"And the terms of this deal?" Belle inquired, rolling her neck with a loud crack at the end of the motion.

“Essentially, to maintain the status quo. No major shifts in our plans,” I responded. “I’ve already changed things too much.”

"Can we trust him?" Belle eyed me doubtfully. “I sensed nothing but malevolence from him.” She shuddered at the thought. “His true face is… monstrous.”

I shook my head. “Absolutely not. But we have to act as if we can, at least for now—True face?”

Belle nodded slowly. “Everyone has one. It's like a reflection of your soul, I guess. His is twisted and dark, like something out of a nightmare. Yours… it’s different. There’s a shadow, but it’s not as deep.”

“Is my face always like that to you?”

“No. Sometimes it’s like a veil lifts, and I see what’s beneath. With him, it was immediate and unsettling. With you, I mostly see your mortal face.”

“Why didn’t you tell me this before?”

Belle shrugged, looking away. “I didn’t want you to be self-conscious about it.”

She was hiding things from me. This wasn't a major issue by itself, but there had been other instances where she deliberately withheld information. I wouldn’t have thought twice about it if it didn’t seem so intentional.

Should I be cautious of this? Everyone was suspicious of her existence. Hopefully, my affection for her wasn’t getting in the way of seeing something obvious. Having a ridiculously beautiful, slightly dependent woman fawning over your enemy would be a clever tactic—she was a distraction.

Belle made eye contact with me before quickly glancing away. "The mood has probably passed," she sighed. "Let's just pretend that didn’t happen. I know you're never going to sleep in this room again or be alone with me."

Maybe she looked away because of something else… I’m being paranoid.

"Now you're just making assumptions," I huffed, crossing my arms. "Why would I not want to be alone with you? You're being a tad dramatic."

Belle was quiet for a moment. "Because you’ll never risk letting that happen again."

I tossed my arms up, shaking my head as they dropped to my sides. "I'm a bit annoyed that you think I would do something that I didn’t want to do. You were not guilting me into anything."

She rolled her blue eyes. "I guilt you into stuff all the time."

"You're not making a case for yourself."

"I asked if everything was okay," she muttered. "You said yes. If I hadn’t been forward, you would have behaved."

Correct.

I sighed deeply. "Just tell me what you want, Belle. I promise to give you an honest, clear answer. We need to be on the same page and discuss this before a line is overstepped.”

Belle glanced around the room, her face shifting through a range of complex emotions, unable to settle on one. “I want something. And you can say no. I promise I won’t bring it up again or hold any ill feelings.”

After a pause, I prompted her gently. “What is it that you want?”

"Before you go back to the future, I want to share… a moment with you—just between us," she said, her voice trembling with a mix of eagerness and nerves. "With everything happening and the uncertainty ahead, I don't want to regret missing the chance. I was planning to wait until we meet again in the future, but… Cora says I need to be forward with what I want."

What had I gotten myself into? I should never have let her stay in this room or gotten this physically close to her. This was largely my fault. Demon desires or not, this was my problem. I couldn’t just blame everything on my demonic side.

I could, however, share some of the blame with Cora. Who knows how long she has been encouraging this.

Fuck. Why did I choose the Euphoria talent? It just made everything worse. All I wanted was for her not to feel pain.

Letting out a long breath, my brow furrowed with concern. "I don’t want to do something that will create tension between us or anybody else, especially with everything we need to focus on in the days ahead. Are you sure you’re not mistaking this for something else?"

Belle looked up, her eyes locking onto mine with an intensity. "I am extremely attracted to you… physically, and I am sure I am not mistaking this for anything, but what it is… I'd appreciate it if you'd stop trying to tell me what I'm feeling."

Ugh.

“Let me think about it,” I said, watching a flicker of disappointment slide across her face before she quickly masked it—I had promised her an honest, clear answer. “When we get back to the sanctuary, I'll deal with the blood moon situation, and if I'm not stuck as a wolf, we can discuss this then. It's not too far off, so please don’t pout.”

"I’m not going to pout," she said, puckering her lips. "Getting my neck snapped really killed the mood anyway. It would feel weird to revisit anything right now." Belle pressed her lips into a thin line. "I really dislike Cain's vibe."

Vibe? What was that word?

"Vibe? What does that mean?" I asked.

Belle looked at me strangely. "Like the aura he gives off, I suppose. You haven't heard that before? Example, Takeda definitely has dad vibes."

"Never," I said, tilting my head. "What was that other word you used a few days ago? Clapback?"

Belle put her finger to her chin. "Yes, clapback."

"You speak with slang I know you didn’t learn from me or books."

Belle's eyes narrowed. "You're right. And I don’t feel like I made them up."

"Are you getting memories or anything?" I asked, stepping closer. "Maybe this is memory loss, not a forming consciousness."

Belle thought for a moment and shook her head. "I still don’t remember anything.”

A knock disrupted our conversation. Moving to the door, I found Takeda on the other side. "Do you have a moment?" he asked, his voice tinged with urgency.

I stepped aside, letting him in and closing the door behind him. After a brief pause, Takeda spoke. "Demons are lurking in the vicinity. They haven't attacked yet, but they're clearly searching for something. Earlier, one of our guards noticed a figure with strange green eyes darting out of town at an incredible speed. The Jarl dispatched a rogue for scouting and discovered a cave at the end of the ravine with a camp inside. I think it would be wise to get the drop on them before they attack the town."

"Any idea what—or who—they're after?" I asked.

He exhaled heavily. "My guess would be you."

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

I tilted my head, puzzled. "They did say something like, ‘How could someone like you ever pose a threat to the Dreamer?’"

"The demon I slew at the Heavenly Gates... I suspect it wasn't the one on the verge of becoming a Fallen. The fight felt too easy."

"You appeared to have your hands full—no offence."

"In my lycan form, my blows were disproportionately effective," he explained, ignoring my comment. "That's unusual for a demon nearing Ascension. His abnormal agility was the only thing keeping him alive."

"Why would they target me?" I asked, my brow creased. "I doubt this is a recruitment effort."

"I believe others were observing us at the gate. There’s more at play here," Takeda said cautiously. "Celeste's proximity might have dissuaded them from acting, which could be why we didn’t get ambushed by more demons."

"But why not seize the opportunity when we were most vulnerable, before Celeste even arrived? Wasn’t the goal to kill you?" I pressed. "Unless Celeste had been hovering nearby the entire time. If that were the case, why wouldn't she intervene? Letting you die would undermine her plans to enlist the Guild's aid in obtaining the sword—something's not adding up. Are you sure this demon gathering is related?"

He shrugged. "Informing their superiors could be one explanation—if everyone’s dead, no one can report. It's quite plausible they're related, and I'm inclined to believe it. Given Celeste's interest in the sword, it's reasonable to suspect that other forces are vying for it too. However, your point about Celeste is well-taken. If she was present, why didn’t she intervene?"

"Maybe we're overthinking this," I said, grabbing my chin. "Not everything revolves around the sword or me. This could be something else."

"It's possible," Takeda conceded. "Still, we need to deal with those demons before confronting Daiki. We might need the Jarl's support as a fallback plan."

I arched an eyebrow sceptically. "Do you really think Rolf would support us, especially if things turn violent?"

Takeda nodded confidently. "Rolf and I have a long history. He'll be in our corner, even if the situation escalates."

"Very well. I'll trust your judgement. So, what's our next move?"

"We'll spy on them and possibly bait them," Takeda said after a moment’s consideration. "Let's find out if you're their target or if this is an unrelated mission."

"We doing this tonight?" I asked. “Or is this a tomorrow thing?”

Takeda gave me a slow, deliberate blink. “Have other plans?”

“Let's just say for a second, I do?”

We exchanged a long, weighty gaze. Finally, Takeda broke the silence. "Are you attempting humour?"

"I'll get changed and meet you outside my door," I said, moving to retrieve my long coat from the chair. "After we solve this issue, I plan to take a few days for myself. The circle hasn’t been very helpful lately, and a break before returning to the guild shouldn't make much of a difference."

“If they weren’t sneaking into town, I would suggest we wait until tomorrow, but it could be risky not to address this promptly,” Takeda said as I slid into my long coat. “I would handle it myself, but I know you want to level up.”

I turned back to him. “Hopefully they're at a decent level.”

Takeda offered a nod before making his exit. I slid a storage chest out from under the bed and traded my current trousers for a pair of fitted black leather ones. As I was securing the sword halter around my waist, I turned to find Belle, who appeared deeply engrossed in her thoughts.

"Belle?" I called out.

She seemed startled, as if I'd snapped her back to reality. "Why don't you wear underwear?" she asked almost immediately upon regaining her focus.

I need to stop changing around her. While there had been moments when I thought I caught her stealing glances, I'd naively dismissed it, believing there were no underlying intentions. It now appeared that my suspicion was correct.

"Of all the things to ask after spacing out, that's your immediate concern?"

Her preoccupation had clearly been with something far more complex than my attire.

Belle shrugged. "Well, are you going to answer?"

"The stitching never aligns quite right. And it was something I never wanted to explain to my mother or sister," I said, my voice tinged with noticeable exasperation. "If they're too loose, they're useless. Therefore, I don't wear them since my current clothes fit just fine. Happy? These irrelevant questions are tiresome."

Sleep deprivation was beginning to wear on my temperament, despite not needing much sleep. Lately, I found myself becoming increasingly irritable over the simplest questions, and her inquiry bothered me far more than I cared to admit or show.

“Sooo angry,” Belle's head tilted slightly, a subtle smirk forming on her lips. "Is it because you have a—"

I quickly closed the distance between us, placing a hand over her mouth to silence her. "Finish that sentence, and you're not coming with me," I warned.

Muffled words came from beneath my hand. When I removed it, she wasted no time. "Why are you so sensitive about your cock?"

I sighed deeply and pinched the bridge of my nose. "Please don't use that word again."

"Didn't we just agree you wouldn't treat me like a child?" she retorted. "Things like that shouldn't bother you if you're serious."

She wasted no time bringing that up again.

I seized her by the shoulders, locking my eyes onto hers. "On this particular subject, you don't get to pull that card," I said, gently moving her aside as I strode toward the small table where my blue-hilted katana lay.

After I slid my katana into my belt, Belle let out a huff of frustration.

"So, what am I supposed to do if you never bring it up?" Belle asked, stopping me in my tracks at the door. "Should I mention it again, or is it forever off-limits?"

I turned to meet her gaze. "We'll address it later. Like I had promised," I said and Belle nodded after a brief pause—she was not happy with that. "Change into the clothes Takeda had tailored for you. Then we can go."

Why was she being so persistent? It wasn’t helping my paranoia.

As I stepped out of the room, Takeda stood in silence, leaning slightly against the wall. His long coat billowed softly, framing the sword securely fastened to his waist, its hilt subtly protruding from the garment's opening. His face wore an expression of deep contemplation, as if lost in an intricate web of thoughts.

"Everything alright?" I asked, deliberately positioning myself, so he had to look at me. "You seem lost in thought."

Takeda paused momentarily before finally breaking his reflective silence. "Recently, there's been an uncanny sense of familiarity about all of this."

"We've probably navigated a similar course in another reset," I suggested, intimately acquainted with that very sensation.

He emitted a soft chuckle, a rare break from his usual stoicism. "Do you have any insights into what might unfold next?"

Taking a deep breath, I searched for the right words to explain. "I've been having nightmares. Sometimes, they give me glimpses—scenes, if you will—of what might be other cycles, other iterations of this reality."

His eyes narrowed slightly, intrigued. "Nightmares, you say? What kind of scenes?"

"Flashes of battles, moments of peace, faces that seem both familiar and strange. It's like watching fragments of different lives, all tangled together in a mess." I rubbed my neck, feeling the grip of those gauntlets. “They leave reminders.”

Takeda stepped forward, concern etched on his face. "These dreams are affecting you… How much do you know?"

"I can't say much," I confessed, shaking my head. "My sleep hasn't exactly been frequent, as you've probably noticed. And the dreams are so sporadic that it's not even worth speculating on."

Takeda averted his eyes momentarily, a flicker of discomfort crossing his face—possibly embarrassment. "You know you can talk to me, right? I think we've built enough trust for that. You can share your burden."

I stretched, lifting my arms above my head. "We can delve into that later. So far, I haven't seen anything that could really help us. Some of it I’d rather forget."

"Understandable. I have other things to discuss, but I will save it for later. It is nothing serious," Takeda said. Just then, Belle emerged, donning leather pants and a coat fashioned from bear fur.

Takeda had gone hunting in his lycan form, slaying bears for their pelts and pigs for their meat. The ensuing feast was legendary, or so I was told. I had sequestered myself in the training circle for the last five months, only leaving because Takeda had opened the sessions to public view—I really didn’t like being watched. He believed that witnessing my dedication might inspire the townspeople to lend a hand if things went awry at the Guild. Hopefully, it would never come to that.

"Are we just rushing into the cave?" I asked.

Takeda cast a brief glance at Belle before refocusing on me. "Given that the cave has multiple entrances, and thus multiple avenues for escape, it may be strategically sound for us to split up once we arrive. Belle can handle strong demons, and I trust you can too, as long as you remain alert. Most likely, I'll have you go through the main entrance to serve as a diversion while Belle and I approach, hopefully, from behind."

"Understood," Belle responded, bringing her hand to her forehead in a mock salute. "I know I'm not as tough as the other Valkyries. I'll play it safe."

Takeda shifted his gaze to me. "Kade, if at any point you think retreating is the best option, don't hesitate to signal. We'll regroup."

I nodded. "How far is the walk?"

"About two hours," Takeda answered. "We'll be going on foot with a small group of soldiers—horses would make too much noise. If and when we need them to storm the cave, they will be ready."

I let out a sigh of relief. "That's fine by me. I'm not exactly an equestrian."

Belle raised her hand, chiming in. "You should teach us how to ride horses sometime," she suggested, earning an eye-roll from Takeda. “What was that for?”

"Why would a Valkyrie need a horse when you can fly?" Takeda retorted as we began walking down the hallway towards the entrance of the longhouse.

Belle's eyes awkwardly met mine, briefly, before returning to Takeda. "I can't fly yet. Also, I find horses adorable and would love to learn how to ride one," she defended. "I think it could be useful in the future for both Kade and I—You never know."

Why did she look at me like that? Maybe I was just imagining it.

"I concede your point," Takeda said as we navigated through the warm ambiance of the longhouse and stepped out into the open air.

We encountered a group of men congregated in the yard just beyond the longhouse, where the enclosure gave way to the bustling town beyond. Takeda moved swiftly toward them, outlining the plan in hushed tones. He emphasised the need for discretion, cautioning that the demon's acute hearing made idle chatter a risk.

Meanwhile, my attention wavered. A feeling of unease gripped me, originating from a distant point I couldn't precisely identify. I had deliberately activated my echolocation, straining to sift through the ambient noise. Despite having honed my skill at isolating specific sounds, crowded areas still presented a challenge.

The sensation troubled me, but I opted not to share it. A predisposition toward unease had become increasingly familiar to me, to the point where it was almost dismissible as a fleeting concern. It didn’t seem necessary to bring it up.

"Are you ready, Kade?" Takeda asked, his eyes searching my face intently.

"As ready as I'll ever be," I replied, exhaling softly.

Takeda tilted his head, his gaze still fixed on me. "Are you sure?"

Before I could respond, a vivid blue explosion erupted near the town's harbour, painting the sky with an otherworldly green fire. This was no ordinary blaze—it was magical. As far as I knew, the only magic around here was basic healing spells.

Takeda stepped forward, but I extended my arm to stop him. "Hold on. Something's not right. That was probably a diversion."

A clink of metal announced Rolf's arrival. He wore an aged breastplate and had a hefty sword perched on his shoulder. "So, what's the plan?" he asked, looking down at me. "You're leading this one."

I pointed at myself, disbelief in my voice. "Why me? Aren't you the jarl?"

Takeda nodded in agreement. "Your call, Kade."

Suddenly, I felt the weight of the moment—countless eyes on me, each belonging to a soldier awaiting a command I wasn't sure I was capable of giving.

Swallowing my apprehension, I assessed the situation. “If we're dealing with demons, spreading out will make the soldiers easy targets,” I began, my voice steadier than I felt. “The soldiers should move as one unit towards the harbour, led by Rolf. Takeda, you stay back, watching for any flanking moves—with your strength, you can quickly adjust as needed. Belle and I will approach from the opposite side of the docks, hopefully encircling whatever is awaiting us.”

Our eyes met—Rolf's, Belle's, Takeda's—and I felt the atmosphere thicken with expectation, the mantle of leadership settling heavily upon me. But had I made the right call?

Rolf signalled toward the harbour. The soldiers, urgency in their steps, descended into the town. He met my gaze once more, offering a subtle nod of affirmation before joining his men. Belle mirrored his nod and bolted to the left, her sprint a blur of determination.

"You've got this," Takeda assured me, his hand firm on my shoulder. "If things go bad, you know what to do."

I nodded. "See you at the docks."

Propelled by a newfound sense of duty, I darted between buildings, my boots slinging mud into the air behind me. As I neared the town's edge, veering toward the docks, that strange sensation crept up my spine again. My instinct talent for sensing danger was kicking in. Gripping my sword's hilt, the air seemed to condense around me, culminating in a surge of alarm.

My thumb deftly released the hilt of my katana from the saya with a satisfying click.

Out of nowhere, an axe swung at me, gleaming in the dim moonlight. With a swift motion, my sword met it at the last second in a resounding clash, vibrations reverberating up my arm. In an agile burst, I sprang backwards and skidded to a stop, sword poised to strike.

The figure flipped back his long, raven-black hair, revealing a sinister grin framed by sharp canines. His eyes glowed a familiar red. "Another lust demon? I thought something smelled delicious."