Chapter 19: Survive

"Hey," I said quickly, grabbing Maya's arm before she could run off. "The Seventh Band - they're going to try to flank us through the south wall."

She stared at me. "How did you..."

"Just trust me. And whatever happens, when the seventh hour comes, stay away from the healer's house. That's when the Sun-Touched..."

I trailed off, realizing I probably sounded completely insane. Head wound Tomas suddenly having tactical insights about a raid that hadn't happened yet?

But Maya was already shouting to Henrik. "Uncle! Get five to the south wall now! They're trying to flank!"

"Your knowledge of future events might give us an advantage," Azure noted. "Though we should probably avoid explaining how we acquired said knowledge. I doubt 'I'm actually a cultivator from another reality who's already lived through this once' would go over well."

He had a point. But maybe... maybe this time could be different. I knew about the Sun-Touched, knew about the Skybound that would appear later. Knew every horrible thing that was about to happen.

The question was: could I change any of it?

The raiders' war cries grew closer, that chilling sound that resonated with the crimson light from above. I knew better than to look directly at them this time - the red sun madness was no joke.

"Maya," I called out as she prepared to head to the south wall. "Remember - don't look at their faces during red hour. The madness can spread."

She gave me an odd look. "Since when do you know so much about fighting raiders?"

"Would you believe a sudden burst of tactical genius caused by blunt force trauma?"

"...Actually, that would explain a lot about you today."

The first wave hit our section of the barricade exactly as I remembered. But this time, I was ready. This body might be weak, but my mind remembered every moment of the previous fight.

"Their leader favors his right side," I told Henrik as we repelled the initial attack. "And watch for thrown weapons - they like to use pieces of the barricade as projectiles."

The big man gave me a suspicious look between axe swings. "Tomas, when did you become a military tactician?"

"Again, head wound. Very enlightening. Also, duck!"

He dropped just as a throwing axe embedded itself in the wood behind him. "...I'm starting to think that hit knocked something loose in the right way."

"You have no idea," I muttered, then louder: "Sara! We need fire arrows for what's coming! The Sun-Touched are vulnerable to flame!"

The village hunter appeared on her usual rooftop perch, already nocking an arrow. "How did you know about the fire arrows?"

"Would you believe—"

"Head wound," she finished. "Right. Henrik mentioned you took a bad hit. But your advice is sound - I've got pitch-coated arrows ready."

The battle proceeded both exactly like and completely differently from last time. The raiders' attacks came in the same patterns, but now we were ready for them. The south wall held thanks to the early warning, and Sara's fire arrows kept the first Sun-Touched at bay.

But the red sun was climbing higher, and I knew what that meant.

"Maya!" I caught up to her during a brief lull. "When the seventh hour comes, the raiders who've been exposed to red sun light will start to transform. We need to get everyone to the tunnels before then."

She stared at me for a long moment. "You're different," she finally said. "The Tomas I knew yesterday couldn't tell one end of a sword from the other. But now..."

"The head wound defense is wearing thin, isn't it?"

"Just a bit." She hefted her pitchfork. "But your warnings have kept people alive, so I'm not complaining. What else should we know?"

I told her everything I could remember - about the raiders' tactics, about the Sun-Touched's vulnerabilities, and that a Skybound that would appear later. I left out the part about having lived through it all before, but she seemed to accept my insights as some kind of battle-sense awakened by trauma. Stranger things have happened in fantasy worlds, I guess.

"The tunnels are our best chance," I explained. "But we need to start evacuating now, before the seventh hour. And we need more fire - pitch, oil, anything that burns. The Sun-Touched are nearly invulnerable unless you burn them."

Maya nodded, already shouting orders. This time, when the red sun began to peak, we were ready.

The first transformation was still horrifying to watch - muscles bulging, bones cracking and reforming, those living tattoos spreading across skin. But Sara's fire arrows found their marks, and prepared oil traps turned the transformed raiders' strength against them.

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"Your tactical adjustments have improved group survival probability by 47%," Azure noted. "Though the arrival of the Skybound will still pose a significant threat."

Right. The floating psychopath with the reality-warping powers. That was going to be... problematic.

"Everyone to the tunnels!" I shouted as more raiders began to transform. "The real threat isn't here yet!"

"What real threat?" Henrik demanded, but he was already helping organize the retreat.

The air began to thicken with that familiar static sensation. Right on schedule.

"Into the tunnels!" I grabbed Maya's arm before she could make her last stand like last time. "Trust me - what's coming next, we can't fight!"

The Skybound appeared exactly as before, floating serenely above the battle. But this time, most of our people were already underground. Only a few defenders remained, covering the retreat.

"Tomas," Maya said quietly as we reached the tunnel entrance, "you were right but…how did you know?"

"Would you believe—"

"If you say 'head wound' one more time, I'm going to hit you with this pitchfork."

The first spell turned a Sun-Touched into red mist, just like before. But this time, there were fewer victims for the next attacks. Most of our people were safe underground, the tunnel entrance concealed by burning wreckage. As for why the Skybound was attacking its own people, I had no idea and had no plans to find out.

"We need to go," I told Maya, pulling her toward the hidden door. "Right now."

"But the others—"

"Are either already safe or beyond our help. Trust me one more time?"

She hesitated for a moment, then nodded. We slipped into the tunnel just as another reality-warping spell scattered the remaining defenders.

The underground passage was cramped and dark, but it was better than being up there with an angry Skybound. I could hear the sounds of combat growing more distant as we moved deeper into the tunnel network.

"So," Maya said as we helped the wounded through a particularly tight section, "want to tell me how you really knew all that?"

The flickering torchlight cast strange shadows on the rough-hewn walls. I helped an elderly man over a difficult step before responding.

"Let's just say I had a very detailed vision when I hit my head,” I sighed. “Very detailed. Suspiciously so. And I'd really rather not examine the metaphysical implications right now."

Maya's face grew serious in the dim torchlight. "The elders speak of such things, especially during the Crimson Alignment, when the red sun passes directly beneath its blue sister. They say the twin suns' energies... intertwine during those times. Reality becomes fluid, like water flowing both forwards and backwards."

"What about the Skybound?" I asked, trying to sound casual. "Have you encountered them before?"

She shook her head, her expression troubled. "Never. They're spoken of in whispers, wielders of powers beyond understanding. They rarely descend from their floating cities, preferring to remain above the crimson light that drives lesser beings mad. For one to appear here..." She paused, helping another villager over a fallen rock. "Something significant must be happening.”

Most people lived their entire lives only hearing stories of their incredible powers, never witnessing them firsthand. The Skybound seemed to hold a similar position in this reality - distant, powerful beings that normal people only encountered in tales and legends. Until today.

But if they were anything like the cultivators I knew, their sudden appearance meant these tunnels would soon be filled with a lot more refugees. Or worse, a lot more bodies.

"Your physical essence is still improving," Azure chimed in. "Current value is... 13! A whole point higher than when we arrived. At this rate, you might reach 20% of your normal capacity in just a few weeks!"

"Few weeks? How did you make that sound like good news?"

"Well, considering the fundamental differences in spiritual resonance between realities, I'd say it's quite impressive," Azure replied. "Though I am curious - why haven't you attempted the Tri-Harmony technique? It could significantly boost your capabilities."

"Not yet. If I suddenly display supernatural strength, they'll think I've been touched by the red sun's madness. Besides, I'm not sure how the technique will interact with this world's laws. Better to try it in a safe environment first.” I glanced at the cramped tunnel walls and the frightened villagers. "And a dark tunnel filled with refugees while a psycho hunts above doesn't exactly qualify as 'safe.'"

"A fair assessment," Azure conceded. "Though do keep in mind that your current physical state is... well, let's say 'suboptimal' would be a generous description."

Maya was still watching me with that thoughtful expression. "The prophecy dreams are said to be a gift from the blue sun," she said. "A counterbalance to her sister's madness. Perhaps that's why you saw what was coming."

"Yes," I agreed quickly, relieved to have an explanation that didn't involve alternate realities. "That must be it. The blue sun's gift. Nothing stranger than that."

The tunnel eventually opened into a larger cavern where the villagers had set up a temporary refuge. Supplies had been stockpiled, wounds were being treated, and children were being comforted by their families.

Maya immediately went to help organize the chaos, leaving me to contemplate my situation. I was stuck in another reality, again. But this time I'd managed to change things, to save people who had died before.

The question was: what happened next?

"This timeline divergence is fascinating," Azure mused. "We've essentially created an alternate branch of events through our foreknowledge. Though I wonder what happens when we eventually return to our original reality? Will time have passed there? Will there be two versions of events here?"

"Let's focus on surviving long enough to find out," I suggested. "Any insights on how we got back last time?"

"Well, you died. Rather spectacularly, I might add. Though I'd prefer to find a less terminal solution this time."

Yeah, getting killed by a Skybound's spell hadn't been fun. But was that the only way back? Or was there something about this world, about the twin suns and their strange effects, that might offer another path?

"Your seed of creation seems to resonate oddly with the red sun's energy," Azure noted. "Not quite like spiritual energy, but not entirely dissimilar. Perhaps there's a connection we could explore? You know, preferably without the death part this time."

It was worth considering. But for now, we had more immediate concerns - like helping these people survive, and maybe figuring out more about the Skybound and their powers.

"Hey Tomas!" Maya called from across the cavern. "Stop brooding and help us treat the wounded. Your newfound tactical genius doesn't excuse you from basic duties."

I couldn't help but smile. Last time, she'd died defending others. This time, she was alive and giving me orders. Maybe being stuck in this reality again wasn't entirely bad.

"Coming!" I headed over to help, even though I didn’t have any more foreknowledge to keep these people alive, I would do what I can.

"Just remember," Azure cautioned, "changing the timeline too dramatically might have unforeseen consequences. Also, your physical essence is now 18! See? Progress!"

One step at a time. First, help these people survive. Then figure out how to get back to my original reality. Though I really hoped it didn't require dying again.