"******** **** *******"

Echoed a voice in the depths of his mind. This voice seemed suspended somewhere between human and machine - neither fully organic nor fully artificial. It was so cold and emotionless that it seemed to rise not from a living being but from the depths of an endless void. The artificiality in its tone, its complete lack of human warmth, sent a cold shiver down the man's spine. However, he couldn't grasp the meaning of the words this strange voice wrapping his mind was saying.

When he regained consciousness, he found himself taking deep, rapid breaths, his chest rising and falling quickly. With trembling hands, he touched his throat—which he remembered the creature had viciously torn apart moments ago—and felt relieved: everything was intact, without the slightest trace of a wound. Similarly, his right hand, which he had seen mangled by the trap, was completely whole. He checked the rest of his body too—it was as if those horrific events had never happened.

"How are you feeling right now? Are you experiencing any headaches, nausea, blurred vision, ringing in your ears, or erections?"

Aleah sat at her desk, asking questions to the man.

"No?" said the man with confusion.

"Do you remember your family, your name, or what you do for a living? Any information will suffice."

"No..."

"What's happening?" said Geminga, sharing in the man's bewilderment.

"Do you know how long you've been dead?" The woman, who had kept her eyes fixed on her paper until now, looked at the man for the first time. The exhaustion beneath her black eyes was clearly visible.

"Seven thousand three hundred and fifty-six?"

The woman stared at the man's face with astonishment, disbelief evident in her eyes. She tried to understand how he could know this information—it should have been impossible. She slowly turned and walked to the control panel. Her eyes focused on the digital display. In a small, blue-lit section, the exact same number was flashing.

"Your powers of observation seem quite sharp." she said, narrowing her eyes as she studied him.

"How did we get here? Those horrible creatures I saw earlier... Were they real?" asked the man, his voice trembling.

"Creatures?" A curious expression crossed her face. "Having something in your memory is better than having it completely empty. Go on, tell me what you saw."

"Zeta sent me on a mis—" The words caught in his throat and suddenly an unbearable pain engulfed his body. This pain burned even more intensely than when the creatures had torn him apart.

"I didn't expect such a severe reaction. Are you alright? You look quite shaken."

"Yes... I’m just very confused... Everything's blurry..." said the man, wiping his sweat-covered forehead.

"That's a perfectly normal reaction. Now, if you're ready, I'd like to ask you a few more questions. Stay calm and just tell me what you can remember."

"Geminga..." the man whispered to the presence in his mind while trying to answer the woman's questions.

"Believe me, I'm just as confused as you are. What we just experienced... This can't be a simple dream, can it? People can't see the future this clearly, it's impossible."

"Well, do you have any other explanation? Because all of this can't be real, right? I mean, what we just experienced... These must just be dreams or hallucinations. A normal person couldn't survive such things..." The man's voice quivered with increasing concern and confusion. His hands trembled slightly, his eyes still haunted by the horrific experience.

"We only have extraordinary explanations, and none of them are entirely logical."

"What do you mean? What are you thinking?"

"There are two possibilities: Either we've been in a deep dream for a very long time and we're slowly waking up to reality, our subconscious trying to tell us something, or... when you died, we somehow went back in time, the flow of time changed, and now we're proceeding on a different path. The second one seems more likely to me, strangely enough. What we experienced was too real, too detailed—this is beyond an ordinary dream."

"Impossible! This... this can't be!" said the man, his voice trembling.

"How else can you explain what's happening? Think about it—if there are immortality spells that Zeta mentioned, why couldn't there be spells that affect time? Maybe we're under the influence of an even more complex and powerful spell that we don't fully understand yet? After all, what we saw and experienced is far more realistic and consistent than an ordinary dream. Perhaps we're under the influence of an ancient spell that can alter the fabric of time?"

The man remained silent for a long time, lost in thought. "Maybe you're right..." he said finally. "But there's something else. When I tried to talk about the mission Zeta gave me, it felt like my insides were burning. Just like when I opposed them..."

"That's probably because we haven't met Zeta yet. It seems we're being prevented from talking about events that haven't happened yet, to preserve the flow of time."

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"What are we going to do then? I don't want to experience that pain again! I don't want to die..."

"I felt your fear too. I'm not judging you—anyone would have shit themselves. The only thing we need to do is prevent events from reaching that point."

"Then it's enough if we don't go to that building."

"That's not enough. We need to think much bigger, act more strategically. This time we need to plan everything down to the finest detail, take every step carefully. Simple precautions won't be enough."

"What are we going to do then?"

"We'll proceed flawlessly and perfectly, planning each step carefully. This time we'll prevent your death and leave no room for failure. Most importantly, we'll find Cintara's Crown—this is our ultimate goal and we'll do whatever it takes to achieve it."

"Where do we start?"

"First, we need to meet with Ran. We'll have to wait until tomorrow for that. In the meantime, let me gather my thoughts."

The man met with Zeta after completing his detailed conversation with Aleah. Just like the first time, he carefully followed the procedures, meticulously completing each step. At day's end, he reached his room exhausted, relaxed with a hot shower, and lay down to rest. The next morning, he woke early, completed the body renewal procedures under Aleah's supervision, then joined Zeta at the breakfast table, repeating everything in the same order as in the previous timeline.

When he explained to Zeta that he needed money, Zeta hit his forehead with a thoughtful expression. "Ah, how forgetful I am! I already had something to give you,. he said and pulled out a brightly colored, carefully crafted astralis from his pocket. The detailed ornaments on the coin sparkled dazzlingly in the light. "This is a special piece, worth exactly one thousand astralis." he added, extending the coin to the man.

The man and Geminga knew they would be starting over with a great advantage this time. Thanks to their previous experiences, they had knowledge powerful enough to change the course of events. They would carefully plan each step, meticulously noting every place they visited and person they talked to. They would particularly watch for suspicious situations, unusual behaviors, and unexpected events, taking care not to miss even the slightest clue. This time they wouldn't leave anything to chance.

"Look," said the man thoughtfully, "there must be crucial details we missed last time. For example, those creatures being in that abandoned building can't be coincidence. Someone must have deliberately placed them there. Who comes and goes in that area, who has access to the building's keys, who owns the building, what changes have been made in recent months, have people noticed any suspicious movements, who was that man leaning against the building—we need to investigate all of these things thoroughly."

"The priority will be finding the Crown. We have no business with the gang." said Geminga.

"I know that gang that blocked our path will show up again. Remember, a piece of Ran's clothing was in that room. Maybe among those corpses..."

"We don't know about that. Besides, we have a thousand astralis with us this time." added Geminga. "Maybe we can bribe them to leave us alone."

"Getting rid of them isn't enough! Something tells me they have a connection with the Mist Thieves. We need to catch them and make them talk."

"Why do you think so?"

"This can't be an ordinary gang. Think about it—they're bold enough to kidnap people in the heart of the city, they're using a building as a corpse dump while keeping creatures inside, and they're moving through the city without a trace by using the sewers. No normal gang could be this organized or this brazen."

"As much as I want to object, you have valid points..." said Geminga thoughtfully.

"So where do we start?" asked the man.

"First, let's meet with Ran, then go directly to the palace. We'll try to talk to the Queen, if not, at least we'll find the guards and servants who were there the night the crown was stolen. Even the smallest detail could be useful. Then we'll go to Hartrugar. But first, we need to change our clothes—we can't walk around there in royal uniforms. We'll buy ordinary clothes from the bazaar or something and visit every shop around that suspicious building. We'll talk to everyone from the baker to the bartender. Someone must have seen or heard something."

When he went to the plaza entrance, it didn't take long for Ran to find him. As always, she came running up to him.

"I'm Eridanus Ran! It's truly a great honor to meet you, sir!" she said, extending her hand gracefully. Genuine excitement sparkled in her eyes.

"I'm sorry, Ran. This time I'll protect you." the man said to himself, as a vow.

"Geminga." he said, shaking Ran's hand.

"Where do we start our investigation, sir?"

"To where everything began, we're going to the palace."

"The palace! I've always wanted to go there!" The excitement was evident on her face.

"Let's take the Hyper Train and get off at a nearby station."

"Yes, sir! I've never been to the palace before, I'm excited! Let's set off right away!"

As the man and Ran walked through the city's busy streets, life continued around them in all its vibrancy. People rushed here and there, some trying to get to work while others shopped. Vendors standing before colorful stalls announced their goods' quality and reasonable prices in strong voices, while a light breeze carried the scents of fresh vegetables and fruits, warm bread, bright fabrics, and various spices. Cheerful children ran between the sidewalks, chasing each other and gathering around street performers. Finally, amid this urban chaos, they reached the magnificent Hyper Train station, one of the city's most impressive modern buildings, rising as a massive structure of glass and steel.

At the station, the man approached the ticket counter with its electronic display. He selected their destination with a light touch on the touchscreen, then inserted his thousand-astralis coin into the payment slot below. After a soft whir, the machine ejected a small, shiny, ultra-thin chip.

The man began to curiously examine the new generation payment device in his hand. Its smooth surface gleamed slightly in the light, with micro-circuits along its edges creating an eye-catching detail. When he turned to Ran and asked exactly how it worked, the young girl enthusiastically launched into a detailed explanation. She said these chips were an important part of the city's technological infrastructure.

According to Ran, the chips had transformed daily life. No more carrying heavy metal coins; instead, people could make secure purchases anywhere in the city with these ultra-thin devices. Users could check their balance instantly and reload any amount whenever needed. The security was impeccable—each chip linked to its owner's unique biometric data.

Ran explained that the man held a temporary chip, but he could obtain a permanent one at any city bank through a simple balance transfer. Many citizens, she added, opted to have their chips integrated directly into their wrist or temporal bone—a seamless implant that let them carry their money safely without affecting their daily routines.

They settled into the Hyper Train's plush seats, watching the city glide past through wide windows as the train moved silently forward. The short journey cost only 5 astralis—making it accessible to all citizens.

Minutes later, their seats vibrated gently—a courteous signal that their stop approached. The train slowed smoothly to the platform. As they exited the station, the palace appeared before them in its full splendor, its sunlit towers and elegant architecture commanding the city's skyline.