Gaus walked with a big flower in his hand, looking every bit annoyed. People frowned at him in confusion. A few even laughed. He couldn't blame them. With everything going on, nobody in their right mind would carry birthday flowers around the academy.

He avoided their gaze and hurried to the cafeteria. Tiara saw him approaching. She got up from her seat and ran to him.

The dreaded moment had come. Gatan had warned him that the girl would do that. That she would...

She jumped into his arms and hugged him for one long minute. He tried to break free but couldn't.

"Thank you," she said. She took the flower and then kissed him.

Gaus tried to smile but couldn't. Gatan didn't tell him about the kissing. Yes, he told him about the hugging and the flowers but...

He sighed. "Let's sit."

Tiara led him to her table after holding his hand affectionately. She had already ordered food and lemons.

"It's my birthday today, did you know that?" She asked.

"That's why I brought you flowers," Gaus said.

She looked at the flower and smiled. "Thank you. Thank you."

Gaus took a deep breath and shook his head. Tiara was young, maybe fifteen or sixteen, so her behavior of wanting to celebrate her birthday with every boy in the academy could be excused. But the whole thing was fake. No need to keep pretending like it was real.

"Are you ready to talk now?"

The girl's face swelled in anger. "You are my boyfriend. Behave like it. Otherwise, I have nothing to tell you."

Gaus almost sighed in frustration. "What do you want? You asked for flowers, I brought flowers. You asked for a date in the school cafeteria, and I came. What more do you want?"

The girl looked shocked. He couldn't help acknowledging how good of an actress she was.

"It's my birthday today!"

"I know, my dear, that's why I brought you flowers." That was the sixth time she reminded him in the last five hours.

"Urgh. Of the thirty-four birthdays I have had so far, you are the worst." She shook her head. "Tell me, what do you want to know about yesterday?"

Earlier that day, Gaus and Gatan had visited Tiara in her room and asked her about the things that happened yesterday. The girl told them that if they wanted any more information from her, they would have to do something for her. Among the things she wanted were a flower and a date for the evening. She didn't want Gatan either, which was still an eerie mystery that defied all of Gaus' imagination. Why would any girl refuse the burly man and choose him? To torture him, of course.

"What was the first thing that happened yesterday, and at what time did it happen?" He decided to at least rip the benefits of being forced into a date.

"It was the buildings that first disappeared," Tiara said, looking serious for the first time since their meeting. She narrowed her eyes and stared into the distance. "I did not see it happened but it is said that more than ten houses on 332 Henwi avenue were involved. Later on, the Wislon cinema disappeared. Senior agents from MIA descended from the first world. Soldiers surrounded all the areas involved. Yet, another hour later, the auction hall disappeared with lots of people in it."

"And did you see any of it with your eyes?" Gaus asked.

"I told you I didn't. The reports said it was sudden: no noise, no warning, everything just disappeared."

"Even the people inside?"

She nodded.

"What happened after?"

"Everyone was chased away by the soldiers. I don't know what happened afterward. But the fighting started two hours after the auction hall disappeared.

"Okay." Gaus jotted down some things. "About the temporal..." He checked his notes to make sure he got the name right. "Temporal goblins, are you sure they are as big as that, you did mention seventeen feet in the class interface?"

The girl glared at him. She had been mocked several times already about that topic. "I saw what I saw. Temporal brides, goblins, giant animals... They filled the city."

"What about the troops sent from the first world, and the loopers in the academy?"

"Maybe the invaders were just too strong for them," Tiara said. "I don't know what happened but it is said there were three powerful women who led the attack."

Three women? Was Rachel among them?

"Anything else?"

"I'm not sure about this one." He stared at him hesitantly and then shrugged. "A friend told me that the police headquarters was involved. The whole building was said to have disappeared with officers inside it, and then it came back two hours later with some new people in it."

Gaus narrowed his eyes in confusion. The girl raised her hands in surrender. "I didn't confirm it. It's probably not true."

"The people seen in the building when it reappeared, are they Registered?" Gaus asked.

Tiara furrowed her brows. "How did you know? I didn't want to tell that part of the story because no one would believe it."

Buildings disappeared with the people inside and then returned two hours later with different people. Gaus took a deep breath. It sounded ominous already.

"Anything else?"

She shook her head. "That's everything I know."

That would be enough. "Just one more thing, Gatan doesn't like what you did. He would like to have lunch with you tomorrow."

Tiara rolled her eyes in surprise. "Did he... say that?"

"No, he didn't. But I can read the man like the back of my hands."

Tiara was silent for a few seconds before she nodded and left.

Gaus smiled wickedly as he imagined Gatan being forced into another date. The man must have known this would happen and he let him walk right into it.

That aside, what would happen today? If Gatan was right about him causing the invasion then nothing would happen today. But if he was wrong and Gaus was responsible then...

Gaus didn't want to think about it. He went back to his room and made the necessary preparations. At four o'clock, everyone appeared in class as Linc requested. Gaus had to stop at the cafeteria to take something. He barely ate nowadays. The loop could do that to someone.

The school was still full of soldiers. Some of them had their faces covered and some had swords unsheathed. A thought appeared in his head as he passed them: could he escape all these soldiers if he was being chased?

There was no point in thinking like that as there was no reason for anyone to chase him. At least, not in the academy.

"Everyone, sit," Linc said. The tension in his voice was palpable. "By now, most of you know what's going on. The Master has forbidden initiates from going out of the school from morning to evening. Does any of you has any question?"

Tyren raised his hand. "Teacher, we don't know what's going on."

Linc frowned. "Did you know the academy was attacked yesterday?"

Tyren nodded.

"That's all you need to know then. The academy and Fydeba were invaded. You don't need to know who carried out the attack, where they came from, and what they are after. Just follow your orders and be safe."

"But, teacher, are they in the loop too?" Antelina asked.

Linc shrugged. "They didn't attack two days ago, did they?"

"So we aren't the only people in the loop then?" John said. "Are they also invited by The Master?"

Linc sighed softly. The initiates were told that only The Master could invite people into the loop. Temporary loopers knew that wasn't the case, but initiates didn't know. A student who had been experiencing the loop for just five months couldn't know about the other factions involved in it.

"The world is big, John. We are not alone anymore. The enemies have come to take what we have. It's The Master's wish to protect everyone. That's why he ordered the temporary curfew. If anyone is outside then call them back to the academy. This order will remain in place until the threat is cleared." The teacher paused and frowned. "We are short of one person."

The class looked around and suddenly realized Raya wasn't in class.

The teacher turned to Gaus. "Class rep, find her. But don't leave the academy."

Gaus nodded. He didn't think it was any cause for alarm. Even if the invaders got her soul or mind, the girl would return once the second loop reset.

"All lectures will be suspended for the meantime. You should all form training groups between yourselves for at least this week and the next."

The teacher warned them about the curfew before he left.

"In short," Tiara said. "There's no picnic once we sign in at 10 am?"

Gaus understood this as well. And it wasn't possible in his situation. He needed to go outside for countless reasons.

This might force him to stop coming to the academy for the remainder of the restart. He'd already gotten most of what he wanted from them in this restart.

But one thing was clear: the invasion had ruined the rest of the restart.

***

Several hours later when he went back to his room, he found Gatan already waiting for him.

"I didn't mean to keep you here. I have to look for Raya."

"Did you find her?" Gatan asked.

Gaus shook his head, which attracted a frown from Gatan.

"I hope she's fine."

Gaus nodded and found a seat. Antelina was also worried. But he somehow felt they were overreacting. Even The Master wouldn't expel people with everything going on, and the entire school was looking for Raya and everyone else who was missing.

"I assume it's a good day," Gatan said with a smile. "The birthday celebration must have gone well. Did you get anything new from her?"

"You have no idea." Gaus was bitter but he went on to tell him about their conversation with Tiara.

"I guess it's true then," Gatan said.

Gaus nodded with a sigh. He retrieved a cup from his inventory and went over to his desk to pour some lemon juice in it.

"We should just wait and see," Gaus said after sitting down on the bed. "We'll see if I was the one who caused yesterday's incident, as you said."

Gatan nodded. Although, the security in the city might prevent Rachel from accessing the tunnels, which in turn would prevent the attack from happening even if it wasn't related to Gaus. But still, he wanted to rule Gaus out in any way possible.

So they waited. Gaus kept his eyes open expecting the chaos to come at any time.

It was eight o'clock already and nothing happened. Nine came and went. Gaus kept looking at the door and mentally checking his armory to make sure his gun and swords were ready.

"I'm leaving," Gatan said. "It's midnight already. I don't think there will be any invasion today."

Gaus was silent for a moment before he nodded. "You're probably right. But that still doesn't confirm your theory. It may just be the government forces and the academy sending the invaders away."

Gatan was silent for a while before he nodded. "It means we'll have to look into it again when the situation calms down. Can we even get close to the old dungeon now?"

The old dungeon would be off-limits for some time for obvious reasons. So would many other parts of the city. The marines wouldn't leave for weeks or even months. None of Gaus' plans to investigate the cause and purpose of the time loop would be possible in such a situation.

Gatan walked to the door and then turned around with a curious expression. "By the way, you weren't expecting the invasion to happen on your doorstep, were you? You have been looking at the door for hours now."

Was he that obvious? He chuckled and waved his hand dismissively. "See you in the morning, big man."

Gatan left.

2:59 am and so far nothing had happened. At three o'clock in the morning, the world blurred and disappeared. The invasion didn't come that day.

***

*

Magiwatch has saved twenty-four hours.

*

The security around the city didn't lessen. It was still amazing how fast the government could mobilize so many soldiers this early in the loop. Gaus suspected some massive teleportation ritual that could transport an entire division.

No matter, he wouldn't stop just because there were soldiers. He didn't go to LA, instead, he went to a small restaurant on the outskirts. Every major place in the city was operating for twenty-four hours during the pilgrimage. The invasion wasn't going to change that.

The place couldn't stand up to Niama in both size and the menu, but it was clean and quiet and that was enough for Gaus. There were seven people currently sitting inside. Two women sitting next to each other and the rest were all men sitting at different tables. One particular man was sitting directly opposite the entrance and was staring at Gaus when he went in, or maybe he was staring at anyone coming in.

Gaus went directly to him and sat on one of the empty seats. "Are you the waiter?"

The man chuckled and gestured toward the counter. "The waiter is that way."

Gaus glanced at the counter for just a moment before he returned his attention to the man. The man's particularly giant sword attracted his attention. It was hanging on the man's bareback.

"One Man Army?" said Gaus.

"Of course, I am," said the man, smiling. He was middle-aged, almost old. His eyes were conspicuously small but he found a way to make people he stared at feel somewhat uncomfortable.

"Here on the orders of Mr. Lake?" He asked.

Gaus nodded. "He said I should work with you."

"That's my orders as well." It sounded like he was nodding but he wasn't.

The two men stared at each other. One Man Army was a random participant in the annual tournament that took place in the holy city. He was recently introduced into the loop by Mr. Lake. After completing a few random jobs that gave him extra days in the loop, Mr. Lake decided he should work with one of his minions to assassinate Tyren Onis.

One Man Army looked at Gaus curiously. "It isn't my place to question Mr. Lake's orders, but you're too low level. I don't think you can help in any way."

Did he choose the wrong minion? What idiot decided their opponent's strength based on their levels? The levels determined only the strength of the primary skill, One Man Army should know that. He was selected to represent an entire city in the primordial call tournament.

Gaus shrugged. "I believe Mr. Lake has his reasons."

They looked at each other for a few seconds.

"You're right, young man," One Man Army said. "But I won't allow you to hold me back. You can sit it out if you want. I would like that."

Gaus found himself frowning every second. Perhaps, he should select his next minion with a bit of care.

"I prefer not to disobey Mr. Lake under any circumstances. How do we do it?" Gaus asked.

The man took a deep breath. "Mr. Lake wants us to kill Tyren. He doesn't care how we do it. Tell me everything you know about him and I'll tell you how we do it."

"I attend the same class as him in LA. He's some experience in soul magic, battle alchemy, and hand-to-hand combat. I also have evidence to believe he's been in the loop for at least three loop years now. Even competing in the same competition as you, so..."

"Where did he start his loop?" The man interrupted him.

"I don't know," Gaus said, ignoring the man's impatience.

One Man Army frowned. He pulled a picture of a woman from his pocket and handed it to him. "I managed to find where this woman starts her loop."

Gaus looked at the picture. She was the same woman he saw with Tyren the first time they met in Niama. It was a rough drawing but the face was clear enough. The hair was shown as black which was a contrast to the red hair he knew all too well.

"Did you manage to get her hair?"

"What about it?"

"Is it red?"

One Man Army narrowed his eyes. "Yes."

"I saw her with the target once," Gaus said. It seemed One Man Army wasn't worthless after all.

"And here I thought you won't be of any help," said One Man Army. He patted Gaus on the shoulder. "You'll help identify her. We'll take her out as soon as the loop resets."

"We should wait for the target to come. Did he even visit her every day?" Gaus said.

One Man Army smiled. "Well, that's the thing. Our target is obsessed with this woman. He goes to see her in the morning every day, mostly between six to nine."

Gaus frowned. "He does?"

"Yeah," said One Man Army. "But I don't know what they do behind the door. Don't ask me."

Gaus was too focused to appreciate the joke. "Any warding around the house?"

"On the outside? No." He paused. "But the target seemed to stare at the red flowers longer than usual every time he came. Should Mr. Lake know about it?"

Of course, Tyren would stare at red flowers.

Gaus looked at his watch in thought. "My advice is you keep watching the woman. We'll begin as soon as Mr. Lake gives the order."

"You want me to babysit her? Do you think you are Mr. Lake? Do it yourself."

Gaus nodded. He didn't have time or the energy to argue with his minion. And he might learn something that the man didn't.