Turning around the corner, Ed almost collided with someone’s back, but just barely stopped in time. The man didn’t even seem to notice what happened, as he was nervously shuffling through the papers in his hand.

Noticing that the man wasn’t moving, Ed peeked past him and spotted a massive line leading up to the entrance of a building. Don’t tell me this is what I think it is.

In the few moments he had been standing there, people appeared and began to line up behind him too. He just barely managed to catch the tail end of the conversation happening behind him.

“Is this the line for the employment agency?”

“Yep.”

Oh god, how long am I going to be stuck here?

Minutes passed by at a dreadful crawl, with the line barely moving at all. It took nearly an hour for Ed to get passed the first building, but there were still several more to go before he could get inside.

The hours ticked away as he slowly drew closer to the entrance. He watched on as the man in front of him stepped inside, only for someone to step out through the door and close it behind them.

“It’s six o’clock, everyone go home!”

As soon as the person shouted, everyone behind Ed went on their way with their shoulders slumped.

Seriously? I’ve been waiting here for five hours. I just got to the door. Frustrated, but seeing that everyone else had already left, Ed decided to head back home. Looks like I’ve just wasted my afternoon. I’ll come back here early in the morning, that way I can at least guarantee that I get in.

On his way home, his eyes darted past a lit-up café, and his stomach grumbled. Shit. I haven’t eaten at all since I got here. The last time I ate was on the train. He rummaged through his pocket to count how much cash he had. I’ve still got two hundred and seventy dollars; I can spend a little to get myself something to eat right now.

Stepping foot into the café, Ed found it to be elegant, but subdued. The entire floor was empty of people, and completely quiet, save for the muted sounds of classical music.

Where is everyone? Looking around, he noticed a set of stairs leading up to the second floor on the far side of the room. Maybe there’s a worker up there? As Ed approached the staircase, the music grew louder. He could make out the sound of the piano and could tell that it wasn’t a recording. At least there’s someone here.

Upon reaching the bottom of the stairs, and before he could react at all, Ed was tackled off the ground and slammed into the wall. His head rang from the impact, and he was immediately held against the wall, unable to move. What the fuck is going on?

The sound of the piano stopped, instead replaced by the sound of heels clicking against the hardwood floor.

Just as Ed was about to change forms to escape, he caught sight of the person walking down the stairs. She had flawless, pale skin, and a face so beautiful that Ed could only describe it as angelic. Her brown hair was done up in an elegant-looking braid that added to her dignified appearance.

Is that Elaine?

“The suspect has been apprehended your majesty.” Said the man who was holding onto Ed.

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“Good. Let me have a look at him.” Elaine said.

Ed’s head was forced to face her, and they locked eyes for several seconds before she turned away.

“Send him back to the palace for interrogation.” Elaine said as she walked back up the stairs.

The man hoisted Ed over his shoulder, and as he was being carried away, the piano began to play. Ed was thrown into the back of a van and was quickly locked inside. The van began to drive away, distancing itself from the café.

Submerged in darkness in the back of the van, Ed was left completely confused by what just happened. What just happened? What is Lord Superbia’s daughter doing out here? What exactly am I a suspect in?

Trapped alone in the back of the van, Ed had only one way to figure out what was going on, and that was to try and look at his own fate. Calming himself down, he opened his eyes to find the van lit up by golden strings.

No matter where he turned, his vision was filled with countless golden strings, that led off into an infinite number of futures. His head began to ache from the shear intensity of fate at this moment. His life could go in any direction, and he had no clue where to even start.

So instead of looking at the future, he decided to look at the past. Focusing on the string leading to his past, he began to follow it. He found himself inside the van, but this time it was moving backwards.

Staying alert to what was happening in the outside world, Ed became disoriented from feeling the van move backwards and forwards at the same time. Not too long later, the van came to a stop, and Ed was greeted by the void once more.

Now only having to contest with feeling his real body moving, he found that he was actually watching what just happened from an outsider’s perspective. He watched as his past self flew through the air and back into the man’s arms.

Watching from an outsider’s perspective, Ed was finally able to see what the man looked like. The man wore a tight black suit that showed off his hulking muscles. His eyes were hidden behind a pair of shades, and his head was cleanly shaved. He had an earpiece in, and several weapons attached to his waist.

Following them back into the café, Ed stopped it at the moment just before he was tackled. Now let’s see what was going on...

The strings of fate soaked up everything like a sponge, allowing Ed to see things he didn’t know about at all. He walked up to the second floor, and saw guards standing in the shadows, ready to strike at a moment’s notice. Elaine was seated at the piano, playing a piece while seemingly ignoring the world around her.

The guards were on alert, as if they were expecting someone to attack at any moment. If they’re expecting an attack on the princess’ life, then why aren’t they at the palace? Surely that’s a safer place for her to be.

He wound back the time until an hour before he got there. He felt like he had hit a brick wall and began to feel a headache coming on. Seems like I’ve found my limit.

Luckily for him, he was able to find all of the information he needed, as the princess had just stepped into the café.

“Your majesty, I must remind you that this is highly unsafe. You were just under attack last week, and the assassin managed to escape with their life. You should be in the palace right now, instead of in this old café.” An old imp butler said, pleading with her to listen.

“It’s okay, Wilfred. The oracle told us that there would be another attempt at my life today-”

“Then that is all the more reason to stay in the palace!”

“I don’t want to have to deal with this pest for any longer than I already have. Last time was a slip up, and it won’t happen again. We are more than prepared to catch them this time.” Elaine said, waving the butler off to the side as she sat down to have a cup of tea.

Ed pulled himself out of the void, and found himself back in the van, surrounded by glowing golden strings. He gave himself a moment to rest, allowing his headache to ease. How do I get myself out of this situation?

He took a small glimpse at one of his possible futures, and what he saw was burned into his mind. He caught flashes of himself being brutally tortured and brought to the brink of death time and time again in a dark and dingy dungeon. His mind began to swell, as he tried to grasp knowledge that his still mostly human mind was not able to comprehend. Blood poured from his eyes, as his brain melted through his ears.

He forced himself to stop looking, and the golden strings started to fade away, leaving Ed in darkness. He sat there for several moments as his brain slowly mended itself back together with the help of the healer and his new tenacious bloodline. He wiped the blood from his face, as he stuffed the brain matter back in through his ears.

I just have to figure out a way to convince them that it wasn’t me. I can do this.