Leviathan's eyes snapped open, and once again, she was in the tower, holding the ancient book. This time, the floating girl was beside her, offering a steaming cup of coffee with a cute smile.
"Here, drink this. It might help," the girl said, her tone oddly cheerful.
Leviathan, confused and disoriented, accepted the coffee and took a sip, hoping to calm her racing thoughts. The girl watched her intently, the smile not reaching her eyes.
"Congratulations," the girl said suddenly, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "You're getting further away from the clue."
Before Leviathan could react, the girl struck her sharply across the face. "Wake up, Leviathan! You need to remember the past that should have happened."
Leviathan recoiled, rubbing her cheek. "What do you mean?"
The girl sighed, her patience wearing thin. "First, Rael should be in the Necromella forest, and Arut shouldn't have met her yet. Gabriel and the angels should still be hostile towards the demons. Second, you should be with Lucifer, conducting your usual activities, not suddenly uniting angels and demons like it's no big deal. Third, think about what happened in the 13th and 14th repetitions."
Leviathan's mind raced as she tried to piece together the fragments of her memories. The girl's words cut through the fog, revealing the stark reality she had been missing.
"Leviathan," the girl continued, her voice softer now, "this book has been creating illusions to trap you. Each repetition alters your perception, making you believe you're progressing when you're not. You need to break free from the cycle."
Leviathan's heart sank. The book had been manipulating her all along, creating a false sense of progress while keeping her trapped. She looked at the girl, seeing a mixture of anger and concern in her eyes.
"I need to remember," Leviathan whispered, closing her eyes and focusing on the fragments of her memories. The 13th and 14th repetitions... what had she missed?
In her mind's eye, she replayed the events of those cycles, searching for any clues she had overlooked. The unity of angels and demons, the battles, the victories—they were all part of the illusion.
Leviathan took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm of thoughts swirling in her mind. The memories from the previous repetitions felt like a tangled web, each thread leading her deeper into confusion. She needed to find the one thread that could unravel the illusion.
"Why are you helping me?" Leviathan asked the girl, opening her eyes to meet her gaze.
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
The girl's expression softened, and she floated closer. "Because I am bound to this tower and its purpose. My role is to guide, but I cannot interfere directly. I can only nudge you towards the truth."
Leviathan nodded, understanding the girl's constraints. She looked at the book in her hands, realizing it was both the key and the lock to her prison. The runes and symbols danced before her eyes, taunting her with their complexity.
"Think, Leviathan," she told herself. "What have you learned from the previous cycles?"
She recalled the 13th repetition, where she had focused on the alliances formed between angels and demons. It seemed like progress, but something had felt off. In the 14th repetition, she had tried a different approach, emphasizing the strength of individual bonds, but it had also led to failure.
"What if the answer isn't in the alliances or the battles?" Leviathan mused aloud. "What if it's in the nature of the cycles themselves?"
The girl nodded encouragingly. "You're getting closer. The cycles are a reflection of your own inner journey. To break free, you must confront the core of the illusion."
Leviathan closed her eyes again, diving deeper into her memories. She recalled the feeling of déjà vu, the sense that something was always just out of reach. The battles, the victories, the defeats—they all blended together in a never-ending loop.
She focused on the moments just before each reset. There was always a point of intense emotion, a moment of clarity followed by confusion. It was as if the book was feeding off her emotions, using them to maintain the illusion.
"I need to find the anchor," Leviathan whispered. "The moment that keeps me grounded in the illusion."
She replayed the final moments of each repetition, looking for a common thread. Suddenly, it hit her. Each reset was triggered by a moment of despair, a sense of failure that overwhelmed her. The book exploited this vulnerability, resetting her perception and trapping her in the cycle.
"I understand now," Leviathan said, her voice steady. "It's my own despair that fuels the illusion. I need to hold onto hope, no matter what."
The girl smiled, her eyes filled with approval. "Exactly. You must confront your deepest fears and hold onto the belief that you can break free."
Leviathan took a deep breath, feeling a surge of determination. She opened the book again, but this time, she didn't look at the runes. Instead, she focused on her own resolve, her unwavering belief that she could overcome the cycle.
As she held onto this thought, the runes on the pages began to shift and change, revealing new patterns and pathways. The book was reacting to her inner strength, showing her the way out.
"Thank you," Leviathan said to the girl, her voice filled with gratitude.
"Remember, the power lies within you," the girl replied, her form beginning to fade. "Trust yourself and the bonds you've formed."
Leviathan watched as the girl disappeared, leaving her alone with the book. She felt a sense of clarity and purpose she hadn't felt before. The path ahead was still uncertain, but she knew she could find her way.
With renewed determination, Leviathan stepped out of the tower, ready to face the true challenge. She would break free from the cycle, confront the Seraphim, and protect the realms. This time, she would succeed.
As she flew towards the Celestial Palace, the sky seemed brighter, the air clearer. Leviathan knew that the journey ahead would be difficult, but she was no longer afraid. She had found the strength within herself, and she would use it to shape her own destiny.
The future was hers to create, and she was ready to face it with courage, hope, and unwavering resolve.