Chapter 1 - Changing the Past

Dawn was cold. She wasn’t physically cold, she more felt… a deep chill and emptiness in her heart. Her entire life had crumbled to pieces. Everything she knew, loved, and enjoyed had once again been ripped away in an instant. This time, I don’t think it’s going to be better. That world, that place… on Terra I felt like who I should always have been. Not just physically, too.

As Dawn turned away from her friend, she looked out the window of the bus at the rolling countryside they were travelling through. The fields of golden corn and soybeans may have looked like her home so long ago, but without the warmth of mana to comfort her, tears came unbidden.

It was good there was no mana here, as that would make it more likely Antithesis would be here. That also meant there was no Zenith, and therefore, no System. No magic or power. There is no Valkyrie Dawn. I don’t get to be me here. I have no power to help people. My body does not reflect my soul.

Feeling the grey seat shifting behind her, Dawn turned around, only to find herself staring into piercing green eyes. Jumping back, she saw violently red hair that fell just past the all too perfect grin of Taylor Evenheardt. Glancing once more at the eyes of her friend who always seemed to know how to help, she turned back towards the window. Dawn never saw the attack coming.

“Hey! Get off!” Dawn yelped at the sudden hug.

“Nope,” Dawn heard the smile in Taylor’s voice. “You need a hug. Don’t think I didn’t see those tears! Where there are tears there will be hugs!”

Dawn couldn’t help but smile at that. It may have been a long time since she had seen her friend, but she was just as upbeat as ever. Always trying to help, to cheer everyone up. She would make such a good Pink.

Extricating herself from the ruthless attack, Dawn turned towards the window once more, watching as the golden fields slowly turned to the city that was her home. Crawford wasn’t the biggest city in Iowa, but it wasn’t small either. I’m home, but everything’s wrong again. Is it worth it? Maybe…

Trying to reach out with those invisible senses within her soul, Dawn felt for mana around her. She had long since learned that the comfortable warmth she felt when arriving on Terra was the abundance of mana on that world. Earth may feel frigid in comparison, but that doesn’t mean there’s no mana, right?

Dawn gasped as she felt the slightest bits of mana in the air around her. It was miniscule, perhaps not even a thousandth of a percent of the density of mana on Terra, but it was present. Pulling the mana in front of her eyes, she willed it to become more, to change. Her eyes widened as the tiniest, faintest light appeared.

So there’s mana here after all. I can gather it, like Athena helped me with before. I can learn. I can grow. I can once again be me.

“So what’s wrong, Donny?” Dawn turned back at Taylor’s words, as she started tapping the seat between them.

“Dawn,” she responded reflexively.

“Oh~? Deciding to go by a new nickname? Is that something you want to talk about, Dooooon~?” Taylor asked. “I know it’s not the game, that’s not bothering you near as much as Sean thinks. It’s something else.”

“No it’s… It’s not something that should be discussed on the bus,” Dawn frowned, still thinking about what could be her new path through life. Idly, she tried to will her status into appearing, and almost jumped as the window appeared in front of her.

Status

Name - Dawn

Alias - Aarynn Hansch

Rank - Valkyrie

Level - 1

Tier - 1

Points - 8,219,951

Health - 100%

Barrier - 100%

Mana - 1,337/129,210

Class - Resolute Solar Templar

Origin - Wish

Signature - Solar Core

Strength - 10

Agility - 10

Vitality - 10

Speed - 10

Intelligence - 554

Focus - 1932

Willpower - 1519

Compendiums

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

(New!) Dawning Stars

Tier 6 Medical

Tier 5 Melee

…

Skills

Enchantment (Celestial)

Melee (Grandmaster)

Cast Redirection (Grandmaster)

…

My Status! My… Status? No! That can’t… Dawn sighed, forcing her racing thoughts to slow down. Ok. What’s different? I shouldn’t have that many points. I was basically at zero points after the fight with the Drake. My Level, Tier and physical stats look like they’re reset. My spiritual stats are way lowered. I don’t-

“Well, how about Sean and I come over and we can talk about it, then?” Taylor asked, interrupting her thoughts. “You know we haven’t had a good sleepover in a while. It’ll be fun!”

As the bus traveled towards the tall buildings framing the skyline of the city, Dawn considered. It had indeed been a long time since she’d spoken with her friends. She had wanted to come back to Earth for a while, and her Wish made her able to tell her friends and family all about her adventure. I still have the System though. I’m worried what that means for Earth.

Athena are you there? Dawn questioned, trying to reach out to the mana construct she knew held her companion. This is quite the circumstance. I have some questions for you.

I remain by your side, Dawn. The Guardian Contract is not so easily broken. I assume your first question will be about your Wish, the familiar voice of Athena resounded in her mind.

Yeah, how the hell am I back here, and why? Dawn questioned, continuing to speak over the Familiar Bond. There aren’t any Antithesis on Earth, so that should mean that there’s no need for Guardians, and that the Zenith wouldn’t be here.

I shall answer the how first. The part of your soul containing our memories was brought to earth, and, along with the mana construct that houses me, placed within your current body. This is why you only have part of your Soul Stats, and none of your Physical Stats, while retaining all unlocked Compendiums and learned Skills.

That explains how, and the discrepancies in my stats. I’m assuming part of my purchases through the shop were refunded? I see no other reason to have that many points. The why though. I thought time travel was part of the list of things that broke the third rule? Something, something, breaking timelines?

Yes, your purchases were refunded. The Zenith had good reason to grant your Wish in this way. While there are indeed no Antithesis currently on Earth, but that is not to say there are none in this Galaxy, or in this Universe. It also does not mean that the Antithesis are not circling. Soon, there will be a need for Guardians on Earth. Your wish was granted in this way to bring you back here for that reason.

Dawn’s vision swam with the weight of her new knowledge. There would soon be monsters in her home. Monsters she could fight. She would need to build her strength again, build herself up to be the valiant protector she was before. Just as soon as she was right again. Channelling what mana she had available to her, she started. “I am-”

DAWN! Athena interrupted, shouting to her mind. You need to think, calm down.

“You’re what? Super excited? Awesome! Let me go talk to Sean about it!” Taylor went on excitedly, leaving the seat. “Sleepover!”

Dawn, you need to think carefully. Now is not the time to Shift. Think of why Guardians need an alias.

Letting out a breath and loosing her grip on her mana, Dawn calmed. Athena was right, she knew. One of the first questions Dawn had asked as a Guardian was on the need for an alias. She then learned that sometimes people would target friends and family of Guardians. Due to needs for privacy and the safety of people near them, the system helped to obscure details about Guardians. While they were Shifted, they had a Dissociation Filter enchanted into their clothes. That alone would do wonders to help ensure that no one would know their private identities.

The Dissociation Filter only helped, of course. It was easier to not make connections between identities when they were named separately, therefore, the Zenith encouraged Guardians to take up an alias as a Guardian.

Right, I have friends and family again. People that could be used against me. I need to be more careful. I can’t only be Dawn anymore. I have to be Aarynn too. Dammit, I’ll also have to transition the long way too, or do you have a suggestion, Athena?

Think of how Astral Shift works. Simplified, its use brings a Guardian to full strength, and allows them access to their Astral Barrier, yes. It does so much more, however. For you especially, in this circumstance.

Of course, Dawn thought, facepalming. Aside from instant power, Astral Shift is also a guidance tool for filling the body with mana. Adjusting the body and the spirit so both can be strengthened at once helps ensure balanced growth. Her eyes widened as she thought. So if an already strong spirit Shifted…

It would forcibly adjust the body to match, Athena finished. Due to these circumstances, the next time you activate your Astral Shift, your body will be instantly changed to match your already developed soul. This is the reason Zenith offer Contracts only to those who have absorbed little mana.

I see. If I want to have any interaction with my family and friends, I must remain as I am. Although I can prepare, I cannot truly fight unless those I care about know, or I am ready to abandon them once more. My return seems to become more apparent with time. Both blessing and curse.

Returning her gaze to the window once more, Dawn watched as her bus pulled into the parking lot of the large brick building that was Crawford Community High School. The courtyard in front of the front doors looked as she remembered it, with neatly trimmed grass, clean walkways, and the single, lonely tree. The glass front showed the entry’s dark interior as Dawn had a realization.

Wait, does this mean I’m the First Valkyrie on Earth. Tell me I’m not the First. That’s too much responsibility.

Dawn could imagine her Familiar’s smirk as she responded Why yes! In fact, You are not only the First Valkyrie, but also the very first Guardian of Earth. You should be very proud of yourself.

As the door of the bus opened, Dawn groaned.