Reiss had mixed feelings about seeing Leo in the pillory. It felt good that he didn't go unpunished. But... Leo wasn't a terrible person. He just wasn't the brightest.

Richard had the audacity to look abashed as Captain Worth released Reiss.

"On behalf of the Watch, I apologize. You have been mistreated and deserve better. My condolences on your class."

"Oh, thank you, Captain Worth."

Reiss rubbed his hands and neck. Despite all that happened, Reiss remained dejected. Mainly because he now realized how useless his class was.

People had every opportunity to take new classes when they wanted. Some people collected them like a laundry list. The downside was that you needed to practice a class to level it, and you were only allowed one main one. The rarest/strongest class automatically gets assigned, and the rest lose their power.

As an [Agent of Regression: Level 1], Reiss was unable to advance in his class since he was unable to travel back in time. Consequently, his [Florist] class was also locked until he could level up to be stronger than [Agent of Regression], or somehow, impossibly, synergize both classes and create a new Hybrid class.

Something told Reiss that it wouldn't be nearly as easy as combining [Warrior] and [Lookout] to become a [Watchman]

Reiss was never going to be the world's best [Florist]. But now, he wouldn't even be a halfway decent one.

Back in the present, Captain Worth and Reiss shook hands.

"Maybe you'll find out what the class does one day. Hopefully not too soon, though. We still need our resident [Florist]."

Reiss forced a smile. The Captain was one of the few people who looked after him all these years.

His gratitude was postponed by a new addition to the conversation.

"Is it true that someone has gained a brand new class?"

Out from the crowd of hecklers walked a wizened and gentry man wearing garish garments.

"Mayor?"

Captain Worth turned and gave a late salute.

"Ah. Captain Worth, just who I wanted to talk to. I heard a rumor that there's a young man with a brand new class. Something called a [Agent of Regression]?"

"Yes, Mayor Reed, our local [Florist] received the class early this morning. There was a mishap with a few of my Watchmen, but the situation has been addressed."

A soiled cabbage smacked Leo across the face. Leo seemed used to it and was even trying to catch some of the food in his mouth.

"Leo. That is the third time this month. How many times do I have to tell you to stay away from the rum?"

A soggy carrot broke apart on Leo's forehead, eliciting a distinct sound.

"Mayor Reed. It, doh, wasn't the drink this time. I messed up."

The [Mayor] gave Leo a pitying look as the guard-turned-prisoner attempted to lick up a discolored liquid running down off the tip of his nose. It was all fun and games for Leo, no matter what.

"Captain Worth, what did he do this time?"

"He attacked and falsely apprehended a civilian, sir."

"Of course he did..."

"Sir, I believe he fell in line with his fellow Watchman, Richard."

Richard paled at the sudden attention.

"Is that so? Well, why isn't he the one in the pillory?"

"We only have one, sir, and Leo gave the report, so he still holds responsibility."

"I'll leave Watch matters to you [Captain]. For now, I wanted to hear about this new class."

Reiss stepped up because it was clear that the Mayor didn't recognize him. It was fine. He had a forgettable face.

"I received the new class, Mayor. It's called [Agent of Regression],"

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"Remarkable! From the sounds of it, you've been chosen as a champion. Like the famous [Bastion of Hope]."

Reiss fidgeted at the stares. Being compared to Humanity's Legendary Hero was too much.

"Not at all, sir. My class only gives me the sense I can travel back in time."

The [Mayor] looked astonished. As did the gathering crowd, who began whispering, wondering if it was true.

"Then, could you demonstrate for us? If you go back, will we all remember? Will you be able to avoid being arrested? If you do go back, you must come and see me. Oh, but how would I believe you? I would ask for another demonstration."

Reiss held up his hands before Mayor Reed jumped too far ahead.

"I'm sorry, sir, but that is the reason why I ended up in the pillory."

A confused look crossed the Mayor's face. Reiss hastened to set things straight.

"I can't even clear the condition to use the class."

A frown.

"...What's the condition?"

A deep breath.

"I have to die."

The mayor smiled brightly.

"Oh, is that all?"

=

Reiss' blood ran cold.

"I'm sorry, what was that sir?"

"Once you are close to death we can see if the skill activates. If so, your wounds will heal when rewinding time. If it fails, then we know. We can have the local [Healer] tend your wounds in that case."

Reiss gulped.

"Sir, I don't think I want to try that."

The Mayor waved his hand dismissing Reiss' opinion.

"Nonsense. There is never any reward without risk. I have some levels in [Mage], myself. It has taken years of studying, labor, and coin to fund my experiments. I nearly blew up the town hall, twice."

Captain Worth's disposition changed drastically when he heard the admittance. The crowd backed up as if the mayor would explode into confetti right then and there.

"Watch Captain, could you remove Leo from the pillory?"

"Sir?"

The word came out like a question, and it was, but Captain Worth complied nonetheless. The pillory clacked open and Leo wormed his way out. Mayor Reed then strong-armed Reiss into the now-empty pillory.

"There. Now, we don't have all day, but we don't want to accidentally kill you either. The best way would be to flog you until you fall unconscious or are near death. The skill should activate once it sense your death."

Reiss realized too late. Had it always been this way? Mayor Reed was insane. Even Captain Worth seemed taken aback.

"Sir! You can't do this without his permission."

"What are you talking about Captain? The boy already gave it. Didn't you?"

"..."

Words failed Reiss as a mysterious force stole his voice.

"..."

He tried again, but the words never left his mouth.

Is the Mayor using a Skill on me?

The Mayor's smile broadened. It looked evil. Gesticulating his next words, Reed spoke.

"Great! He agrees. Richard, grab me the flail from the jailhouse. Captain Worth, I suggest you remove the children and those who are affected by blood.

"But, sir."

"That is an [Order], [Watch Captain]."

Worth bit his lip seeming to wrestle with himself. After a moment, his posture relaxed, and he turned on his heel.

"You heard the Mayor, bring the children inside, and anyone who doesn't want to watch should leave."

With that, the crowd began to disperse. Almost half stayed to watch.

=

Reiss was panicking.

"Now, now, relax. We'll start in a second. Don't worry, I'll try to achieve the results quickly."

Damn your results! Let. Me. Out!

He tried to scream, but he was still under some Skill's effect. Reiss thrashed and wiggled his mightiest. Richard came back all too soon, almost mournfully. Reiss pleaded with his eyes, but Richard just shook his head apologetically.

Is... Is he under a skill too?

Who the hell was the [Mayor]? How can he have so much control?

"We'll begin immediately."

The remaining crowd stood eerily still. The Watch Captain returned just in time to hear the first whip crack against Reiss' flesh.

His mouth opened in agony but it was a silent scream filled with searing pain. Reiss wailed silently as the second strike cleaved a chunk of flesh from his back. His knees crumpled, causing him to hang in confinement. A third strike struck, tears blinding his vision.

"Sir."

A fourth strike and Reiss could hear ringing in his ears once again.

"Sir!"

A fifth strike caused Reiss to bite through his lip. Blood dripped from his mouth.

"SIR!"

"What? Can't you see we need to finish this quickly? The faster I finish, the less amount of time he has to spend in pain?"

Through a grey haze, Reiss could see Captain Worth shaking violently, trying to overcome some unseen force. He was looking at Reiss with worry and at Mayor Reed in true fear. The Captain exchanged a glance and a nod with Reiss.

"Sir. I believe he was lying about gaining the new class."

"Impossible. I know a liar why I see one."

"Sir, I have reasonable doubt. How could a [Florist] gain the ability to time travel? A weak individual who has to run from horned rabbits. Someone who can barely hold his job and afford taxes."

Worth looked at Reiss apologetically.

"A man like that could never gain the ability to control time."

Mayor Reed was silent for a long time. Leo and Richard white-knuckled their spears, shaking at attention. The crowd was looking on, none of them moving to interrupt the show.

Mayor Reed's feet appeared in front of Reiss. He hadn't heard nor seen the approach.

"Is this true?

Reiss' head lolled, his vision starry. Reed grabbed a tuft brown hair and shook Reiss' head roughly.

"I said, is this true? Did you lie about your class!"

Desperately, Reiss bobbed his head up and down. Then faster, to get his point across, until his vision swam. There seemed to be genuine hurt in the [Mayor]'s eyes.

The irony as Reiss threw up on Mayor Reed's pristine shoes was not lost. Backing up, the Mayor cursed.

"Ugh! Despicable. To think I believed even for a second."

"Sir-"

"Silence! This is your fault as well. We will be having words, you and I."

The pain from retching through his wounded mouth caused Reiss to momentarily forget the pain coming from the slashes on his back. He was lost in a sea of suffering as his blood dripped crimson petals onto the cobblestone plaza. Lastly, he heard the [Mayor]'s verdict.

"For lying to me, I'm rescinding your right to a [Healer]. And for wasting my time, you will never work in this town again. From here on, I, Mayor Thomas Reed, hereby [Exile] you."