Scream.

At first light, Gaus woke up with a resounding scream. His body trembled under his sweat-soaked underwear.

He was slowly getting used to waking with a nightmare, alone and in a back street with the only good thing being his knowledge of the future. Once fully awake, he fled to his favorite hideout. In the morning, he continued his self-study about magiwatch in the library and asking Abbas whatever he didn't understand.

He should have given up on the first day, but it went on for the next three days before he finally realized the loop was unlikely to just end on its own and he wouldn't unravel its mystery just by studying in the library. He needed to do much more than just that. Three things were clear though: one, only he could Rewind, according to Abbas; two, he couldn't Rewind for twenty-four hours straight and neither had he tried to; three, there was nobody else using his watch to Rewind the day (and he was watching out for it, so you could exclude the possibility of someone doing it while he slept). Because of these Gaus was feeling increasingly certain that it was his watch that was Rewinding the day. This realization was both a relief and an annoyance. It was a relief because at least nobody would come looking for him because of it since nobody even knew. It was an annoyance because he had to figure out how the watch was getting the mana to Rewind for twenty-four hours and why it was doing it. That last bit stuck out to him - why the watch was doing it, the purpose behind it. Could it be a default setting, a malfunctioning, or maybe there was a hidden meaning to it?

He was advised to find a skilled enchanter after the pilgrimage to translate his skill formula so he could get a deeper understanding of his watch skill, but 'after the pilgrimage' wasn't good enough for him. He wanted an enchanter today, now.

"It is impossible. The soonest you can get them is a month from now." Abbas had said.

It was frustrating, to say the least. Gaus decided to take the day off and just walk around the city, hoping to find something interesting.

***

Ummi turned to Gaus. "Are you going to the auction or directly to the competition?"

"Let's go see the auction."

On their way, Gaus realized that, contrary to his earlier assessment, Ummi was talkative as hell.

"Have you heard?" She asked and before he could respond she added, "this isn't your usual competition. Ilun Baya will participate this time around." She stopped and turned around to face him with a serious look, "that Ilun Baya, the one they said has descended from the old world. And because of what happened last year The Warlords and The Kings are sending their finest mages. Men like Ethrek, Fayos, Janasal..."

"What happened last year?" He cut in.

She gave him a side glance before she registered the question and her eyes went wide with disbelief. "Do you live underground?" She kicked a nearby pebble in annoyance.

Shit.

Magiwatch has saved five seconds.

You have Rewound for five seconds, effectively erasing everything in the said period. Only you will remember.

"...Men like Ethrek, Fayos, Janasal..."

Urgh. Crisis averted.

They came to the auction hall a few minutes later. It was big, comparable to even the library. Several policemen stood guard at the entrance while many others monitored the lines to maintain order. They joined the line and he was happy Ummi was silent for once.

Most people around discussed the upcoming competition and the mages that would participate. He began to register the names of the participants - Ilun, Ethrek, Fayos, Janasal...

They spent two hours before it was their turn to enter. They put down their names, received a plate number each, and went inside. No entrance fee. The number on the plate determined their seats. Gaus sat on seat 544 while Ummi sat next to him on seat 545.

The hall was divided into three sections by a wall of transparent glass. The first and lower section had wooden chairs. It mostly housed commoners, if the simple outfit of its members was any indication. The second and middle section had metallic chairs, its members were elite if their exotic outfits were any indication. The third and upper section had golden chairs adorned with colorful feathers. Only seven people sat there and they were more interested in discussing among themselves than with the ongoings of the auction.

Gaus and Ummi sat in the lower section level, looking at the stage.

The presenter, a short man with a dark complexion, stood on the stage holding a glowing tablet in his hand. By his right, there was a big, glass box with a young woman standing inside it.

The presenter pointed at the young woman with a wide smile. "A maiden beauty!" He exclaimed and then started gesturing, "height 1.71m, weight 56kg. She could dance and play music. We will start the bidding at the low price of 100,000a. Anyone who's interested should raise their plates." Although the audience found his actions amusing (if their musings and happy smiles were any indications), Gaus found it very annoying.

An old man from the front line raised his plate number.

"The good sir, number 102, over there has bid 100,000a. Anyone bidding higher?" The presenter asked, sweeping his gaze across the hall.

"Anyone?"

"Anyone?"

Nobody moved a muscle. For a second, Gaus prayed that the presenter would be angry and would refuse to sell the frightened young girl. But then he saw a wicked grin on the presenter.

"Well, lemme at least do the courtesy of showing you the product." He pressed an invisible button on the glass box to open it. "Here we go," he went inside and unceremoniously tore the girl's dress (which was a worn-out robe anyway) from the shoulders down to the waist. Tears ran down the girl's face as she gave a soundless roar of despair, but nobody cared. The hall erupted into... cheers. Gaus had to double-check to confirm he wasn't hallucinating. The men looked at the young woman with lust and the women didn't care, most of them were surprisingly enjoying it.

"Look at this glorious proportions. The body of this nineteen-year-old will definitely send you to heavens. Anyone bidding higher?"

"One hundred and fifty thousand."

"Two hundred thousand."

"Five hundred thousand."

The presenter smiled as he swept his gaze over the audience. "Anyone? Then I'll sell the item to..."

"One million." Someone screamed.

"Huh?" The presenter was visibly startled as he tried to find the bidder.

"One million." The man repeated. He was from the second section.

Even the presenter didn't expect the price to go that high.

"Number 660 has bid one million. Anyone bidding higher?"

The hall fell silent.

"Anyone?"

He repeated three times before he hit the drum with a clenched fist. "Item 17 is sold to number 660."

Gaus ground his teeth. This was the most ridiculous thing he had ever seen in his entire life. It was hard to believe that people were being auctioned. Even more ridiculous was how everyone (including the police) seemed to be okay with it.

"The next item is a twenty-year-old young man...." The presenter continued.

Gaus glared at him. He turned to Ummi only to see that she was enjoying the show like everyone else.

Gaus grabbed the person next to him. "What are you, people?"

"Mister, did I offend you in any way?"

"You damn well did. Tell me the hell is going on here?"

"What?" The man was stunned.

Gaus had a strong urge to punch the man but he resisted. He didn't know any of the people being auctioned but he felt bad as a human. Consequently, he couldn't watch any longer and he bolted out of the hall, fuming.

There were a few other people who left the hall with him. But, unlike him, they left for the arena where the competition would take place. Gaus headed eastward in the opposite direction to nowhere in particular. He just wanted to get as far away from there as possible.

Several minutes later he found a corner far from the hall and secluded himself. There was something wrong with this world; why else would they be auctioning humans? If he didn't see the policemen there his first action would be to inform them, but now he couldn't. Apparently, slave trading and auctioning were legal here just as it was on Earth in the sixteenth century.

Just what is this place?

He was hungry. The easiest thing to do was to go to the library and coax Abbas into buying food for him, but it just wasn't feasible to constantly depend on the other boy for a meal. Not that he was complaining but that would guarantee only one meal a day. He wanted three (breakfast, lunch, and dinner), and he wanted variety as well. The only way to get all of these was if he had money. That way he could rent a room, buy decent clothes and eat whatever he wanted. He didn't have to always live in the library or eat the same food over and over again.

Stolen story; please report.

Thinking about money made him realized that he hadn't been utilizing his Rewind very well. Back on Earth, there was this place that played cards. Occasionally, when he sold enough milk for one day he would visit the place. More often than not only to observe but he wouldn't deny playing once or twice especially when he was feeling under the weather. If he had the ability to rewind time back on Earth then he wouldn't have to milk cows for a living. He could always wait and see the results of a particular game, then he would Rewind and bet again. If there was anything related to cards here then earning some cash wouldn't be too difficult.

With that in mind, he left for the market. The city was meticulously designed such that everything was carefully placed in its designated place like a drawing. It wasn't difficult finding popular places like markets. And when he went there he just had to stop the first person he saw. "Mister, where can I play cards?"

"Cards? What's that?"

"Er... It's a game played with... cards, drawings on paper, with two or more players. You can bet as well if you want."

The man thought about it for a second before he pointed at a corner. "If you want a betting game then there's a shop in that corner. Not sure if it has what you want but you can check it out."

When Gaus found the place it was already overcrowded with customers, playing a game called Bred'in. The game used similar cards like the ones on Earth albeit a different design. Each card had only a number on it. When two opponents played, each would pick five cards at intervals. The number on each card would add up to your score, and the one with the highest number won. The loser would pay a penalty equivalent to the difference between their score and the winner.

Gaus studied the game silently before he decided to participate.

"It's my turn." He said, puffing the same way popular players did on Earth.

The audience turned to him in surprise. Few kids like him had the courage to play Bred' in.

"How much do you have?" Asked the owner of the shop.

"Five thousand ayrid. I'll bet everything on one game."

The players looked at him with wide eyes before they burst into laughter.

"They're saying you look like them." Said the shop owner with a nonchalant attitude.

"Like who?" Gaus snapped. He needed to look tough if he ever wanted to get out of there alive.

"Like those penniless bastards who came here to play every so often. We usually strangle them when they couldn't pay the penalty. I would hate to see you suffer the same way, young man."

Deep down Gaus regretted calling out five thousand. It was too much money. You could buy a house and still have some change left. But it was too late to regret his decision.

"I've it," Gaus said through gritted teeth.

"Show us then." One player cut in.

"Why would I? Did any of you show their money before playing? I won't, but you're free to cut off my limb if I couldn't provide it after losing."

One player came forward.

"I'll bet ten thousand against his five, but if he loses and he can't pay then he would become my slave."

Hmm. Gaus sighed internally. He'd seen this bearded fellow play before. It was Tanimu. In his estimate, Tanimu would be above thirty years and could easily be placed among the top three players.

"Well, I'll allow this game but only once. You two, come closer." The shop owner said with a toothy grin.

Tanimu wore a very expensive looking dress that was adorned with black feathers. His hair was silver and he held his chin high, totally unlike the rest of the lot there.

"Who would go first?" The shop owner asked.

Gaus and Tanimu shared a look.

"Let him start." Said Tanimu.

Gaus nodded and picked five cards from the collection of fifty cards. He kept them hidden until Tanimu picked his cards, then they were both asked to show their hands in front of everyone.

Gaus had 5, 10, 8, 2, and 1, making it 26. Tanimu's first card was 20, the second was 10. He had won even without revealing the rest.

"How do you intend to pay?" Tanimu asked, grinning. He obviously didn't think Gaus had five kilos on him.

"My father wouldn't let me take any slaves from the auction, 'too expensive' he said," he laughed as he sized Gaus up. "Can you fu.."

Magiwatch has saved 15 seconds.

You have Rewound for 15 seconds, effectively erasing everything in the said period. Only you will remember.

"Who would go first?" The shop owner asked.

"Let him start." Said Gaus preemptively.

Tanimu furrowed his brows. "You should start, kiddo, firsts commonly win"

"You shouldn't worry about your opponent." Said Gaus. "Go first unless if the game is rigged, in which case I'll be forced to..."

"Nobody rigged anything, so just shut up and go first."

When it became clear none of them would go first, the shop owner broke the argument. "Then you'll pick one card each in turn until you both have five cards. Who will go first?"

"I'll go first?" Tanimu said.

Now that was unexpected. If the game was rigged then Tanimu should know that the sixth card was 20 and it would fall to the person who picked the second card.

"Go ahead." Gaus agreed.

He obviously won.

Tanimu threw a small bag at him. "That's five kilos in there, I'll transfer the rest to your account." He said through his teeth. Gaus wouldn't be surprised if he sent goons to rob him.

Well, it mattered not, he thought, catching the bag midair.

Ayrid, huh? He opened the bag expectantly.

It was nothing like he had expected. Shouldn't money be either a paper or a coin? Well, apparently not. Ayrid was a nut. Like a real nut only, bigger and darker with flowers carved on their surfaces which indicated their value. He was told one-star flower was equivalent to one ayrid and a moon flower was equivalent to ten ayrids. It was strange but he was getting used to it. He counted the 5,000a stuffed into the small bag and pocketed it in his inner pocket, awaiting his remaining five kilos with a happy, innocent smile.

Tanimu clenched his jaw and glared at him. "Come closer before I change my mind." He said through his teeth as he pressed the crown of his watch twice. Gaus saw him pressing the thin air above his watch. So, that was what other people saw when the owner saw a blue panel with writings. It would have been awkward if just anyone could see your information.

"Come closer, bastard," Tanimu snapped.

"I changed my mind. I want cash." Gaus said, maintaining his innocent smile.

Tanimu ground his teeth. "I don't have that much on me, idiot."

"Then maybe you should be my slave instead," Gaus said, nodding.

"Haha. Cheeky, aren't we?" He turned to the person directly behind him. "Jack, give me that wet one."

The person called Jack retrieved a transparent bag from his pocket and gave it to Tanimu.

"Here you go, winner." He tossed it to Gaus the same way as before.

"Thank you." Gaus caught it midair. This one was different from the others: wet, light yellow, and had no flower. He Identified it.

Wet ayrid

Estimated value: 5,200a

Used for making enhancement pills.

"It was nice doing business with you. See you tomorrow."

They let him leave, but just as expected someone followed him behind (it was likely Tanimu playing the sore loser or maybe someone else entirely who felt the need to rob him). But he was ready for them - he Rewound and picked a different route. They still tracked him down, he Rewound repeatedly until he got rid of them. It was easy to escape enemies when you know where they would attack.

It wasn't long before Gaus found himself in his bedroom in a three-star hotel with a special dish for dinner waiting for him. It was time to have some life. There was no reason not to relax when his magiwatch was responsible for 'creating the loop' and nobody was even aware. Perhaps, it was his turn to enjoy life and for once not worry about milking cows. Part of him didn't want to think like that but he just couldn't resist.

He got rid of his worn-out dress and lazily walked into the toilet. Just like the room the toilet was adorned with glowing stones. It resembled the toilet he had seen in the library only more exotic. Two winding pipes on the wall with taps and runes carved on their surfaces. One provided cold water and the other warm water. He saw a square mirror on the opposite wall and a container that looked like a sink just below it. The whole thing looked so different and yet resembled the toilets from Earth.

"Now, where should I get a soap?" He was so dirty that plain water wouldn't do the job. He looked around but there was nothing even remotely familiar to soap, so he settled for just the water. Surprisingly, the water was all he needed. Once it touched him all the sweat and dirt on him disappeared. He felt noticeably better as the breeze hit his chest.

This done he looked for the towel only to find out there was none. So, he walked out of the toilet, naked but satisfied.

He got dressed, ate, and drank. All along humming a melody.

Wait, why didn't I think of this before? Yes, I was stressed out and afraid that someone else was controlling the time loop, but a warm meal and a place to stay should have been a priority. Dammit. How could I not realize it was my watch? It was staring at me all along. He exhaled forcefully. The more he thought about it the more he felt he was right.

Yes, he needed to escape the time loop to have a meaningful life but that didn't mean he shouldn't enjoy life as it was, especially now that he was almost sure it was his watch (after ruling out all other possibilities). To him, the time loop was like a prison and he was the prisoner. For many prisoners, escape was the most important thing in their lives, but that didn't mean they wouldn't enjoy life whenever an opportunity presented itself.

He quickly made a mental note:

1. Start the loop by getting money and renting a room.

2. Sit back and relax, if only a little.

3. Find a trustworthy enchanter to translate your skill formula and see why the watch created the loop.

4. When you're bored visit the library and make some friends, get admitted to a magic academy or something.

And just when he finished making a list it happened so fast he couldn't even react. His vision blurred and everything went blank. When he regained consciousness he was standing in front of the toilet, naked. He looked at the intact food and clean plates resting innocently on the table.

The blue panel appeared.

Magiwatch has saved 6 minutes, 55 seconds.

"You've got to be kidding me..."

His face a mixture of emotions he punched the nearby wall in anger. Just when he had started to relax and something like this happened. He certainly didn't Rewind, so either the watch had just Rewound on its own or someone else had. Just thinking of someone having the same time travel ability was nerve-wracking, but if you coupled it with the fact that this someone could be responsible for putting the entire world in a time loop then it became mind-blowing.

Wait, there's something different this time...

He jerked and, without putting any clothes on, sat on the nearest chair. "Oh please, God, no." 

He reluctantly positioned his hand on the crown and Rewound.

Magiwatch has saved 1 second.

You have Rewound for 1 second, effectively erasing everything in the said period. Only you will remember.

He compared this information with the one from before - 'Magiwatch has saved 6 minutes, 55 seconds'.

Dammit.

Apparently, the system had already spelled the answer for him. The fact that whenever he Rewound the system would tell him 'You have Rewound for so so seconds, effectively erasing everything in the said period. Only you will remember', and the same information was missing from the other scenarios when he didn't Rewind clearly meant it wasn't him or his magiwatch that was responsible. It was obviously someone else with the same time travel ability.

He remembered the system telling him 'magiwatch has saved twenty-four hours' whenever the day reset which showed that his magiwatch could save the erased period even if he didn't erase it.

Gaus fell silent, thinking over everything again. In the same way, his watch told him about the other time traveler just now, their watch was probably telling them about him whenever he Rewound. 

Dammit.

Either Abbas was wrong and two mages could have the same skill just like Gaus and this other time traveler, or he was right and this time traveler was using a different variation of the skill. Even more disturbing was that whoever the other time traveler was they were vastly more experienced than Gaus if the duration of their last Rewind (more than six minutes) was any indication. Say, the other time traveler was using his watch to create the time loop, would they let him or anyone know about their secret? No, absolutely not. They would likely eliminate any rival and maintain the autonomy of the loop. 

Suddenly the world was dark again and all the feeling of safety he had enjoyed just a few seconds ago was now gone. He had a sneaking suspicion that someone would knock at his door at any time and came for his head. Just surviving in this world was proving to be difficult, even more, difficult than becoming a professor of mathematics.