“Young master, Loyd,” An elderly man wearing the garb of a knight errant bowed to Ark as the latter stepped through the dual doors of the Headmaster’s office.

“Welkin,” Ark replied, more of a question than an acknowledgement of the knight.

On first appearance, Welkin held the look of a man well past his prime. Late fifties at least, the man's left side of his face was burned, his tanned skin flushing out the scars that coated his body.

Ark frowned, Is everyone from House Fey sick and maimed?

Following the limping knight, Ark was led through the velvet hallways of the academy that echoed with whispers of hundreds of students.

Gossip traveled like wildfire, with every step he took and students he passed, Ark could feel what was on their mind as their condescending gazes focused on him.

Fucking nobles…

Eventually Ark was led outside and brought to a black lamer-lined carriage drawn by a pair of eight-legged black-haired horses known as sleipnirs.

“Young master?” Welkin said, opening the door of the carriage for Ark who stood stunned as his eyes focused out on the horizon of the gold metropolis that filled the expanse of land in the distance.

“This… impossible… no! NO!” Ark yelled as the realization dawned on him that he’d been tricked.

This wasn't his world! Not like he remembered it, El Gia had no cities this massive, no academies so prestigious, and there definitely wasn't a princess of Winterfell so where was Ark?!

Ark’s breathing began to grow rapid, his vision blurry as his body struggled to process the rage building in his heart.

A different timeline? The future? Another world? No! Liliana! That damned bird! You was supposed to grant me another chance!

Suddenly Ark found himself forcefully yanked back by Welkin, the old knight leaning over Ark with a firm hand gripping into his shoulder.

“Young master,” Welkin said, his stern voice almost a growl, “It is time to go.”

Then Ark realized he was being watched.

From a balcony of a nearby building, the same woman who had discovered him in the closet stood looking down at him with a retinue of students.

“So… it is,” Ark said through clenched teeth, reeling in his boiling emotions and boarding the leather interior of the cramped carriage.

Welkin drew the covers over the window of the carriage, blocking Ark's view of the outside before the carriage lurched and began to move.

Ark sat back and relaxed, his mind racing with thousands of questions as he contemplated his current situation and his frail body devoid of the vigor he had grown so accustomed to.

He attempted to circulate mana, to awaken the ki pathways that seemed defunt and crippled.

Ark had never been good at commanding external mana known as magic, but one thing he knew for certain was how to effectively handle his bodily energy.

Or so he thought before realizing how poorly his body seemed to handle mana.

Something was blocking his control, like his circuits weren't active at all.

“Cheep!”

Ark jolted, his eyes rapidly scanning the carriage.

“Cheep! Cheep!”

“What is that?” Ark frowned before his focus shifted downward to black baby chicken at his feet.

“Cheep!”

Ark narrowed his eyes, a sudden feeling of annoyance creeping through his veins.

“Please tell me you aren't what I think you are…”

“Are you disappointed Featherling?” Soliloquy cheeped, her voice high pitched and absent of the regal authority she once held.

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Immediately Ark's foot cast a shadow over the bird with the once mighty phoenix realizing too late what was about to happen.

Soliloquy perform an about face, attempting to scurry away only for Ark to stomp on the bird.

Pain shot through Ark, his body seizing for a moment as Soliloquy screamed.

“WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!” Soliloquy yelped, squirming as Ark continued to press his foot down on the chicken.

Ignoring the irritation burning within, Ark attempted to flatten the bird completely, yet try as he might he couldn't, his body seemingly unwilling to heed his command.

“Stop! Cease your incessant assault at once!” Soliloquy squawked, her voice muffled from Ark's boot on her face.

“This isn't what you promised! Where am I?!” Ark demanded. “Whose body is this?!”

“How should I know?! I only picked the strongest tether I could locate after looking through time!”

“What does that mean?!” Ark yelled, his voice coming out coarse.

“Meaning I required a vessel strong enough to hold our souls with enough commonality we could inhabit it! Many years have passed Outworlder, the El Gia you knew is no longer the same!”

Princess Winterfell…

Ark's face twisted, connecting the dots. “How long?”

The Phoenix went silent.

“HOW LONG?!”

“By my estimate, it took one hundred and thirty five years to find a suitable host.”

Ark fell silent, his eyes quivering as he took in the news.

One hundred… one hundred years… mom… dad… Ark thoughts turned to his parents, his family back on earth that were now long gone.

“Send me back…” Ark muttered, his expression downcast.

“I cannot Outworlder,” The Phoenix chirped with a sincere finality.

“Send me back you overcooked nugget!” Ark yelled, raising his foot.

“Back? I can't send you anywhere! I delivered your soul out of oblivion for a second chance! This was our agreement Outworlder!” Soliloquy spat, fleeing across the cabin on her tiny yellow feet.

“Not like this! How does this constitute a second chance?! Liliana is gone! The world I knew is gone! Even if I went back to earth everyone I know is dead! You promised me revenge! Does this look like revenge?! Does this look like a second chance?!” Ark spat, pointing down to his emaciated body.

“I concur this situation isn't ideal, but you have been given a new lease at life. I have kept my word Featherling. Now you will do something for me.”

“You screw me over and now you want to make demands of me?” Ark spat as the carriage stopped.

“That is the nature of a deal is it not? The monkey you call Roland is still alive, worst still, he possesses the power of a guardian. My power. Which means he is aware of my presence on this plane.”

“Which means he'll be coming for me, right?” Ark spat, wondering how could Roland still be alive, “With this body I might as well have stayed dead!”

“He doesn't know who you are, merely that I exist again. You have the comfort of anonymity and a new body. As well as a fraction of my power which will grow as you become accustomed to your new form.”

Ark clenched his teeth, his eyes darting to the door beside him that began to open.

“Young Master Loyd, are you well?” Welkin asked, the old man furrowing his brow at the composed Ark before his gaze shifted to the tiny black chicken. “A chicken?”

“This is my…”

“Familiar.”

Ark blinked as Soliloquy's voice echoed through his mind.

“Familiar,” Ark said with the old Knight's eyes widening in surprise.

“This… I wasn't aware that you-”

“I'm fine Welkin, continue with the ride,” Ark ordered, dismissing the man.

The old knight seemed to hesitate, his eyes shifting from the scrawny teen to the chicken nearby and then back to Ark.

“As… you wish young master,” Welkin said as Ark sat back and the door closed allowing the carriage to take off once more.

“You can speak into my head?” Ark asked, looking down at the chicken.

“We're bonded you and I, what harm befalls me shall harm thee too as you've been so eager to find out,” Soliloquy replied, her little voice one of clear irritation as she stared at Ark.

So where does this leave you and I?

The chicken blinked, “I will aid your growth. Teach you magic. Command over flame and time.”

And in return?

“You will destroy the one you call Roland and restore balance to this world. This is our covenant. A mortal man was never meant to have dominion over time.”

Yet you give it to me?

Soliloquy chirped, “Out of necessity. Humanity left unchecked will ruin this world. Much as it has done to your own Outworlder.”

What do you mean by that? Ark furrowed his brow.

“I have gleaned your memories. Seen what lies beyond the confines of this plane of existence. I know the world you hail from and what your kind have done to it...”

Ark closed his eyes, taking a moment to process everything he'd been told and the circumstances of his situation.

It seemed he’d been lied to about Soliloquy's purpose.

“Okay,” Ark said, swallowing the raging inferno trembling within as the carriage stopped once more.

“Young Master,” Welkin said, opening the cabin door. “We've arrived home.”

Ark quickly got up, exiting from the carriage to get a view at his home and surroundings when his eyes widened.

“Young master are you well?” Welkin asked, attempting to garner Ark's attention away from the people working the fields beside a massive mansion of ivory and gold.

“Slaves…” Ark muttered, focused on the tanned-skin people that surrounded his manor as his hands balled into fists. “You have slaves…”