"Ah, Elias, isn't it?" Zhiff said with a calm tone. "What brings you to The Wanderlust at this hour? An unexpected coincidence, don't you think?"

It was Zhiff, the man I had met a while ago back at the library. My initial impression of him was that he seemed like a regular citizen, harmless and unassuming. He acted friendly and helpful, but after what Alexei had mentioned, I couldn’t help but be more weary of strangers.

"Oh, just browsing," I replied casually, trying not to let my guard down.

I kept my gaze on him, trying not to show any unease, as I handed the money to the shopkeeper without looking and carefully slipped the pocket watch into my pocket.

"Ah, browsing," he echoed as he stepped closer, maintaining a friendly demeanour. But I could sense a subtle shift in the atmosphere—a moment of pause that made the shop feel heavy.

"Well, it's a fine place to browse, indeed. Anything catch your fancy?" he asked, his eyes briefly flickering down to my pocket, where the watch now rested and back up to lock with my eyes.

“Nothing yet.” I replied.

Zhiff raised an eyebrow, seemingly unperturbed by my response. "Nothing yet you say?" he said, his lips curling into a slight smile and taking another glance at my pocket.

I tightened my grip on the pocket watch in my pocket, trying to keep my composure. Zhiff's friendly demeanour was starting to feel more like a facade. Something I expected but was still weary about. Where did that kind and helpful attitude go to or was it just a front? A way to blend in. To be completely honest, I could relate somewhat.

"Time is precious, don't you think?" Zhiff continued, his smile widening. He took a few steps passing me, running his hand across the store counter. "Every second that passes is an opportunity lost. But with the right tools, one can make the most of every moment."

"Yes, time is indeed precious," I replied carefully, choosing my words cautiously. "But it's also something that can't be controlled. We can only make the best of what we have."

Zhiff's smile never faltered, but his gaze bore into mine as if he was trying to read my thoughts. "Wise words, Elias. Wise words indeed," he said cryptically.

I felt a shiver run down my spine, and I couldn't help but feel like Zhiff knew more about me than he let on. It was as if he was toying with me, testing my reactions. But I refused to let him get under my skin.

With a tight smile, I nodded politely. "Thank you," I replied, deciding it was time to leave before this encounter took a turn for the worse.

As I turned to walk away, Zhiff's voice followed me, chilling me to the core. "Remember, Elias, time waits for no one. Make sure you use yours wisely."

The words repeated in my head as I stepped out of the shop with a ding. What did Zhiff mean by that? Was he trying to send me a warning, or was it just a simple remark to try and unsettle me?

As I walked back to Caius's place, clutching the bag of materials and the pocket watch in my pocket, my mind was reeling from the encounter with Zhiff. I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to him than met the eye.

Reaching the quiet streets near Caius's place, I couldn't help but take the pocket watch out of my pocket by its chain. Why did Zhiff seem infatuated with it? I could tell he saw me put it in my pocket. It was a simple and elegant timepiece, but there was something about it that drew me in. As soon as my fingers touched its surface, a strange sensation coursed through me, and my heart skipped a beat.

In that split second, I was overwhelmed by a flash of memories—or at least, what felt like memories. Blinding light followed by the deepest darkness. Silver hair covered in blood that seemed to stretch on forever, and faces of people I couldn't recognize. But the most startling vision was that of a seemingly young Darius, standing alongside three other individuals, their features obscured and their presence enigmatic. They all felt like fleeting pieces of a puzzle that didn’t quite fit together.

The vision lasted for only a split second, and I was left reeling from the intensity of it. I couldn't comprehend what I had just witnessed, and yet, it felt strangely familiar, like a distant memory or a dream that I couldn't quite recall.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself, but my mind was racing. I had expected something unusual to happen with this pocket watch, given the nature of this world, but this was beyond anything I could have imagined. It felt as though the watch held secrets—secrets that were far greater than a mere timekeeping device.

I slipped the pocket watch back into my pocket, trying to push away the thoughts and focus on getting back to Caius's place. I really just needed to get some rest after the eventful day.

As I approached Caius's front door, I noticed something odd—the door was slightly ajar, and it was unlocked. Normally, Caius would keep it securely closed. I hesitated for a moment, wondering if Caius had finally come home, but something felt off. Was it another break-in?

Stepping inside cautiously, I saw Caius sitting on the couch, his head in his hands. His shoulders trembled slightly. It was a sight I hadn’t seen of Caius before. He was usually upbeat and happy all the time.

I didn’t say a word, not sure how to approach this situation. I wasn't good at comforting others, and to be honest, I wasn't sure I even cared enough to try. But seeing him like this, I felt a hint of concern. Maybe because Caius was one of the few people I knew in this world, and despite him being a pain in the ass, he had been somewhat of an acquaintance on this strange journey.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Putting my bag on the table, I took off my jacket and asked in a nonchalant tone, "Where have you been? I've been wondering."

Caius looked up at me, his eyes stained red from the tears he’d shed. "I've… I’ve been looking after my friends," he replied quietly. "Some of them have gone missing. I, needed to take care of the others. To make sure they were ok too."

I sighed. "Oh, that's all? I was just wondering where you'd gone to."

Caius's expression hardened slightly at my response, and he shook his head. "Elias, you don't understand," he said, his voice tinged with frustration. "People's lives are at stake. I've been worried sick about them."

"Yeah yeah, I get it," I replied dismissively. "But you're back now, right? And you're fine. So, no need to worry anymore."

Caius's eyes narrowed, hurt evident in his gaze. "Fine? Elias, this isn't some trivial matter," Caius said, his voice tinged with anger and hurt. "These are people's lives we're talking about. They're my friends, and I care about them deeply."

"I know, I know," I replied, my frustration growing. "I'm just saying, you're here now, and you're safe. What more do you want?"

Caius let out a frustrated sigh and ran a hand through his hair. "You just don't get it, do you? You never do," he said, his voice wavering with emotion. "Sometimes, I wonder if you even care about anything other than yourself."

I frowned at his words, my defensive instincts kicking in. "I care about what I need to care about," I retorted raising my voice slightly. "And right now, I don't see how this concerns me."

Caius looked hurt and exasperated. "That's the thing, Elias. It's not always about what concerns you," he said.

My jaw tightened at his words, and I felt my temper flaring. "I care about plenty of things," I retorted defensively. "I care about getting by in this messed-up world and making sure I survive. That's all that matters. It’s all that has ever mattered."

Caius shook his head, his frustration palpable. "And that's the problem, Elias. You're so wrapped up in your own world, your own problems, that you can't see beyond yourself. You don't understand how much pain and suffering there is out there.

While we were locked in this tense standoff, Caius stepped forward, accidentally knocking over my bag on the table. A few of the materials I had purchased spilled out, clinking as they hit the floor. His eyes widened as he took in the sight before him.

"What... what is this?" Caius asked, his voice tinged with disbelief and anger as he looked at the unfamiliar items scattered on the floor.

I was taken aback, my heart racing as I quickly moved to gather the spilled materials. "It's nothing," I replied hastily, trying to downplay the situation. "Just some stuff I picked up. It's not a big deal."

Caius's eyes bore into me, his expression a mix of shock and disappointment. "Not a big deal?" he repeated incredulously. "Elias, I’m not that stupid. These are arcanist materials! You're involved with them, aren't you?"

I clenched my jaw, feeling my frustration rise even further. "So what if I am?" I shot back defensively. "It's none of your business. I didn't ask for your opinion did I?"

Caius's anger flared, and he took a step closer to me. "You didn't ask for my opinion?" he said, his voice laced with a mix of hurt and anger. "I care about you, Elias, and I hate all this stuff and I don’t expect you to understand my reasons. But how could you involve yourself in something like this? You know the consequences don’t you? The risks?"

"I don't need your approval," I retorted, my voice cold and distant. "I didn't even plan on telling you about it. I don't need to justify my actions to you or anyone else."

Caius shook his head, his frustration evident. "That's not the point, Elias," he said firmly. "I care about what happens to you. I don't want to see you get hurt or worse because of this dangerous choice."

I could see the genuine concern in Caius's eyes, but I couldn't bring myself to care. It wasn’t his choice, it was mine. "You don't need to worry about me," I replied. "I can handle myself just fine."

Caius let out a frustrated sigh, his hand reaching up to run through his hair. "You can't handle everything on your own," he said, his voice softer now, but still firm. "We all need help sometimes."

I shook my head. "I really don't need anyone," I said, trying to convince him. "I prefer it this way."

Caius sighed, seemingly defeated, and turned away from me walking to the door. "I just hope when the time comes, you’ll learn about what truly matters." he said quietly, before closing the door behind him and leaving into the darkness.

I let out a sigh of relief, thankful that the confrontation was finally over. It was much better this way without him. I picked up the rest of the materials and made my way upstairs to my room.

My thoughts again drifted back to the more pressing topic, the pocket watch I had purchased earlier. I couldn't shake the feeling that it was somehow connected to my arrival in this world. If it was the object that somehow brought me here, could it hold the answers to everything? Could it show me the life I had before coming to Leode? If somehow I was incarnated here?

Curiosity and a touch of desperation tugged at me. I had used my ability on various objects, but never on people or myself. Would it even work in the way I want it? I wasn't sure, but the idea of discovering more about my past was too enticing to ignore.

I took out a Hollow Marble and held it in my hand, trying to focus my thoughts on a specific moment from my past. I closed my eyes and let my energy and spirit flow into the Marble, imbuing it with my energy and spirit—the same as with the glass bowl method.

Using this would set up a bounded field as written in Alexei’s Materials book. If done correctly it will surround the near area in a chill, creating a closed field where all events that happen inside are closed off to the outside. A way to keep you safe while either conducting rituals or interrogating hostages for example.

With a deep breath, I let the Marble drop onto the floor. It tapped once and bounced slightly before evaporating into nothingness. A chill ran down my spine, and I knew I had done it right. The room had gone cold and I could feel an inexplicable awareness of everything in the room.

It was rather invigorating, having it work for the first time. But I knew it was a small field, and that more practice would achieve better results. That was an inevitable fact.

I hesitated for a moment, unsure if I should go through with this. Using my ability on myself felt like a risky venture, but I needed to know more. I closed my eyes and placed my empty hand on my chest, feeling the steady rhythm of my heartbeat. With a deep breath, I activated my ability, focusing on myself, on my past. On what once was.

Opening my eyes slowly, I expected to see a memory or a glimpse of my past. But instead, I was met with a vast darkness—an emptiness that seemed to stretch on infinitely. It was as if I was looking into an abyss, a void with no beginning or end.

The darkness was suffocating, and a sense of unease washed over me. This was not what I had expected. I had hoped for clarity, for answers, but all I found was an overwhelming nothingness.

As I stared into the abyss, I felt a strange sensation—almost like I was being pulled into it, as if it was swallowing me whole.