CHAPTER 6 - TEN YEARS FROM NOW
LYSANDER FARADEISS
As I gradually regained consciousness, my eyes opened to a sight that brought back waves of nostalgia. I found myself lying on a creaky bamboo bed, and I turned my gaze towards the windows. Outside, a vibrant scene unfolded before me, with birds merrily chirping from a nearby mango tree. Sunlight gently kissed my face, and I averted my gaze, momentarily blinded by its brilliance.
But what truly captivated me was the expanse of blue skies overhead. It had been years since I last beheld such a sight. Since the final war between the dragonoids and humans had raged, the skies had remained perpetually overcast, shrouded in darkness or tainted with crimson hues.
"Kuh!" I grunted in sudden pain, as an electric jolt surged through my brain. The agony served as a harsh reminder of what I had just done, and the realization hit me like a thunderclap.
The operation at the Dragon's Fortress, the catastrophic events at Cathedral Exa, the deaths of my fellow skysoldiers, the fierce confrontation with the Dragon Lord – it all felt surreal, as if I had just awoken from a coma, emerging from the depths of a nightmarish ordeal.
I examined my hands, noticing that my fingers were slightly shorter and smoother than I remembered from my last memory. Glancing at the alarm clock, the date it displayed was 2035 of the Alterran Year, whereas my recollection ended in 2045.
"The Regression Magic worked," I whispered to myself.
A single droplet fell onto my old white blanket, and I realized that my cheeks were wet. Uncontrollable tears streamed down my face as my subconscious grappled with the reality of my success. The melancholy of my victory weighed heavily on my heart, and I clenched my trembling fists, forcing myself to suppress my emotions.
"Everyone... I made it," I said through gritted teeth.
The sacrifices of my friends, acquaintances, and the remnants of humanity had not been in vain. Against all odds, I had achieved the impossible – a leap through time.
"I swear... I will save you all. I will save everyone," I muttered to myself, my determination unwavering, and my resolve etched in stone.
Three knocks on the door interrupted my thoughts, and my little sister Luna's voice rang out, reminding me of my new, but strangely familiar, reality.
"Brother, it's time for breakfast."
"O-Okay. I'm going," I replied, shaking off the lingering remnants of the past. I rose quickly from my comfortable, teenage bed and glanced around my room, where bookshelves were crammed with encyclopedias, magic codexes, and novels. This was the room I had occupied when I was eighteen years old, and the nostalgia hit me like a tidal wave.
As I opened the door, it led to our quaint dining room, filled with familiar warmth and the aroma of a simple but inviting breakfast. My childhood family bungalow, though not grand, was more than enough for a middle-class family of four like us. It was my true home, nestled in the peaceful abode of Tasty Town.
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My father sat at the dining table, sipping his early morning coffee, while my little sister enjoyed her cup of gluten-free hot milk. My mother was busy at the counter, deftly preparing breakfast.
"Good morning, Lysander," my father greeted.
"Sit down, I'm preparing breakfast," my mother said.
Our golden retriever, Jack, greeted me with a wagging tail, and I knelt down to pet him, my eyes moist with unshed tears.
It felt like something out of a dream, a surreal sensation that whispered in my mind that I was dreaming. But the soft fur beneath my fingertips, the warmth of my family, and the unmistakable presence of Jack, our loyal dog, made it all too real. I was back, finally back to a time when everyone I held dear was alive.
In the previous timeline, I had few friends and no lovers. My family was the only anchor in my life, and Tasty Town was the only place I could truly call home. Learning that this Town had been one of the first places bombed by the dragonoids in the previous timeline had been devastating. I had never had the chance to see my parents, my sibling, or even my dog before the catastrophe struck. I hadn't even had the opportunity to call them before the war unfolded. Everything had happened so swiftly and tragically.
But now, in this new timeline, I was here, and the Regression Magic had defied the laws of paradox. I had returned to change our fate, to thwart the impending doom, and to forge a new future for mankind.
"How's your field trip, Lysander?" my mother inquired, placing hotdogs on the breakfast table.
I wiped my eyes to conceal the tears and stood up to face my mother with a bright smile. "I... I'm just glad to be back here."
Just as I was about to convey my gratitude to her, someone had to shatter the moment.
"Cringe," my little sister remarked.
"Shut up, hoe," I retorted with a grin as I settled back at the table. I couldn't help but miss this little troublemaker of a sibling. She was the enemy I couldn't live without.
My father, meanwhile, was engrossed in the early morning news. It was Sunday, so neither school nor work demanded our attention this morning.
We began to eat our simple breakfast as the news reported on rallies taking place in the streets of Alterra Capital. Apparently, there had been another incident of looting in one of the districts in the metropolis. The protesters were brandishing signs that read, 'We want revenge! Dragonoid lives matter.' The headlines recounted a distressing story: a dragonoid lady had been subjected to a horrifying assault by five humans.
Even after the Dragonoid Rights Law had been enacted two decades ago, it was disheartening to see that racism between humans and dragonoids still persisted. Discrimination remained prevalent, despite the fact that dragonoids were no longer treated as slaves.
In another news report, there had been a bombing in the Sargus Empire. The extremist terrorist group known as Neo Arcadia had claimed responsibility, with their leader, Gazelle Lockwood, vowing, "We will bomb again." Neo Arcadia believed in dragonoid supremacy, asserting that humans did not deserve to share the Earth's surface with dragonkind.
"War. War never changes," my father murmured. "Even though the world is generally at peace right now, people can't seem to settle their differences. If only they could coexist harmoniously..."
I remained silent, my agreement with my father unspoken. I knew that Neo Arcadia's actions would soon spread chaos not only in Sargus but also in Elysia and eventually here in Alterra. I understood that a war was on the horizon, set to begin years from now, and this very town, my home, and my family would be wiped out. I would be the sole survivor.
The existence of Neo Arcadia and its leader, Gazelle Lockwood, raised a dire specter of an impending conflict. It was clear that Neo Arcadia aimed to establish a foothold for the dragonoid empire led by the infamous Six Dragon Lords, and Gazelle Lockwood will evidently be the founder and leader of this ominous group who shall be dubbed as the Overmind.
My mission was not to wage war against the entire dragon race but to neutralize the Six Dragon Lords, who had been responsible for the decimation of humanity in the past timeline. Fortunately, I had a crucial lead, which was the sole reason I had chosen to rewind time to this specific year.
Among the Six Dragon Lords, the Daybreaker, known as Hiraya Misteltein, resided in Tasty Town and attended the same senior high school campus as me. This provided an opportunity, a chink in the armor of those responsible for the previous purge of humanity, that I intended to exploit.