Shiebe:What the hell… What's going on?
He stumbled back, crashing onto his bed.
Shiebe:This is… the past?!
—That woman… Her voice. It's the same one from my dream. She's the one who did this.—
His thoughts churned. Who was she? Why him?
—She sent me back. Told me to change the outcome. A time loop… unless I find the truth. But what is the truth?—
KNOCK KNOCK
He was yanked out of his thoughts by a knock on the door.
—If this is the past again… then the person outside should be—
Shiebe: Come in.
The tired butler entered as expected.
Butler: "The Lord requests your presence at the main throne."
Shiebe nodded. The butler exited without another word.
Making his way through the palace, Shiebe observed everything with laser focus, hunting for even the smallest anomaly. But once again—nothing out of place.
At the throne room, Zaneff and Eros awaited.
Eros: "Perfect. Now we wait for the others."
Shiebe said nothing, lost in thought.
Zaneff: "O-others…?"
Eros: "Yes. A friend found some gifted youths—your age. They're being sent here now."
Footsteps echoed behind them.
—Maz.—
Eros: "Ah, here they are."
Maz: "So you're Shiebe and Zaneff… and I assume you're the Monarch of Life, Eros Juvebuilo."
Still, Shiebe remained silent.
Eros: "Is it just you, Maz? What about Julius and Mona?"
Maz: "Couldn't make it. Their village is at war or something. But hey, you've got the strongest one here."
Eros: "Let's head to the garden. That's where training begins."
As they walked, Shiebe glanced at Maz. He remembered how their last loop ended—with cold words and distance. This time, he needed to change that.
Shiebe: "Your name's Maz, right?"
Maz: "Yup. That's me. The next big thing."
Shiebe smirked. "'The next big thing,' huh? You aiming for the Council of Hope?"
Maz's steps slowed. His confident posture faltered.
Maz: "…Yeah. Something like that."
He looked away, hiding his eyes beneath his bangs.
—That hit a nerve.—
Shiebe: "Sorry if I brought up something heavy. I didn't mean to."
Maz: "…No, it's fine. Just not something I usually talk about."
They walked in silence for a moment.
Shiebe: "Well, for what it's worth—I think you've got the skill. And maybe the heart, too."
Maz glanced over at him. "…Thanks."
—That's new.—
They reached the garden. Eros explained the training setup as before, but this time Maz stood quietly, eyes still slightly distant.
Shiebe: "Alright!"
He stepped forward confidently.
Eros: "Let's begin. 3… 2… 1… Go!"
Shiebe: "Wait!"
The others paused.
Shiebe: "Let's not rush in. If we work together—use our Syreums to support each other—we can finish this quickly."
-I want to stay conscious throughout the whole thing.-
Zaneff: "Makes sense. I'm in."
Maz tilted his head, then chuckled.
Maz: "As long as you don't mind me accidentally shocking you now and then."
Shiebe laughed. "I'll take my chances."
They formed a triangle. Zaneff summoned a roaring wall of flames, forming a blazing perimeter around the beasts.
Shiebe: "Now!"
Shiebe and Maz dashed in. Shiebe's Syreum pulsed through his veins, enhancing his reflexes and blade speed. Maz unleashed bolts of crackling lightning from his palms, striking from above and below.
The beasts howled and thrashed against the fire barrier.
Maz: "Left side, coming in fast!"
Shiebe: "I got it!"
He ducked and slashed, a blur of steel and energy.
Zaneff: "Reinforcing the flames!"
The barrier grew taller. One beast managed to leap over—but Maz spun mid-air, hitting it with a thunderous bolt mid-flight.
Maz: "Told you I was the strongest."
Shiebe: "You're not bad, Sparkplug."
Maz grinned, then launched another bolt.
Within five minutes, it was over. The last beast dropped with a heavy thud.
Eros: "Incredible! The three of you are sharp. We move forward—tomorrow."
—Tomorrow… not next week? The loop is already changing.—
Eros returned to the palace, leaving them alone in the garden.
Zaneff: "That was smoother than I thought. Good strategy, Shiebe."
Maz: "Yeah… you're more than just the quiet type."
Shiebe: "Heh. Thanks."
But then, the world tilted.
Voices became distant echoes.
Colors faded.
The strength in his legs vanished.
Zaneff: "Shiebe?!"
Maz: "Hey! He's not okay!"
Shiebe:I… I can't… hear you... Everything's… fading...
He collapsed.
Darkness. Silence. No dream.
Time passed—but how much, he couldn't tell.
Then…
A faint voice.
Zaneff: "He's awake!"
His eyelids fluttered open. Pain throbbed through his skull.
Maz: "About time. There's something going on in town—we've been hearing screaming."
Shiebe groaned and sat up slowly.
Zaneff: "Easy. Don't push yourself."
Zaneff helped him sit, echoing how Maz had done in a previous loop.
Shiebe: "W-Where's Eros?"
Maz: "Nowhere. Servants, his wives… all gone."
Zaneff: "It's like the palace is deserted."
Shiebe: "Let's not go outside. Not until we understand what's happening."
The two nodded in agreement and followed Shiebe deeper inside.
KNOCK KNOCK
The sound rang out—sharp, too loud in the silence.
Zaneff: "Could that be Eros?"
Maz: "Let's check it out—"
Shiebe: "NO! Don't open it!"
—Why don't I feel pain right now? What changed?—
Zaneff: "What's wrong?"
Shiebe: "Think about it. Why would he knock? He lives here. He has keys. And why are we the only ones left? It's too suspicious."
Maz: "…You're right."
Shiebe: "How long was I out?"
Zaneff: "About 40 minutes."
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK
Shiebe's breath caught in his throat.
—Shit. That means I've got maybe 20 minutes left.—
Shiebe: "What happened while I was out?"
Zaneff: "Maz looked for help. No one was around. We were going to wait or find a healer if needed."
—Where did everyone go? What am I missing?—
Without hesitation, Shiebe grabbed both their arms.
Shiebe: "We're going to the garden—NOW."
They ran.
BANG
Suddenly—everything froze.
The world stilled. A single breath held in the lungs of time.
Shiebe couldn't move—but his mind remained sharp.
And then, her voice returned.
??? (The Woman):I'm sorry.
You were too late. I've frozen time before your unfortunate death.
But you're getting closer.
Think. What's different? What stands out?
Find the truth.
Win.
This is your third attempt.
GO.