The magic games were about to start. That meant that my chance to gain enough recognition to be accepted into the New Gen academy.
I was lying on my bed, staring aimlessly at the object in my hand. It was solid, yet I felt like it was slipping out of my grip. I felt like I was holding nothing. This was the shadow crystal the stone dragon gifted to me.
It has been weeks since he gave it to me, but I have never gotten tired of looking at it.
Today was the day when the Magic Games would begin, an anticipated event where talented humans and monsters would gather and compete in diverse ways.
The event had various purposes, one of which was to scout talented individuals for the benefit of some influential groups. Another was networking to get in contact with multiple nobles or organizations.
Lastly, the event served entertainment purposes. Everything would be recorded after all. The streaming of the event made it self-sustaining, just like the World Cup from my original world.
These last days, I have been investigating the event to prepare in advance, and I have gotten quite useful information.
The structure of the event is a collection of various Games with different sets of rules, all with the common objective of collecting some kind of 'prize'. It usually changes every year, but the vibe is similar.
The most vital point of the Magic Games is that I can't win by sheer brute force. Each Game is meant for different skills to shine, and collaboration is needed in the majority of the former magic Games.
But this actually helps me. My objective is to enroll in New Gen Academy, so I don't need to win; I just need to make it memorable, create a show enjoyable enough that they will be left with no other choice but to recognize me.
"Hehehe".
"... Stop laughing like a villain and get ready".
I was caught by Lyanna laughing to myself, and I felt a little embarrassed.
***
I found myself departing for the city of Lunareth alongside Lyanna; we were going on public transport.
I relaxed my mind while playing video games. Occasionally, I would give a look at our surroundings; other than that, the 4-hour-long trip was dull.
After that me Lyanna and I had arrived at Lunareth, the city where the event would be held. I went to the hotel where I would be staying for the next couple of days. I just went there and showed my ID.
I rolled around the bed for a while; it felt heavenly. I thought about sleeping, but chose not to, as I had to attend the Inaugural Speech at night, and going through that while sleepy wouldn't be ideal.
' I'm bored. ' I pondered on what to do as I played with my twin blades. Then a genius idea struck me.
'Alina must have already arrived. I should hang out with her. '
Giving her a call, she responded rapidly as her camera showed her inside a mountain of blankets.
She seemed about to take a nap.
"Let's meet up and explore the city, this is the perfect moment to steel our nerves before tomorrow!" She closed her eyes tiredly, as if calculating which option was better for her.
"I'm sleeping, let's go later".
"Please?"
"...No".
"C'mon?"
"...".
This was followed by some seconds of silence before I heard her sigh.
***
We were walking together around the city, it really was an amazing sight, with sparkling eyes, I shot a glance at Alina. She wasn't very thrilled to be here.
I felt apologetic as she dragged herself without an ounce of will.
"Want to go to the aquarium? I'm sure you want to see a shark!"
"...".
This was bad, she was giving me the silent treatment. I thought of ways to make it up to her and chose the most reliable one, ice cream!
[Frosting 5 ball leviathan 50% off!!!]
My mouth went open as I saw it, the cone was a deep blue, and it exuded a magical aura while the five balls going against gravity itself, where juxtaposed one over another, was this the meaning of happiness?
Alina tried to look disinterested, but it was obvious she too couldn't take away ehr eyes from that monster.
'Goodbye economic freedom'.
I bought two of them, and it was one of the best decisions I ever made.
"Hey Zen! Let's go to the aquarium!" With newfound enthusiasm, Alina was way more eager to explore the city.
As we were about to enter, I saw Frisk with some sunglasses waiting at the entrance.
'Were the sunglasses meant to hide her identity?'. She looked quite funny like that.
"Heya Frisk". I approached her, although I was still wary about her.
She looked at me dumbfounded, as I had revealed her secret identity.
"H-how did you recognize me?". Her brown eyes were revealed under the sunglasses.
"Uhm, the sunglasses were meant to hide you or something?". After I asked her that she seemed more confused than before.
"Yes? I asked Sans to give me something to hide my identity and he... oh". Her face immediately reddened as she realized that Sans had pranked her.
I tried to contain my laughter, but a minuscule chuckle escaped my lips.
"Don't laugh! I have something important to tell you". She looked straight at me with a serious gaze, her usual closed eyes opened a bit.
"This next event won't be peaceful, be alert and concentrate more on what's behind the scenes than the games themselves".
As she said that, my expression shifted. A hundred different scenarios passed through my mind. Why did she tell me that? What was the threat? How did she know? Only three words came from my mouth.
"Tell me more". If Frisk said that, it surely meant something big, having every detail mattered.
"mhm.. I can't! It's kind of a secret I have". She wore a guilty expression as if saying 'I really would tell you if I could'.
"What 'm supposed to do then?". I asked.
Alina looked at us while licking her ice cream, she seemed to be enjoying this.
"I'm sure you'll figure that out, It's kind of your fault that I only told you this".
'How is it my fault?'. I felt accused of something I didn't do.
"Anyways! I still have some things to do, I trust you Zen so do your best!". With that Frisk walked away.
'that's how it feels to talk to a time traveler?'. I pondered, I felt like she walked a step ahead of me, as if she knew how everything would play out even before it started, she right now was just putting the pieces in place.
Something would happen in the Magic games, I'm sure that something forced Frisk to [LOAD] her [SAVE] file, she telling me was probably just because I was somehow involved.
What did my previous self do?
"Wow, I never thought you were friends with the Frisk Dreemurr".
"I already told you we knew each other".
"I thought these were your delusions".
"Shut it".
My mental state was perfectly fine.
|Frisk's P.O.V|
run 1
It was a catastrophe, the forest itself was burnt as everyone started evacuating. No one expected that a group of terrorists could attack the magic games just like that.
My clothes were ragged as I had fought to defend myself and protect other participants, yet still so many died.
'Don't drown yourself in guilt, dumbass'.
Chara's words echoed in my mind, our relationship improved to the point where my existence was even acknowledges. I wanted to crack a joke but I just felt tired.
Looking in front of me I saw Zen, he stood there with an unreadable face as he held a white-haired girl in his arms. Together we were able to save many participants from the attack, but it was still not enough.
The girl he held seemed to just be unconscious as he finally looked at me.
"Sorry there, I just got distracted for a bit". He smiled, as if nothing was able to break him.
What was he feeling at the moment, I couldn't know, but I guessed he felt guilty for the death of Akari; she didn't deserve this, no one did.
I made a promise with Sans, to never [RESET] again. After everything I did, I thought I was unworthy of this power, but Sans trusted me.
He trusted me with the timeline and trusted that when something truly bad happened, I would be there, not as a selfish maniac but as someone capable of saving the world.
I chose to [LOAD] my [SAVE] file and prevent all of this altogether. But before...
Approaching Zen, I made up my mind. I would tell him about my power, even if he wouldn't remember anything that happened. Maybe it was just to console him, but he deserved to know.
"Actually... I can time travel".
"What?"
***
After telling him about my power, we spent some time strategizing. Together, we made quite a good team.
I would go back to the day before the Magic Games began, so I didn't have a lot of time, but we were able to weave a good plan.
"If I can ask, could you give my past self a clue".
"Sure! But don't make it too obvious that I'm a time traveler, it's kind of a secret".
He then told me the clue he had in mind, and I could only react with confusion.
"I know you want to help me keep the secret but is that enough information to change anything?".
I was flabbergasted; I had to tell his past self to be careful basically!
"If I didn't catch on what was happening sooner because I was too focused on the Magic Games, I believe this is enough to make a significant change".
"Don't you have a double identity or something?". I joked as he seemed the typical person to be a criminal hunter at night.
As our plan started to take shape, I knew were to meet him. Apparently, he would be at the aquarium with a friend of his so I just needed to be there.
Before finally going back I talked to Zen one more time.
"Zen, I'm sorry about going back, you will forget that any of this ever happened but I will still remember, so thanks for everything and take care!".
When I was a kid I used this power right and left, but after growing up I finally realized how terrifying it is for others, turning back the time of everyone and robbing them of their memories. That's why I chose to take every timeline seriously, and if I ever [LOAD]ed I would at least say sorry.
before going back I looked at Zen.
[ACT]
*Analyse
[ Zen
ATK : 30
DEF: 28
HP: 245/ 560
Magic: 125/850
State: Is looking past you.
*An enigma for you to uncover
Favorability: ???
]
'He really is something else'.
As a blinding light covered everything, time began to roll back.
run 1 --> run 2
|Happy Christmas! I know this chapter took a bit of time, but I finally wrote it. The next one will be published in 2027! |