"Except for Lumos and Farha, you all betrayed me, didn't trust me enough. Even you, Eshrod. Even you, Kellta."
"What are you talking about?!" the Gremlin snapped.
"Haven't you realized?" Elion let out a bitter chuckle. "You were the one who freaked out about time dilation back at the ruined temple."
Eshrod's eyes widened.
"That's right—we're stuck in a time loop. And I'm the only one who remembers."
"You mean…" she was too shocked to finish the sentence. Even Joart's former group lost the fury in their eyes at the weight of his words.
"The sharp bastard has already murdered me twice while I slept. That's why, this time, I caught him," Elion said.
Farha let go of him, having determined he wouldn't try to kill himself—not yet, at least.
Eshrod frowned.
"And you didn't tell us?!"
"Here we go again." Elion rolled his eyes. "No, I didn't. Last time I shared one of my secrets, you betrayed me and got yourself killed by what I was actively trying to avoid."
Eshrod looked stunned.
"What… did I do, exactly?" she asked, voice trembling.
"I guess there's no point hiding it anymore. Now that I've confirmed Joart's the traitor, this loop has served its purpose. I'll find a more efficient way to deal with him later."
He smiled, but it didn't look convincing.
"I have premonition as part of my ability. I saw us die if we entered the meadow. You thought I was manipulating you—figures; I've never been that trustworthy. So you left the group with Kellta and Joart's goons."
Talom and the others grimaced at those words.
"And you got yourselves killed," Elion added.
"Like hell I'd abandon you like that!" but she didn't sound convinced by her own words.
"You did," the young cook replied flatly.
Eshrod knew how she thought, she knew she might have felt that way about such a reveal. Her hands trembled slightly, she didn't say anything else.
Elion was self aware enough to see that he was lashing out, partly out of pettiness—but he didn't care.
Kellta, silent behind her mask, watched the scene unfold. Her posture betrayed unease.
"A time loop…" Lumos muttered, still studying the amulet he was crafting.
"Well, that's about it. If you'll kindly let me, I'd like to end this one and move on to the next," Elion said, rolling his shoulders as he walked toward the sword on the ground.
Farha grabbed it before he could reach it and tossed it into the void.
Elion stared at her, waiting for an explanation.
She etched a message on a piece of bark:
You're not killing yourself.
"Why? It won't matter anyway."
It does. It matters to me.
She added.
Aw, she cares about me!
Still, Elion had made up his mind.
"I'm touched by your concern, truly. But there's nothing else to do right now."
She shook her head, refusing to budge on her decision.
"You're really set on this, huh? Alright then. You're the boss now. What's the plan?"
She frowned, then shrugged and gestured for the group to get ready.
Joart's goons packed their things with hollow expressions. They hadn't taken the news well. And maybe they still resented Elion for what he'd done.
Lumos was fixated on the amulet, subtly adjusting its runes.
Kellta stepped closer to the young cook.
"How many… how many loops have we been through already?" she asked. Every morning, she drew the runes on Elion's group so she could understand them.
"I don't know. This is the fourth I can remember, but I'm sure there were more."
He didn't resent Kellta too much for joining Joart in the first loop—her decision made sense, given her situation—but even so, he couldn't help seeing her differently now. Even if it was an unconscious bias.
"The killer I told you about, she was a Dweller of the Depths."
Kellta's face was hidden behind her mask, but he could tell she was surprised.
"She wore a mask like yours. What's the origin of the design?" Elion asked.
She paused before answering.
"It's… based on the old design used by the High Lords. The ones they wore after the Pale Witch's betrayal."
"Who are the High Lords?" he asked.
"They're the most elite among us. There are eight in total."
No wonder I couldn't do anything against her…
I was up against one of the elites from the enemy's side.
But then, why was she picking us off outside the camp?
Elion nodded.
"Thanks for the info."
"No problem…" She looked like she wanted to say something more—but didn't.
The young cook went to find Farha.
"My dark thoughts have passed. Can I have the sword back now?" he said, pretending to pout like a child.
A sly smile tugged at her lips. She slowly shook her head.
"Aw, come on! I need it to fight. Isn't it more dangerous if I'm defenseless?"
She etched something on a new piece of bark:
Promise you won't kill yourself in the next loops.
The lettering was a bit rough, but clear. Her handwriting was surprisingly neat—likely because this had been her main method of communication growing up.
"Why would you want that?"
She just stared at him. Her eyes clearly said:
You know why.
Elion sighed.
"Alright then, I promise."
She gestured for him to elaborate.
Another sigh, this one heavier.
"I promise I won't kill myself in any more time loops. Not outside either—if we ever make it out."
He placed a hand over his heart, the other raised like he was giving a sermon.
She chuckled and wrote on another bark slab:
Thanks. Not that your words are worth much though…
"Hey! I keep my promises! When have I ever broken one?" he said in mock offense. "…Though for you, I promise. For real this time."
Her expression shifted subtly.
Was she flustered?
No. That's impossible. I must be seeing things. It's been a long day. I haven't slept. That's it…
She pulled the elegant curved sword from the void and shoved it in his arms. She didn't even look annoyed about letting him use her weapons anymore.
Once everyone was ready, they resumed walking. Farha led the way. She didn't say where they were going… well, 'say' that's a big word considering her condition. But at least it wasn't toward the camp where they'd died so many times before.
To be honest, she didn't seem to know where they were going either.
They walked for a while. Eventually, they made it out of the meadow after another day and a half of walking. Reality felt thinner again—like it had near the mountain. Elion warned her about the teleportation, so she decided not to go any farther.
In the end, they traveled for another day and a half. On the evening of the fourth day since the start of the loop, Farha sat alone on a rock formation, gazing at the star-lit sky with a dreamy expression. Elion wanted to ask her what she was thinking—but he never went.
Why can't I talk to her unless it's out of necessity?
It's so frustrating…
The rest of the group was gathered around a campfire, discussing what might happen next.
Eshrod had lost some of her usual cheeriness and wasn't hanging out with Leonard this time, choosing instead to sit a bit farther away, alone.
Elion almost felt bad. He was partly responsible for how she felt, and now that his original pettiness had passed, he realized he had been a little harsh on her.
Still, he wasn't sentimental enough to go cheer her up.
Instead, he made his way toward Lumos to discuss the implications of the time loop—but before he could, the deafening sounds of cannon fire and railguns shattered the night. The group immediately took shelter beneath a shallow crevice in the earth.
A war had broken out between two forces. They couldn't see much from where they were, but the shockwaves alone painted a violent picture.
At one point, dark figures flew overhead. They clearly saw the group—but didn't stop. They had more urgent matters to deal with.
Then, just a few minutes later, a blinding blue flash lit up the dark sky. It resembled the plasma that filled the boundless void of the Depths… only purer. Infinitely brighter. It swallowed the heavens, then the earth, and finally, them.
Elion was back at the beginning.
All his exhaustion, all the small wounds that had accumulated, were gone… but so were all the memories. The only one who remembered was him.
He stared at his hands frowning.
Have I died again?
No, this felt different. This was the end of the loop.