>>Hael

"If the miasma takes over, all sorts of trade will be over." King Matthias and I were having a conversation alone.

"Pretty much," I replied, "We might have to go with alternate routes, light magic users demand will rocket, but even then, traveling with them aboard in the miasma filled place would be a suicide mission. Any corrupted beasts, person or even the bonewraiths could attack."

The King hissed in worry after listening to my analysis.

"Is the team ready?" He asked

"I've taught all I could to the knights," I said, "All I could learn from the bonewraith, I've put it to practice."

"I heard about the thunderbolt technique." He said, "The one line used to kill the first bonewraith."

"Yes," I nodded, "The Prince taught it to the knights and they've been practicing day and night for it." Other countries had sent their light magic using knights to us as well. This works out better because taking normal people with light magic and then training them would take far too much time.

"What about the scrolls you said your men will work on?"

"The magicians of the tower are pretty much done making the teleportation scrolls." I said, "I will see through the final product myself."

The plan is to give two scrolls to each knight. One for going into Hollow Woods and the other one for coming back.

But making these scrolls require a lot of manpower. The symbols need to be drawn with precision while adding the magic into it at the same time. Since I have been to Hollow Woods, I'll do the finalizing.

The scrolls will not take anyone anywhere else but to Hollow Wood, and back at the magic tower.

"The monster is pretty much immune to any other type of magic other than light magic. We still have to experiment what Holy Power does to it though."

"Has the saint not woken yet?" The King asked and I shook my head, "We're running out of time, Hael."

"We're working on waking her up."

"Hand her over to the temple if you can't do anything." He was getting impatient.

"The temple is where she went into a coma." I looked back firmly, "And she went there to try and help the other saint, look what happened."

Other people have no idea about what's actually happening. I realize that time in the subliminal state passes by too slowly and I need to give her time so that she can understand things more.

Hopefully she gets something useful out of it.

***

>>Amber

"And, about Hael?" I looked at her with fear, "You said, he was in no condition to go... Why?"

"He-" She paused, "How do I say this?" He scratched the back of her head, "Honestly, he was like a ticking time bomb, and everyone was afraid to approach him."

I looked at her in confusion, "Why?"

She looked away, "That is something Enya could tell you better."

"Enya?"

"She remembers, like you do." She said, "She remembers everything from the first timeline and she spent the most time with Hael too."

Spent time with him?

"Alone...?" I whispered, but it was loud enough for her to hear me.

"I guess," She tilted her head, "When I went to visit the Magic Tower after the temple rejected me, Enya was already there with him."

My frown deepened.

"You got rejected from the temple?"

"Yea," She looked down in shame, "It took me a lot of courage to make my way to the temple." She sighed, "After Illaris died, I awakened. But I didn't know how to use my powers and the world was getting consumed with miasma. I grew up in the poorest area of the country. Worked with my parents ever since I was a child. But apparently, a lot of people had been going to the temple, claiming to be the next saint."

"Ah," I nodded. That should be expected from people. They must have thought that since the world is ending, might as well play the role of a worshiped saint before it all ends, "So the temple didn't even ask you to show your powers to them?"

Her eyes met mine, "They didn't even let me in." She passed me a crooked smile, "And I spent days on the streets before getting the idea of going to the Tower Master."

I see

"Your parents... What about them?"

"Oh, they passed away when I turned fifteen." Her smile faded, "We decided to turn back time to the day after they passed." She inhaled and took a deep breath without opening her mouth, "I didn't want them to go through the confusion of suddenly having their daughter gone."

"I see," I nodded. That's why I didn't come back to the beginning. It was turned back to a specific time for a reason, "Did the magic tower let you in?"

"Well, after a while," She nodded, "Do you wanna know the story?"

"Yes," I answered, "And I want to know if Hael was with you in this whole thing that involved turning back time?" I wasn't angry anymore but a little annoyed.

"Yes," She answered,

"Then why doesn't he remember his past life?" I stared at her, "Last time," I narrowed my eyes at her, "You talked about how I remember stuff from the original timeline, but you never told me how." I had some suspicions in my mind.

Her lips formed a single line when she pursed them, "Both your questions have the same answer." She said,

"What?" I stared at her intensely, but in return she merely softened her gaze on me.

"Hael doesn't remember because he chose you,"

My forehead relaxed a little, but now I was overcome with confusion, 'What?"

"He wanted you to keep your memories when we turned back time, so he gave up his."

***

>>Hael

I stood beside the bed, my eyes locked on Amber.

She lay there, asleep, her body curled up on the bed sideways. The sight of her stirred something dark within me, yet it came with a satisfaction that hummed through my veins.

I sat down on the edge of the bed, carefully even though noise or anything like that wasn't going to wake her up. The mattress dipped slightly under my weight, but she remained still, lost in the state which kept her from waking up. I watched her for a moment, taking in every detail—her peaceful expression, the way her hair fanned out across the pillow, the gentle rise and fall of her chest.

And I couldn't take my eyes off of her.

Reaching out, I ran my fingers through her hair, slowly, deliberately. The softness of it against my skin was almost intoxicating, a reminder that she was real, that she was here with me. Each stroke of my fingers was a claim, a silent assertion that she belonged to me. No one else could touch her like this, no one else would ever have the right.

I leaned in closer, close enough that I could feel her breath, warm and even, brushing against my skin. My eyes drifted down to the mark on her neck, the black crescent moon I had placed there. It was my mark, a symbol of my hold over her.

The thought of anyone else even thinking of her, let alone touching her, sent a wave of possessiveness crashing over me. My hand tightened slightly in her hair, a surge of anger at the idea of someone trying to take her from me.

An image of a certain someone passed by my thoughts.s

But he couldn't. I wouldn't let him.

She was mine to protect, mine to possess, and mine to keep.

I brushed my lips against the mark below her nape, just the lightest touch, a ghost of a kiss. The urge to wake her, to make her see me, to make her understand that she was mine and mine alone, was almost overwhelming. But I held back, for now.

I have to give her my answer first.

I backed away.

My fingers continued to move through her hair, the motion calming the storm within me, but only slightly. The possessiveness, the obsession, was always there, simmering beneath the surface.

I would never let her go. I COULDN'T let her go

As I watched her sleep, I knew with a certainty that bordered on madness that I would do anything—anything—to keep her with me.

But she has been out for days and she was vulnerable like this, So, gently, I reached out and took her hand into mine. Her skin was soft. I held her hand carefully, almost reverently, as if she might break under too much pressure.

I closed my eyes, focusing on the warmth of her hand in mine, on the magic that thrummed beneath my skin, waiting to be called upon. Slowly, I began to channel it, letting the energy flow from me into her through our joined hands. The magic seeped into her, working its way through her veins, touching every part of her, from her heart to her muscles, ensuring that they stayed strong

As the magic flowed, I couldn't help but tighten my grip slightly, holding her hand just a bit closer.

Once done, I ran my thumb over the back of her hand, marveling at the softness of her skin. She was delicate, precious. I released her hand, but only slightly, keeping my fingers intertwined with hers.

I wanted her to feel my presence,

"My Lady," I whispered, "We're running out of time."

***

>>Amber

....

I looked down as I thought about her words and for a few minutes neither of us spoke.

"Why did you choose me?" I felt the need to ask

"Hael chose you." She said softly,

"Why?" I raised my voice a little, "I didn't have anything! Why did you-he choose me! Why?" I felt agitated, "He knew full well I wasn't capable of anything!"

"He had already assured us that if you stayed alive, he'd make you the Saint even if he wouldn't remember anything."

"And why would he do that?" I shook my head at her, "How could he do that? Did he use some spells for it?" I paused as I raised my hands, "If you guys simply turned back time, if-" I paused, gulped, then pursed my lips, "If I hadn't lived that other life in the twenty first century, simply turning back time would have changed nothing." I said, "Even with my memories attached of my 'this' life, I don't think I would have been better." I don't know why, I felt like crying.

I didn't even know the exact reason why I felt like crying, but maybe it was the pressure of having such a huge responsibility.

Maybe I didn't have the courage to do this all inside me. I moved my head and body around in frustration. There wasn't much point to look anywhere, since it was all vast emptiness in all directions, so I looked at my feet.

I felt the tears well up in the corners of my eyes, stinging me. I always try and not think about the whole saving the world thing but I knew I couldn't run away from it forever.

But still, being chosen for this, I shook my head, it's overwhelming. I held the sides of my head, trying to calm myself down.

It's easier to deal with when Hael is with me, "Why...?" I let out a soft sigh,

"Amber," Rosie called my name and I looked at her, "I know, I know that feeling very well." There were tears in her eyes as well, "I know," She tried to assure me, and there was no way I could doubt her.

On the contrary, she might have had it worse than me. Because there was no one to support her, until the very end.

"Why did he choose me?" I asked.

We looked into each other's eyes that glowed because of the tears that were stuck in the corners. I waited for her reply and she gave me a gentle smile before she answered.

"Because he wanted to take a chance with you.... Again..." She spoke her words softly, sending a wave of shudders inside of me, "Because without you, he was broken."