Over the course of my confinement, I have been tortured for a long time. My throat has become hoarse over the hours of screaming from the torture inflicted upon me. I can see why the Tormentum are feared across the Empire. They are truly fucking terrifying.

  I don’t know how long it has been…

  Looking at the cell door, the woman stands on the other side. Her face that only turns happy when she is actively torturing someone is now completely blank. Contrary to her expressionless face right now, she is a woman who loves to talk when tormenting me. Truly an enigma.

  Today seems a bit different. The Tormentum does not seem to be carrying her suitcase containing various torture equipment, and she is wearing the navy blue suit of the Department of Truth. It seems like something big might be happening.

  She calls out to me, her voice devoid of all emotions. “Osiris, Chancellor Interitus has come to see you.”

  With a rough voice, and slightly slurred words, I try to respond the best I can through my broken teeth.

  “--What does the highly esteemed 9th Knight want with little old me.”

  “9th Knight…? I know not, and I do not care… All I know is that I have been told not to torture you any more” A small annoyed pout forms on her face. Past the horrible personality of hers, she is kinda cute… What am I even thinking in such a situation? Should I be happy that I have this kind of leisure? Or am I just batshit insane now… I haven’t talked to anyone normal in a long time– that might have something to do with the way I have been developing.

  The Tormentum steps aside, and a figure enters my vision. Golden eyes, with golden blonde hair, a neatly trimmed outfit adorned with golden chains and embroideries of the sun. Chancellor Interitus stands before the cell. The Servus moves in front of him, and they push the door open. The Chancellor stands before me and he waves his hand signalling behind him.

  “Everyone is dismissed.”

  The Tormentum leaves and the Servus stands by the open door.

  The Chancellor turns his head back to them, and with a slight anger in his voice he pronounces every syllable “I said E V E R Y O N E”

  The Servus nods and walks away from the door. Once everyone is out of earshot, the Chancellor grabs a device from his coat pocket, and injects mana into it. A barrier of black slowly expands from the device and envelops us both. His outfit turns to a coat of darkness that reflects no light. He puts down the device and sits down upon the dirty floor, cross-legged.

  “Long time no see Osiris”

  Slightly raising my eyebrow, “I don’t even know how long I have been here. Frankly– Ains Square feels like it was either yesterday or a year ago… I can’t really tell any more.”

  “Ah~ That's right– I remember losing track of time when I was locked up– Ahem… it has been nearly a month since the Ains Square Massacre”

  A whole month? … My perception of time is really out of whack.

  “And so Interitus, what do you want?”

  “You know that there are not many left in this world that would call me so casually, even in the Imperial Palace.”

  “Come on, we go way back! Like that time you nearly killed me in the Square.”

  “I suppose, among everyone, you have earned the right to call me that. We both follow the guidance of Tenebris, willingly or not. You know public blame has shifted to the third son of the Arkenia household for the massacre that took place? Especially after that young boy was entangled with Tenebris in the Grand Cathedral. Interesting isn’t, it has become quite easy to manipulate public opinion with a few people in high place that owe you favours. The weight behind Tenebris’s name also helped tremendously.”

  “Like I care…” I said that with full honesty. I don’t care about anything any more. Logistics officer? A job in the rear echelons? I just want to go home, eat food that's not rotten soggy bread… See everyone I love… I miss everyone so much– the only reason I have not lost hope is because of The Loom. I still have a chance to revert this future. So I must simply guide the hands of fate that way. “So Interitus, have you come to kill me?”

  “Hahaha” Light laughter escapes his mouth. “No, not at all. On the contrary, Tenebris has decided to grant you mercy. I have been told to let you go, but not without some assurances.” Interitus pulls out an ornamental dagger, with a golden hilt, and embedded emerald gems. He tilts the dagger, and it reflects the dim light from the hallway. He locks eyes with me. “I have power here in the capital, and believe it or not, I can make the lives of everyone you love a living hell. I know you don’t want that —and to be honest, I don’t want that either. It would be a long and tedious process, but I would be able to get rid of everyone… unless you are willing to make a deal with me.”

  “What kind of deal?”

  “Abandon your life in the capital. Abandon your family, fiancée, friends, and everyone else you love. Cut contact with all of them and do not seek them out on your own volition. Then join the New Frontier– your meagre skills and mana would not matter, and to sweeten the deal, I can even make you an officer rather than a mere foot soldier. The preparations and paperwork are all complete, we just need to make a deal. And it goes without saying, but do not mention to anyone that the 9th Knight that you fought is in fact me. However, I cannot trust you, and thus I wish to propose the deal in blood.” He walks over to me, and removes the shackles around my hands. The hand holding his ornamental dagger slices across his right palm. Crimson red blood flows along his hand, and he holds it out as if preparing a handshake. “This is a Blood Pact, an ancient agreement that has been practiced since before the Fracture. You must slice open your right palm and shake my hand.” He holds out the dagger grip towards me. “We must simply shake bloody hands. The terms of the pact are what I just outlined. This agreement cannot be broken without severe repercussions.”

  I reach for the knife and grab it by the grip, and pull it close to myself. Attacking him would be pointless in this situation. He can kill me if he so wishes, but I am unable to kill him. Do I take the deal and resign myself to the Frontier? Or do I try to use the Loom. Looking down at the dagger, I imagine ending my own life with it… but– I cannot. I have died many times and experienced pain that would drive most people insane… but I do not want to get used to dying, I do not want to feel the pain I have been feeling for the past month, and the Combat Mode from before. I want to lay down in a soft bed and sleep my worries away. I want to eat delicious food with the people I love… Even thought I said I would put my hope into the Loom– I don’t think I have the mental strength for that after all.

  So the only thing I can do– the only real choice is to embrace the ones I love. I shove his blade to the side.

  “...”

  With a stern expression, Interitus puts the shackles back upon my hands, picks up his device and dagger and leaves my cell. As he steps out of the cell, he pauses for but a moment.

  “That was the wrong decision.”

  * * *

  After Interitus left, I felt exhausted and went to sleep. After whom knows how long, I slowly open my eyes on an unknown day as a golden eyed maid sits in front of me at eye level. The once bright and innocent smile upon her face that used to tease me endlessly is replaced by an expression that is trying to resist the welling of tears.

  “Good morning… Master Osiris”

  I have been holding it together pretty well, going through pain and dying over and over again. I have resisted crying and complaining, I just went on because I had to. Seeing Charlottes face– a wall that has been holding back a flood of emotions breaks. Tears well up in my eyes, and soon full tears begin to flow out endlessly.

  Clang-!

  I try to jump into the embrace of Charlotte, but the shackles snap my body in place just out of reach of Charlotte. Tears begin to pour out of her eyes as well and without a moment of hesitation she gently comes closer and holds me tightly, as if saying she is never going to let go. Minutes pass, but my tears do not. We hold each other tightly as we both let our emotions out, and eventually they subside.

  Charlotte slowly releases me, and from underneath her maid dress she pulls out a rudimentary med kit. She patches up my wounds without saying anything, and checks my body for my various wounds. Looking behind her while she is busily patching me up, I see two figures that I recognize. Navy blue cloaks and outfits that signify their authority, they are servants of the Goddess Veritas. Caedis Arkenia, my mother, and Helix, that girl from the interrogation. My mother walks over to me, and she also holds me tightly in her embrace. I can’t help but cry again. Her warmth that I thought I might never feel again envelops me, and soon I feel relaxed. Once Charlotte is done patching me up, she goes around the room and collects my teeth and nails that have been discarded, presumable for using with medicinal magic. My mother also slowly releases me and grabs my cheeks with both her hands.

  “Osiris, let’s talk”

  Her warm smile puts out all the worries that have been in my head. I nod at her, with a small smile and dried tear trails upon my face.

  “I would love to, but… what is she doing here.”

  I look at Helix who is standing at the entrance of the cell. She looks flustered for a moment, but my mom grabs my attention as she says, “Believe it or not she was also worried about you. Saying how you saved her life and how she had to ask you questions.” My mother leans in close to my ear and whispers, “You are a real charmer aren’t you?”

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  Looking slightly confused between my mother and Helix, I cannot understand the situation. Before my mind can come to a conclusion. Charlotte finishes up her collection and she sits down beside me, shoulder to shoulder.

  “You know son, Charlotte has also been real worried about you. And I think she is even more worried now that she has seen the state you are in.” Charlotte does not let her gaze wander as she is in a daze and keeps staring at me with worried eyes.

  I turn to her and lightly flick her forehead. With a pained expression she puts both of her hands over her forehead. It helps her focus again and with a smile I try my best to cheer her up. “That is one point for Osiris”.

  She smiles at me and says, “You can get all the points you want today, I’ll pamper you like there is no tomorrow.” Wait… I thought she didn’t know about the points game? I tilt my head in curiosity, but my mother brings my attention towards her.

  “Son I do not know how long we have, but we need to talk while we have time. Once we are interrupted we might have to break into combat.” Now that I look at my visitors, I can see a resolve hidden beneath their eyes. Their clothes may not look like much, but I feel mana emanating off of them, and upon closer inspection I can see that everyone has their weapons as well.

  “What do you mean combat?”

  “We will think about that when the time comes, now I need you to focus and answer the most important question that we have. It will help us gain a political advantage in the palace and help you get out of this whole mess. Who was the knight that day at Ains Square. We know he is a chancellor, but we do not know which one.”

  “Ah–” A short exclamation escapes me. “It was Chancellor Interitus”

  For the first time mother’s face turns angry.

  “Now is not the time to be lying Osiris”

  “I am not lying!”

  “That in itself was caught as a lie”

  What? The words I just said were a lie? That cannot be, I know for certain that I have never heard Tenebris in my life. The Goddess of Truth’s divinity works by looking at what the target’s perception. If they feel like they have lied, they would be flagged. I wholly believe it to be true, but it still writes it off as a lie? Also did they set up the Absolute Truth ritual? I did not see them chant or cast any magic– how can say that I lied?

  That's when Helix steps in, she crouches down in front of me beside my mother and asks “If I may, I would like to test something.” My mom gives her a nod and Helix locks eyes with me. “Osiris, can you say the following two statements, ‘I am Osiris Arkenia’, and ‘I am not Osiris Arkenia’.”

  “Uhm… Sure– I am Osiris Arkenia” with a short pause, I can see that my mother’s eyes widen, and then sharpen. “I am not Osiris Arkenia”. Her sharpened eyes turn to confusion.

  “Osiris, I have just one more question– How did you know about the spear attack as the lasts and why did you save me back then.” Her questioning gaze refuses to leave me.

  Up to this point I have deliberately told nobody about this ability as everyone I faced was an enemy or torturer, but with the people here I can take the risk of exposing it.

  “This might be hard to believe, I saw you die, and whenever I die… I can go back in time.”

  As my words sink in, everyone seems to pause to consider the implications of what I just said. Shock, horror, and emotions that I do not even know how to make sense of slowly subside as they all refocus on me. My mother turns to ask me in the most serious voice.

  “Osiris– Are you certain that Interitus is the Knight? If so he must have come here to see you. He is a meticulous man. He would not let you go knowing what you know.”

  Before I can open my mouth, a strange movement by the cell door catches my eye. The Servus standing at attention, who never moves unless ordered to, starts slowly approaching Helix and Caedis from behind. They are too engrossed in our conversation to notice. In the Servus’s hand is a short cylindrical device that I do not quite recognize. They twist it and reveal a swirling black and blue core. Within a moment, the small swirling core expands multiple magnitudes and engulfs the two people standing in front of me.

  WHOOOOM—!

  Black matter outlined by a shinning blue hue covers my vision, and within a second it disappears. The clothes, armour and weapons of the people in front of me, Servus, Helix, and even Caedis fall to the floor with nothing but dust in them.

  “...!”

  “--!”

  Before I can even comprehend what's happening, another Servus walks into the cell and holds a handgun out, aiming directly at Charlotte’s head.

  Charlotte who was shoulder to shoulder besides me channels her mana and charges directly at the Servus, but it was in vain.

  BANG—!

  The bullet pierces her head and her body falls limply onto me. Holding her body with blood flowing out of the bullet hole in her forehead where I flicked her.

  “--Charlotte? Hey Charlotte– come on stop kidding around. Wake up!”

  I hold onto her shoulders but her head slumps to the side as nothing is supporting her.

  “Please… Please, Charlotte– don’t go”

  Hugging her tightly to my body, her whole weight is put against me. I look down and see the clothes of the Department of Truth that my mother and Helix were wearing. With listless eyes I look up at the Servus who holds out his handgun pointed at my head.

  “The 9th Knight sends his regards”

  BANG—!

  * * *

  [ User [REDACTED] has died ]

  [ Source and cause of death: Gunshot wound from Servus ]

  [ Connecting to The Loom ]

  [ … ]

  [ … ]

  [ … ]

  [ Connection established ]

  [ System Settings changed to: Preservation Mode ]

  [ Calculating appropriate point in time ]

  [ Energy Insufficient ]

  [ Sacrificing branch [REDACTED][REDACTED][REDACTED] ]

  [ Energy Sufficient ]

  [ Beginning Transfer ]

  [ May the Threads of Fate Guide You ]

  * * *

  From the depths, I slowly open my eyes on an unknown day as a golden eyed blonde man with an exquisite suit stands before me. Chancellor Interitus with a familiar smile across his face can be seen. His non-bleeding hand is holding out an ornamental dagger towards me.

  Visions of my loved ones disintegrating into dust vividly plays in my mind. I can still feel the weight of Charlotte’s body with warm blood flowing onto my collarbone. I don’t want to go to the Frontier. I don't want to watch my loved ones to die. I don’t want to die… but I have to.

  I grab the dagger, and swiftly push it into my neck. Dull pain that should be excruciating assaults me. My fading vision catches a glimpse of the Chancellor’s expression. A faint smile is formed upon his lips.

  “That is one right choice.”

  He walks out of the cell, leaving me in a puddle of my blood and a dagger on the floor.

  * * *

  [ May the Threads of Fate Guide You ]

  * * *

  From the depths, I slowly open my eyes on an unknown day as a golden eyed blonde man with an exquisite suit stands before me. Chancellor Interitus with a familiar smile across his face can be seen. His non-bleeding hand is holding out an ornamental dagger towards me.

  Can I not escape this fate? Is this the only thing I can do now? Accept punishment for something I did not commit and move onto a new life away from everyone I love?

  If I don’t take this deal, I, and everyone I love are damned for all eternity. My mind races then suddenly stops as I resolve myself.

  I cut my palm without even wincing, and grab Interitus’s hand in a firm handshake. Crimson mana dances around our interlocked hands and gives off a strong light until it fades into nothing. A new ‘pact’ has been carved upon my soul. I can sense it.

  “That was the right choice. There was a moment there that I thought you wouldn’t take it. I would have had to do something terrible!”

  As slightly relieved Interitus begins to put the shackles upon my hands. I ask the one question I can to throw him off-guard.

  “Has my family been trying to visit me?”

  He looks into my eyes. He must have gone up against my family in a power struggle from the shadows. He does not want to reveal himself to anyone but me, so he has kept me in confinement here. How would I know that my family is struggling to find me?

  “Yes they have– the deadline for that was coming up which is why I am here.”

  “...”

  “Are you asking because you want to see them? You just signed the blood-pact to never communicate with them on your own volition, but I can allow you to meet them one last time if you so wish.”

  “...”

  “Do you not want to?”

  “Believe it or not– I do not want my loved ones to see me in this state.”

  “Really? I thought you look quite nice.”

  “Fuck off”

  A hearty laugh escapes his mouth. He settles down and looks at me.

  “Very well Osiris, we do follow the same Goddess after all. I can help you out here now that we have finished the pact.”

  “Follow the same Goddess my ass… I wasn’t even given a choice…”

  “I shall send someone down for you in a minute, and I will have them inform your family of your decisions… Just in case they try something, can you write onto this here?”

  He hands me a piece of parchment paper.

  “Just write something along the lines of ‘I hate my family and I don’t want to meet them’ and then sign it with your mana signature. I am allowing it to be a part of our blood pact.”

  “You really are an asshole Interitus.”

  “Lighten up, you were only tortured for a month.” He begins waving his hand as he departs my cell. “It’s been an honour knowing you, but I do not think we will meet again. Good luck at the Frontier, and remember our pact”

  With those last words, he leaves my cell waving his hand with his back to me. I begin writing with my numb hands, and although it is a bit messy, I try to convey my feelings with as few words as possible. I feel like if I write more I might inadvertently give something away.

  —

  I am sorry, but circumstances force me to not meet with you guys. I love you all, and please send this message along to everyone. I must depart for the New Frontier, and I will be unable to come back for the foreseeable future.

  - Osiris Arkenia

  —

  I sign it with my mana that can be verified by my family. By the time I finish, the gray haired old man returns and removes my shackles. A medical team awaits me upstairs. They use the highest healing magic that would cost several nobleman’s salaries, and I am fully healed. My scars are visible as the healing only closed the wounds themselves, but the saving grace is that my teeth and nails are now back in place. It’s possible to fix even the scars with the healing magic, but I feel like this is Interitus’s way of telling me to remember our pact. The garrison staff guide me to a car waiting at one entrance of the garrison.

  I do not know why everything is happening so fast, but I cannot stay in the capital. If they blame me for Ains Square, then I would bring trouble not only upon me, but upon my family as well. I do not know the state of the outside word as of a month ago. I have some allies here in the capital, but it's not enough to fight the High Chamber.

  I must figure everything out before returning here, but that might take a while.

  With a heavy heart and even heavier resolve, I step into the prepared vehicle. The door behind me closes.