Chapter 93: Notes

  [Loop Count: 35]

  [Déjà vu System: Level 22]

  [Civic Omni-Gear System: Level 25]

  ***

  I woke up on the metallic bench inside my holding cell.

  Remembering my plan with Chronos, I knew that Loop 37 was when I needed to go to the Foundry.

  Watched the Memory Fragments and Vestiges in my Inventory to get a better picture.

  Déjà vu helped me recall what—or rather who—ZK-0 is.

  ***

  As my mind was still digesting everything I’d just seen in the Fragments, my focus was broken when one of my cellmates—a gentleman supposedly from Skyhaven—spoke up to someone outside the cell.

  “Great, you’re here. Now release me this instant,” he said demandingly. “And make sure all my belongings are returned undamaged. My pocket watch alone costs more than this entire station.”

  I lifted my head to see him addressing the approaching Devin.

  My high-school bully’s expression was grim—unlike anything I’d ever seen from him in the past.

  Speaking of Devin, with all the shocking revelations my Inventory carried, I almost forgot about him and how he was at fault I ended up here in the first place.

  “You’re free to go,” he said flatly, without looking up, as he opened the cell door.

  “Finally,” my cellmate huffed in relief, already stepping forward…only for Devin to push him back inside.

  “Not you,” he said, turning his attention to me. “Halegrim. Get your ass up and move.”

  My eyes widened.

  “What?” the cellmate and I said in unison.

  Devin ignored the Skyhaven man entirely, keeping his gaze on me. “There was a…” His voice dropped to a near whisper. “A malfunction in our systems.” He cleared his throat. “You're not Libra. Now leave. Before I change my mind.”

  Slowly, suspicion creeping in, I stood and walked toward the cell’s exit. Part of me expected him to stop me—to laugh, call it a joke, and drag me back inside—but he…didn’t.

  I walked out freely.

  As I put distance between myself and the cell, I couldn’t help thinking that if the day Devin of all people admitted to a mistake had finally arrived, then perhaps saving the world from the embodiment of Darkness and God of Lies wasn’t such an impossible task after all.

  And yet, at the same time, I had a gut feeling—or a Déjà vu, if you will—telling me this wasn’t how things usually went.

  And if that was true, then the real question was: what did Valdemar stand to gain from releasing me sooner? Or was it Casten Vorrick who was responsible for this?

  I awaited at the exit counter as the officer there stepped away to retrieve my confiscated COG—an item I knew was already in my Inventory—with my mind racing.

  Suddenly, it hit me: if Erebus’ hold on Skyhaven was strong, didn’t that mean that arriving sooner than usual would get me marked?

  Was that it?

  Had one of them tried to push me out early just so I hand myself over to Erebus?

  The officer returned moments later, frowning, and called out toward Devin—who I only now noticed standing near the wall behind me, visibly tense.

  “Devin, did you move this guy’s COG?” the officer asked. “I can’t find it anywhere in the storage room.”

  Devin, who looked like his thoughts were elsewhere entirely, lifted his head, slightly startled. “Hm? No. I didn’t touch it. It should be there.”

  The officer sighed and glanced at me. “Sorry. One moment. I’ll check again.”

  Looking at the nervous Devin again, everything seemed to click and just raise my confusion even higher.

  “Why are you so nervous?” I asked Devin, flashing him a grin.

  His expression remained rigid. “None of your business, Halegrim.”

  “What happened?” I chuckled. “Did someone force you to release me? Ruined your fun?”

  Devin’s eyes widened slightly—enough for me to catch it. Then he tried to reassemble his act. “No.”

  That settled it. A trap.

  Luckily, I managed to catch it in time.

  “I’m not leaving,” I said flatly, raising my arms toward him. “Arrest me again.”

  Déjà vu tingled in my mind—as if I already done something similar in previous loops.

  Devin stared at me. “What?”

  “You heard me. I’m not leaving,” I said, shaking my head. “You probably have no idea what you’re actually doing right now—they probably just passed down the simplest orders to you—so I won’t even bother explaining. But yeah…not happening.” I shook my arms before him to emphasize my point—to let him arrest me again.

  Surprisingly, Devin exhaled sharply as relief visibly washed over his face.

  “You got me worried there, Halegrim,” he chuckled as he reached into his trouser pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper, holding it out to me.

  “What’s that?” I asked, taking it hesitantly.

  “A message,” Devin said. “From him.”

  So...Valdemar.

  That just made me roll my eyes. Somehow, it made sense that someone like Devin would fall for Libra’s catchphrases.

  “Oh, don’t react this way,” Devin said, noticing my expression. “He’s trying to make the world a better place. It will be better for everyone. You included.”

  I look at him, disgusted. “Devin, he killed more people than he ever saved.”

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  Devin smiled as he recited Valdemar’s famous slogan. “The future is worth bleeding and dying for.”

  Before I could further sound my disgust, he continued. “Either way, you can’t stay here, Halegrim. His orders.” He turned toward a nearby Enforcer. “Escort this man outside once he retrieves his belongings.”

  Then he looked back at me. “By the way, he wanted me to tell you the truth: you were never really flagged as a Libra affiliate. I caused the malfunction because he wanted you here this night. Do whatever you want with this information.”

  With that, he took a deep breath, then turned around and walked back toward the cells.

  With my confusion deepening after his revelation, I unfolded the note.

  It read:

  Congratulations, Viktor.

  If you’re reading this, then your intuition just saved you from getting marked.

  How horrible would that have been, huh?

  Don’t worry, we’ll meet again very soon.

  But until then, listen to Chronos and spend this loop and the next being criminally pathetic and unimportant—just like you spent your entire life thus far.

  Love,

  V

  P.S.

  You should get to the Divine at 1308 (your original arrival time).

  P.S. 2

  I have someone waiting for you there. Hope you’re excited.

  ***

  Trusting my own knowledge of the law—I was an ex-criminal, after all—I assumed Valdemar’s postscript likely wasn’t a lie.

  Spent my free time investigating my Inventory and making more connections as my mind reeled from Devin's revelation.

  Reached the Divine in Skyhaven at the designated time.

  The building was filled with marked people, keeping me on edge.

  Met Alice.

  Trent was unmarked. And next to him, and our exhibit was…my sister.

  ***

  I recognized Thea immediately.

  Despite the short, boyish haircut, it was unmistakably her.

  Funny how she was always here…in the Divine.

  On top of everything, her gaze locked onto me the moment I stepped onto the third floor. When our eyes met, she straightened, crossed her arms, and then just looked away.

  It almost felt like she was expecting me to approach.

  “Viktor! Holy shit, you’re here!” Trent exclaimed the instant he saw me. But I could barely even focus on him.

  My attention was still fixed on Thea.

  I considered walking over, slightly hesitant—what if this was also a trap: what if speaking to her was a deviation from the baseline? Surely, in the original timeline, even if we spoke, I had no idea who she really was. No matter how tame I tried to keep this conversation, I might not be able to.

  And then…what if Erebus notices?

  This was probably Valdemar’s plan all along. The “someone” who was waiting for me.

  Bastard…

  What does he have against me personally?! I just couldn’t wrap my head around it…

  And still, despite all my fears and worries, I couldn’t bring myself to not talk to her.

  Meanwhile, Trent continued his rant, waving his hands over my Chrono Quill in frustration. “Anyway, I just can’t get it to start!”

  “One moment, Trent,” I said, already moving.

  As I approached Thea, I mentally prepared myself—ready to summon a handgun from my Inventory at a moment’s notice in case Erebus somehow comes for me.

  It was strange…the idea of shooting myself didn't repulse me.

  Had I already done it in any of the previous loops? Déjà vu seemed to ring in agreement, though I couldn’t be too certain.

  Then, when I was just two steps away from her, I freaked out.

  I’d spent the entire walk over obsessing about back-up plans and shooting myself instead of what I actually wanted to say.

  Now I stood in front of her, mouth slightly open, no words coming out.

  What do I even tell her?

  That she looks better than that one time I’ve seen her face beaten up and swollen when the Primarch and Casten Vorrick decided to fry her brain?

  Or that I’m glad she’s not being held in Skarn's asylum anymore?

  How was I supposed to pull her out of Valdemar’s toxic grasp without actually knowing her?

  Mom definitely would’ve wanted her safe—with her family. If not with me, then with her father, at the very least. Not running around with a terrorist leader.

  But I couldn’t start with that.

  Unlike her, I hadn’t even known Mom.

  It would be arrogant—almost insulting—to claim I understood what she would’ve wanted, especially when there was a good chance Mom had been part of Libra herself.

  “Nothin’ to say, huh?” Thea was the one to break the silence.

  Her voice was tired. She still wasn’t looking at me, arms crossed tight against her chest.

  “I-I just don’t know what to say,” I admitted quietly, rubbing the back of my neck awkwardly. “It feels like I have a thousand things to ask you. To tell you. But…none of them feel right.”

  “What’s there to say?” she replied, same exhaustion, same lack of eye contact. “We’re practically strangers. We’re not siblings. I get why you're confused, but we’re not.”

  She looked so out of it, I wondered if she was drugged to ensure she remained awake for whatever her role in the Divine was.

  Then she finally looked at me. Her gaze was steady, unflinching, and filled with pain she clearly tried to hide.

  “I don’t need you worrying about me,” she said. “And I don’t need your help. You have no obligation toward me.”

  Suddenly, Echo Sense reminded me of its existence: Thea's unmistakable voice, angered, flashed in my ear. "I don't need your help, trash."

  I shook my head, trying to ignore it.

  “Maybe when I didn’t know you existed. But I do now. And I can’t just sit idly by when I know you’re in trouble.”

  “Me?” She raised an eyebrow. “In trouble?”

  “Yes!” I said—just a bit too loud. I caught myself and lowered my voice. “Whatever you're planning to do here today is nuts."

  "That's none of your concern."

  I pressed on. “I’ve seen you with Valdemar. I know you’re close. But you’re still young, and he’s using – “

  “Stop,” she cut in sharply. “You have no idea what you’re talking about.”

  “You’re right. I don’t,” I admitted immediately. “But I’ve seen what you’ve been through. And I know he’s abusing this to manipulate you.”

  “You’ve seen what I’ve been through?” she asked, frowning. “How?”

  I hesitated. Saying too much here could cause a serious deviation to the loop.

  “Not everything…” I finally said. “And I can’t explain it properly. But I wish I’d known you existed back then. I mean, you were being held in the same damn clinic I used to visit. If I’d known, I would’ve – “

  “Would’ve what?” she interrupted again. “Burst in guns blazing and rescued the sister you’d never even spoken to?” She looked me over. “C’mon…I can see you’re not that kind of guy.”

  That hurt.

  Especially considering I’d beaten a man half to death for just insulting Mom. And that was back when I hated her guts.

  “Listen,” she said, her tone softer now, still exhausted. “He wanted me to be more direct, but I…I just don’t have the energy for that. So I’ll repeat myself: we are not siblings. Whatever obligation you feel toward me—you’re free from it. I release you from it.”

  Once again he was giving away orders for people to treat me in specific ways.

  Why?

  “What does he have against me?” I muttered, incredulous. “Why the fuck is he sabotaging even this?” I gestured between us.

  She stared at me silently. “That’s not for me to say. You’ll understand when he wants you to.” She sighed. “For now…just leave.”

  I suddenly felt so small.

  I knew she was walking the wrong path, and I still couldn’t stop her from taking it.

  I needed to save the world, yet I couldn’t even save her?!

  No. Not on my watch.

  I was never one to drown in self-pity. I wouldn’t win her over during this loop, but either way, this loop was far from being the last. Heck, I’d even forget about this conversation in the next—my final loop in Skyhaven before my descent to the Foundry.

  But one way or another, I will save her from Valdemar no matter what.

  For now, there was something else I needed to ask.

  “Then tell me this, at least,” I said quietly, voice trembling a bit. “How was she?”

  Her eyes widened.

  She turned around quickly, one hand rising to her face.

  “S-She…” Thea sniffed, drawing a shaky breath. “She was loving. Caring. She always worried about me, and about you, and about everyone else.” Her voice broke slightly. “I miss her so much.”

  Needless to say, my mind latched onto only one thing from what she just said.

  Thea turned back toward me, arm extended, a folded note clenched in her hand.

  “It’s from him,” she said, not making eye contact again. “Take it and leave. Please.”

  Anger flaring within me, I took the note. Thea didn’t wait a second longer. She turned and walked back toward her exhibit.

  I unfolded the paper:

  Damn. That probably hurt…

  I’ve been trying to tell you this, Viktor, but you just fail to remember it (courtesy of Chronos’ System, of course): she doesn’t see you as her brother because you never were her brother…

  Well, at least you asked her about Cecilia. That was the trigger for her to give you the note, by the way (I know how slow you can be sometimes).

  Now, just like before, I’ll kindly ask you to spend the rest of this loop—and the next—the same way you’ve spent your entire life thus far.

  Love,

  V

  P.S.

  Check your jacket’s inner pocket.

  Fury threatening to explode, I shoved my hand into my pocket.

  There, amid the lint, was another folded note.

  “Oh, for fuck’s sake…” I muttered as I pulled it out and unfolded it.

  This one was mercifully brief.

  I see you.

  Déjà vu rang sharply in my mind along with my anger.