The morning of the next day greeted Kayian with a heavy sky. Gray clouds loomed over Askar, but the snow never came—only a cold wind swept through the empty streets.
He had barely slept. Crow's feather lay on the nightstand, faintly shimmering in the dim light. Kayian had picked it up three times, trying to understand the artifact's nature, but each time the system gave the same response: "Properties unknown. Connected to the Keepers of Time."
Crow said that tomorrow I would face a choice. What choice?
He rose, washed with ice-cold water, and put on a fresh suit. Today was the final. Today he would face either Selena or the mysterious hooded girl.
In the carriage on the way to the Academy, he opened the system interface:
[Fate Points: 85]
[Available purchases in the Fragment Shop:
Temporary Shadow Enhancement (2nd rank, 1 hour) — 50 points
Information on Opponent (final) — 30 points
Minor Concealment Artifact — 40 points]
Kayian considered. Information on his opponent would be the most useful, but he had already seen the girl's fights. The system couldn't analyze her, meaning purchasing information might prove useless. He decided to save his points.
When he entered the Academy's main hall, a massive crowd had already gathered. Students, instructors, invited aristocrats. On the upper tribune sat Rector Verius, and beside him—the Emperor's advisor, Lord Morwood.
Kayian recognized Morwood immediately. In his past life, this very man had led the commission that accused him of heresy. His face—narrow, deeply lined—sent a surge of cold fury through Kayian.
Soon, he told himself. Soon you will pay.
He shifted his gaze to the arena. Selena was already standing there. She looked pale but determined. Opposite her stood the hooded girl, motionless.
"We begin the final matches!" the examiner announced. "First pair: Selena Arkwood against unknown participant."
Kayian gripped the railing. If anything went wrong, he would intervene, rules be damned.
Selena raised her hands, activating a white Spirit shield. The hooded girl didn't move.
"Begin!"
Selena didn't attack. She waited, just as in her previous fights. But this time, her opponent had no intention of exhausting herself.
The girl raised her hand. Kayian saw no flash, felt no magic—Selena simply staggered and fell to her knees. Her shield shattered like glass.
"What's happening?" someone in the crowd whispered.
Selena tried to rise, but her body wouldn't obey. She stared straight ahead, her eyes filled with terror.
"I surrender," she whispered.
The examiner raised his hand:
"Victory to the unknown participant!"
Kayian rushed toward the arena. By the time he reached Selena, she was already sitting, arms wrapped around her knees.
"What did she do?" he asked, helping her up.
"I don't know," Selena's voice trembled. "I just… I saw something. Something enormous. Darkness. And it was looking at me."
"Who was looking?"
"I don't know. But I understood that if I didn't surrender, it would consume me."
Kayian looked at the hooded girl. She stood at the opposite end of the arena, not moving. The system displayed only one word: "Danger."
"Get somewhere safe," he told Selena. "I'll handle this."
"Kayian, be careful," she whispered, and staggered toward the exit.
The examiner announced:
"Second final match: Kayian Wellstream against unknown participant!"
Kayian stepped onto the arena. The hooded girl finally turned to face him. The hood concealed her eyes, but Kayian felt her gaze—heavy, piercing.
"You are not like the others," she said. Her voice was quiet, almost a whisper, but Kayian heard every word.
"Who are you?" he asked.
"It doesn't matter. What matters is who you are. Regressor."
The word struck him like a slap. Kayian tensed, readying himself to attack.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"You do." She stepped forward. "I can see your timeline. You have already died. You have already lost. And now you've returned to change everything."
"How do you—"
"I remember some things too," she interrupted. "Not everything. But enough."
Kayian froze. She said "too." That meant…
"Are you a regressor?"
The girl didn't answer. Instead, she raised her hand, and Kayian felt the world around him begin to distort.
The choice, he remembered Crow's words. Don't give in to emotion.
He took a step back and raised his hands in a gesture of surrender.
"I forfeit," he said loudly, so everyone could hear.
Silence fell over the hall, followed by a buzz of astonished voices.
The examiner stared at him:
"Are you certain?"
"Absolutely."
The hooded girl lowered her hand. For a moment, Kayian thought he saw a smile on her hidden lips.
"A wise choice," she whispered as she walked past.
Kayian watched her go. The system issued a message:
[Combat complete. Result: voluntary surrender. Fate Points awarded: 0.]
[Attention! Object "????" has demonstrated knowledge of regression. Threat level revised: critical.]
[New quest: "Identify the regressor" (reward: 200 Fate Points).]
Kayian descended from the arena under the bewildered gazes of the crowd. Damian met him at the exit. His brother looked both disappointed and pleased.
"You disgraced yourself," Damian said, though there was no anger in his voice. "Surrendering without a fight?"
"I couldn't win," Kayian replied calmly.
"At least you understand that much." Damian clapped him on the shoulder. "Go rest. Father will be displeased, but I'll soften him."
Soften him, Kayian thought. Of course you will. You're already running to tell him of my shame.
When Damian left, Kayian leaned against the wall and closed his eyes. He hadn't lost. He had made a choice. Sometimes retreat wasn't weakness—it was preparation for a future victory.
"You did the right thing."
Kayian opened his eyes. Crow stood before him—the same cloak, the same mask.
"You spoke of a choice," Kayian said. "I made it."
"Yes. But you were wrong about one detail." Crow tilted his head. "That girl is not a regressor. She is something more. And if you had fought her, you would have died. Not in battle—in time. You would have simply been erased from existence."
Kayian went cold.
"Then who is she?"
"A door," Crow answered. "One you are not ready to open yet. But soon, you will have to. The world is changing, Kayian Wellstream. And your revenge is only a small part of what is coming."
He dissolved into the shadows, leaving Kayian with new questions.
Kayian looked at his wrist, where the black script of the system pulsed.
I thought I had returned to take revenge. But it turns out I've stepped into a game whose scale I can't even comprehend.
He walked out of the Academy into the cold wind. The tournament final was behind him. Something much larger was beginning.