Audel Emporio
"What is it that thou seek?"
An eerie voice resonated in my ears, reminiscent of morning church bells—calming yet terrifying, sending shivers down my spine.
I glanced around at the bed of roses, their petals drinking in my blood. I lay in a crimson pool, like a sacrificial lamb. My vision, stained red, saw only roses stretching endlessly to the horizon. My hand clutched a broken sword.
I stared at my palm, then at the blood-red sky.
I had fallen from that place—the so-called paradise of the Diviners. But more importantly... Why am I still alive? How did I survive that fall? And where was my artifact? Where was Choros?
Gathering the last remnants of my mana, I forced myself up, leaning on the shattered blade. I scanned my surroundings for answers. I was undoubtedly on the outskirts of Tritine. With no time to waste, I stumbled forward, seeking the truth.
And then...
I saw it.
A sight so horrifying it froze my blood. My jaw clenched as I dropped to my knees. I fought to keep my composure, but the memories surged back—my old comrades, a massacre.
Thousands of soldiers lay lifeless across the once-green field, now painted red with their blood. Too exhausted to weep, I told myself, "You can't waste your energy crying."
Never in my life had I felt such despair.
...Wait.
Which life was I remembering?
Who were these people?
Mary—my sister? James? Maria, my childhood friend? But I had just been training with old man Agrievious and his grandson, Benon.
"Go away!" I screamed, collapsing, hands pressed against my temples as I writhed on the blood-soaked earth.
Then... a figure loomed over my broken form.
M-Master Vestiron? I couldn't even speak his name aloud.
The middle-aged man stared down at me with pure disgust. He drew his sword and leveled it at me.
"You, who failed to protect us despite everything, are nothing but a traitor to your own being! You let the Diviners slaughter us! And now, they will unleash their wrath upon all mortals!"
I tried to scream, but my voice came out shattered. "S-sorry... Master... I've disappointed you... even in this world... F-forgive me."
Before I realized it, I was bowing before him. His eyes burned with disappointment.
When he spoke again, his voice echoed like those damned church bells.
"You don't have much time, Audel. You'll be reincarnated into another world—the artifact's doing. But we, when killed, will sleep for eternity. I am forging a contract, Audel."
The sky roared with lightning as rain poured down. He drew an artifact from his back—one eerily similar to the one I had used.
"Ch-Choros? Why is it here? I don't understand."
"We don't have time!" he snapped. "The Diviners are merging the worlds. We failed in this life—because of your mistake. But in the next, when we are both reborn, we must stop them."
"M-merging? What are you—"
He began chanting. The daisy-like artifact bloomed brightly in his palm before he hurled it into the storm. Light erupted against the darkened sky, lightning crackling around it—revealing the countless Diviners encircling us.
"Audel Emporio. When you awaken, you will be my student. I will guide you to the right path. But if either of us betrays this contract, the artifact's wrath will strike us on the Day of Judgment. Do you agree?"
"I... do..."
"As we grow stronger—as we endure the trials of that world's inconsistencies—we will prevail. We will survive. Do you agree?"
"Ag... ree..."
"When the time comes, you will remember this. Until then, you will obey me as your master. I will lead you to the light."
"M-memories?" I coughed blood. "This... isn't fair. Let me keep them!"
"They will return to you in fragments. But until then—"
"Until then, I'm just your slave?" I spat. "So you can use me again? Why should I trust you, Mas—" My voice failed. My sword slipped from my grip.
"The fact that you still call me 'Master'... proves your fate, Audel. Time is running out. Say you agree. One last time."
My vision swam. The sky was now filled with Diviners descending like avenging angels, their spears gleaming.
With no choice, I nodded weakly. "I... agree..."
A spear impaled my master the next second. Thunder cracked deafeningly, the lightning's afterimage searing the sky. He stood motionless, lifeless, skewered by the weapon.
The Diviners surrounded me, spears planted in the earth, waiting. The spear that killed my master flew back to its owner.
Then...
A figure stepped forward.
He knelt before me and whispered,
"Audel, the human who dared oppose us—Gods. Your stupidity and bravery will be remembered. The immortals will speak your name for eternity."
Fury burned through me. "Gods? You're just Diviners! False deities! You will never be our Gods!"
He leaned closer, his heavenly face twisting into something devilish.
"The Architect is dead. And we killed him."
Horror locked me in place.
The man stood and commanded coldly, "Diviner Benon. Finish him."
Before I could blink—
I was dead.
Powerless.
Formless.
"Audel! What happened?"
A familiar voice jolted me back to awareness. My body lurched in shock.
I was floating—suspended in the pearly blue waters of the Time River itself. Before me stood the same figure from my nightmare...
"B-Benon? Why am I here?" My voice came out weak, disoriented.
"After forcing your core to rewind time, your mind had to reconcile with the memories of your past life," he explained calmly. "When you lost consciousness, I brought you here. The Time River stabilizes fragmented memories—keeps you sane."
Before I could ask more, footsteps approached. Mrs. Dareia emerged, her expression grave.
"Boy. You're awake. Get ready."
"Rea-dy?" I managed, still dazed.
The young woman's voice was firm. "We're in a critical situation. I'll brief you on the details. Get dressed."
Her sharp gaze flicked to Benon. "What about his core?"
"He's strong enough now. Just needs time to adjust."
"Then he can fight. Good." She turned back to me, her eyes piercing. "Verily, your master planned all of this, Audel."
Confusion clouded my thoughts—but there was no time to dwell on the nightmare.
I pushed myself up.