As we arrived, we saw Tea waiting for us.
When we got closer, he noticed us approaching, so we stopped Jack and climbed down beside the forbidden road. After the recent conflict between the Alt and Holmes kingdoms, all relations had been cut, and the road connecting the two was declared forbidden—no one was allowed to cross. A powerful spell had been cast to enforce it.
Tea: Who is she? Where are the others? And where's the sacrifice?
I slowly pulled the black sword from my waist.
Xiver: You are the sacrifice.
It had been obvious from the start—the only reason I added him to the clan wasn't because of his skill. While reading Alexander's book and trying to understand it, I realized a sacrifice was required for the amount of mana those symbols demanded. If I had added Axe instead, he would've grown suspicious and likely tried to kill me first.
Tea: Is that so…?
A smile spread across his face.
Tea: Then come.
The moment I jumped toward him, my body froze midair. I couldn't move—couldn't breathe—before he sent me flying away like nothing.
Sara: Xiver!
She screamed, but Tea froze her in place too, then slammed her into the ground again and again. Dust and rocks exploded into the air as the earth cracked beneath her. She used divine magic to support herself, forcing more power out, trying to gather enough mana to counter his next attack.
As Sara struggled, I rushed in again, sword blazing with flame magic. Tea blocked it effortlessly. Then he revealed a necklace shaped like a clock.
Time manipulation.
I tried to pierce the necklace with water magic, but he smashed me into the ground beside Sara.
Xiver: Gha… g—any sugge… tions…?
Sara: Gha—how—would—I—know…
Tea: Imagine this… me going back to the guild, telling them I killed the great Xiver—the one who found the Fate Dragon. Wouldn't that be interesting?
As he muttered to himself, I shot a blade of water through his foot.
Tea: You fuckhead—y—
I cut off his fingers before he could freeze me again.
Tea: GHAAAAAAAAA!
At that moment, Sara broke free. We stood there, breathing heavily, ready to finish it.
Sara: So… aren't you going to do it?
I hesitated.
The last time I killed someone, it was in self-defense—but this time was different. My body froze, fear flooding my chest.
Before I could decide, Sara shoved the sword straight into his heart.
Tea gasped, his body twitching as he took his final breaths.
I stood there, frozen. Killing came so easily to her.
My thoughts spiraled, but one truth surfaced above the rest—no matter what happens, my goal matters more than other people's lives. I have to go back to my world.
Sara: You got the sword I told you about. It'll do the job.
Xiver: Just… get it over with.
Sara: Don't you find it strange? A clock necklace that can stop time?
Xiver: Yeah. I guess people are so desperate to catch the Fate Dragon they'll do anything.
Sara: …I guess.
Xiver: I'm going to take a breath. Do what you need to do.
I walked into the trees, hiding from Sara's view. The moment I was alone, my legs gave out. I dropped to my knees, sobbing, tears streaming down my face.
Xiver: I—I can't keep doing this…
I hate this fucking world…
My chest burned as I cried, the weight of another life crushing me.
Xiver: Ghaaaaaa…!
After a while, I wiped my face and forced myself to stand.
No.
This doesn't matter.
As long as I achieve my goal, nothing else does.
I will go back home—no matter who I have to kill.
I will keep moving forward.
I miss my home, and because of that, I don't care what happens next.
I built a barrier between myself and the people I met here—I didn't want to sink too deep into this world, didn't want to belong to it. I tried to fix Elizabeth and Alexander's relationship, but it failed. I wanted to become king, but that doesn't matter anymore. Now that I know I can go back home, that's all that matters.
When I returned, I saw Sara using the blood on the sword to draw a circle on the ground. As I watched, she noticed me and quietly called me over.
Sara: What was it like… when you killed your first person?
The question hit me out of nowhere.
Xiver: Leave me alone.
Sara: It matters for the ritual.
The circle began to glow, and sweat ran down my face.
Xiver: What's happening?
Sara: Did you feel pain when you killed them? Were you scared?
Xiver: Stop talking about it and just do what you need to do.
Sara: …Did you cry?
Something inside me snapped.
Before I realized it, my hands were around her neck.
Sara: Gha—let—go—
I couldn't hear anything anymore. Everything went silent.
The circle shone brighter and brighter, enough to blind someone—but I didn't care. Her eyes widened in terror as she grabbed my wrists with all her strength, trying to fight back, trying to live.
I didn't stop.
I kept squeezing until her body went limp.
Then—light exploded from the circle.
Sara suddenly gasped for air.
Sara: Aghhh—haaah—aghhh…
She collapsed, breathing heavily.
That's when it hit me.
I didn't know I was capable of killing someone so real, so close. My legs gave out. I dropped to my knees and started crying, sobbing uncontrollably. This world had ruined me.
Sara watched silently as the circle continued to glow.
I kept crying—not because of fear, but because I couldn't accept what I was becoming. I'm not this kind of person. I know that.
All I want…
is to go back to my old life.
That's all.