Reyon sat up slowly, ignoring the numbing ache that throbbed across his limbs. His fingers curled weakly into the soft sheets of the bed, teeth gritting.
"Two years..." he muttered, voice low, hollow. "I could've reached the strength of Ninth Circle by now."
The weight of time lost pressed down heavier than the pain.
He raised his head toward the gathering around him—Edward, Evelyn, Ray, and Serena—each of them bearing eyes filled with concern. But he wasn't done yet.
"And Alice…" he whispered, closing his eyes. A bittersweet pang struck his chest.
She had stayed beside him at the end of his previous life. Held him as the world burned. Protected him, but the weight reyon carried is much heavier than his affection towards her
"She's has rejoined her royal Brook family now," Reyon said, almost to himself, almost in disbelief. "I can't choose between her and Julie. I can't."
Edward raised an eyebrow.
"She's a potential enemy now. If the Brook family truly is behind this…"
The air grew heavier. Reyon sucked in a deep breath and looked them all in the eye.
"There's something I need to say. And I don't care how absurd it sounds—but it's the truth."
Everyone leaned in unconsciously.
Reyon's gaze turned steel.
"I've lived this life before. I died. The dragons came. One after another. And I failed to stop them. What you've seen so far? That's just the beginning."
A long silence.
Ray furrowed his brow. Serena blinked, stunned. Evelyn's lips parted slightly, trying to find words that wouldn't come.
Edward stood silently for a moment, then scoffed, moving to the chair behind him.
"You're trying to say you regressed?" he said, his voice slow and mocking. "You want me to believe in such nonsense?"
Reyon's expression didn't falter.
"Then explain my current situation," he said flatly. "I used vectors when I was still in the academy. You all know I hadn't even read Grandfather's book by then."
Serena looked at Edward.
"True... he used techniques even we hadn't seen before. even we have only heard about lord leywin's void power from stories but he used it "
Reyon didn't stop.
"I couldn't have used them unless I knew them already. And I did know some of them—from my previous life."
He looked directly into Edward's eyes.
"And I also knew the dragons would come."
Edward leaned back, narrowing his eyes.
"Even so…"
"I heard this from Grandfather Leywin's image," Reyon interrupted. "That the dragons weren't born suddenly. They were created."
A hushed gasp escaped Evelyn.
"And it wouldn't be strange if Grandfather helped the dark mages to make them."
Serena stepped forward. "Reyon, are you saying that—"
Reyon nodded. "That he might've aided them. I believe… my regression itself was caused by Grandfather."
They all stiffened.
"In my final moments, just before I died in the last timeline, I saw a symbol. One I'd never seen in that life."
He paused.
"When I was trapped in those tormenting memories, I saw it again.—τ. One of the two ultimate symbols Grandfather created."
Serena's lips trembled. "Tau…?"
"It's the symbol that controls time," Reyon said firmly. "I've read it in his book. It has to be the reason I came back."
He drew a shaky breath.
"And the final dragon I fought in the last life... the Black Dragon. Methusela. It could manipulate time. It connects. All of it."
Edward was quiet.
Reyon pressed on.
"So just believe me. Please. Don't think this is over because we won against the Blue Dragon."
Edward stood up, walking slowly to the window. His hands were behind his back, shoulders tense.
"You're saying the Brook family is behind the dragons," he murmured. "And that Father Leywin himself may have played a role."
Reyon clenched his fists.
"Father, you died to the Silver Dragon in the previous timeline. Even after reaching the Ninth Circle. You only survived this time because it was the Blue Dragon."
He glanced at each of them.
"But two years have passed. I'm sure the Brook family has already completed their work."
He took a breath.
"That's why I suggest we attack. Now. Before the dragons fully awaken. Otherwise, we'll all die."
Reyon spoke. "Just to defeat Silver dragon we have to be as strong as grandma min hee but Even Grandmother wouldn't stand a chance against Methusela. Because even if we disintegrate that dragon… it'll just reverse time."
"Then what hope do we have?" Ray asked.
Reyon's voice was low.
"Mastering τ. That's our only way. But I've tried. And I failed every time."
He looked back at Edward.
"That's why I want to take down the dragons now, while they're still dormant."
Edward finally turned around, face solemn.
"…Alright," he said after a long pause. "But first, resolve things with Queen Julie."
He rubbed his temples.
"She's been a headache."
Reyon let out a dry chuckle.
"Alright," he said with a faint smirk. "I'll settle things with her."
The room went quiet again.
The storm hadn't begun yet—but it had just opened its eye.