Chapter 14: Chronoa [Part 2]

I spent what felt like hours admiring my new sword before turning to my new teacher and bowing as a gesture of respect. "I'll be in your care.".

"I will meet you at the city gates. Make sure to take everything you need before coming," said Chronoa.

"Okay," I said before turning to my mom. "I'll see you when I come back," I added as I hugged her.

"Listen to Chronoa and behave yourself," Mom said in a caring tone, "And if you cause trouble, I will lock you in your room for a week."

"I am not a troublemaker. I always behave well," I assured her while hearing Chronoa chuckle from a distance.

Going to my room, I swiftly gathered my belongings and wrote a brief note for Aiden and Mai to inform them I would be away for some time. Then, I headed towards the city gates, where Chronoa was already waiting.

As I left the city, I walked towards her, and she gave me a weird look seeing me having a backpack.

"Why aren't you using your inve..." she began to ask before interrupting herself. "Nevermind, let's go. We can't waste time." She said, and we started heading East.

Inve? I started thinking, and then it hit me. How could I forget about having an inventory? At that moment, a new screen popped up displaying 36 slots with a slider on the right side.

My right eye visibly twitched at my stupidity. Having never had any use for it for the last six months, I didn't think about it.

I lamented over the number of books I could have brought with me, but I didn't want to admit to her that I wanted to return for them.

But now I was certain that I existed in the previous timeline and as myself, not the original Cale. However, I was confused about how we could still fail even though I was there with the powers of the Shadow Monarch.

Actually, does it work like that? The whole time-travel thing is confusing.

But considering she knew who I was and knew about my inventory, I had it in the previous timeline. Could something change that in that timeline, making me weaker?

But how do I start the conversation? Do I go and say something like, 'Hey, why did you travel back in time? Oh, how do I know you can travel in time? I just know...' Yeah, maybe not the best thing to say.

We continued to walk as I thought of a way to ask her about the previous timeline but couldn't find a good way.

The problem isn't just asking her about the previous timeline but explaining how I know she traveled through time.

"Just ask what you want to ask." She said with a sigh.

"Ask what?" I acted confused

"You know what." She replied

"Know what?" I asked again

She sighed in annoyance before muttering, "Allways a pain to deal with..."

Deciding to stop acting like an idiot, I asked her, "So you knew me in the previous timeline?"

"Yes, I did, and you are as annoying as I remember." She said

"But then, why are you here? What happened?" I asked, wanting to know.

"The last timeline was the worst out of all of them." She said and tightened her grip into a fist. "You were controlled by Michael due to your virtue skill and went on a rampage killing everyone."

"Didn't I do anything about that? I should know he could control me if I had a virtue skill." I asked, not understanding how I could make such an obvious mistake.

"No, before we even had the chance to cut you off from its influence, it was already too late," she said and took a pause before adding, "Your actions change in every timeline. This is the first time you have stayed in the Holy Empire. In the previous timeline, you went to the Eastern Empire, and he knew you got the virtue skill instantly."

After she said that, we walked in silence for a long time before I decided to speak, "So now that we know this and I haven't been in the Eastern Empire, I should be fine, and as you said, my actions change every timeline so there is also a big possibility I won't get the virtue skill."

"Well, we can't be sure that he won't find out if you have one and take control over you." She answered.

Then I started thinking. "Chronoa, I've been wondering why didn't you prevent me from being captured by the slaver traders?" I asked.

"It was important that you got captured; otherwise, you wouldn't acquire your Unique Skill." She told me.

"Was there a timeline where you prevented me from being captured?" I asked, wanting to know what would happen if she did.

"Yes. It was also the timeline where you were the weakest." She replied.

"I see," I replied. "However, I'm curious as to why you shared the information about time travel with me."

"You joked about being a prophet. At first, I thought you were joking, but after all the times I went through this with you, I'm starting to believe it," She said with a chuckle.

I wondered why I told her something so stupid, but it's not like it's a complete lie if reading is considered a skill.

"Then where are we going? The only place I can think of in that direction where we could fight is the Jura Forest.

"That's exactly where we are heading. You always seemed to grow fast when facing strong opponents," she commented. "I'm also curious about your unique skill for this timeline."

Confused, I asked, "What do you mean 'this timeline'?"

"As I mentioned before, your actions change in every timeline, along with your unique skill. Once, you utilized insects and venom, which was honestly the creepiest you I had met." She said, shivering slightly.

"Insects?" I muttered, confused, but then it clicked. My unique skills change every timeline, and the character that uses insects is Querehsha, the Monarch of Plagues and Queen of Insects.

Does that mean there was a me who had Monarch of Destruction powers? I shivered at that thought, hoping I would never meet that version of myself... I just jinxed myself, didn't I?

"Chronoa, have you ever seen multiple versions of me at the same time?" I asked.

"I haven't. Why do you always ask about that?" she inquired.

"I'm just curious, no particular reason," I replied, feeling relieved.

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Luminous Valentine POV:

I drank another glass of blood-infused wine. It was the second one since my little Cale left with Chronoa...

"Roy, bring me another glass!" I ordered.

"My lady, I think you shouldn't drink more..." He said, looking at me with concern.

"I only had two. One more won't hurt." I said, getting annoyed. Doesn't he understand how it feels when your son moves out for the first time?

"My lady, this is the twentieth glass." He said before leaving and shortly returning with another glass.

"I'm just worried!" I said so he doesn't think I'm an alcoholic, "What if she won't be enough to protect him? Maybe I should go and bring him back?"

"The young lord is strong for his age," He said before handing me the wine glass, "My lady, have you made progress in finding out what the race of the young lord is?" He asked.

I sighed, "I haven't... He isn't human, he does a large number of magicules that seems to grow constantly, but the amount of vampire blood that flows in him isn't enough for him to be classified as a Vampire." I rubbed my temples. I have been trying to find out his race for so long, but I'm still left with nothing.

Chronoa seemed to know but won't tell me... URG!!!

The glass in my hand shattered, spilling the blood wine over the whole floor. Why can't she tell me? Aren't we friends? How can I trust her to keep him safe if she won't tell me such simple things?

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Authors Note:

Thank you for reading this chapter.

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