165 Hours

[SYSTEM REAWAKENING: 165:51:58]

The text in my left eye sent a dull pain through my head, and I found myself with shortness of breath as I walked to the outside world of the building where I sealed my fate.

If all goes according to plan, Ruby and Ra should allow me to live in this city... or, worst case scenario, I would be moved to someplace else, maybe someplace where I'm accepted.

I walked down the sidewalk with my hands in my pockets, ignoring the stares I received from the people walking back to their homes for the night.

What a long day it has been... to think, in this Real World, it's only been around seven hours since I killed Orion. I guess if I consider what Eirikr told me about those Trial Worlds, they're meant to proceed through time faster than the Real World in order to generate strands for his Vessel: Me.

I had a lot to think about, but I wanted to save it for another day. Right now, I was tired and wanted to go back to my cell to sleep. Breaking even more rules now would just be stupid... even if I wanted to be with Dani and the others now.

I made it back to the staircase leading down to the cells and jumped over the fence blocking it off, walking down the steps slowly until I turned the corner, to see people roaming out of their cells. Even the old guy I talked to before was out of his cell and looking for something outside of their cells within the main hub area...

"What are you guys doing?" I yelled out to them. The hub became silent and they all suddenly bowed down to me. What the hell?!

"You're the one we waited for! Sky Asterio! You came to free us, so, will you break open that fence so we can escape this place?!" They asked me.

But how did they get out? And why now, of all times?

"No thanks. I'm not looking to start any more conflict. I'm going to be in my cell." I told them, slamming the bar that was sheathed on my back into the old place it used to be in, and sitting on my bed.

"Come on! You were supposed to help us!" The old man shouted out to me.

"I don't recall promising to help anybody. Just let me sleep and shut up, please." I told them.

"Some Asterio he is. I thought you said he would be the one to save us, Genesis!" I heard.

I instantly shot out of bed and turned my head to see the old guy looking at me and smiling.

"You have this opportunity for power, and you don't want to use it?" Genesis asked me.

There he was... in the flesh, but he didn't look like Illya or Eirikr. Even Illya had some hint of facial structure that was similar to Eirikr, but Genesis had... nothing.

Unless the strands I sense from him are to change his appearance. That's it, isn't it? He's hiding for a reason.

I can't bring him to Eirikr like this, not in my current position... why was he here, of all places?!

"No... this is my future home. Ever since I read your message on The Isle, I've wanted to live here. I'll listen to their rules in order to ensure my survival." I explained to Genesis.

"Oh, you mean the message on The Pinnacle? Good, then it did get to you. I see my sister in that cell of yours, why don't you kill her while she's asleep? It would be a quick and painless death, and she wouldn't even know." He asked me.

"Unfortunately, I won't be doing that. I suggest you step away from my cell." I yelled at him. Genesis put his hands up and nodded while swaying back and forth.

"Fine, we're leaving, and you can rot in this hellhole. It was nice to finally see you in the flesh, Sky. However, it will be the last time we ever see each other in a peaceful manner. You have a lot coming, Sky." Genesis told me.

I smiled at his threat while holding the bars to my cell, nodding my head. Looks like I've finally found my target, and memorized the way that he looks. As long as that's not an illusion, I could spot him in a crowd of a thousand people.

Genesis walked up the staircase that I came back from and I heard a blast, watching the prisoners all chant as they escaped. I stayed in my cell and laid down in my bed again.

Genesis was right, I did have an awesome opportunity to overthrow this damned city... but I felt the urge not too.

I hope I wouldn't regret that one day. Moving forth, I want to make sure my friends and I all have prosperous futures.

That's right, this is different from The Isle.

On The Isle, I just wanted to keep everybody alive, and to kill Orion and anybody else that crossed paths with me. In that endeavor, I got a lot of people seriously injured and even killed. Now that I'm here, I just wanted to relax. I acted out twice, even using Belle's ability out of a reaction of rage, and forgot what I promised my mom. I have a lot of things to remember now, and a lot of things to do.

Right as we got down to Earth on the ship, Dani handed me my necklace and ring. Previously, they had meanings that Lia and Dani gave them, but I decided to give the two pieces of jewelry I possessed meanings of their own.

The Unity Ring, which is what Lia called it, would stand as a bond between my parents and me that I would never forget, and the necklace is the promise to never use my rage without thinking about it first.

Improving myself willingly takes quite willpower... I already feel tired. Maybe tomorrow, it will seem easier.