Wandering Witch: Penance of a thief

Time is an unending circle of fate. Day and night, morning and evening, throughout the year it never rests.

In each turn of its cycle, there are always three possibilities.

Parallel, moving simultaneously.

I find myself sprawled on the ground, greeted by the intense gazes of three familiar women: Elaina, Amnesia, and Avilia.

"Could you all give me a bit of space? I need to recover here," I mutter, prompting them to cautiously step back. Pushing myself up, I stretch my limbs with a groan. "So, what's going on, ladies?"

"I think we should be asking you that," Elaina quips, still puzzled by my abrupt descent from the heavens.

"Arche, are you alright?" Amnesia's concern contrasts sharply with Elaina's bemusement.

"You scared me, Arche," Avilia adds with a sigh.

"Elaina, you could at least show some concern like Amnesia here. You criminal!" I retort, injecting a playful sarcasm that immediately irks her.

"You're the criminal!" She snaps back irritably.

I grin mischievously; if I didn't provoke her upon meeting, it just wouldn't feel right.

"Seriously, why did you fall from the sky like that?" Elaina probes.

"I was up late last night doing something, and I got really sleepy," I explain casually.

"Didn't I tell you to stop staying up so late, Arche?" Amnesia chides, a hint of annoyance in her voice, clearly not amused by my disregard for her earlier advice.

"Sorry, mom," I reply, feeling like a scolded child.

"I'm not your mom," she sighs, but there's a motherly vibe to her scolding.

Now, you might wonder why I was up late. Truth is, I tried to sneak a peek at a lady in the hot springs yesterday. Caught red-handed by the hot spring's owner, I was punished with an all-night cleaning marathon. Hence, the lack of sleep.

"There are matters of life and death I had to attend to, you know!" I defend myself dramatically.

"Life and death? That sounds serious," Avilia remarks, genuinely surprised.

"How about we continue this conversation over coffee? I'm in the mood for a café visit," Amnesia suggests warmly, always the peacemaker.

"Why do we have to drag him along?" Elaina protests.

"What's the harm?" Amnesia tries to persuade Elaina.

"What indeed?" I chuckle, feeling victorious.

As we headed towards the café, I overheard two women chatting animatedly behind us.

"That guy who peeked last night really infuriated me!"

"I heard he got punished with hot spring duty all night!"

"That's not enough! If I see him, I'm making him my punching bag!"

Their conversation, clearly about me, sends a nervous gulp down my throat. If they recognize me at the café, I might end up as their punching bag.

"Did you just gulp?" Avilia gives me a puzzled glance.

"Thanks for the invitation, but I've got things to do!" I hastily make an excuse to flee. "I'm really busy, you know!"

"Busy?" Amnesia queries.

"Yeah, I've got dishes to wash, floors to sweep, house to clean, meals to cook," I rattle off, admitting my lack of prowess in cleaning. "I'd make a great future stay-at-home dad, though!" I add with a wink.

With that, I whip out my flying broomstick. "Catch you later!"

Swiftly, I zoom away. "That was... odd," Amnesia remarks, bewildered.

Elaina, piecing together bits of the conversation about peeping toms and my late-night activities, looks pensive. "Don't tell me..."

She seems to have figured out why I bolted. "Pervert," she whispers under her breath.

"Did you say something, Elaina?" Amnesia glances at her curiously.

"No, it's nothing. By the way, how did you two meet him?" Elaina smoothly changes the subject.

"Let's discuss it at the café," she suggests as they continue on their way.

Meanwhile, I wander aimlessly elsewhere, relieved they didn't connect me to the hot springs incident.

As I passed through the alley, an unpleasant odor assaulted my senses. "Who let one rip?"

Venturing deeper into the alley, I stumbled upon something I never expected to find today-a lifeless human body. "Murder...?"

Nearby lay a knife. Instinctively, I reached for it, but then realized it could implicate me as the killer if my fingerprints were found.

"Looks like you're sharper than I thought," a woman's voice suddenly cut through the air from behind me.



Whirling around, I faced a woman with deep blue hair and piercing bright eyes. "So, it was you who did this?" I questioned, hand tightening around the dagger at my waist.

I cautiously stepped back, maintaining a wary distance while keeping my weapon ready.

"You're quite aggressive," she observed, her gaze trailing seductively over my body. "Such a naughty boy."

"Let's not play with double entendres," I countered firmly.

"I am the Time Queen, or you may call me Chronia," she declared haughtily.

"I'm Arche, and you can call me for dinner," I quipped with a smirk.

"You're quite amusing," she mused, licking her lips provocatively.

"Despite your beauty, you're still a murderer," I stated, preparing to strike.

"You're quite rough with women," she teased, the banter becoming flirtatious. "But I like it."

"Hope you don't regret this later," I warned, lunging towards her.

In response, Chronia wielded her wand, commanding with authority, "Time stop!"

I froze in place, unable to move, as the world seemed to freeze around me. She approached slowly, exuding confidence.

"I do enjoy playing rough," she remarked with a sly smile.

"How long are we going to play with ambiguous words like this?" I said with a playful tone, though those words only echoed in my heart.

Chronia grabbed my dagger and swiftly plunged it into my chest. "Does it hurt?" she taunted, staring sharply into my eyes.

A few seconds later, time resumed around me, and the pain from the stab wound hit me.

I groaned in pain, quickly pulling the dagger from my chest. "You're still holding back, huh?"

She could have ended my life with a direct stab to the heart. Chronia was indeed dangerous.

"Because it's pointless to kill someone like you," she said coldly.

I rushed forward, trying to attack swiftly. My strike hit her, catching her off guard momentarily.

"You need to focus more, Chronia," I challenged, trying to maintain momentum.

"How delightful to hear my name from you, Arche," she replied calmly, showing no signs of being disturbed. I landed a swift kick to her face, aiming for her weak spot.

The world froze momentarily as Chronia utilized "Rewind!" to rewind time.

Her staggered steps from my kick suddenly reverted to normal, and I found myself back in the same position.

"What's happening?" I muttered, trying to make sense of the sudden change in situation.

Chronia smirked triumphantly, showcasing her mastery over manipulating time.

"You won't defeat me that easily, Arche," she taunted with a hint of condescension.

I realized she was leveraging every advantage to dominate this fight. In the paused state, I contemplated my next move. How could I counter her powers without falling into her hidden traps?

In an instant, time resumed. I had to act swiftly before Chronia could exploit her abilities again.

Time resumed, and Chronia attacked aggressively. With swift movements, her magic wand emitted flashes of light, and I was thrown back by a powerful wave of energy.

"Time Acceleration!" she shouted, moving at a speed difficult for the eye to follow. She attacked from various directions, making it hard for me to defend myself.

Each strike was precise and strong, forcing me back and cornering me in the narrow alley.

"You don't stand a chance, Arche," she said while continuing to attack, swinging her magic wand with precision.

I barely dodged several attacks, but a few strikes from her wand hit me, causing excruciating pain. I fell, gasping for breath, feeling blood flowing from new wounds.

Chronia approached with a sly smile on her face. "You know, I could kill you right now. But where's the fun in that?"

I tried to get up, though my body felt weak. "You really enjoy this game, don't you?" I asked sarcastically, though the pain made my voice tremble.

She swung her wand again, and I was forced to roll to the side to avoid the deadly strike. "Time Loop!" she shouted, and suddenly I felt trapped in a time loop, returning to the same position repeatedly.

Every time I tried to escape, time seemed to reset, trapping me in an endless cycle. I had to find a way out of this situation before Chronia decided to finish me off in a more brutal manner.

Quickly, I grabbed a smoke bomb from my pocket. "You like games? Let's see how you handle this!" I yelled, throwing the smoke bomb to the ground.

Thick smoke soon filled the alley, giving me a bit of room to move.

Bleeding from a wound, I hurriedly fled the scene muttering, "What an annoying ability..."

Meanwhile, Elaina, Amnesia, and Avilia emerged from the café, chatting and laughing as they strolled down the street.

"Has anyone tried the food there? Is it good?" Avilia inquired curiously.

"That place has amazing food, but it's a hidden gem," Elaina explained. "How about we go there tomorrow?"

"I'm in! Count me in!" Avilia chimed in enthusiastically.

After leaving the café, they walked towards their hotel, engaged in lively conversation.

As they rounded a corner, they spotted me, limping and visibly injured.

"Arche!" Amnesia cried out, rushing towards me. "What happened to you?!"

Elaina swiftly retrieved her magic wand, casting a healing spell to mend my wounds. The pain began to ebb away gradually. "Magic really is something else!"

"I've never seen you this badly hurt before. What happened?" Elaina asked with a concerned expression, noting the severity of my injuries.

"I can't explain here. Is there somewhere quiet we can talk?" I suggested cautiously, mindful of Chronia's ability to eavesdrop with her time powers.

"How about that place we were just talking about?" Avilia suggested, referring to the restaurant they had discussed earlier.

"Oh, right! That place!" Amnesia agreed eagerly.

"Good idea. Let's head there," Elaina nodded in agreement.

"Hey! Don't leave me out of the loop here! Where is this place?" I exclaimed, feeling left out. "You're not going to throw me into a river, are you? I've been through that before..."

We found ourselves in a quiet restaurant, where only two other patrons shared the space with us.

Seated comfortably, we placed our orders. "Wow, lobster! It's been ages since I've had lobster!" I exclaimed eagerly, opting for a dish of lobster meat cooked in a rich sauce of cream, mustard, cheese, and egg yolk, then grilled to perfection. "This is going to be amazing..."

When our orders arrived, my eyes lit up at the sight of the appetizing dish before me.

Amnesia and Avilia chose omelettes made with slow-cooked potatoes and onions in olive oil. Meanwhile, Elaina went for crispy fried grated potatoes.

The descriptions and pictures on the menu didn't disappoint.

Taking the first bite of my lobster, I was blown away by its deliciousness. "This lobster is incredible!"

"This omelette is so good too!" Amnesia agreed enthusiastically.

"Absolutely," Avilia nodded in approval.

"And the prices here are so reasonable!" Elaina added proudly.

Lost in the pleasure of the food, I almost forgot why we were there in the first place.

"So, could you explain what happened earlier?" Elaina prompted, eyeing me expectantly.

"Hmm... I wonder if they have parfait..." I muttered absentmindedly, scanning the menu.

"Hey!" Elaina snapped, irritated by being ignored.

"Huh? Oh, do you want to order a drink?" I replied obliviously, completely forgetting the purpose of our gathering.

"Focus and explain why you got injured earlier!" Elaina demanded firmly.

"Wow, you're persistent," I mumbled with a mouthful of food. "That t-time... I w-was in the a-alley..."

"Seriously, did anyone teach you table manners?" Elaina interjected sarcastically, clearly annoyed.

Swallowing my food hastily, I retorted, "That's why you shouldn't interrupt me while I'm enjoying this delicious food."

Amidst our banter, Amnesia and Avilia observed us with amusement.

"You two seem really close."

"We're not!" Elaina and I responded simultaneously.

"Just get to the point and explain already!" Elaina urged, growing impatient.

"Alright, alright, no need for coercion," I relented, finally explaining what had happened to the three of them.

I detailed Chronia's formidable time-controlling abilities that had been causing me so much trouble. "That's the situation."

"Time-controlling magic, huh...?" Elaina mused, processing the gravity of what I had revealed.

"She seems like a formidable foe," Avilia remarked solemnly.

"She could have taken many lives..." Amnesia added, her voice filled with concern.

Contemplating our upcoming battle, I knew defeating Chronia would require utmost seriousness, though it risked collateral damage to our surroundings.

Suddenly, Amnesia spoke up, breaking the silence with determination. "We'll assist you, Arche."

"Eh?" The shock was evident on my face, as well as Avilia's and Elaina's.

"You will?" I questioned, hesitant to involve them in such a dangerous fight.

"Sis, she's incredibly strong," Avilia interjected cautiously, unsure of her sister's decision.

"Yes, Avilia has a point," I agreed, reluctant to put them at risk.

"But I owe you, Arche, for helping me find Avilia," Amnesia asserted firmly. "I want to repay that debt."

"Her aura of kindness and determination is really something," I thought to myself, struck by Amnesia's unwavering resolve.

"And what about you, Elaina?" Avilia turned to Elaina, awaiting her decision.

Elaina took a deep breath before responding, her voice steady.

"Alright... I'll help."

"I'm concerned for both of you," Elaina admitted, her decision driven by worry for Amnesia and Avilia.

"Huh, so you do have a heart," I teased lightly, earning an annoyed glance from Elaina.

"Fine, if you're determined to help, just promise me you won't blame me if things get dangerous," I cautioned them. They nodded in solemn agreement.

As we continued to eat our meals, my thoughts wandered to something that had been gnawing at me.

"It seems like Chronia has a thing for me," I blurted out suddenly, shocking the three of them.

Realizing how my words sounded, I quickly clarified, "Not like that! I mean, she doesn't seem interested in me romantically."

"Despite having plenty of chances, she didn't just finish me off," I continued, prompting them to ponder.

"She must have her reasons for sparing you," Avilia suggested thoughtfully.

"But what could those reasons be?" Amnesia wondered aloud.

Elaina, sitting beside me, turned and asked, "Are there any other weird things she does?"

"She's a tease, loves to speak in riddles... Oh, and she's got a thing for ambiguous statements," I pondered aloud.

"What does she look like?" Amnesia inquired.

"Dark blue hair, piercing bright blue eyes, a figure to die for... and, well, she's quite buxom," I added, gesturing exaggeratedly. "Don't be jealous, Elaina. She's a mature woman, whereas you-"

Before I could finish, Elaina swiftly smacked my head with enough force to make me wince. "That's verbal harassment, you know."

"Ouch..." I rubbed the sore spot, muttering, "That really hurt..."

Amnesia, witnessing our banter, couldn't help but smile faintly at our antics. She always found amusement in our bickering.

After finishing our meal, we parted ways, heading to our respective hotels.

"Take care, Arche," they bid farewell.

"See you later, you three," I replied, walking off toward my hotel.

Elaina, Amnesia, and Avilia continued on their way to their own hotel, leaving behind the lingering echoes of our playful arguments.

"Time stop!"

The world around them froze, a testament to Chronia's formidable time-manipulating powers.

"Hello, my sweet ladies," Chronia's voice echoed chillingly as she approached.

Elaina strained against the frozen time, unable to react as Chronia delivered a swift kick to all three, sending them reeling.

As time resumed, they groaned in pain from Chronia's blow.

"Damn... So that's Chronia," Elaina muttered through gritted teeth, clutching her side where the impact still throbbed.

"Time Acceleration." Chronia moved with blinding speed, appearing behind Elaina in an instant. "So you think you can challenge me...? Don't meddle in my affairs with Arche."

"What if we refuse?" Amnesia's voice held unwavering resolve.

"Consider yourselves fortunate. I have a principle: I don't kill women."

Chronia declared coldly, striding away.

Elaina retaliated with a magical attack, but Chronia effortlessly dodged it.

"You can't catch me, and no one ever will."

"Time Acceleration!" Chronia vanished from their sight in an instant.

"How do we defeat someone with abilities like hers...?" Avilia pondered aloud, a mixture of frustration and concern in her voice.

"Elaina, any ideas?" Amnesia turned to Elaina for guidance.

"Perhaps we should return to our hotel for now," Elaina suggested reluctantly.

They nodded in agreement, realizing they needed time to regroup and strategize their next move.

At another hotel, I found myself deep in thought, trying to figure out how to beat Chronia.

"What should I do, huh...?" I muttered to myself, staring at the clock on the nightstand.

I picked it up and examined it closely. "Time, huh...?"

With a sigh, I shook my head. "I think too much..."

Feeling restless, I walked over to the open window and decided to get some fresh air.

As I stepped outside the hotel, I spotted a figure I hadn't expected to see.

"Waiting for long?" I called out, seeing Avilia standing there with a doubtful expression.

"Arche?!" she exclaimed, startled by my sudden appearance.

"Why are you the one surprised?" I retorted. "I should be the one surprised to see you here."

"Arche, there's something I want to ask," she said. We then headed to a nearby park to talk.

"I don't remember setting up a date. So, why are you here at my hotel?" I teased her as usual, but her displeased look made me backtrack. "Sorry."

"So, what do you want to say?" I quickly changed the topic.

"There are some things I didn't get to ask at the restaurant," she said, getting straight to the point.

"Of course, you can ask anything-except why I hate bugs," I quipped.

"Okay..." Avilia was a bit taken aback by my quick response.

"So, first question." Avilia sighed heavily. "Do you have some kind of relationship with Chronia that makes her unable to kill you?"

"Maybe you knew her when you were still a... criminal...?" she whispered cautiously, making sure no one else could hear.

"I don't remember ever meeting her. Sorry, but I'm not someone who remembers every person I pass by," I answered honestly.

"Then do you have any speculation as to why she didn't kill you?" she pressed, her tone serious.

"Probably because..." I thought for a moment. "...I am handsome?"

An annoyed and displeased expression immediately crossed Avilia's face. She clearly didn't appreciate jokes in serious moments. "Sorry again..."

"I'm actually curious why she didn't kill me either..." I admitted, my tone more somber.

Avilia seemed deep in thought, and an awkward silence settled over us.

'This situation is so awkward...' I thought, feeling the weight of the silence.

"A-Are you serious about helping me?" I asked, breaking the tension. "I mean, Chronia is not an enemy to be trifled with, you know?"

"I know that. We met her before, and she has really great abilities," she replied.

"You guys!?" I exclaimed, surprised. Avilia then began to recount how they had encountered Chronia.

"She seems to really want to fight with me, doesn't she...?" I mused, still puzzled by Chronia's intense interest in me.

"Arche, if you're serious, can you beat her yourself?" Avilia's sudden question caught me off guard, making me feel both surprised and confused.

I straightened up and answered earnestly, "I can definitely win, you know."

"Then why aren't you serious about fighting her?" Avilia's curiosity was evident.

"She's not strong enough to warrant my full effort yet," I said, realizing I might have revealed too much.

"Actually... how strong are you...? I once heard a story from my sister that you defeated dozens of criminals alone." Avilia leaned in closer, her eyes searching mine. "Who are you, Arche?"

I remained silent for a moment, deciding not to disclose my past. Not now, at least.

"I won't tell you about my past, but I will share Chronia's weakness," I said, steering the conversation away.

Thinking back to my fight with Chronia and the tale of their encounter with her, I continued, "I have a speculation about her weakness."

"You know?" Avilia's interest was piqued.

"She can't use more than one ability at the same time," I explained. "Maybe that's why she wants to fight me without any interference."

Avilia considered this for a moment. "That makes sense..."

I stood up, stretching my body, and looked at Avilia. "That's enough, right?"

"There's one question you didn't answer... but never mind," she said, bowing slightly. "See you. When we decide to fight Chronia, we'll come to you."

"Come anytime. My room number is 7." I smiled as Avilia nodded and left the park.

Watching her walk away, I couldn't shake the feeling that the answers she sought were like a treasure we'd found, but the chest remained stubbornly closed, refusing to reveal its contents.

I returned to my hotel and went straight into my room, seeing the open window. I hastily closed it, muttering to myself, "Chronia won't come into my room through this window, right? But just in case..."

Collapsing onto the bed, I let my mind wander over the day's events. "How strong am I, huh?"

"Only a few people know that... Do they have to know? I don't think they need to know..." I mumbled, drifting off to sleep.

Hours later, I woke up to find it was already night. Groggily, I got out of bed and looked in the mirror. My hair was a mess, and I looked like a disheveled hero from a cheap drama.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.

"..Wait a moment.."

Opening the door, I found Amnesia standing there.

"...Good evening..." I yawned, trying to wake up fully.

"Oh? Did you just wake up, Arche?" She smiled knowingly.

"Oh? Yes, you're right," I mimicked her tone.

"I was sent here because Elaina asked you to come near the clock tower."

"Clock tower? Why do I have to go there?"

"We will fight Chronia tonight!"

I was taken aback. Why tonight? Why not tomorrow morning, after a good breakfast?

"You have to be ready, Arche."

"OK... tell her I'll be there tomorrow." I winked.

"Hehe, she must be annoyed." Amnesia chuckled.

Turning around to change my clothes, I said, "Uh... you can go, Amnesia, I want to change my clothes."

"Ah! That's right, sorry!" Amnesia closed the door.

I quickly changed, strapping on my equipment belt and throwing on my cloak. I even spritzed some perfume because, let's face it, there was no time for a bath. "Elaina will get angry if I take too long."

One final check in the mirror, and I no longer looked like someone who had just woken up.

When I opened the door, I was surprised to see Amnesia still waiting. "You've been here all along?"

"Elaina told me to wait for you. She didn't want you to be late."

"That woman..."

"Let's go?"

We then walked towards the clock tower, chatting along the way. I realized that this was probably safer, considering that Chronia could attack at any time.

When we arrived at the clock tower, I saw Elaina and Avilia already waiting there.

"Telling Amnesia to wait for you was a good choice, it turns out," Elaina remarked, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

"I'm never late, you know," I shot back, trying to maintain some semblance of dignity.

"So why are we fighting Chronia tonight?" I asked, the tension palpable in the air.

"Because night is when people are at home. That means our fight won't hurt anyone," Elaina explained, her voice steady but serious.

"So-" I started to say, but a woman's voice interrupted me.

"So you didn't comply with my request not to interfere with our fight...?" Chronia's voice was cold and menacing as she stepped out of the shadows.

"Why should we obey the requests of someone like you?" Elaina retorted, a sarcastic smile playing on her lips. "After all, you attacked us, which means you are our enemy too!"

"We will defeat you!" Amnesia declared, drawing her sword with a determined glint in her eyes.

"You dare to challenge me? Tonight will be a long and delightful night," she said, her voice dripping with seduction.

I felt bewildered and weary of Chronia's suggestive words.

"Hey, Chronia, can you stop using those ambiguous phrases?" I said, raising my dagger.

Elaina snorted sarcastically.

"You actually like it, don't you, Arche?" she said, preparing her spell.

Amnesia, with eyes full of enthusiasm, gripped her sword tightly.

"We can do this, we just need to work together," she said, trying to motivate the team.

Avilia nodded, serious as always.

"We have to be careful."

Chronia raised her hand, and time seemed to stop. She used "Time Stop," and in an instant, she was behind me. "Surprised, darling?" she said seductively before kicking me hard, sending me to the ground.

I rolled on the ground, feeling pain radiating through my body. "Okay, that hurt quite a bit," I muttered, getting back on my feet.

Elaina quickly launched a fireball at Chronia, but she swiftly used "Time Acceleration," dodging the attack with super speed.

"You'll have to try harder than that, dear," Chronia taunted.

Amnesia ran with incredible speed, attempting to strike Chronia with her sword. But Chronia momentarily stopped time, relocating and appearing behind Amnesia, delivering a powerful punch that sent her reeling.

From the air, Avilia launched a lightning attack at Chronia. Chronia used "Time Loop," trapping Avilia in a time loop that repeated the same attack over and over. "It's pitiful to see you trapped in time," she said, laughing softly.

Elaina created a barrier to protect the fallen Amnesia. "We need to find a way to break Chronia's time abilities. She's too strong if we fight her head-on," she said firmly.

I tried to think of a strategy. "Okay, so she can only use one ability at a time, right? We need to attack her from different angles," I said.

Amnesia stood up, her eyes shining with determination. "Alright, I understand," she said, readying her sword once more.

Avilia managed to break free from the time loop and immediately dived down beside her sister.

The battle grew more intense, with each fighter giving their all. Chronia smiled broadly, relishing every moment.

"Oh, you all are truly entertaining me tonight," she said, readying her next attack.

Elaina launched a magical attack at Chronia while Amnesia and Avilia tried to strike from the right. I, with my dagger in hand, attempted to approach Chronia from behind.

However, Chronia quickly used "Time Vision," seeing our moves before we even made them.

"You're trying to confuse me, huh? Darling, I know everything," she taunted, shaking her head.

Chronia activated "Time Acceleration," turning the world around her into a blur of colors as her movements sped up.

I watched as our attacks failed to affect her. My dagger strike was caught in the temporal space Chronia manipulated, and I nearly fell when she countered with a powerful blow.

"We have to stop her!" I shouted to Elaina, who quickly tried to set up a defense with her magic. Amnesia, with her undying spirit, continued her sword attacks.

Avilia, though serious, kept trying to unleash her impressive spells.

But the longer the battle went on, the more it felt like Chronia had complete control over the situation.

Our attacks kept coming, but Chronia managed to anticipate our every move. There was no opening we could exploit.

As I struggled to think of our next plan, Chronia suddenly raised her hand again.

"Time Stop," she said calmly.

Everything froze. I felt my body lock in place, unable to move or speak. Elaina and Amnesia, standing not far from me, were also caught in the spell. We were trapped in time, unable to do anything.

Chronia circled us with a triumphant smile on her face. "Isn't this delightful? Now, you're all mine," she said mockingly.

I tried to struggle, but my body remained ensnared in the halted time. Only Avilia was still free to move, but I feared what might happen to her.

Avilia maneuvered her flying broom skillfully, circling Chronia with unpredictable speed. From above, she launched magical attacks in the form of lightning bolts, striking with deadly precision.

Each fierce attack from Avilia pushed Chronia back, but she kept dodging with incredible speed.

Chronia, with a vigilant gaze, anticipated Avilia's every move. Her face showed clear tension as she had to choose: use time magic to counter Avilia's attacks and sacrifice her "Time Stop," or continue evading and rely on her natural reflexes.

Avilia kept up her relentless assault, trying to force Chronia into a tough decision.

Each time a lightning bolt struck, Chronia jumped, floated, or spun to evade. But the pressure kept mounting, forcing Chronia to move quickly and continuously.

Chronia, meanwhile, weighed her options. She could feel Avilia's growing strength, but using time magic would risk her advantage in this battle. Every move presented a difficult choice.

Ten seconds had passed, and the effects of Chronia's "Time Stop" were slowly fading. Without hesitation, she activated "Time Acceleration," drastically increasing her speed. In an instant, Chronia surged towards Avilia, who was still airborne.

Avilia, focused on her next attack, didn't have enough time to dodge Chronia's assault.

Chronia swiftly struck her, delivering a powerful blow that sent Avilia crashing to the ground.

Amnesia, seeing her sister injured, erupted in fury. She leapt forward with her glowing sword in hand, attacking Chronia with newfound rage. Her usually bright face was now filled with resolve and determination.

"You won't get away with this!" Amnesia shouted, her attacks becoming more intense and focused. She launched a series of rapid strikes, forcing Chronia to retreat a few steps. Every swing of her sword carried clear power and purpose.

Chronia faced the pressure from Amnesia with more cautious steps this time. She tried to leverage "Time Acceleration" to counter Amnesia's skilled sword strikes, but the pressure from the adept swordswoman kept mounting.

Meanwhile, Avilia rose from the ground, clutching her wounds from Chronia's attack. She stood tall, her eyes still focused on the battle, ready to rejoin the fight despite her injuries.

I caught my breath, my eyes locking onto Elaina who stood in front of me. "Elaina, can you make me faster?" I asked firmly, taking a deep breath to gather energy.

Elaina nodded seriously, channeling her magical energy. In an instant, I felt a surge of magic envelop me, drastically accelerating my movements. I immediately leapt forward, dagger in hand, and attacked Chronia with nearly invisible speed.

Chronia was taken aback by my sudden rapid assault. Before she could react or use her magic, I managed to slash her, inflicting a deep wound. She was forced to retreat, trying to dodge my relentless attacks.

"Now, Elaina!" I shouted, knowing this was the moment. Elaina, ready with her spell, aimed her attack at Chronia. While maintaining pressure on Chronia, I became a swift-moving shield, protecting Elaina from Chronia's counterattacks.

In her panic and sudden pressure, Chronia attempted to use "Time Stop" to halt our assault. However, with the speed granted by Elaina's magic, her spell instead hit my rapidly moving body, stopping me for just a few seconds.

Elaina seized this opportunity perfectly. In a flash, she created a magical barrier protecting us from the effects of Chronia's "Time Stop." Her attack then shot directly towards Chronia, unhindered by the frozen time.

Chronia, caught off guard and unprepared for our combined assault, was struck by Elaina's attack. The impact sent Chronia reeling backward, wounded and stunned by the force of our teamwork.

Our movements grew faster, the result of Elaina's magic accelerating our every step. Chronia, once confident, now began to show signs of confusion.

"Don't give her time to think!" I shouted, leaping from side to side with incredible speed.

Elaina kept reinforcing her magic, making us move like untouchable shadows.

Amnesia, her sword swift and deadly, attacked Chronia relentlessly. "This is for Avilia!" she cried, each slash filled with fierce determination.

Avilia, though wounded, flew on her broom, launching magical attacks of lightning, wind, and fire, pushing Chronia further into a corner. "We're almost there!" she called out, her eyes flashing with fighting spirit.

Chronia tried using "Time Acceleration" to match our speed, but our movements were too quick and our attacks too coordinated. She dodged and weaved, but our assaults kept her on the defensive.

I saw an opening and decided to make the final move. Quickly, I reached into my pocket and pulled out a small, seemingly harmless sleeping pill.

With lightning speed, I tossed it right into Chronia's open mouth, catching her by surprise.

Chronia tried to close her mouth, but it was too late. The pill went down, and the effects were immediate. Her eyes widened, and she staggered. "What... have you done to me?" her voice filled with a mix of despair and seduction, her lips trembling in a nearly provocative manner.

She collapsed to the floor, her body losing control. Saliva dripped from her mouth, creating a scene filled with ambiguity.

"Oh... you really make me... weak," she moaned, her voice dripping with unhidden desire, her eyes half-closed as if savoring every last moment of consciousness.

"So... delightful..."

We stood around her, our breaths heavy but our hearts full of triumph.

Amnesia and Avilia looked at Chronia who was unconscious, her body lying limp, sweating, with a white liquid trickling from her mouth. They both blushed at the sight, their faces turning a shade of crimson.

Elaina, who saw that, turned to me with an expression of suspicion and disgust. "What did you put in her mouth?"

"Sleeping pills! I swear!" I didn't expect her to react so intensely.

"Then what do we do with her? Take her to the police station?"

"I still want to know the reason she committed the crime," I insisted.

"That's dangerous, Arche," said Avilia, her wound being healed by Elaina's magic.

I tied up the unconscious Chronia tightly. "Don't worry, she won't run away."

I then searched for something to wake her up. "Drink this, Pervert!" I poured the antidote into her mouth.

It didn't take long for Chronia to regain consciousness. "How are you?"

"You...? You didn't kill me...?"

"I have a principle of not killing any humans, you know."

"You know I can attack you at any time, right?"

"Under those conditions? No."

Chronia laughed slightly. "You're really naive, aren't you?"

"Just consider it payback because you didn't kill me during the day," I replied with a faint smile.

"So can you explain why you became a murderer?" Elaina asked, Amnesia standing protectively in front of her sister.

"Just ask me right away?" Chronia started to think. "I'm looking for you, Arche."

"Me?" I echoed, my mind racing with possibilities. Maybe she's a bounty hunter?

Chronia then began to tell her story.

Once upon a time, Chronia was a slave, confined to a large, grimy cage with other children. The air was thick with despair and the sounds of muffled sobs.

Amid the chaos, she noticed a boy who stood apart from the rest, his eyes fierce and dry while others wept uncontrollably.

"Why don't you cry?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

The boy's eyes, sharp and defiant, met hers. "Cry? For what?" he replied with a tone that seemed to echo through the dank room.

Chronia was taken aback by his calm demeanor. He reminded her of someone familiar, someone she could trust. "How can you be so strong when everything is so hopeless?"

"I won't cry just because of this," he said, his voice unwavering. "As long as I breathe, I will keep moving forward."

Chronia was mesmerized by his strength and courage. "You're very strong, aren't you? Not like me..."

The boy's expression softened, and he turned to her with a small, encouraging smile. "Strong people are not those who always win, but those who remain steadfast when they fall."

Chronia felt a flicker of hope ignite within her. "What's your name?" she asked eagerly.

The boy's gaze drifted as if searching his memory. "My name...? I seem to have forgotten it myself..."

Chronia pondered for a moment, then declared, "I'll call you Aeon!"

The boy raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Aeon? Why Aeon?"

"Because that name suits you," she said with conviction.

He nodded slowly, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Then your name shall be Chronia."

Chronia's eyes widened with delight. "Chronia? What a beautiful name!"

"Nice to meet you, Chronia," Aeon said, extending his hand.

She took it, her heart swelling with newfound strength. "You too, Aeon."

And in that moment, amidst the darkness of their captivity, a bond was formed-a bond that would give them the strength to face whatever lay ahead.

They spent agonizing months together as slaves, bound by chains of misery yet finding solace in each other's presence. Chronia and Aeon became inseparable, sharing whispered dreams and fleeting moments of hope amidst the darkness.

Until one fateful day, Aeon was sold to another master. As he was being dragged away, Chronia's heart shattered. A storm of emotions raged within her-fear, sorrow, and an uncontrollable rage.

Her power, wild and untamed, erupted. The very ground trembled, the air crackling with her fury. Structures crumbled, debris flying as her anguish manifested in destructive force.

"Aeon!" Chronia screamed, desperate and terrified. Aeon, brave yet helpless, tried to calm her, but her power was too overwhelming. The ground beneath him gave way, and rocks rained down upon him.

"No! Aeon!" Chronia's voice broke as she witnessed the horrific scene. She frantically tried to rewind time, to undo the catastrophe, but her abilities spiraled out of control.

"Who is to blame? Me...? Aeon...? Them...? History...? The world...?" Her mind was a torrent of guilt and confusion as she realized she couldn't save her dearest friend-the boy she saw as her own brother.

In a blind rage and sorrow, Chronia's power lashed out, annihilating their captors. She massacred everyone involved in the cruel slavery, driven by a primal need for vengeance.

When the dust settled and her wrath subsided, reality crashed down on her. She stared at her blood-stained hands, horrified. "Blood...? Aeon would never forgive this..."

Desperate, she rushed back to the spot where Aeon had been buried under the rubble. But he was gone-his body vanished without a trace.

"Aeon...? Where are you?! Aeon!" Chronia's voice echoed in the desolate cavern, filled with an agonizing emptiness. She tried to rewind time again, tears streaming down her face, but Aeon remained lost.

Since that devastating day, Chronia became a wanderer, driven by an unyielding hope to find Aeon. She roamed the world, training relentlessly to master her powers, haunted by the memory of her failure and the bond they shared.

Her journey was a solitary one, filled with the weight of guilt and an unspoken promise to find the boy who had once been her beacon of strength.

Hearing Chronia's past, the four of us were left speechless, our hearts heavy with sorrow.

"Then when I saw you yesterday, I felt that you were Aeon," Chronia said, her eyes locked onto mine, filled with a desperate hope. I was silent, the weight of her words pressing down on me.

"Arche, are you Aeon?" Her voice was a fragile whisper, echoing in the silence.

All eyes turned to me, their gazes piercing with curiosity and concern.

"No, I'm not Aeon," I replied softly, my heart aching for her.

"Oh, I see...?" Chronia's face fell, a look of self-reproach shadowing her features. "That means he's dead, huh...?"

"I've been to all the countries... And this is the last one I'm visiting," she continued, her voice tinged with a resigned sadness.

"You've visited all the countries in the world?!" Avilia exclaimed, disbelief mingling with admiration.

"Yes... just to look for him..." Chronia's voice broke, and we all felt a deep pang of sorrow for her. She had journeyed across the entire world for the sake of someone she considered a brother.

"Then what will you do after this?" Avilia asked gently, her eyes brimming with empathy.

"Are you going to settle in a country?" Amnesia added, her voice soft with concern.

"I won't live in any country..." Chronia answered weakly, her gaze distant and forlorn.

"What do you mean?" Elaina asked, unable to mask her worry.

Chronia took a deep breath, her shoulders sagging under the weight of her unending quest. "I don't belong anywhere. My only purpose was to find Aeon. Without him, I have no home, no peace..."

"Time Stop."

Suddenly, the world around me froze. Chronia freed herself from my bonds and snatched my dagger, her hands trembling.

"I don't have a purpose in life anymore..." Her voice quivered, a heartbreaking fragility in her tone. "We will meet again, Aeon."

Her eyes were filled with a resigned sadness as she whispered, "Nice to meet you..."

"I hope you appreciate the time in your life, not like me who spent mine searching for ghosts."

"Goodbye," she said, and without hesitation, Chronia plunged the dagger into her heart.

"Aeon... Is that you...? You haven't changed much, have you...?" Chronia murmured, her voice fading as she lay on the ground, life slipping away.

The moment Chronia's life ended, her time magic dissipated, and we all unfroze.

Amnesia and Avilia gasped in horror, their faces pale with shock as they witnessed Chronia's tragic act. I approached her lifeless body, I pulled out the dagger, its blade now slick with her blood.

"Elaina, can you burn this dagger for me?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper, laden with grief.

Without a word, Elaina cast her flames, the dagger turning to ash. "Let's just assume she was killed by someone..." she said softly, her eyes reflecting our collective sorrow.

"Yes, that's the best," I replied, the weight of our loss settling heavily on my heart.

In that moment, we stood in silent mourning for Chronia, her tragic end a painful reminder of a life consumed by a search for a lost soul.

A few days later, what used to be a quiet restaurant was now bustling with chatter and busy customers.

"Arche, what would you do if you could turn back time?" asked Amnesia, a customer I was serving.

"Hmm... maybe I'd try out different possibilities," I replied mischievously.

"Trying different possibilities...?"

"Yeah, like what would happen if I bonked Elaina on the head right now, and then if the results weren't great, I'd go back and try something else," I teased with a grin.

"If I could control time, I'd beat Arche until he was completely battered, and then go back to before I did it," Elaina said, I don't even know whether it was serious or a joke

"Terrifying," I muttered under my breath.

"I never thought you'd make this restaurant so lively, Arche," Avilia remarked.

"Is it just me or are most of the customers here women?" Amnesia looked around. "Honestly, you look pretty cool in that waiter outfit, Arche."

"Really? Thanks!" I grinned, pleased with the compliment.

"You should take notes, Elaina," I nudged.

"Why should I?"

"You've never even said my name."

"I-" Elaina paused, reflecting on her own behavior. She realized she rarely acknowledged me by name, almost never.

"Do you even remember my name?" I teased.

"Of course I do! I'm not that forgetful! Your name is-" Before Elaina could finish, another customer called me over.

"Excuse me, I'd like to order," the woman said, pulling my attention away.

"Looks like Arche's quite the hit, huh?" Amnesia observed.

"With his goofball personality? No way," Elaina remarked, amused.

"He's silly but dependable," Avilia stated, sipping her orange juice.

Elaina and Amnesia exchanged amused glances. "What?"

"But he can also be a bit-"

Before Amnesia could finish, a scream interrupted us.

"Hey! Aren't you the guy who peeked at the hot springs?! I recognize your face!"

"That's my twin brother! His name's Alex!" I defended myself, trying to defuse the situation.

"He can be dependable... for a moment," Elaina chuckled.

What can be learned here is that time and memory truly are artists; they shape reality closer to the heart's desires.