For the next few days, Daylan barely slept. He sparred with Astara in the mornings before heading out on their quests, and once they returned, they trained until they drifted to sleep from exhaustion.
Yet, Astara kept her reasons hidden, no matter how many times Daylan asked. But Daylan knew better than to press the matter. Daylan believed she had her reasons, and whatever they were, they were benefiting him for the time being.
Daylan's relationship with Lady Astara wasn't just a beneficial alliance for his predicament; it also earned him an army of haters. Some believed he was taking advantage of Astara, while others simply despised his presence.
The sun was just beginning to rise as Daylan made his way to the library to meet Astara for their daily routine. He buttoned his waistcoat as he walked through the corridors.
''Hey, you brat!'' someone called out, but Daylan, not considering himself a brat, ignored it.
As he continued walking, he felt a tap on his shoulder. ''Who do you think you are, huh?''
Daylan turned slightly tilted toward him.
"Daylan."
He gritted his teeth, his fists clenched, frustrated by Daylan's ignorance. After waiting for a moment and hearing nothing but the sound of grinding teeth, he turned to walk away.
"You little… don't look down on Slater!" he yelled, grabbing Daylan by the shoulder and striking him across the face.
Daylan dropped on a knee and reached his chin.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
New Task Available
Objective: [Kill Slater].
Duration:[1 hour].
Reward: [Intermediate Level].
Penalty: [?].
Wait… what? Kill?
Daylan's eyes flickered, his body trembling as his mind raced. Killing a human? He tried to make sense of it. Yes, reaching an intermediate level in his ability would bring him closer to becoming a Chivalry. But he wasn't foolish—such an act would mean the penalty would go beyond shadowboxing and push-ups.
Slater stepped closer, cracking his knuckles as he readied himself for another strike.
Should I do it? Can I even do it? I mean, he's human… won't the system demand more killing if I go through with this?
As his mind wandered, Slater landed a blow. Then another. And another… barely pausing between strikes, a smirk playing on his lips with each one.
Daylan remained on the floor, his guard raised and narrowly blocking their attacks.
I have to do this. I can make it seem like a mistake… But, what about his family?
The other Chivalries stood by, watching as Slater relentlessly struck Daylan, laughing and mocking him. That's when it hit him: the path he had chosen wouldn't be easy. Even if he failed to kill Slater now, there would come a day when he would be forced to do so… after all, his Fate was all about endurance.
Soul Spiral
Two sharp pins materialized in his palm. His hands trembled as he turned his gaze toward Slater. Seizing the opportunity, he drove the pins into Slater's throat. Terror spread among the others as their jaws dropped in shock.
In that instant, he snapped, dropping on the floor.
Loop Sync
Everything rewound by four seconds. The Chivalries' cheers turned to fear as they saw blood trickling from Slater's throat while he attempted to strike Daylan.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
Mission success! You have been rewarded with [Intermediate].
Your [Spiral Edge] has increased by [8%].
Your [Spiral Time] has increased by [2 seconds. Max per day 0].
Your [Spiral Form] has increased by [2].
Your [Spiral Mind] has decreased in [focus].
I'm very sorry.
Daylan had conducted a few experiments and discovered that once he inflicted damage before activating Spiral Time, everything would rewind—except for him and the damage or act.
The others rushed to Slater, bewildered. To them, it seemed as though Daylan hadn't moved an inch—he remained on the floor while Slater repeatedly attacked him.
Daylan slowly stood up, his gaze fixed on Slater's lifeless body on the ground. His heart raced, and his body trembled with fear. Slater's body was soon carried away to the infirmary. Just as Daylan stood there, someone grabbed him by the shoulder and punched him.
"What did you do to him?" Enyo asked, raged.
In that instant, Astara appeared from behind.
''What's going on?'' she asked firmly. Before anyone could respond, she rushed to Daylan, her face filled with concern as she checked on him.
"What happened, Day?" She reached for his cheek.
"Tsk…" Enyo walked away, her steps echoing hatred.
Daylan barely said a word. His mind was blank, consumed by the weight of what he'd done. He couldn't stop thinking about how Slater's parents would handle such a devastating loss. He knew too well what it meant to lose family—even when they weren't the kindest, the pain still cut deep. And knowing he had caused that same pain, even by choice, wasn't something he could easily bear.
Realizing how lost Daylan was in thought, Astara chose not to bombard him with questions. Instead, she gently took his arm and led him to the infirmary, quietly determined to tend to his bruises with care.
As soon as they finished treating him, a Chivalry approached them, his expression unreadable. He stopped a few feet away and spoke with a firm voice, "Daylan, Lieutenant Bruce wants to see you in his office. Now."
Astara wasn't going to let Daylan go alone.
Without a moment's hesitation, she strolled to the office with Daylan.
"I wasn't expecting to see you, Lady Astara." He gestured as they took their seats.
Daylan shook off his thoughts, braced himself, and resolved to say what everyone else was able to see.
Lieutenant Bruce locked eyes with Daylan.
"I've just received tragic news—Slater is dead. According to witnesses, he attacked you and struck you multiple times. But then… everything took a turn. He suddenly collapsed, blood pouring from a wound in his neck."
Astara clenched her fist, then placed her hands firmly on the desk.
"Can you tell me what led to the incident? And… I'm sorry for what he did to you."
"Uh… I'm not sure—I didn't understand much of what was going on. I was just walking, heading to meet Lady Astara. Honestly, I don't even know what I did to provoke him. He just asked for my name, that's all."
Lieutenant Bruce propped his hands against the desk, his chin resting on his chin. "Interesting. But did you see anything out of the ordinary?"
Daylan shook his head, staring directly at him.
Lieutenant Bruce wrapped everything up and thanked Daylan for his time. The moment they stepped out of the office, Daylan exhaled a heavy sigh.
Daylan tucked his hands into his pockets, leading the way as Astara followed behind. The moment they reached the library, the words slipped off his mouth.
"What would you do if you were forced into a situation where you had no choice but to kill someone?"
Astara paused for a moment, her gaze fixed on Daylan. "Nothing truly justifies taking a life, whether the person was right or wrong. But this world is cruel… and sometimes, the Church's teachings must be set aside. If I ever kill, it would be out of justice and love—not pride."
Daylan drew in a deep breath and eased into his seat, slowly relaxing every nerve.
"Training is canceled for this afternoon. We'll resume in the evening."
Astara pulled a book from the shelf. "Did you do it? I mean… did you kill Slater?"
Daylan met her gaze, relaxing his posture as he nodded. "Yes."
Fractal Echo
*What? How exactly did he do it? And why would he kill? Is he lying to me?* Astara thought, her eyes widened.
She sighed. "Slater's family won't let this go, you know? Whether you did it or not doesn't matter. As long as you're involved, they'll want you dead too."
Daylan smiled, his mind already racing to rewind time if Astara decided to take action.
"Who are his family?"
"The Bastian family is one of the great families," she said. "I'm sorry, but my influence doesn't reach them. Not even my father's does. They invest most of their money into the Honor Church. They're practically worshiped as gods."
Damn… I'm in trouble.
He leaned back in his seat, his head tilted upward. The damage was done, and the coincidences were unavoidable. He knew that much. Still, he couldn't stop beating himself up for taking a life. But he braced himself for whatever came next—after all, Enzo wouldn't hesitate to slaughter his mother if it suited him.
Who could have guessed that killing would come with such a heavy burden? I made my protagonists do these without hesitation, yet here I am, shaking in my skin.—He smirked.
Astara tossed him a book. "There are a few combat techniques in there. Read it."
Before long, the sun began to set. Astara ordered Daylan to head to the training center. With no time to waste, they plunged into an intense session, pushing themselves until exhaustion finally claimed them and they drifted into sleep.