{*??? Pov*}
The air was heavy with frost, though the sun had risen. Cold mornings like these reminded me of failure. Of death. Of timelines buried beneath my footsteps.
Just when i thought everything was going to be worthwhile and this would finally be the one to end all of them well at the least i hoped it was.
I don't know much more that a few months past this point but this will be the run where i learn more info especially about that anomaly.
I stood on the eastern wall of the training arena, cloaked by a minor concealment spell. Just enough to make eyes pass over me. Not enough for someone like him though.
Aster.
That demonic creature I don't know how but he somehow sneak in the academy this run i didn't change anything so how
Aster...
His name sounded like a curse to my ears. Like a mistake that shouldn't exist. And yet there he was, again, below in the courtyard, spinning a practice staff like an idiot trying to look cool.
I don't need to think about why he is hiding his strength but if my assumptions are correct he is stronger than the whole academy at the moment.
"But He's too normal," i muttered. "And that's the problem."
How can people find trust me that he is a demon i can't kill him yet. But soon "that" will happen and if he participates on their side there is no way we can win .
He is not stronger than me if i unlock my past skills of course.
He seems to be a hight ranking demon.
One you can only dead with caution
In over twenty three loops, the first week had never played out like this. There had never been a student like Aster. Not on the leaderboards. Not in the Warg Trial. Not anywhere.
But now?
There he was messing everything up like a mole hiding among the students here
I watched as Aster leaned against a wall, eyes casually flicking side to side. It wasn't paranoia. It was awareness. He knew he was being followed.
And yet—he wasn't scared.
Which increases my suspicions even more
-- Earlier --
The first time, the kingdom fell in twelve weeks. A portal opened in the heart of Baleria, and no one saw it coming. Not even me. I died holding back the second wave of demon spawn while mu "friends" were ripped apart behind him.
That was the first time i regressed i was devastated the second regression nothing worked out and my "freinds" died again i survived for a little longer after but not much progression Reset.
The fifth time, i made it to the academy faster. Gathered allies, exposed a traitor, sealed the portal—everything seemed to be going well i thought i would finally manage to pass this stage. only for the realm to collapse anyway. Reset.
All the runs after that were similar with mild progression my tenth run is my best one yet as i made past this stage the realm didn't collapse and i learnt a lot of new information and got much stronger
After that i tried experimenting a little
The twelfth time, i tried abandoning the academy. That one was short. Very short. Reset.
By the nineteenth, i had understood the patterns. Who mattered. What events were fixed. What deaths were inevitable. There was a shape to this cursed loop—until now.
Until Aster showed .
Just as I though that this run would be the one i get even more progression
Before that there had never been someone like him. No record. No name. Nothing in the prophecy scrolls, nothing in the archives. And yet somehow, he was here. Making waves. Disrupting fate.
So... what is he?
-- Present --
I watched as Aster blocked a sparring partner's blow and cracked a weak joke . But his eyes weren't smiling.
They never did.
(This is him justifying that aster is a demon)
Aster always seemed a person made of broken mirrors. Always reflecting things that weren't quite true.
Normally people would be all smilles they were in the academy even from all the training just from their position as a student here they had benefits almost everywhere
But he wasn't
I have been followed him for a week now. Every movement. Every spell attempt. Every sarcastic quip he tried to use but demons don't have good humour. I have seen people like Aster before—people who pretended they didn't care. People who'd already decided they were going to die young and figured they might as well be interesting on the way out.
He tried to act like them to fit in but it wasn't working too bad .
I looked down at my own hand. It was shaking.
Not from fear. From doubt.
I should have killed him already. But something was off. Aster was struggling to learn basic skills, yet somehow surviving impossible trials. He cracked jokes but flinched at kindness. He looked aimless but made strategic decisions without realizing it.
These were the only thing that made him human".
And more importantly—he felt watched, too.
It wasn't just me stalking Aster. I knew that now.
■■■ had taken an interest in the boy.
That alone was reason to consider him a threat.
-- Later --
It was dusk when he made the mistake.
Aster turned a corner too quickly. I stepped back, just an inch too slow, and our eyes locked.
For a moment, we said nothing.
Then Aster blinked. "You going to keep staring, or are we going to date first?"
I said nothing .
Aster stepped forward. "You're not exactly subtle, y'know. I've been followed before. Usually by people I owe money to."
Still nothing.
"I'm guessing you think I'm something dangerous. Demon spawn, void-borne, secret prince of some forgotten kingdom. Sorry to disappoint, I'm just some guy who keeps not dying."
Finally, i decided to speak. "That's exactly what makes you dangerous demon."
Aster stopped. "...What?"
"You're not in any of the timelines I remember. You shouldn't be here. You're not part of this."
Aster narrowed his eyes. "Okay, weird shadow man. You want to explain that before I start screaming?"
I stepped from the shadows,
Aster was flabbergasted and he muttered 'why are the villains the only handsome people' but i ignored him
"I've seen this world die. Over and over. Twenty–one times. You were never part of it. But now you are. And things are already changing."
A long silence passed between us.
(Asters pov)
I muttered, "So you're crazy. Cool. Great."
"I should have killed you. But I won't . Not yet."
"Comforting."
He said looking at him with murderous intent "Tell me which side will you choose when the time comes their side or mine "
"...What"??? Is he talking about '
"You know what i m talking about demon "that weird boogy man responded looking at me intently
"No sorry man i have literally no idea what you are talking about " just someone get this delusion guy away from me
He sighed
"You're going to be needed soon. For that." He didn't explain what that was.
I tilted my head. "So you're keeping me alive for plot reasons?"
"I'm keeping you alive because fate is broken, and you might be the crack that lets something through. Until I understand what, you live."
I met his gaze with a strange stillness.
"I'm not your enemy," i said. "At least, I don't want to be." pretty unsure of who he was and what he talking about but i m pretty sure he is serious at the least
"You don't have to want it . This world will decide for you. And when the time comes i will be there to take your head off "
With that, that weird boogy man turned and vanished into the night.
I stood in the silence that followed.
I should get moving and prepare for whaever that" is quickly
I don't know what scares me more—being watched… or being necessary for some kind of plot .