After a long discussion with Alexander and Sara, we finally cleared the tension between us. We talked about her relationship with the man I killed, about the Fate Dragon, about why we were dragged into this world and what their true objective was. When I turned to leave, Alexander stopped me. Without theatrics this time, he pulled the book from thin air and extended it toward me. I hesitated for a second, studying his face, wondering if this was another test. Then I took it. The weight felt heavier than before. I left without another word.
By the time I reached the Adventurers' Guild, it was deep into the night. The streets were quiet, lanterns dim, the air colder than usual. Amelia was standing near the entrance, pacing back and forth. The moment she saw me, she rushed forward.
"Where have you been?!" she snapped. "Do you have any idea how long I've been looking for you? I searched the streets, the market, even the outer gates!"
She punched the side of my head.
"I was thinking about tomorrow," I answered calmly.
"Thinking?" she repeated in disbelief. "You disappear for hours in the middle of the night and that's your answer? Thinking about what?"
"I'm going to face the Fate Dragon."
She blinked, then laughed nervously. "No. No, you're not. We still need a plan. We barely understand what we're dealing with. We don't even know where he is."
From the shadows behind us, Martha stepped forward. "I agree with Xiver. Waiting longer won't change anything."
Tea, leaning against the guild entrance, crossed his arms. "I agree we should move soon. But moving blindly is suicide. We don't know his location. We don't know his army's size. We don't know anything."
I touched the scar along my side.
"I don't need to know where he is," I said. "After my battle with Maria, she left me this scar. With time magic, I can trace the origin of the wound back to its source."
Tea stared at me like I'd lost my mind. "Time magic? That's a legend. Magic works by manipulating the mana around us. Present mana. The mana that exists in this moment. You can't just reach into another time and grab it."
Martha tilted her head slightly. "In theory… if someone were Lion rank, the boundaries of normal magic wouldn't apply."
Amelia slowly turned to me. "You went to Sara, didn't you?"
"Yes."
Her shoulders dropped. "I see."
Martha asked gently, "Did he do something wrong?"
Amelia swallowed before answering. "For magic on that scale… a Lion rank user has to be sacrificed."
The air grew heavy.
"Yes," I confirmed.
Tea pushed off the wall and stepped closer. "Let me understand this clearly. You're saying we're going to kill someone—someone powerful—just to track Maria?"
"Correct."
"That's not strategy. That's obsession."
"I don't care what you call it," I replied. "Whatever it takes, I will reach my goal. Even if it means bathing in blood."
Martha's voice softened. "What is your goal exactly, Xiver? Is it revenge? Is it saving her? Is it going home?"
I froze.
The question dug deeper than I expected.
What is my goal?
To enjoy this world?
To rule it?
To go back home?
To save Maria?
"To not regret," I finally said.
"Regret what?" Martha pressed gently.
"I already killed a man once," I said quietly. "I don't want another death to sit on my back. I don't want to hesitate and let someone die because I was weak."
Amelia whispered, "Xiver… that's not how this works."
Tea exhaled sharply. "There has to be another way. What about land mana? We gather enough mages, build a formation, amplify it. We don't jump straight to human sacrifice."
"There isn't enough mana in the land for that scale," Amelia replied. "Not without tearing half the city apart."
Tea clenched his fists. "This doesn't feel right. This feels rushed. This feels wrong."
Martha asked quietly, "So what are we going to do?"
I looked at them, one by one.
"What about using a criminal as the sacrifice?"
They all stared at me.
Tea's voice turned cold. "Killing is killing. It doesn't suddenly become clean because you choose someone society already hates."
"A criminal who murdered others doesn't deserve consequences?" I shot back.
"That's not your decision to make!" Tea stepped forward and grabbed my collar. "Who do you think you are? Judge? Executioner? You walk in here acting like you're above everyone else."
"Take your hands off me," I said quietly.
"Or what?" he snapped. "You'll threaten me too? You think that scar and that cold look make you something special? The second I saw you enter this guild, I knew you were trouble."
I met his eyes.
"If you don't let go," I said calmly, "the only thing you'll feel besides pain is regret."
Amelia forced herself between us and shoved him back. "Enough! Both of you, stop!"
Martha added firmly, "This isn't solving anything."
Tea's chest rose and fell heavily. "Who's this criminal you're talking about?"
"You'll find out."
He shook his head, disgust written all over his face. "I don't agree with you. I don't even like you. You act like some dark, tortured hero, but you're just a coward hiding behind arrogance. You talk like you're stronger than everyone, but you're scared. Scared to admit you don't know what you're doing."
I didn't answer.
I turned my back on them and walked away from the guild, heading into the empty streets to find somewhere to sleep.
If I'm being honest… his words broke something inside me.