Morning sunlight streamed gently through the window, casting a golden glow across the room—like the light of destiny breaking through the long night. Fiona stirred awake, her eyes fluttering open to a chamber that felt both familiar and foreign. This wasn't Kairos's manor. No… this was her room—before the wedding.
And the moment her senses returned, tears welled in her eyes. She knew.
She had succeeded.
"I… I really did it… It worked…" she whispered between trembling sobs. "But this isn't the time for tears. I need to check the timeline, prepare… prepare for what's coming. Kairos… this time, I'll save you."
She hurried to dress and stepped out of the room without delay. As she walked through the grand estate of House Elvareth, old memories rose like ghosts. Her family—one of the two ducal houses of Altreas, a founding nation of the Empire—had stood strong since the empire's inception, known for their unique, cerebral command of mana passed through generations.
Though only two ducal houses existed in the kingdom, there had never been rivalry—only deep bonds of trust and respect. In truth, this connection was part of the reason her marriage to Kairos came to be… in the other timeline.
But now, she had other things to focus on.
Her heart raced as she made her way to the grand hall, each step echoing like the drum of fate. When the doors opened, she saw them—her parents. The two people she missed the most. In the past, they had argued about her forced marriage. She'd believed they might hate her for rebelling…
But in this moment—seeing their gentle smiles—she knew the truth.
They never stopped loving her.
"Oh my, are you crying, sweetheart? What's the matter?" her father asked with concern.
"Come here," her mother said, arms open. "Feeling down because you'll be heading to the academy soon?"
Fiona bit her lip and nodded, struggling to keep the tears from falling. "Yes… just a little."
Her mother pulled her into a warm embrace. "Don't worry, dear. If I get the chance, I'll come visit."
Simple words. But they filled the hollow in Fiona's heart like a balm against cold wounds. She had returned to this moment. She would cherish it.
From their conversation, she estimated her current age to be around 15—just before leaving for the academy. The place where everything had begun. The place where she and Kairos… would meet again.
"This time," she whispered, her eyes glinting with new resolve, "I'll be the one to approach first… you shy fool."
And so, with heart and fate aligned—Fiona stepped onto the path she would now carve anew.