Samsara's POV
He smiled at me, as if trying to reassure me.
"Miss Samsara, I understand—you're just being careful," he said. "But you can trust me."
I didn't answer. Instead, I just looked at him. Who said I planned on trusting you?
"It's just that… it piqued my interest."
I scoffed. "My hallucinations piqued your interest?" I said, sarcasm thick in my voice.
He didn't respond on what I said and looked at me seriously.
"Riyuka Commissioner and Miravell have been studying a book that the Yashiro Knights discovered during a search at Mount Bellows."
Mount Bellows… I'd heard of that place from plenty of mercenaries I'd crossed paths with. They said strange things happened up there—people went missing, others were found dead.
But I'd never paid it much attention. I was too busy surviving.
"What does that have to do with me?" I asked.
"We rescued someone from that mountain—he has a case similar to yours."
His words made my heart race. I'm not the only one? How is that even possible? Is he also… not from this world?
"Did he say he experienced a loop?" I asked quickly.
"You experienced it too, didn't you?" he replied.
He got me.
I didn't respond—suddenly, it felt like a cat had stolen my tongue. But if that's true… maybe he really can help me understand why I keep looping.
Maybe… he could help me figure out how to go back to my world.
Then again, that might not work either. I don't even know if my physical body is still alive—or if I'm just a lost soul who happened to possess this one.
And he just try to use me.
"I can't figure out why you can't answer me directly, Miss Samsara."
I snapped back to reality as he spoke again.
"What are you trying to say?" I asked.
"You're curious, aren't you?" he said, a small smile playing on his lips.
"It's obvious that you're not the type of person to rely on anyone," he continued, standing from his chair and walking toward where I was sitting.
He leaned forward, placing his hands on either side of the chair. I instinctively leaned back, eyes locked with his.
"Since you're a mercenary… I'll give you a commission. How about that?" he whispered.
I caught my breath. I didn't know whether to trust this man or not.
No.
I can't trust him. Who knows what he'd do if he discovered the truth about me? Still… he gave me a clue—something real about my case.
I grabbed his collar and swiftly reversed our positions. Now he was sitting where I had been, and I was leaning in close.
"I'm afraid I'll have to decline your offer," I said, releasing his collar.
He looked up at me with amused eyes and let out a soft chuckle. "You don't need our help?"
I stared at him, expression flat. "No," I said bluntly. "I'll be leaving anyway. But I do thank you—for helping me and Anastasius."
With that, I turned and walked past him.
"You're not staying?" he asked.
I halted. There was a tone in his voice I couldn't quite identify.
"I'm not planning to," I replied. I could feel his gaze on my back.
"You just recently recovered, Miss Samsara." He said. I stared at the door.
"The worst are the hardest to kill, Mister Rikuya." I replied. "Don't tell Anastasius I left," I added.
"Why is that?"
"Because he might follow me." And with that, I walked out of his office.
It's better to leave Anastasius here—especially knowing he's in good hands. If I let him come with me, my gut tells me something will go wrong.
×××××××
Midnight had arrived, and I'd finished preparing my things. I tied my hair into a ponytail and pulled the hood of my cloak over my head.
Scanning the room one last time, I checked for any valuables I might've left behind. Once everything seemed in place, I opened the balcony window.
I couldn't risk using the door—someone might still be awake.
Stepping carefully onto the balcony railing, I leapt swiftly to a nearby tree and descended with a soft landing.
"You might've been mistaken for an intruder if I hadn't been the one to see you."
I turned at the sound of Mister Rikuya's voice.
A faint smile tugged at my lips as I lowered my hood. The cold breeze brushed past me, stirring my hair in the wind.
He walked toward me, narrowing the distance between us. He didn't speak right away, just stood there… silently looking.
"Are you out for bird hunting?" I asked as I notice he's holding a bow and a bag of arrows—trying to cut through the awkwardness.
He reached forward, holding out a bow and a quiver of arrows. "Take it," he said.
I chuckled. "What's this? A farewell gift?" I joked.
I glanced up at him. There was something in his gaze I couldn't quite identify—like his eyes were trying to speak.
Clearing my throat, I quickly averted my gaze. "Thank you for this. Well then," I said, turning around.
Gosh... I don't know what to say.
Suddenly, he grabbed my wrist, making me stop and look back.
"What?" I murmured, confused.
He didn't speak. He just stared at me, his hand still holding my wrist.
Is this guy okay? What's going on with him?
"Aizen."
"What?"
"Call me Aizen." He said softly.
The wind blew in our direction, and something within me stirred.
We might never see each other again… so thanking—and bidding farewell to—at least one person won't hurt, right?
I slipped my wrist free and gently took his hand, offering him a soft smile.
"See you around, Aizen," I said, then slowly let go of his hand.
As I turned away, I pulled the hood back over my head. I could still feel his gaze lingering on me as I walked away from the estate.
*~*~*~*~*
Third Person's POV
Morning came, and the residents of Rikuya Estate slipped into their usual routine. None of them knew that Samsara had left quietly in the night.
"Lord Aizen." The butler stepped into Aizen's office.
Aizen didn't respond. He kept tapping his finger on the table, clearly lost in thought.
Ah, yes. He couldn't shake Samsara's face from his mind. He didn't even understand why he stopped her from leaving.
"Ahem. Lord Aizen," the butler prompted again.
Aizen looked at him. "What is it, Mazon?"
"We've received intel that more Sigbins are roaming around Mount Bellows," the butler said. "There are also multiple reports of missing children from the area."
Sigbin—creatures resembling goats, with enormous ears, a long whip-like tail that reeks of foul stench, and two grasshopper-like legs sprouting from their necks that allow them to leap great distances.
They are also known to crabwalk backward. At Mount Bellows, they prowl in search of children to devour—though they keep the hearts to craft amulets.
"Any updates regarding the previous reports?" Aizen asked.
"We still haven't received anything about the previous missing children," the butler replied.
Aizen clenched his fist. The growing number of missing children ignited a fury within him.
After retrieving an ancient book, they ensured the Sigbins were wiped out from Mount Bellows—but it seemed more had begun to emerge.
"Lord Aizen!" He looked toward the door as Anastasius burst in.
"Where's Samsara?" he demanded. "I went to her room, but her belongings are gone!"
"Sir Anastasius, Miss Samsara probably just went out for a walk," the butler offered.
"No! Samsara's belongings isn't there!" Anastasius snapped.
"She left," Aizen said flatly. "She left at dawn." He tightened his jaw.
"What?" Anastasius murmured. "She left me... behind?" he whispered to himself.
'Is this why she didn't want to tell him?' Aizen wondered.
But something inside him made him want to punch Anastasius.
"Do you know where she went?" Anastasius asked Aizen.
His tone, his persistence—everything about Anastasius's behavior toward Samsara irritated Aizen further.
"It doesn't matter where she went," he replied curtly.
Anastasius opened his mouth to speak, but Aizen cut him off.
"Stop looking for her and inform the Yashiro Knights to prepare," Aizen ordered. "Sigbins have started roaming around Mount Bellows. You know what they are, don't you?" he added, his voice laced with authority.
Anastasius didn't respond. He just nodded.
"We have five months to prepare to completely wipe out the creatures in their den. I'm putting you in charge—as Captain of the Yashiro Knights," Aizen declared.
Anastasius scoffed. "I joined because I thought Samsara and I would stay here permanently... and now you put me in command?"
He swallowed hard as Aizen's aura turned dark and heavy.
"Stop bickering like a child, Anastasius. Go and inform the knights."
Anastasius lingered at the doorway, jaw clenched and eyes shadowed by frustration—but he said nothing more.
With a sharp turn, he strode out of the room, his footsteps echoing down the corridor like muffled thunder.
Aizen stood still, the silence returning like a cold draft. He exhaled slowly, the tension in his jaw refusing to loosen.
A knock echoed through the room just as Anastasius left.
Nari entered, accompanied by one of Aizen's pupils, both carrying a stack of papers and the ancient book.
"Lord Aizen, did Miss Samsara leave?" Nari asked as she set the papers down.
Aizen closed his eyes tightly and nodded without a word. He hadn't expected her absence to stir concern—yet two people had already come asking for her, though she'd only stayed here five days.
"What's the matter?" Aizen asked.
"We've just received a report from the Verdantra," said Nadia—Nari's partner in research. "The survivor discovered by the Yashiro Knights has taken his own life."
"We hadn't interrogated him about his case yet, had we?"
"No, my lord."
Aizen clenched his fist, hiding his frustration. They were back to square one. Without the survivor's testimony from his time at Mount Bellows, they couldn't decipher the book.
"We have no choice but to launch two operations at Mount Bellows," Aizen muttered.
"But my lord, sending more scouts puts more lives at risk! Sigbins are hard to kill!" Nari protested.
She was right. Killing Sigbins—even with plenty of troops—was nearly impossible.
But magic is the Sigbins' weakness—that's their advantage.
"My lord, regarding the ancient book," Nadia began. "We couldn't find the language in any known linguistic taxonomy. There are images, but we can't decipher their message."
"And we still need to translate the writings found in the cave where the book was discovered," Nari added.
Aizen remained silent for a moment, absorbing their words.
"We've been cross-referencing every dialect we can find, but this script—it feels older than language itself. As if the dialect isn't from in this world. It feels like it wasn't meant to be read but remembered," Nadia continues.
"Or unlocked," Nari added. "There's something in the cave symbols we've yet to match with the text. Some sort of pattern—or a ritual? We're not sure yet."
Aizen nodded. "Very well," he replied, looking at the two of them. "We have five months to prepare, so continue deciphering the texts if you can."
Both of them nodded and quietly exited the room.
At the Rikuya Commissioner, only Aizen possessed magic. However, Nari's abilities weren't suited for combat—only his were. On the other hand, the Yashiro Knights were skilled in battle, but they lacked the ability to wield magic.
That was their disadvantage if Aizen intended to fully exterminate the creatures from Mount Bellows.
"Mazon," Aizen called.
"Yes, my lord," Mazon said as he entered.
"Post intel in every district and capital. We need skilled magicians for the expedition. Keep the message short and concise," Aizen ordered. "Once candidates arrive, have Nari test their magic and its limits."
"Won't the Miravell intervine, my lord? After all they are the faction that has magicians."
Aizen sigh, "Then give a message to the Harbingers that I'll hold a meeting in two days."
He paused, then added, "Also, inform Anastasius that we'll hold a meeting with the entire Yashiro Knights next week."
There was still time—five months—to prepare before the expedition would begin.
'I must put an end to Mount Bellows as soon as possible', Aizen thought.
"Anything else, my lord?" Mazon asked.
Aizen leaned forward, resting his hands on the table as his eyes fixed on the floor.
"Deploy a knight to find Samsara."
Mazon stiffened slightly at the order, then gave a respectful nod. "Understood, my lord. I will assign someone discreet—one who won't draw attention."
"Tell him to follow any trails she might've left. Inns, markets, paths through the lowlands. I want word the moment anything turns up."
"Yes, my lord." With a final bow, Mazon turned and exited the chamber.