(12 hours left before everything stops…)
Krrrnnng… Krrrnnng…
Scarlet groaned. The phone was screaming like it had a personal vendetta. She stumbled across her apartment, dodging a chair she'd left in the middle of the room for no reason, and grabbed the phone.
"Scarlet!" Angel's voice came through, sharp and annoyed. "What took you so long? I've been calling forever."
Scarlet stuffed a bite of pizza into her mouth before answering. "Relax. I was cooking dinner. Pineapple pizza, fresh out of the oven, with orange juice squeezed by hand. Classy, right?"
Angel paused. "…Pizza and orange juice? At midnight?"
Scarlet smirked. "Hey, don't judge. Some people prep for the end of the world with meditation. I do it with carbs."
Angel snorted. "Ha! Very funny. You mean reheating convenience store pineapple pizza with the packet orange juice that's been sitting in your fridge since last week."
Scarlet smirked, unfazed. "Yup… that's right. Anyway, why'd you call me? It's not like it's something unusual."
Angel's voice cracked, wobbling between sarcasm and genuine despair. "What, I can't call my best friend anytime I want? Ugh… I can't sleep just thinking about winter break being over, Scarlet." Her words tumbled out, half whining, half crying.
She sniffled loudly into the phone before continuing, "I have to wake up early tomorrow, drag myself to school, and—wait. Oh no. I just remembered… I haven't even touched my English assignment. What do I do, Scarlet?"
Scarlet leaned back against the counter, chewing slowly on her pizza, unimpressed. "So basically, you called me to cry about homework at midnight?
Scarlet sighed, the kind of sigh that carried both patience and exhaustion. "Huhh… Angel, bring your homework tomorrow. We'll finish it during lunch break since English is in fifth period anyway. I've got some corrections to do too, so we'll suffer together."
She stretched, already half-asleep, and added, "Okay… bye. Good night. See you tomorrow."
Angel sniffled dramatically on the other end. "You're the best, Scarlet. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise."
Scarlet rolled her eyes, hanging up before Angel could spiral into another midnight monologue. The room fell quiet again, except for the faint hum of the city outside — and the clock on her wall, ticking down the hours that remained.
Call Ended...
The night slipped away in a blur of pizza crumbs and unfinished thoughts. By the time Scarlet finally closed her eyes, morning was already waiting at the door.
Ding-dong-ding!
The school bell echoed through the halls of Chrono Ridge Academy, shaking the building awake as students dragged themselves back from winter break. Backpacks thumped, lockers slammed, and sleepy faces shuffled toward their first class of the year.
"Good morning, Scarlet!!!"
Angel's voice rang out, full of excitement, as she weaved through the crowd with her usual cheerfulness. Scarlet let out a long sigh, rubbing her eyes. "Huhhh… good morning. I can't believe I stayed up the whole night finishing my assignment."
"Booo… I thought you had finished it on time?" Angel teased, grinning. Scarlet's eye twitched. "Well, I did finish it… last night. Now let's go to class."
Wind gushed through the half-open window, flipping the pages of the book Angel was supposed to be staring at.
"Leaves are yellow or gone, branches shake in the cold, birds no longer sing…" Mr. Weslock's voice carried across the classroom, steady. He was the homeroom teacher for both Angel and Scarlet, though half the class looked like they were still mentally on vacation.
Angel, of course, wasn't listening. Her eyes wandered to the endless view outside the window — rooftops, bare trees, and the pale winter sky that seemed to stretch forever.
Scarlet nudged her with the end of a pencil. "Focus, or he's going to call on you."
Angel waved her off, chin propped on her hand. "If he does, I'll just say the birds stopped singing because they're depressed about school starting again."
Scarlet stifled a laugh, shaking her head.
And then— the school bell rang again, this time signaling the long-awaited lunch break. Chairs scraped, bags zipped, and the classroom erupted into chatter as everyone bolted for freedom.
As Angel and Scarlet were about to sit down for lunch in their classroom — the only two who hadn't bolted for the cafeteria — Angel froze.
There, on her desk, sat a folded letter. She blinked at it, confused. She didn't remember putting it there. She didn't even remember anyone walking past her desk.
(30 minutes left before the time stops…)
"Angel, what's that?" Scarlet leaned over her shoulder, curiosity written all over her face.
Angel hesitated, her fingers hovering just above the paper. The ticking of the classroom clock seemed louder than usual.
(00:29:59… 00:29:58…)
Scarlet frowned. "Did someone leave it for you?" Angel swallowed, her usual cheer fading into unease. "I… don't know. Maybe it's a love latter. She chuckled.
Suddenly, a cold wind blasted through the classroom window, rattling desks and scattering loose papers across the floor. The clear blue sky outside darkened in an instant, turning into a heavy black canvas. The chatter in the hallway faded, and the room fell into an eerie silence.
Scarlet leaned closer, her curiosity outweighing her unease. "Then let's find out what's inside." Together, they unfolded the paper slowly, careful not to tear it
The letter looked impossibly old, its edges worn and fragile, as if it had been waiting there for years. Yet, strangely, it carried the fresh scent of roses, filling the silent classroom with an unsettling sweetness.
Angel's hands trembled as she read the words aloud:
"Dearest chosen one, I shall tell you that whoever you are, you shall be responsible for what you do, for every action of yours can change every second of history and future. I shall guide you in your journey, but all I can do is guide. If you turn away from your responsibility, you shall be punished very severely."
The words hung heavy in the air, each sentence pressing down on them like a weight.
(00:00:03… 00:00:02… 00:00:01… 00:00:00…)
The classroom clock froze. The ticking stopped. The silence deepened.
Scarlet's breath caught in her throat. "Angel… what does this mean?"
Suddenly, deafening bell sounds rang out — but it wasn't the school bell. The noise was sharper, heavier, echoing like it came from everywhere at once.
The letter in Angel's hands shimmered, then burst apart into thousands of rose petals that scattered across the classroom, swirling in the cold wind.
CRACK—RUMBLE—BOOM!
The floor trembled beneath them. Angel's eyes widened. "What's happening? Is it… an earthquake?"
Scarlet turned toward the window, her breath catching. Outside, the world had frozen. Students who had been playing volleyball were stuck mid-motion, the ball suspended in the air like a photograph. Even the trees had stopped swaying, locked in place.
Angel's voice broke into panic. "Scarlet! Hold my hand!"
Scarlet grabbed her tightly, the petals still spinning around them, as the silence of the frozen world pressed in.
They both held each other's hand tightly. A blinding flash of light filled the room, forcing their eyes shut.
From within the light, a strange, terrifying voice echoed — deep, distorted, and impossible to place.
"You shall not anger the gods…"
And then, silence.
Angel's breathing was shaky as she slowly opened her eyes. The classroom was gone. The familiar desks, the chalkboard, the window — all replaced by a place she couldn't recognize. The air was heavy, the ground unfamiliar, and nothing about it felt like home.
Her voice cracked as panic set in. "Scarlet… are you seeing what I'm seeing? Where are we? I thought we were inside our classroom…"
She turned frantically, her voice rising. "Scarlet? Scarlet!"
Angel screamed in horror. Scarlet was nowhere to be seen.
Thump-thump… Thump-thump…
Angel pressed a hand against her chest, trying to steady her breathing. Take a deep breath, Angel… everything will be fine, she whispered to herself.
But the world around her was anything but fine.
"Move out of my way, young lady!" a stern voice barked.
"Freshly plucked flarry for just five Glimmers!" another voice called out, cheerful but strange.
Angel spun around, bewildered. The classroom was gone — replaced by a bustling street filled with people she didn't recognize.
"Don't block the path, young lady," an unfamiliar woman scolded as she brushed past.
"Oh, I'm so sorr—" Angel started, but was cut off as someone bumped into her shoulder.
"Aah! Can't you see?" the man snapped, dressed in aristocratic clothing that looked centuries out of place. His eyes narrowed at her uniform. "And what are you even wearing? Such inappropriate clothes…"
Angel froze, clutching her bag tighter. Nothing about this place felt real. Nothing about it felt safe.
I am so sorry for bumping into you but what's wrong with my clothes, it's just a normal school uniform. I don't see a problem as she replied in a frustrating voice.
The man screamed even louder as he said... "what a rude girl, do you see anyone wearing that kind of clothes and plus you are not even beautiful. You are just wasting my precious time, now move out of my way... Shu-Shu (the man walked away)"
'What a creep how can he say that I'm not beautiful right into my face... Scarlet... well to be honest, I do some times think that our school uniform is too weird... like a white shirt on top of it a navy blue waistcoat and black skirt with golden strips and the usual black and white socks and shoes... but it looks cool. Hmm... I don't think I hate it.'
Angel was frustrated by the man and was worried by the thought that Scarlet was not there with her. As she was standing in silence, she looked around and noticed that the people indeed dressed in a slightly different way. Women wore dress in a very elegant way and walked with confidences, men wore suit and tie in a very old fashioned way. She immediately hid herself behind a fruit vendor's shop and observed her surroundings discreetly. She went behind some buildings and buildings and suddenly someone pulled her hand and said in a loud voice... " WHAT ARE YOU WEARING LITTLE GIRL", a tall woman in her early twenties, dressed in a very beautiful golden and white flared gown yet in a very frustrated expression surprisingly worried for her asked.
Angel, startled, stumbled a step back, her breath catching in her throat. "I—I'm sorry," she managed, clutching the edge of her cloak tighter around her uniform. "I didn't mean to… stand out."
The woman's eyes widened even more, scanning Angel from head to toe as if her clothes were a crime. "Stand out? Child, you look like you've escaped from a cursed playhouse!" she hissed, though the worry in her voice softened the sharpness of her words. "Cover yourself properly before someone else sees you."
Angel swallowed hard, heat rising to her cheeks. She had no idea what counted as "proper" here, but the woman's urgency made her obey without question.
Angel, still startled, could only nod as the woman fussed over her. Before she could protest, the stranger grabbed her wrist and pulled her toward a narrow side corridor, away from the busy street.
"Come with me. Quickly, a clothing shop is right around the corner," the woman muttered, her gown sweeping across the stone floor like a wave of gold and white.
Angel followed, heart thudding, unsure whether she was being rescued or scolded. The woman pushed open a wooden door and ushered her inside a small room filled with trunks, fabrics, and half‑finished garments.
"How may I help you, Madam?", a woman asked.
Can you find something for this little girl who is dressed veryy... I don't know strangely and oh it does not have to be too fancy. The woman holding Angel's hand replied.
After a few minutes the shopkeeper brought some clothes and handed it over to Angel.
"Put these on". "Whatever you're wearing now—hide it. Burn it if you must", the woman holding Angel's hand said firmly.
Angel blinked, confused but grateful. The clothes were simple: a soft linen chemise, a brown overdress, and a hooded cloak. Nothing fancy, nothing suspicious. Exactly what she needed.
A few minutes later, Angel stepped out from behind a curtain, now dressed like any ordinary girl from this world. Her school uniform was tucked deep inside her bag, hidden from sight.
The woman gave a satisfied nod. "Much better. Now you won't draw every pair of eyes in the kingdom."
Angel whispered a quiet "thank you," still unsure why this stranger cared so much—but relieved all the same.
Angel followed the woman out of the small fitting room, still adjusting the sleeves of the borrowed dress. The fabric felt strange against her skin—rougher than her school uniform, heavier, but somehow comforting. It made her feel less exposed, less… foreign.
As they were walking out of the shop, the woman introduced herself as Lady Leviniaa Thornweald, daughter of Count Thornweald, you can call me Lady Thornweald. Then she added in a quieter voice, "You're lucky I found you first"
Angel's heart skipped. "Why?"
Thornweald shook her head and said..."Oh nothing, anyway you haven't introduced yourself?, Who are you? and from where have you come here?"
Angel backed away a little as Lady Thornweald kept on asking questions after questions.
Her voice came out small, shaky. "M-my name is Elviana."
Lady Thornweald raised an eyebrow. "Elviana... what?"
Angel hesitated again (Aaa... what should I do. I can't use my real name in this world. It would be too strange). Her real surname suddenly felt too strange, too modern for this world. "Elviana Sylvene ," she whispered.
"Sylvene. That's quite a rare name."
Angel nodded, unsure whether that was good or bad. "It's... not common where I'm from. I was travelling with a group of people but somehow I got separated from them."
Lady Thornweald's expression didn't change, but something in her eyes sharpened- interest, suspicion.
Angel Lowered her gaze. "I'm sorry. I don't know how I got here and I don't know anything about this place."
Lady Thornweald grew even more suspicious. "I see. Do you have any money with or any relative here? If not, then why not stay with me for a while. I will help you as long as I can"
Angel felt quite relieved for a moment but she had this strange feeling about Lady Thornweald. Lady Thornweald was very kind and helpful but for some reason Angel was quite suspicious of Lady Thornweald.
Angel stood still for a moment and... "I hate to say this but I don't even have a single coin and I don't have any relative or someone I know here and I am quite grateful to have stumbled upon someone like you, who is willing to help a stranger. But I must find my way back to the group of people with whom I came here with. Science I am new to this place, I would Like it if you could provide me with some information and a place to stay for a while."
Hmm... sure why not, Lady Thornweald replied in a disappointment. "If you walk straight for a while then turn left and then turn right, you will come across an inn named Moonwell Inn. And here are some money for you... you obviously can't stay in an inn without paying. One more thing if you ask the locals and the inn keeper you shell get some helpful information."
"Ohh... Thank you so muchhh... what are these?" (as she looked inside the bag of money)
Hmm...Don't you know what these are? These are Aether. It's not too much but you can at least stay in a decent inn for 10 days... as Lady Thornweald replied in a casual way.
"Aaa… I'm from a very poor family. To be able to see this much Aether is like a dream. I hate to say this, but I don't know anything about them."
"Hmm… I see. Don't you worry." The woman smiled kindly. "The tiny Aether shards are called Glimmers. They're mostly used for food, daily goods, and small services. The perfectly round ones are Pulses—standard coins made from refined Aether. Those are used for tools, clothing, travel, and mid‑tier magic items.
"The large ones are Heartstones, Aether cores. Those are used for land, enchantments, noble transactions, and demon contracts."
She lifted a finger, as if giving a lesson. "One Pulse is worth ten Glimmers. One Heartstone is worth a hundred Pulses—so a thousand Glimmers. Every shop has an Aether Reader to help you with payments. And with thirty to forty Glimmers, you can stay at a decent inn for a whole week."
I see... Thank you so muck Lady Thornweald.
Then... until we meet again little girl or I should call you Lady Elviana Sylvene... I guess this is where we part ways, if you ever get in trouble, you can always come to me, Lady Thornweald replied in a teasing way.
Angel smiled weirdly... Yes, Lady Thornweald and I'll surely repay your kindness someday.
(Both walked away in opposite directions)
Walking... walking...
Huhh... Elviana Sylvene... I guess this is who I'll be for a while. Aaa... But I like my real name Angel alot.
As Angel muttered in a child-like-frustrated manner still unknown to what was happening with her.