Chapter 9

They decided to go and pay Alex a visit.As they arrived at Alex's room, they noticed the door slightly ajar. Ethan cautiously pushed it open, and they went inside. The room was dimly lit, with an eerie ambiancenny, their eyes darting around, hoping to catch a glimpse of the missing book.

Alex opened the door to his dorm and was immediately taken aback by the sight that greeted him. There, standing before him, were three familiar faces - Ethan, Andrew, and Sofia. Alex's heart raced in his chest as he realized why they were here. They had discovered his secret - the stolen magical book Panic surged through him as he knew he had to act quickly.

Thinking on his feet, Alex cross his hands together to tap into the power of his magic clock tattoo. The intricate design on his hands began to glow as he channeled his abilities. He aimed to use its time-traveling capabilities to alter the past, to change the series of events that had led to this moment.

However, just as he was about to activate the clock, Ethan lunged towards him, desperately trying to grab hold of him.

Simultaneously, Andrew raised his hands, casting a spell in a frantic attempt to freeze Alex in his tracks. The collision of their opposing powers created a force so strong that it sent shockwaves through the air. In an unexpected turn of events, both Ethan and Alex were swept away by the sheer energy and propelled into the past,

arriving in a familiar place - the staircase just a two hours before Alex had stolen the mystical book.

As they caught their breath, Alex couldn't help but express his bewilderment. "How is this possible? My power is supposed to transport only me through time. Why did you come with me?"

Ethan surveyed his surroundings, his eyes widening in realization. "Look out the window, Alex! That's me talking to Sofia while working outside! This is just a few hours ago!"

Alex's mind whirled as he tried to comprehend the situation. "But that's impossible there can't be another version of us here.My power should have ensured that we were the only ones in the past. There shouldn't be multiple versions of ourselves in this era."

As they pondered their predicament, both Alex and Ethan noticed something unsettling. They looked down the stairs and saw past version of Alex ascending towards them. It was as if they were witnessing a time loop, trapped in an inexplicable paradox.

Fear gripped Ethan's voice as he spoke, his voice trembling. "Alex, isn't there anything you can do? We can't stay here. We need to find a way out cause any version of ourselves could see us!"

Alex joins his hands together to get them back to their normal timeline but his powes are not working

Alex's face twitched with frustration and confusion. "I don't understand. I can't access my magic. The powers that have always been at my fingertips are suddenly unavailable to me. Everything is spiraling out of control."

As the two versions of themselves drew closer, time seemed to be unraveling around them. Desperation constricted their chests as they realized they were trapped, repeating the same moment over again. Their only hope was to unravel this paradox and regain control of their abilities.

In the chaos of the time travel ordeal, Alex summoned all his strength to access his powers once again. He desperately hoped that his abilities would reset the timeline and bring them back to their normal time. With a surge of energy, he unleashed his magic, sending ripples through timethere was a blinding flash, and the time loop shattered like fragile glass.

Alex and Ethan found themselves standing in front of Alex's dorm room once again, but something felt different. When Ethan opened the door, there was no sign of anyone in the room. "I think we're back," Ethan exclaimed, relief flooding his voice. Alex looked around and replied, "No, we're not. Look at the clothes inside the closet. They are the same ones I'm wearing. This could only mean one thing – I haven't returned from our cleaning punishment Panic started to rise within Ethan as he tried to process the implications of their current predicament.

Alex tell Ethan that are violating the laws of time. Alex had warned him that such a thing would attract the attention of the time wraiths, mystical beings that seek to restore the balance of time.

Alex, ever determined, examined his magical tattoo, trying to come up with a solution. He suggested that they try once more, convinced that they would find their way back to their own time.

Alex held Ethan's hand tightly and instructed him to close his eyes. Focusing his magic, he pushed the boundaries of time yet again.

The time loop shattered, and when Ethan once again opened his eyes, he found himself in the school library. It was dark and there was no sign of Alex.

Ethan was completely alone. Fear crept into his heart as he cautiously made his way through the dimly lit stacks.

He whispered Alex's name, hoping for a response, but silence was his only companion.

Ethan proceeded upstairs his dorm room. To his surprise, he saw himself sleeping peacefully, and Andrew occupied the bed on the other side of the room.

Confusion clouded Ethan's mind.as to where Alex was, he left the room in search of Alex. But as he approached Andrew's dorm, a he saw someone slipped a white envelope under Alex's door.

Curiosity got the better of him as he leaned closer to examine the sender. Suddenly, a portal opened, and a time wraith emerged, screeching and crawling towards Ethan.

Fear gripping him, Ethan turned and ran, but the time wraith pursued him relentlessly. Desperately seeking help,

Ethan stumbled upon the janitor. He glanced back, urging the janitor to flee telling him to run, but the oblivious onlookers only stared at Ethan in confusion cause he couldn't see the time wraith.

The time wraith phased through the janitor, and fear gripped Ethan's heart as he continued to run for his life.

In his frantic escape, Ethan's foot caught on something, causing him to trip and fall. With the time wraith closing in, its screeches growing louder, Ethan braced himself for the end. But just as it was about to strike him,

Alex's voice rang out, yelling a defiant "Hey!" Startled, the time wraith turned its attention to Alex, allowing Ethan a brief moment of respite. Reacting quickly, Ethan used his fire abilities to ignite the creature, then employed his air powers to bind it to the ceiling.

Meanwhile, Alex joined him, extending his hand to Ethan, Alex's tapped into his tattoo magic he shattered the time loop once more.

This time, when their eyes opened, they found themselves back in their own time. Relief washed over Ethan as he saw Andrew and Sofia standing before him.

Overwhelmed with emotions, Ethan instinctively hugged Sofia, but his actions suddenly felt awkward and inappropriate. He quickly withdrew, turning to address

Ethan asked Alex where he kept the book

Alex told him he has put it where he was instructed to put it

Andrew raised a question "What could the person want with the book?"

"I don't know, Ethan. I've done odd jobs before for money, and it mostly changing grades for students. But this time, I wasn't offered payment. Instead, I was threatened to be exposed if I didn't steal the book."

Ethan sighed out loud as Alex"What in the book anyway."

Sofia interjected, her voice filled with intrigue. "The contents of that book hold more than you can imagine, Ethan. There are untapped power, forbidden knowledge, or even a key to alter the very fabric of reality."

"We need to find out who hired Alex that the only way to find the book"Ethan said with a boldly voice