Chapter 21

General Zarek walks over to the small stove in the corner of his room, his expression a mix of concern and determination as he begins to boil water. The silence in the room feels heavy after the intense guiding session between Issac and Jaren, but Zarek's practical demeanor brings a sense of calm. He carefully sets out mugs for everyone, including Alfred, who watches him with his kaleidoscope purple eyes from the bed, his tail twitching slightly in thought.

"Even for you, Alfred," Zarek says with a wry smile, placing a small dish in front of the cat-like system. Alfred huffs, but there's a flicker of appreciation in his eyes.

As the kettle whistles, Zarek pours tea for each of them, the aroma of herbs filling the room, grounding the group as they prepare to address the pressing questions that now hang over them like a storm cloud.

"Alright," Zarek begins, taking a seat and passing the mugs around. "We need to figure out exactly what we're dealing with and how to handle it from here on out." His tone is calm, but there's a weight behind his words. His military training shines through, seeking logic and strategy in the midst of chaos.

Jaren, still red-faced from the intimate guiding session, nods as he sips his tea, his mind working through the implications of what had just happened. Issac remains silent, staring at his mug, still coming to terms with the fact that their powers are linked—along with the terrifying idea that Jaren might now be tied to his time-traveling curse.

Zarek turns to Rosa, who had been observing quietly from the corner of the room. "Rosa, you'll need to report this to Marcus. Have him come back with you, and keep this under wraps for now."

Rosa straightens and nods, a flicker of understanding in her eyes. "Of course, General. I'll make sure Marcus is informed, and we'll return as quickly as possible." She takes her leave swiftly, a sense of urgency in her steps.

As the door closes behind her, the atmosphere in the room turns serious again. Zarek leans back, his eyes flicking between Issac and Jaren. "Now, let's talk about the timelines. We need to prepare for the possibility that Jaren might be pulled into this cycle. The question is, how will it happen?"

Jaren frowns, his brow furrowed in thought. "Will I be dragged along with Issac when he dies? Or… will I reset too, only when I die?"

Issac, looking pale, shakes his head. "I don't know… I've never had someone else connected to my timeline like this. But if we're linked through the miasma, it could mean you'll be pulled back whenever I die. You could be alive, but still yanked through time."

Zarek's face darkens as he considers the ramifications. "That's a nightmare scenario. If Jaren is thrown back with you every time you die, he'll carry the memories of those timelines too, right? That could become destabilizing for him, especially if he survives longer than you each time."

Issac grimaces, nodding. "Yeah… and the mental toll, knowing that no matter what happens, we'll end up back at square one."

Zarek takes a deep breath, setting down his mug and fixing his son with a steady gaze. "Jaren, if this happens, you'll have to make some hard decisions. You're not just dealing with guiding anymore. This is about how to stay sane through endless resets. But we can try to use this to our advantage."

Jaren looks back at his father, understanding dawning. "If I can remember the timelines too, we might be able to change things faster. Adapt to situations earlier. Maybe… maybe we can end this loop quicker."

Issac nods slowly. "If you can keep your memories like I do, we'll be able to strategize together. But the problem is… we don't know how it will work for you. Will it be the same? Or will you be pulled back to different points, depending on when you die?"

Zarek strokes his chin thoughtfully. "If Jaren's timeline mirrors yours exactly, that would be one thing. But if he resets only when you do, regardless of his survival… it could become unpredictable."

Issac lets out a shaky breath. "And if he doesn't reset when I do? That could be just as bad. He might end up trapped in a timeline, dealing with the aftermath alone."

The room falls silent as the enormity of the situation sinks in. They sip their tea, each of them deep in thought. Finally, Alfred breaks the silence, his voice uncharacteristically serious.

"There's one more thing to consider," the system says quietly, his kaleidoscope eyes narrowing. "If Jaren is pulled into this cycle… it's not just his memories that could change. His very powers, his abilities, might evolve alongside yours, Issac. The bond between you might grow stronger with each reset."

Issac and Jaren exchange a glance, both of them feeling the weight of Alfred's words.

"Which means," Zarek adds grimly, "we have to be extremely careful. The more you reset, the stronger both of you might become. But with that power… comes the risk of madness."

The room falls silent again, the implications settling over them like a heavy shroud.

Issac takes a deep breath, finally breaking the tension. "We'll figure this out. But for now… we need to be ready for whatever happens next."

Zarek nods, standing up and giving his son a firm look. "We'll face it together. Whatever comes, we'll find a way."

Jaren squeezes Issac's hand, his resolve clear. "I'm with you, Issac. No matter what happens."

Alfred, shifting his kaleidoscope purple eyes between the group, broke the silence with an important announcement. "Now that I'm connected to both of you," he explained, his voice steady and confident, "I can act as a conduit for communication if you're ever separated. Consider me the middleman for any information you need to share."

He paused, gauging their reactions before continuing. "Additionally, we now share a separate space—think of it as a personal pocket dimension. It allows us to store items for safekeeping. You can use it to stash food, water, or anything else you might need during your travels."

The implications of this revelation hung in the air, and the team exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of intrigue and caution. General Zarek nodded thoughtfully, his mind already racing through the possibilities. "That could be a game-changer for us. If we're ever in a tight spot, knowing we can access supplies could save our lives."

Jaren's eyes widened in realization. "And if we're ever cut off from each other, we can still communicate through Alfred. That's huge!"

Alfred beamed with pride at their enthusiasm, flicking his tail as if to emphasize his role in their evolving dynamic. "Exactly! With our connections, we can strategize more effectively. Just think of the ways we can outmaneuver our enemies."

"Let's put this new capability to the test," Issac suggested, his mind racing with possibilities. "We should decide what essentials we need to keep in that space. If things go sideways, we can't afford to be caught off guard."

Just then, The door swung open, and Marcus strode in without so much as a knock, exuding his usual carefree energy. Behind him trailed Rosa, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she shot a reproachful glance at Marcus for his lack of decorum.

With a wide grin plastered across his face, Marcus teased Issac, "So, you can now become a mom?" His laughter echoed around the room, filling the air with a light-heartedness that starkly contrasted the tension of the previous moments.

Issac, still grappling with the whirlwind of emotions and revelations from earlier, rolled his eyes and half-heartedly replied, "Shut up." Despite his irritation, he couldn't help but feel a flicker of amusement at Marcus's antics.

"Just saying!" Marcus chuckled, but his tone shifted as he turned serious, addressing the room with a more somber demeanor. "Listen, we can worry about all this later. What we need right now is some rest. You all look like you've seen a ghost."

Zarek raised an eyebrow, amusement dancing in his eyes as he watched Marcus, the self-proclaimed leader of the rogue Espers, attempt to take charge. The juxtaposition of Marcus's teasing nature against Zarek's authoritative presence made for an entertaining scene. "Fine, fine," Zarek conceded, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "But you'd better lead by example, Marcus."

With a nod of agreement, everyone began to shuffle towards the door, their minds still buzzing with the day's revelations. Rosa lingered for a moment, her expression torn between lingering concern and the desire to uphold her role in the team.

As the last of the group exited, Zarek remained in the room, a thoughtful look on his face as he considered the implications of the evening's events.