The Point of No Return

Nam was running fast. There was no one around, and the absence of the night made itself known. He looked up at the sky, then glanced behind him. What was happening here? Even though he was out of breath, he kept running. The song grew louder and more intense.

~ Silent hands reach through the veil,

Tracing lines of fate,

A shadow walks where I once stood,

Yet time won't let me wait. ~

~ Echoes call from far beyond,

A place I used to be,

Whispers dance upon the wind,

Like ghosts that follow me. ~

~ Tell me, tell me, do you see,

The path that leads me home?

Or am I chasing memories,

That never were my own? ~

~ If I reach beyond the night,

Will I find the truth?

Or will I fall into the light,

And fade away with you? ~

The feeling of peace the song gave was quickly replaced by the sense of death. The voice singing was deep and masculine, yet it did not belong to a human.

Nam turned another corner and saw someone ahead. He couldn't see clearly, but it was obvious she was a girl. She was slightly taller than him and held a rapier in her hand. Pointing her sword at Nam, she charged at him.

Meanwhile, Vaelis and Larod had stepped out of an alley. As Larod looked around, he asked, "Is there anyone else here besides us?" Vaelis shook his head. Nam pulled out two daggers and handed one to Vaelis.

As they continued to move, they noticed the broken walls and barrels in the alleyway. Vaelis' mouth hung open, fear evident on his face.

"Expiria magic?"

Learning with Nam! Nam asked, "What is Expiria magic?"

They were in a classroom, surrounded by desks and chairs. Larod sat at one of the desks. Raising a finger, he explained, "Expiria magic creates a connection between the past and the future, trapping them in a paradox. If someone who has died in the past is brought back, it can create an alternate timeline."

"This magic isn't something just anyone can use. Only a god or a demigod can wield it, making it impossible to stop." Nam nodded in understanding.

Back in the alley, Larod took a step back, grabbed Vaelis' hand, and started running. "If we stay here, the future will change. We have to leave immediately!"

Just as Vaelis was about to use his power, Larod slapped him. "Idiot! Do you remember what happened last time you used it?!"

Vaelis snapped back, "Then what else am I supposed to do?!"

They both froze.

Someone stood in front of them, radiating a deadly aura. Death was moments away.

Meanwhile, Nam barely managed to dodge the attack, his body moving on its own. He was terrified—what if he had died just now? The girl's strike had hit the wall. Now that he could see her properly, he took in her appearance.

Her hair was white, straight, and neatly cut to a medium length, with a braid woven into it. Her sharp eyes were black. She wore a long, navy-blue coat, her hands wrapped in bandages. She had light boots on her feet and a faint scar on her face.

Nam realized there was no escape. He was either going to live or die, and the thought drove him insane. The girl lunged at him again. There was no way to dodge. Closing his eyes, he prepared for death.

She cut off Nam's head! The end! Just kidding—let's go back five seconds.

The girl pressed her sword against Nam's neck and asked seriously, "What are you doing here?"

Nam smirked slightly. "Aren't I here for the same reason you are? If you don't believe me, ask the guy behind you."

A slow clap echoed through the alley. "So, you noticed? Impressive!" The clapping stopped. "Reina, let him go."

Reina withdrew her sword and stepped back. The man had medium-length silver-gray hair and wore a dark, long coat. His mature-looking face was accompanied by serious blue eyes. He took a step closer.

"B—"

Larod took a step back. "H-Hey, Vaelis, didn't you say there was no one else here?! Liar!"

Vaelis also took a step back. "I was wrong!"

Wait a minute—what was in front of them? Human? No. Spirit? No. Then what was it?

Vaelis began to panic. "What the hell is an Eonhuld doing here?!"

The tension broke. The being before them was powerful enough to wipe out entire galaxies. Its mere presence on Earth was unnatural.

Larod's mouth hung open. "V-Vaelis, we're so screwed—"

The thing before them was an Eonhuld. It had no fixed form, yet this time it had taken on a human-like appearance. Just as Larod and Vaelis tried to run—

They died.

But… how?

The man's head had been cut off. Reina quickly stepped back, while Nam remained calm. He swiftly got to his feet, and both he and Reina looked toward the entrance of the alley.

There stood someone. Pure blackness itself.

"It's been a long time, my friend. Can I kill you this time? Oh, wait—no killing! I'll torture you instead!"

The voice was both childlike and brutal. They held a white scythe, just like always.

In a flash, they lunged at Nam. Reina didn't even have time to react.

Nam died.

But… how?

Black killed Reina as well.

Larod's eyes snapped open. He was in the void again, panting. He remembered everything. "What the hell just happened?!"

"Damn Eonhuld bastards!"

Larod quickly tried to meditate, attempting to create a temporary form on Earth.

Everything was going fine—until he realized his power had already been sealed. That meant he couldn't reach Nam.

"You've got to be kidding me!" Larod clenched his fist, his brows furrowing. "If I leave this to Nam, we're doomed!"

As he thought about what to do, frustration overtook him.

"If Nam were the protagonist, none of this would be happening right now!"

Despair set in. They had already entered a different timeline. If this continued, they would be erased.

Meanwhile, Nam woke up in bed, drenched in sweat. His eyes were wide open, fear still gripping him. He clutched the necklace in his hand.

But…?

The necklace looked damaged.

Quickly, he jumped out of bed. He remembered everything.

Ignoring Elara's words, he rushed outside. The necklace was in his pocket.

Just as he was about to step in a different direction, someone called his name from behind.

"Hi, Nam."