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"What is happening..." Saki can't help but ask as she strolls around the village. "The stalls, the shops, the buildings... They're all fine."

She looks around with incredulous and confused eyes, that village should not be the way it is now. It is like she has been sent back in time, judging by how her own body regressed.

She keeps walking while trying to make sense of whatever is happening. "... It can't be real, right? There's no way it's real!" Saki says, unable to wrap her head around this situation.

"Saki!" Someone calls,

The young woman stops in her tracks and turns around. It is a young man with short brown hair and few hair on his chin, he is wearing a leather shirt covered by a small breastplate.

"Oh hey, Morris." Saki waves at the man, "what's up?"

"What's up!? You didn't show up at today's training session! "

"Today's training session?" Saki corks her head sideways, as if trying to recall. "What about it?"

Morris blinks twice, stunned by the woman's indifference. Usually, she is one of the first to be at the camp. "Don't tell me you forgot... You and Sarla were supposed to have a mock session!"

Saki's eyes went widened, "oh no... It's that day..."

"Yeah! And you missed it by an hour! The brat couldn't keep it shut the whole time, bragging about how you were too scared to come."

Morris keeps rambling, but Saki is not listening. An alarm had gone off in her head, "... Motherfucker, I really am back and to the worst day possible too! Boar Bay Valley's destruction!"

"Hey, are you even listening!?" Morris shouts in frustration.

"Yes, I am." She has not hear a single word, but she needs to act like she did. "Sorry I didn't come, but an important news came up earlier."

"Huh? What news?"

"Old man Barton is coming back today, so I need to catch some boars."

Morris' eyes, which were full of frustration and annoyance, are now glowing with thrill and excitement. "For real!? I gotta inform the others then!"

Saki watches Morris run off to the camp with amusement. The next moment, her gaze darkens as the memory of that day flood her mind. "... Of all days I could've been sent back to... It had to be this one." Saki sighs in annoyance.

She massages her temples while heading into the forest, there is something she needs to find.

***Somewhere in the forest behind Boar Bay Valley***

"Should be around here..." She says, searching along the ground. "Ha, there you are!" Under a tree's root lies a book, its cover black as night, purple vein-like threads run across it.

The only reason Saki knows of its location is because of her memories. The last time, she tripped on it while carrying boars on her shoulders, back then she left it there, not knowing why it was there.

"... Let's see." The young woman says, picking the book up. Her heart starts beating in her ears, and her hands tremble the moment she touches the book. Memories start flooding her mind once again,

***

Houses are set ablaze, the sky is covered by nuages of smokes. Some people lay on the ground, lifeless while others, wearing light armors made of leather and iron, are fighting with everything they have against intruders wearing white and grey robes.

Saki stands over the cadavers of five of them, her left arm ablaze with black fire, and in her hand, a black greatsword with spikes running along its edge... Her arms feel like they are about to fall off, but she cannot let go. In front of her is that black book, which is radiating an ominous black energy.

***

"... No need to remind me. I still can't forget that day." Saki says in a sigh. She takes a deep breath to calm her raging heart and trembling hands.

Once her hands stop trembling, she attempts to open the black book, but another memory assaults her like a flashbang.

***

Saki carries an unconscious girl with long blond hair and long pointy ears. Behind them is the village—its smoldering remains. Their home has been destroyed, nobody besides them is alive... "Wasn't it to supposed to be a happy night...?"

Saki shakes her head, pushing the thoughts away. For now, she has more pressing matters to take care of. "I'm surprised that they're not following us... Oh well, it's a good thing, I guess." The young woman thinks as she sets the half elf near a tree.

The moonlight gently shines on them, revealing both their injuries. Saki has burn marks from head to toe, scars inflicted by swords, spears, and numerous other spells. Thanks to her constitution, she survived many things that would have killed anyone else, and worst of these injuries already healed.

But Saki's concern is the half elf. She gently moves aside a strand of blond hair with her hand and examines the long scar running across her eye. "Oof... That one's gone for sure."

With a sigh, she examines the blonde's body. "Well, that scar is the scariest part of it all. Everything else will heal in time." Saki exhales in relief,

Then, without warning, black flames eruptes from her arms, engulfing the half elf in less than a second.

***

"NO!" Saki shouts, throwing the book in panic. It lands against the tree under which it was laying with a thud. Her breath is ragged, her eyes are watering, and her hearts feels like it is going to leap out of her chest.