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A gasp jolts me away, my lungs burning as I jerk upright, only for my head to slam against something solid. The impact sends pain radiating through my skull, vision swimming as my head drops back onto something soft and warm.

“Ow!" an unfamiliar voice exclaims.

Through my pounding headache, I grit my teeth and try to quickly blink away the blur. It takes a moment for my vision to sharpen and find someone staring down at me, my head cradled in their lap. It's something I'm sure many would take comfort in, but this was different. A heavy aura clung to them, making my skin crawl and breath hitch.

“Hmph! And here I was, being nice, letting you use my lap," the stranger says, their voice dripping with mock offense.

I can't look away from what's before me. There's an uncannily similarity to Alice but this wasn't him. My gut churns as fragments of memory flicker: Azure, purgatory, a blinding shatter of light, and then… nothing. The silence between us is only getting heavier by the second. I push away my questions and focus on what needs to be done.

First things first.

Carefully, I sit up, this time ensuring no abrupt moves. Scooting away some, I then turn to study the figure before me. Their beauty defies logic. Features both impossibly masculine and delicately feminine, shifting so subtly that it's as if my eyes were playing tricks on me. I knew what this being was from the aura alone, but I had to ask anyway.

“What are you?" The words come out steadier than I feel.

“Lancer," he answers, but a smirk plays at the edge of his lips, like he's about to say a punchline. “God of love—or chaos, depending on who you ask." He leans forward, watching me closely, a predator savoring its prey. “Which do you think I am?"

I weigh his words carefully. Nothing is simple when a god is present.

"There's only one difference between the two. Chaos is random, love is intentional," I answer.

That gets a quirk of an eyebrow, as if he's satisfied, but his expression hasn't changed. “Hmm. Not bad. I'll accept it." He chuckles. “Which one frightens you?"

Instinct tells me that everything I say now matters, far more than I'd like. But if this is a game, the rules appear to be simple. They ask and I answer honestly. It's not like lying to a god is possible when you're face to face, but I dislike the feeling of playing with only half a deck.

“Love," I admit, forcing myself to hold his gaze. “It's a force that drives people to things they'd never imagine. It can lift someone up, but it can also burn them down to ashes. And it's dangerous because it doesn't follow logic, or mercy."

His expression doesn't shift, but something in his eyes lights up. “Is that why you're so afraid of loving, Alex?" he prods. “Afraid that it might give you a reason to keep living?"

This is why I hate gods, they know too much for their own good.

“Get to your point," I say, knowing the answer was obvious to him.

“Down to business then." His tone shifts, growing more serious as his smirk disappears. “The portal between the human and demon realms will close in a week. You'll stay with the demons, and we'll keep out of your world. A clean slate, if you will."

Too clean. Gods don't bargain so fairly.

“That's too reasonable for a god."

"Oh, it wasn't free, I assure you." Before I could question what he meant, he reached out and pulled me into a kiss that sent a jolt through my body. When he pulls away, a sly smile appears. “First mortal I've ever kissed. Consider it… my thanks for taking care of my apostle."

It takes a moment for my mind to collect itself after that. So much information to take in... Did he say apostle? The way Lancer looks, is it truly that straightforward?

“Alice?" I ask.

Lancer nods, a glint of satisfaction in his eyes. “Meeting you changed his fate far more than I could've ever imagined. But what comes later is no concern of yours. No, you have a lot on your plate already."

Something about this conversation has shifted. Lancer is no longer leading with questions and in fact appears to be waiting for me to ask them. There's still so much on my mind, but I have to know something important.

“Is everyone okay?"

“In a sense," He cryptically answers. “But regardless of what you may desire, you will have to say goodbye to the humans for good in a week's time. Only you and the demons will remain in their realm."

What am I not understanding? The way he phrases things is clearly his way of pointing out that there is something to read between the lines or perhaps seeing me struggle in trying to find the meaning is his way of having fun? Once again, I need to put this aside and keep asking questions.

“What about Jessy?"

“The child of darkness?" Lancer pauses, a thoughtful look crossing his face. "I can assure you that she has made her choice and only you can accept them once you return."

I knew the conversation so far was too straightforward. It seems we're falling back into the standard god-like games.

“Very well." I reply, knowing that asking for clarity would get me nowhere.

“Anything you'd like?" His tone shifts, a genuine curiosity peeking through.

“What, gods now take requests? After all this time?" I ask sarcastically.

Lancer chuckles, his eyes glinting with mischief. “This one's just between you and me."

“Could you bring my dog back?" I ask without hesitation.

A knowing chuckle escapes him. “She returned to the cycle long ago, Alex… but that didn't stop the two of you from finding each other again, did it?"

Confusion takes me as I try to process what he said. “What are you talking about?"

Lancer leans in, his expression somewhat disappointed, as if I should've known something obvious. “Didn't you ever stop to wonder why you and Princess shared such an unshakable bond?"

His question catches me off guard, and my chest tightens. “You're not saying what I think you are, right?"

His expression then shifts into something almost tender. "Love isn't a memory, it's something, while rare, can transcend the flesh. She doesn't remember, but her soul knew once she laid eyes on you." He shakes his head, as if answering my doubt. "No, Alex, it wasn't because you're their "best friend" or even your powers. But..." He lets the words hang, his smirk curling back into place. “We're not here to dwell on the past. What else do you want?"

This is far more than I expected to know and the weight of it is crushing. There's a lot for me to reflect on once I return, but for the time being I have to remain present. There are countless doubts and worries that pull at me in this moment. My instincts scream that I'm still a piece in a game, or perhaps the game never truly ended? But dwelling on that will get me nowhere. I have to face whatever this god has planned for me.

However, I still couldn't shake a certain thrum of something swirling inside of me. The kiss Lancer gave me was not one of intimacy, that I'm certain of. Lifting my hand, I summon my stats and what I find is disturbing. I've received several blessing from gods I'd never heard of, but all of them are devoid of information on what they do. While that has me uneasy, I note there's now a title just under my name.

Loved by a god.

I don't understand what this title means. When have they ever loved me? All my life, even as I begged, they never listened. My world didn't have these moments, where you could sit and speak with the divine. I was alone, wishing into the void and all I was left with was nothing but pain. What do I want? The answer comes easily, it's what I've always gotten since I was born.

"Nothing." I answer.

For a moment, I thought I saw Lancer's expression fall for a moment, but that was clearly a trick of the mind, right? "I shouldn't be surprised. You never cared for wealth, fame or any of that fleeting nonsense." He still held that smirk on his face, but somehow it felt different than before, almost hollow. "Try to lighten up this cycle, Alex. Or I might see you sooner than either of us would like."

Why does my heart hurt right now? Just looking at Lancer is like I'm experiencing something familiar but also distant. Since waking up, despite knowing he was a god, I couldn't fight an almost shocking amount of comfort that radiated from him. Never once had I felt this way with the other gods. It always felt cold, calculated, all business. But what concerns me the most is that I'm forgetting something.

A memory? I can't say for certain. But as far back as I can recall, even when I thought I was alone in purgatory...

Alone.

That word stirs something deep inside me. Long before I was summoned. When I was alone in purgatory, there were many decades where I felt as if my existence would scatter into the void. The only reason I refused to rest; why I kept myself from succomming was because I didn't want to forget about my dog... But I wasn't alone. A warmth held me together. It pulled me back from the brink several times and it was the same warmth that carried me into the human world when I had nothing left to give.

"...Why do I have the feeling that my summoning wasn't a fluke?"

Lancer stands up, offering his hand to help me. "I'm the god of love." I accept it as we stand face to face. "How could I ever ignore someone who loves so deeply as you do?" I open my mouth, but he places a finger on my lips to stop me. "You always wished for a god, Alex... Now you have to accept what it means to have their attention."

I laugh under my breath. "Can I expect less games in the future?"

His smirk returns. "Well, a god has to have their fun." Lancer then raises his hand. "But that's all I can say for now. Good luck, my avatar."

Before I can react, he snaps his fingers, and the world shatters into blinding light, leaving me grasping at answers I can no longer reach.

---

I blink, my vision swimming as the world snaps into focus. Confusion clouds my thought as I take in my surroundings. This isn't where I expected to wake up. I'm standing in Azure's throne room, but what surprises me is that Azure is sitting in her throne, looking at me with interest. Something about this feels unsettling familiar, like I've stepped into a memory.

“Well, Mr. Unmovable object, what is this idea?" Azure asks.

. .. ...

I don't even try to hold back the laugh that escapes me. I've been through too much to pretend surprise anymore. I knew from the very start that the gods wouldn't make this easy and the cryptic way Lancer answered my questions now all began to make sense. This is simply what a god is, and in a strange, roundabout way, this too is their version of love. Trial by fire? Tests of faith? I swear, they're more fragile than humans are.

If they're going to reset things back this far, then I already know I have to do. There's so much I could draw from, so much knowledge I should have, but there are too many unknowns. Have we really been dragged back to this moment, with all memories erased? Or are they just buried, waiting to resurface? Maybe a strong enough nudge could bring them back?

"How about we get married?" I answer.

Her laughter erupts immediately, sharp and unrestrained, echoing through the chamber. She leans back in her throne, her tail flicking lazily as she throws me a scornful look. “You must've taken too many hits to the head, Hero. Are you so desperate that you've turned to subterfuge?"

Despite not playing my part exactly as I did then, it seems we're still moving along the same path. Does that mean my previous blessings were returned on top of the new ones? I check my stats, taking in as much as I can at a glance. I haven't been given the old powers, just the new ones, which are still hidden. But other than that, everything else looked about the same, except one stat in particular.

My soul stat… it recovered to before I started using it to cast spells, but more than that, it has a reservation on it. But for that to be possible, it would mean I was still connected to—

The wall to the side of the throne room explodes, dust and debris billowing into the air. Azure spins toward the destruction, her shock etched across her face. But I already know. Before the dust even clears, I know. Standing there, radiating strength in her prime, is Princess. Her eyes find mine, and I see the emotions warring in her—relief, joy, disbelief. Tears threaten to fall, but instead, she runs toward me and pulls me into a fierce hug.

“You're back," she says, her voice trembling.

I smile, my arms wrapping around her tightly. “Yeah, I'm back… but we've got a lot of work to do."

She steps back, nodding as she wipes her eyes. “I noticed. We've been pulled into the past."

"It's good to know I'm not the only one who remembers everything."

“What is going on?!" Azure's voice cuts through, her confusion plain as her eyes dart between me and Princess.

“Azure, do you not—" Princess starts, but I lift a hand, stopping her mid-sentence.

It seems Princess was spared from the time reversal. Her connection to my soul anchored her, preserving her memories even as the world was dragged backward. Returning everyone's memories would likely be impossible, but perhaps there was one I could restore... Assuming she'd kept her consciousness intact through it all.

It was a long shot but worth a try. I don't know if I'm able to cast spells with my blessings, but I had to give it a chance. If I'm going to make the most of this week we have left, I needed every second to save this world and that would only be possible if Azure remembered everything.

Taking a steadying breath, I focus. “Soul Tether."

The words come out almost instinctively, a spell I didn't remember learning yet somehow knew I could cast. A thin, shimmering rainbow-like thread unspools from my fingertip, ethereal and alive. It darts forward, crossing the space between us with unnatural speed, latching onto something unseen. It pulses once, twice, and then it moves, streaking toward Azure.

She reacts immediately, leaping to her feet and readying herself for an attack, her body tense. But it's too fast. The tether connects, sinking into her with a flash of light. Azure freezes. Her posture remains defensive, but her expression shifts. Subtly at first—a flicker of confusion, a twitch of hesitation. Then I see it. One of her eyes changes, the blue bleeding into a radiant opal that seems to catch and hold the light.

The transformation is instant, but the emotions that follow are not. Shock. Recognition. Confusion. And then… understanding. She blinks, her body relaxing as she looks up at me. The hostility drains from her features, replaced by something softer. Her lips part as though trying to form words, but only one escapes.

"Alex..."

Her voice is quiet, almost fragile, and the sound of it catches me off guard. I rub the back of my neck, the awkwardness of the moment breaking through the tension. “Kinda weird to hear you say my name," I admit, unable to keep the faint grin from tugging at the corner of my mouth.

Azure stares at me for a beat longer, her gaze unreadable. Then she lets out a small, exasperated laugh, the sound carrying a weight I didn't realize she'd been holding.

“It's weird to say it," she agrees, her tone dry and tinged with something almost resigned. She sighs, rubbing her temple. “And here I thought after all the fighting I've done, I'd have earned myself some rest."

“That can come later," I say with a faint grin, though my voice carries more certainty than I feel. “So, what are your thoughts on this whole time business?"

Azure moves back to her throne, sitting with her usual grace, though there's a tension in her shoulders I've rarely seen. She leans her head against her propped-up palm, her expression pensive.

“It's a true time reversal," she answers finally, her voice even. “I knew nothing until my mother restored my memories. So, it's safe to say that anyone who wasn't a spirit during the battle has likely forgotten everything."

Exactly what I feared. And it only makes this whole mess even more complicated.

“Any ideas?" I ask, the question slipping out more like a plea than I'd intended.

"I believe we have nothing to worry about if that's the case." Princess steps up.

"What do you mean?" I ask.

"Did you forget?" She turns to face Azure. "You may not recall, due to your frenzy, but all of the generals and even Alex's party, were spirits."

Wait... She's right. Jessy had projected their souls onto the battlefield to face Azure. If that's the case, then all of them should be fine but there's only one way to confirm this. Azure looks at me for a moment, thinking long and hard about what to do next.

"Gather your party and return her immediately. I will summon the generals. If we all have retained our memories, then we might have hope for saving this world."

"Then there's nothing more to say. I'll return shortly."

Princess and Azure give a nod and without hesitation I teleport back to basecamp. The clock is ticking and I can't afford to hesitate.