A variety of buildings ringed the castle compound, some looking too ornate to be usable. Inside the castle grounds, he could see vast green fields and children playing, though he was too far away to make out any discernible features of the children or their game. It surprised him to see any sports happening inside the castle. Perhaps they were training, not playing.
He took a deep breath and turned around, expecting to see the books he had asked from Grenshaw, who had graciously provided them in exchange for a conversation about evolution.
Instead, he saw someone sitting at his table, flipping through those very books.
The man sitting in front of Arthur, casually reading, bore a remarkable likeness to him—except he looked considerably older. He wore a black suit with a design Arthur had never seen before. It wasn’t as sharp as a suit from his world, instead featuring cloth foldings and bulges in odd places, adorned with ornamental metal and gem bits. A shapely hood hovered just above the man’s head, making him look like an Assassin’s Creed protagonist.
Arthur’s breath caught. “Who are you? Why do you look like me?”
The man smiled and closed the book. “I miss these books. You wouldn’t believe how long it’s been since I had time to just read.” He stood up and gestured at his clothes. “Like the suit? I made it myself. The clothes in this world always felt like cosplay. Still, I love how everything has hoods.” His gaze turned distant, nostalgic.
Arthur stiffened. “What do you mean, ‘this world’? And you didn’t answer me. Who are you, and why do you look like me?”
The man sat back down. “Well, why don’t you take a guess?”
Arthur remained silent, his mind racing.
The man chuckled. “Let me tell you exactly what you’re thinking while you figure it out. You might suspect I’m a trick by Grenshaw to extract information from you. But no—he made it clear that you’re under his control and that he could make you say whatever he wanted. You’re also wondering if this is a dream. It isn’t. And no, I’m not a demon taking your shape to trick you into making a deal.” He smirked. “Yup, you’ve figured it out. Now, say my name.”
Arthur hesitated, then whispered, “You… you’re Arthur. You’re me from the future, aren’t you?”
Even as he spoke the words, he felt ridiculous, flushing slightly with embarrassment. But after being pulled into a world of magic, he had long since decided to let his imagination run wild.
“Bingo!” The older Arthur grinned. “You win this pocket watch.”
He tossed the pocket watch he had been holding, and Arthur caught it clumsily.
“Wha—”
“Now, now, just listen to me first. I know you have a lot of questions—I did too.” The older Arthur chuckled. “But I have a script to follow.”
Arthur narrowed his eyes. “You have a script?”
“Yes.”
“Where did you get it?”
“I gave it to me.”
“So… you’ll give it to me now?”
“Soon.”
“…Is this exchange in the script?”
“Yes.”
Both Arthurs sighed in unison.
“Alright,” the older Arthur continued. “The future isn’t set in stone. Unfortunately, you can’t use the logic that ‘since I know how things will turn out, I don’t have to do anything.’ I know—it’s confusing. Read the script later. Just remember: the future can change.
"Right now, you’re standing on a platform, waiting for a train that’s going to take you on an insane adventure. And it’s about to arrive soon. When that happens, you’ll need the watch.”
“The watch?” Arthur turned it over in his hand. “I need to know the time when shit hits the fan?”
“The watch,” old Arthur continued, ignoring the remark, “will give you access to the System. It will be your guide and your source of power for the foreseeable future. When I’m gone, open the watch and say ‘freedom.’”
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The gems on the watch glowed softly as he said the last word.
Arthur swallowed hard. “Really? I’ll be able to use magic?”
“You already can. You just don’t know it yet. Ask Grenshaw to teach you some basic Rank 1 spells while you’re in the castle.”
Arthur grinned. “I have to say, I was getting kind of depressed thinking I’d be stuck in the castle for years. This is… exciting.”
“I know. In the days to come, you’ll feel uncertain. Trust the System. You’ll face things you didn’t think could exist—see horrors that would scare Lovecraft. But there will be light at the end of each dark tunnel. Remember that, if nothing else.”
With a snap of his fingers, the older Arthur vanished—replaced by a sheet of paper fluttering onto the table.
Arthur blinked, then smirked. “Now that is something I can’t wait to learn.”
He bent down to pick up the paper and realized it contained the entire conversation he had just had.
Asmirala could not believe what she had just heard.
She knew magic existed that could slow down or even stop time briefly—however rare—but to travel back in time? That was a thing of myths and legends.
She stood there, contemplating whether she should tell Grenshaw, when she heard a voice behind her.
“Hey, Mira.”
Asmirala turned slowly, heart pounding.
The man standing before her had the same face as the person in the summoning room—the one who had looked directly at her hiding place. Finally, she understood why Arthur had seemed familiar from the start. She stared at the older Arthur, speechless.
“So,” he said casually, “you heard all that?”
She nodded cautiously, wondering if she had made a mistake by listening.
“That solves the puzzle, then,” he mused. “I always wondered how you knew so much when you came to me. But it makes sense now.” He smiled. “Don’t worry—I won’t do anything. We’re friends. Or at least, we will be.”
She hesitated. “You called me ‘Mira.’ No one does that.”
“I do. He will.”
There was suspicion in her eyes, but she wanted to believe. So, for now, she did.
“How long do I have?” she asked.
“Long enough to learn that spell you’ve been working on.” He winked. “Oh, and don’t tell Grenshaw for now.”
She frowned. “How do you know about that?”
He grinned.
She sighed. “Fine. For now.”
Then, without warning, he hugged her and patted her head.
“You’ll see some hard times, kiddo. But like I told the young me—there’s always light at the end of the tunnel. Good luck.”
And just like that, he vanished before she could say another word.
Asmirala stood there for a long moment before finally turning to leave. She needed to rest and think about everything he had said.
Arthur inspected the watch in his hands, completely forgetting about the books he had planned to read.
It was a mix of silver and gold, with sapphire gems studded around the lid. The engravings and ornamentation made it look fit for a king. At the center of the lid was a glass circle, revealing the clock face within—a night-sky-like pattern that didn’t look like real material but rather a window to a true night sky.
The time appeared accurate. About 6:30 PM.
Arthur hesitated, then whispered, “Freedom.”
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then, with a clicking sound, spikes emerged around the rim. Arthur yelped and dropped the watch—but instead of falling, it hovered midair, glowing with a blinding light.
The light shot forward, dissolving into him.
A screen materialized before him, like a game interface.
Welcome, Arthur Averell
Name: Arthur Averell
Title: [The one from beyond]
Race: Human
Age: 28
Level: 1
Class: [Time Keeper]
- HP (Health Points): 100/100
- MP (Mana Points): 50/50
- Stamina: 80/80
- Strength (STR): 10 (Average)
- Dexterity (DEX): 12 (Above Average)
- Constitution (CON): 10 (Average)
- Intelligence (INT): 14 (High)
- Wisdom (WIS): 13 (Above Average)
- Charisma (CHA): 11 (Slightly Above Average)
- Fate (LCK): ??? (Unknown)
- [Unassigned points : 0]
- [Locked] - System Integration Required ( currently in progress 1%, Estimated time - 35 days)
- Basic Swordsmanship [Rank 1] - Slight increase in handling edged weapons.
- Observation [Rank 1] - Allows a basic understanding of objects and people upon focus.
- Mana Sensitivity [Rank 1] - Passively sense mana without stamina consumption.
- The Moment [Rank 1] - Expand a moment in time.
- Pocket Watch of the System (Bound Item) – Grants access to the System Interface. Unknown additional effects.
- [Basic Clothing] – Simple tunic and pants. No defensive properties.
- [Main Quest: The Path Ahead]
- [Locked] - System Integration Required ( currently in progress 1%, Estimated time - 35 days)
- Objective: [Locked] - System Integration Required ( currently in progress 1%, Estimated time - 35 days)
- Reward: System Functions Unlocked, ???
- [Side Quest: Learning the Basics]
- "A sword in hand is better than a spell you cannot cast."
- Objective: Learn at least one Rank 1 spell from Grenshaw.
- Reward: +5 INT, Spell Slot Unlocked.
- [The one from beyond] - As Nothing from this world nothing can affect you permanently. Passive healing over time, resistance to most poisons and toxins. As long as your soul and body are one any damage can be recovered from with enough time.
- [Status Window] – Displays your current stats, attributes, and quests.
- [Inventory] - Locked
- [Encyclopaedia] - Locked
- [Skill Tree] - Locked
- [Party System] - Locked – Requires Level 5.
"The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Step wisely."