173 Welcome Back Home
173 Welcome Back Home
I woke to softness.
Warm sheets cocooned me. The mattress was impossibly smooth for any inn or soldier’s quarters. When I cracked my eyes open, I found myself staring at an ornate canopy embroidered with silver thread. The scent of polished oak and burning incense lingered in the air. A chandelier made of hanging crystals swayed faintly above me.
Definitely not a battlefield.
I pushed myself upright, half-expecting something to tear or throb. But no. My skin was clear. No burns. No cuts. No broken bones. My muscles felt fresh, my breathing steady. Someone had healed me completely.
Someone with skill.
I glanced down and noticed the clothes on me. It was made of soft fabric, tailored to fit someone of status here. It wasn’t my outfit. Someone had cleaned and dressed me while I was unconscious.
The door creaked open.
Amelia stepped in, bow slung across her shoulder. She wore a fresh set of clothes too, dark leathers reinforced with something that looked like hardened leather. Her hair was tied back messily, her expression calm.
“Good,” she said. “You’re up.”
“Where are we?” I asked.
“Thornland’s estate,” Amelia answered. “Lady Thornland took us in after the fight. We’ve been here two days.”
I nodded. “Good. Let’s go deliver the head then. We shouldn’t waste—”
“No need,” a voice called from the doorway.
We both turned.
Dr. Time stood there, dressed in his signature coat of faded grey. In his hands, he held a tall glass vessel filled with pinkish liquid. Floating inside, face up, was Grant’s severed head.
Or rather, Continuity’s.
I took a quiet breath. “Amelia. Give us a minute.”
She hesitated, but stepped aside. “Fine. I’ll wait outside.”
The door closed behind her.
Dr. Time walked to the room’s desk and set the container down with care, as though it carried something alive. He dragged the chair back, sat, folded his hands, and regarded me calmly with that same unreadable look he always had.
I didn’t sit. I stayed standing.
“What was Continuity doing inside Grant’s body?” I asked.
A long beat of silence passed.
Dr. Time tilted his head slightly. “Ah. So you figured it out.”
“I didn’t figure it out,” I answered. “I dug it out of his mind before he died. What was left of him. He suspected coming to this world wasn’t an accident, either.”
“And you realized he was right,” Dr. Time said.
I nodded once. “We didn’t come here by chance. Not him. Not me. Not Amelia.”
The doctor sighed. “No. It wasn’t coincidence.”
He said it casually, like he was discussing the weather.
I locked my jaw. “Why?”
“Because,” Dr. Time began, “I needed to harvest Continuity’s power, separate it from its host and cultivate a new version of it, one that isn’t bound to the Source. Continuity was… problematic. But the power itself was valuable.”
“And dragging us here was part of that plan?”
“No,” he said. “That was unavoidable collateral. When your technology disrupted Continuity’s control over causality, he began to unravel. I set up a funnel, a temporal-dimensional siphon, months prior. When he broke, he was pulled through it… and you two were caught in the wake.”
My hands curled into fists.
The thought crossed my mind to kill Dr. Time right here. Crush his throat before he used whatever powers or technology he had. Rip him apart intangible. Anything. Retaliation burned in my chest like a coal.
But Amelia’s voice echoed in my memory.
“Nick, don’t pick a fight with Dr. Time unless you want to die.”
And she wasn’t exaggerating.
Dr. Time watched my reaction with mild interest, like a doctor observing a patient’s reflexes. “You’re angry. Understandably. But I want no conflict with you, Nick. None. That is why I am here. To compensate you.”
I exhaled slowly. “Compensate? With what?”
“That depends on what you want,” he said. “I’ve already compensated Amelia.”
My eyebrows drew together. “This is the first I’m hearing of that.”
“She chose not to tell you,” he replied. “Her reward was given six months ago.”
I didn’t like the sound of that.
My gaze flicked toward the container holding Continuity’s head. “That thing isn’t safe. You know that.”
“I’m aware of the Entity,” Dr. Time said. “And I know how to handle it.”
I looked back at him sharply. “Is there a way to kill it?”
“There is,” he answered. “But only you can do it. And if I explained more, I would be… inconvenienced.”
The way he said “inconvenienced” made my skin crawl.
I wasn’t dumb. He wasn’t talking about bureaucratic inconvenience. He wasn’t talking about complications. No, he meant the Entity would notice. And punish.
I swallowed the fresh unease climbing my spine.
Fine. One question at a time.
“What,” I asked carefully, “can you give me?”
Dr. Time leaned back in the chair, fingers steepled. “I can give you blueprints,” he said. “Technology. Designs. Principles far beyond anything this world or your world has access to. All you’d need to do is possess me. Read the knowledge directly.”
I stared at him.
Possess him?
“Before I consider that,” I said slowly, “what are your power ratings?”
He lifted an eyebrow. “Researcher—thirty.”
My breath caught.
Thirty?
That wasn’t just high. That wasn’t just absurd. That was impossible! Capes with ratings in the double digits were already considered inhumanly rare. It was crazy! Thirty?! What the fuck was wrong with the world?
My Empathy scanned him. Truth. No hesitation. No camouflage. He was being sincere.
“How…?” I managed.
“In this world,” Dr. Time said, “I can reach Researcher-30. Outside of it, I drop to Researcher-20.”
My stomach tightened.
“That doesn’t make sense,” I said. “Ratings don’t just jump like that.”
“They do,” he corrected gently, “if you monopolize them.” He tapped the glass container holding Continuity’s head. “I made it so no one else in this world could Pull Researcher ratings. I claimed the entire pool for myself.”
I felt sweat prickle down my neck.
If I possessed him… If I stepped into the mind of a Researcher-30… If I entered the mental space of someone who manipulated entire worlds… He might do something irreversibly terrible. Ratings that high were too risky to play tango with. While it was tempting, I’d rather not risk it.
I exhaled shakily. “I want a different reward.”
Dr. Time shrugged. “Very well. But you’ll need to think of something else. I’m not good at guessing what people want.”
I closed my eyes and sent out a telepathic message.
“Amelia. Come in here.”
The door opened a moment later. She stepped in with a scowl. “I’m not your gofer, you know.”
“Where are the rings?” I asked.
She tossed me a small pouch. “Here.”
I reached inside. My fingers curled around the cold metal bands. Even after everything, my powers couldn’t access anything inside them anymore. They were inert in my hands, like dead things. Even with my powers, I was no longer able to forcibly access it for some reason. Something must’ve happened.
“Can you make these work?” I asked Dr. Time.
“No,” he said casually. “The rings were keyed to Continuity’s power set. Without him, they’re scrap.”
Amelia stiffened at the name.
“Fine.” I handed the pouch back to her. “Then I want something else.”
I took a breath. “Can you reforge a pair of swords and a teleporting dagger into a series of cards? Something I can throw as projectiles.”
Amelia blinked. “…Cards? Really?”
But Dr. Time smiled faintly. “Yes. That’s well within my capability.”
A thought struck me. It was quite obvious now that I thought of it. The legend of the magic weapons. A single creator. A craftsman whose understanding of power and physics surpassed everyone else here.
Of course.
“Did you create the magic weapons?” I asked.
He didn’t even hesitate. “Yes. All of them. It allowed me to control the Pulls of this world… to shape who gained potential and who didn’t.”
I swallowed. “Then let me ask something else. If Amelia and I wanted to return here later, would that be possible? Travel between worlds, freely?”
“No.” He stood up. “I will give you a one-way trip home. That is all.”
I frowned. “Can we bring a few capes from this world with us?”
“I don’t mind,” he said. “Bring whoever you wish.”
He looked toward the door. “Now, where are the weapons you want reforged?”
I turned to Amelia. “Use Grant’s invulnerable sword, the Royal Guard’s telekinetic sword, and the teleporting dagger.”
She nodded, and then froze when I suddenly coughed. A dark splatter painted my palm. It was blood, thick, and almost black, like tar.
“Nick—!” Amelia stepped forward.
“I’m fine,” I lied.
“You’re not fine,” she snapped. “I’ll handle the weapons. You rest.”
She left quickly.
I wiped my hand on the hem of the blanket.
“Dr. Time,” I said quietly. “Do you know what’s happening to me? What this is?”
He didn’t answer.
He didn’t even turn around.
When Dr. Time and Amelia left, the room finally went quiet. I sat on the edge of the bed for a moment, breathing slowly, trying not to cough more of that dark sludge. My chest throbbed. My nerves felt frayed. Eventually, curiosity pushed me toward the mirror.
I slipped off my shirt.
The moment the fabric left my skin, I froze.
Faint, black fissures crawled across my ribs and abdomen like cracked stone. When I leaned closer, tiny shapes shifted beneath the surface. It was eyes or something shaped like eyes, were opening and closing in slow, nauseating movements. They didn’t blink. They just stared outward from under my skin as if assessing the world around them.
I felt bile rise.
This wasn’t power fatigue. This wasn’t aftershock from battle.
This was something else.
The door creaked open.
I jolted upright and yanked on my shirt, tugging the fabric down hard before turning around.
Lady Thornland stepped inside. Her green eyes swept the room before settling on me, and a slow smile curved her lips.
“My,” she said softly, “I didn’t realize you were the forward type. If you wanted to undress in my room, you could have simply asked.”
I rubbed the back of my neck. “I, uh… thank you for your hospitality.”
She laughed lightly. “Call me Irene.”
“I appreciate everything you’ve done,” I said again, trying to keep my voice steady. “Truly.”
She strolled closer, hands clasped behind her back in an almost casual sway. “Then perhaps you’d consider staying here? We have resources. Safety. Opportunities.”
“I can’t,” I said. “I have somewhere I need to be.”
“Such a pity.” Irene’s fingers brushed my jaw. Before I could react, she leaned forward and kissed me, light at first, then with growing insistence as she guided me back toward the bed. “Most men jump at the chance. Are you sure you wouldn’t enjoy accepting my advances?”
I gently pushed her shoulders away. “I don’t think of you that way.”
She straightened, giving me a very bored, very unimpressed look. “You’re a difficult man, Lord Eclipse.”
“I’ve heard worse.”
She sighed dramatically and headed for the door. “There’s a banquet this evening. My father will expect you to attend. I’ll send the maids—”
“No. I can handle dressing myself.”
She paused, arching an eyebrow. “Really? Most men don’t refuse help when it comes to these things.”
“I insist.”
“Well then.” She flicked her hand dismissively. “Try not to look like a barbarian.”
After she left, I exhaled and shut the door. Dressing myself hurt more than I expected. Every muscle felt bruised. The cracks along my skin pulsed faintly, sending small jolts of discomfort with every movement. I avoided looking at them again. I didn’t want them staring back.
“Here I thought I’ve healed at tip-top condition.”
When I finished, the mirror reflected someone who looked… aristocratic. Clean. Noble. Like I belonged here.
But all I wanted was to go home. Back to where I had a chance no matter how small of finding a way to kill the Entity once and for all.
The banquet hall was warm, filled with light and the low hum of conversation. Servants moved between tables carrying wine, fruit, and meats. People fell silent when I entered, then began whispering in waves.
Abner appeared from the crowd, grinning. “Lord Eclipse,” he greeted as he clapped my shoulder. He was out of his armor now, wearing a simple but elegant coat. “You clean up well.”
“Where’s Diane? Or her brother?”
“They’re… shy,” he said. “And they insisted on staying out of the banquet. Too many eyes.”
Fair enough.
Music began in the ballroom, and couples drifted toward the polished floor. Before I considered joining them, Abner nudged my ribs.
“Well?” he whispered. “She’s waiting.”
I turned, and stared.
Amelia stood near the entrance of the ballroom in a flowing blue gown. Her hair was braided elegantly, and the bow was slung diagonally across her back, oddly fitting with the formal wear. She looked uncomfortable and impatient… but stunning.
I approached, offered my hand, and she raised an eyebrow before taking it.
“You clean up weird,” she muttered.
“You look good too,” I returned, and we stepped onto the ballroom floor.
We danced, awkwardly at first, until we found a rhythm. While the music swelled, I lowered my voice.
“How’s Dr. Time’s progress?”
“He thinks he’ll finish by tomorrow morning.” She spun me around with surprising strength. “Then we leave this world behind us.”
“Good.”
We spent the rest of the evening mingling and eating. Irene’s elite guards congratulated us. Her father, Lord Thornland, found us near the banquet tables and immediately launched into a speech about lineage and alliances. Before I could escape, he leaned close.
“You should marry my daughter,” he said. “I’ll grant you a dukedom. And of course, I wouldn’t mind if you took… a concubine.” He looked directly at Amelia.
Amelia choked on her drink.
We were saved by Irene herself, who briskly pulled her father away, mouthing sorry while giving me and Amelia a very suspicious wink.
Later, among the masked attendees, a familiar figure approached. It was Seer. He lifted his glass.
“A remarkable victory, Lord Eclipse,” he said. “As a token of respect, I offer you a servant. A gifted newly freed from the gladiator arenas. Strong. Loyal.”
“If he’s willing to come with me,” I said, “I won’t refuse.”
“Excellent,” Seer replied, and slipped back into the crowd.
Before I could follow, Amelia gripped my arm.
“Come with me,” she said.
Her tone left no room for argument as she dragged me out of the ballroom and toward the corridor.
The rest of the night blurred into something heated and overwhelming, a haze of instinct and exhaustion and the kind of closeness neither of us had planned for. I could have pushed her away. I could have said no. But with the cracks burning under my skin and the fatigue clawing at my bones, I didn’t have the strength or maybe the excuses left. She saw the dark fractures spreading along my ribs, those faint shapes moving beneath, and she still touched me like none of it mattered. Villain, killer, broken thing, whatever I was… she didn’t flinch.
At some point, everything finally went quiet. My breathing slowed. The room stayed warm, too warm, and before I knew it, I drifted into a heavy sleep.
I woke with a jolt sometime later, sore everywhere, lying beside Amelia. We’d made a mess of the room, pillows knocked aside, sheets twisted, and clothes scattered across the floor. For someone who didn’t need slept, I’d been falling asleep a lot lately, and that bothered me more than anything.
The door clicked open.
I tensed, yanked the sheets up, and glared.
Dr. Time stood in the doorway like this was the most normal sight in the world. He carried a hanger with a suit made of dark, reinforced fabric.
He hung it neatly on the rack. “This suit incorporates regenerative and invulnerability properties. It should keep you alive longer. Consider it a bonus.”
“I didn’t ask for that,” I muttered.
“I know,” he said calmly. “But you’ll need it.”
He approached and handed me a stack of cards. It was sleek, smooth-edged, and painted like a tarot set. My eyebrows twitched. So that was his sense of humor. Magical weapons reforged into tarot cards.
“Get changed. Everyone is waiting outside. The portal is ready.”
He left without waiting for a reply.
The moment the door shut, Amelia stirred, eyes half-open, her voice rough. “Fuck… did he really… ugh.” She dropped her head back against the pillow like she wanted to disappear.
We got dressed in an awkward, exhausted silence. She wore the gear she’d set aside the day before, adjusting straps with practiced movements. I slipped into the suit Dr. Time gave me, surprised by how light it felt, how easily it responded to my movements. The dark cracks under my skin pulsed once, but the fabric didn’t tear.
When we stepped out into the hallway, Irene was waiting.
She smiled the moment she saw me. Amelia went red to her ears and practically ran past us.
“Warrior,” Irene said softly as she approached me. She held out a porcelain mask. It was smooth, white, and with faint metallic lines etched across the surface. “A gift. It’s designed to work with electrokinesis and biokinesis. It will serve you well in the other world.”
Her fingers brushed my cheek before she pecked it, shameless and warm.
“Good luck on your quest,” she whispered.
I didn’t know what to say back.
Outside the manor, everyone waited near the courtyard fountain. Abner stood in new armor, dignified despite the bruises on his jaw. Diane and her brother were cleaned up, no longer wearing the grime of the bandit camp. The gladiator Seer had sent my way stood stiff and unsure, but determined. Amelia crossed her arms, refusing to meet anyone’s eyes. Dr. Time waited beside a circular device standing upright like a metal arch.
He gestured at me. “Are you ready?”
“As I’ll ever be.”
He tapped a small gadget on his wrist. The portal flared to life, swirling white and blue, humming with energy. The air tasted charged.
“The coordinates are random,” Dr. Time said. “But you will land on your homeworld. Secure a base immediately. Find transport. And be aware that the SRC will detect your return. Move fast.”
I nodded, took a breath, and stepped through first.
For one heartbeat, there was only light.
Then gravity punched me, and I dropped straight out of the sky.
Wind tore past my ears. Buildings rushed upward. A skyline I knew better than my own reflection snapped into view.
My stomach twisted.
“This… is Markend, isn’t it?”
And I kept falling.