Regression: Reclaiming the End

Back inside the pizza shop, the bell above the door jingled faintly as the breeze shifted. I watched the fading silhouette of Katherine disappear into the crowd, the uneaten crust of my slice still clutched in my hand.

Noel noticed my silence, leaning back in his chair with a curious glance.

"You good, man?" he asked, sipping his soda.

I blinked, tearing my gaze from the glass and forcing a breath out. "Yeah."

Noel arched an eyebrow, but didn’t pry. Instead, he leaned forward with a grin. "So, while we’re on the topic... how strong was your old team anyway? The one you had in that timeline?"

I gave a quiet laugh, eyes drifting slightly as memory tugged at me.

"Strong," I said. "Ridiculously strong."

He tilted his head. "How strong are we talking?"

I began ticking them off on my fingers.

"We had Katherine—our healer. She wasn’t just support; she could regenerate entire limbs in seconds. Best recovery mage on Earth, bar none."

"Damn."