NOVPUBDared's vision blurred as he opened his eyes.
"What... what's that?" he muttered in confusion.
His gaze sharpened—and then his eyes shrank in horror. Space folded before him, and a memory surfaced like a projection. He didn't need to think twice. He recognized it instantly.
It was one of his own... a memory from when he was a child—when he suffered.
His mind shattered as he recalled what had happened. He saw his younger self being molested. His fists clenched in rage and shame. But he was merely an observer—watching everything unfold from a godlike, detached point of view.
The pain was unbearable.
He wanted to rush forward… to save himself.
He felt it—like if he tried, he might actually change this.
But then—
"Sigh… Really? The past is the past. I can't change it… Have I forgotten I'm in a trial?" Dared whispered to himself, forcing his heart to calm.
It was agonizing. He couldn't look away. He couldn't even close his eyes. He was forced to watch—again and again—as the scene replayed. Not once, but multiple times. With variations. Each more painful than the last.
He was tempted to move. But he didn't.
Even as the scenes shifted, he remained still.
He only trembled… but he did not move.
All his regrets, all his pain… they played before him. He was a spectator, doomed to relive those moments endlessly.
*******
Liya opened her eyes and found herself in the palace.
Standing in front of her was a small boy who smiled when he saw her.
There was no doubt.
It was Caius—just a child.
"You're so cute… why are you so small?" Liya smiled and stepped forward, reaching out to touch him.
But her hand passed through him.
"Huh? What?" Liya blinked in confusion.
She turned to see the young Caius carefully preparing a gift box. He picked a beautiful flower and placed it delicately on top.
"Hehehe… Lady Liya will love this," he said with a bright smile. The maid beside him gave a stiff smile in return.
Watching closely, Liya's heart sank. That smile… that forced expression…
Something was wrong.
Then it hit her.
The flower.
Her smile vanished. Replaced by horror.
"No… no…" she covered her mouth in shock.
She couldn't interfere. She couldn't stop it.
This was that day—the day she learned Caius was born out of wedlock.
The day he lost his title as crown prince.
The day she lost him… and was betrothed to his younger brother.
The scene faded.
Rain poured down.
A small boy stood in the cold, head lowered, soaked to the bone, clutching a drenched gift box.
"No... no... no... why... why did this happen to me... WHY!!!" he screamed into the sky.
"Caius..." Liya called out, her voice trembling.
But he couldn't hear her.
She was heartbroken. But then she felt something—an urge.
She could change this.
She could make it so he wasn't born out of wedlock…
She could relieve him of this pain.
She could have him back.
A smile crept onto her face. She was excited.
But then—boom—
It hit her.
"What… what am I doing? I can't change the past…" she whispered.
She watched on, devastated, as even more sorrowful memories flooded in. Regret. Sadness. All of it.
***********
"Bastard…"
"Pig…"
"You all should call me something… don't just stay silent. I'm not worthy of being the eldest prince…"
Little Caius walked through the palace halls. People looked at him with either pity or fear.
The present-day Caius walked beside him, silent.
Watching his own past.
His regrets. His pain.
Calmly.
Only his fists clenched.
********
"Humans…" Jake muttered under his breath as he watched his people die again.
He was calm—strangely calm.
He had already decided. He would join this organization.
They knew who—what—he truly was.
And they didn't care.
They accepted him.
They were the ones.
Everyone was subjected to their worst traumas—childhood horrors, regrets, sorrows.
Some had it worse than others.
Some couldn't take it.
They crumbled.
And they were killed.
*******
Dared opened his eyes and found himself back in the familiar resting area of the trial grounds.
He wasn't alone. Others were here too.
"From their expressions… they went through hell," Dared thought as he looked around.
Sigh
"This trial… it's transforming us."
A voice echoed across the space:
"Three more days…"
Dared blinked in shock.
He was so close to failing…
How long had he been in there?
Then he realized—
Everyone had been transported back at the same time.
That meant he had held out among the longest.
"Fascinating," Dared muttered.
Second Week End...
Another week passed.
More participants died.
But many still remained.
Unlike the first trial, this week was different.
People were quiet.
Emotionally wrecked.
Traumatized.
Until that voice came again:
"Congratulations. You are one step closer to joining this organization. Now, for the next trial… it's simple. In fact, we'd like to show you our strength. You now have the opportunity to go back in time and save someone you love. If you succeed… you pass."
Then, silence.
Everyone vanished.
*****
"Definitely a trap…" Caius rolled his eyes as a new scene unfolded before him.
His mother.
He saw her death again.
He could stop it.
He could see her again.
But he knew this was a lie.
You can't interfere with the past. That's forbidden.
And even if this organization could—why would they waste power for this?
Still… he watched her die.
Then it got worse.
Now, he was in his mother's body.
He felt her fear. Her pain.
"Damn… this isn't a trial. It's torture," Caius whispered.
And then it got worse again.
He was now in the body of the killer.
He could feel his mother's despair.
He was about to kill her—and he couldn't stop himself.
He could, maybe.
But… should he?
Yes.
No.
This was an illusion.
…Right?
*****
Dreadborne Organization
Back at Dreadborne HQ…
"Linkir… is this just an illusion?" Sword Demon asked, intrigued.
Linkir replied, "Hmm… no. It's the actual past."
Eyes narrowed.
"If they try to change anything… they'll be killed immediately."
"Damn, Linkir…" Nix muttered.
"Crazy bastard."
"Just enjoy their torment," Junnie yawned, earning weird looks.
"Of course you would enjoy it. You were already a demon under Asmodeus before joining us. But Linkir… She's more of a demon than we thought. Scary."
******************†***********************†*******
