Free Web NovelChapter 22: Bitter Regret.
The previous day—10 P.M.
"Alright! Let’s do it, then. Though before we begin, I have to clarify something first. You know how I said you wouldn’t need [Motion], right?" Sornel asked.
"Uh, yeah? That’s why I’m doing this."
"Well, I lied. It’s not actually like that. [Motion] is a prerequisite to use [Visione], which means you’ll still need to use it to some extent." The boy crossed his arms. "But don’t worry, even with your level of control, it should be enough. The process I’ll teach you begins just the same as if you were to do it normally—just send your sight into the future or the past, but instead of holding it there with [Motion], use [Freeze]."
That makes sense. It was true that [Visione] was basically the result of applying [Motion] to one’s sight. However, for Aldrus, maintaining his in a different time was incredibly difficult, considering his performance. That was why [Freezing] his sight in place was a much better solution, though not without its setbacks.
"I think I get the core idea, but I have a question. I know the risk of getting stuck there until my Perspective runs dry, but I imagine [Freezing] my sight would also make my [Visione] less flexible than most, would it not?"
Sornel grimaced. "Yeah... you’re right. Not only is it more dangerous, but it’s also less efficient. You won’t be able to dynamically move your sight through time once it’s already frozen. The only solution would be to cancel the skill and start from scratch. But don’t be too discouraged just yet; if your Perspective is good enough, your [Visione] might actually have a larger range than that of other Holders. It all depends on that."
"I guess we won’t find out unless I try. Don’t make that face, Sornel. I’m just happy I have a chance to use it despite my limitations. I thought I would have to give up on it and focus on other skills. Even if I can’t do it now, nothing has really changed," Aldrus said, a soft smile appearing on his lips. "Well, then. Here I go."
Closing his eyes, Aldrus took a deep breath. He focused on the here and now—the crackling of the fire, the chilling night breeze, the chirping of crickets, the steady flutter of the flag cloth... And once he took it all in, he exhaled, letting it all go.
Letting it stay there, where it all belonged. The moment he left behind. The present...
The past.
He opened his eyes. Everything was the same, yet slightly different. Sornel was in front of him no more. The night breeze had long since been replaced by a strong wind that lashed at everything in its path—and with it, the moisture of a thousand storms. The grass beneath his feet was now completely damp, clearly visible under the faint morning light streaming through the clouds.
It had been hours.
W-What... "Hello?!" Aldrus tried to yell, but no words came out. He felt like a ghost, a lonely spectator. He noticed that he couldn’t hear, smell, or touch. The only sense remaining... was sight. Everything he saw around him had left an impression purely based on how it burned into his eyes.
It worked... His lips pulled back in an exhilarating smile. It worked!!
He was overwhelmed by pure joy. If it weren’t for the fact that he lacked a physical body, he was sure he would be running and jumping all around. He wasn’t useless; he could still use [Visione]...
He would never be left behind.
He let his emotions run wild for a while, thinking about all the new possible uses of his powers. Eventually, a single idea came to mind.
T-That’s it! If this works... I need to tell Sornel!
Aldrus quickly composed himself. The real challenge was now. If he failed to cancel [Freeze], he would be stuck there until he passed out.
Come on... Come on, I can do this!
He inhaled deeply once again, taking in everything around him... and letting it all out. Out where it all belonged. The moment he had yet to see. The present...
The future.
...
"Whew..." He gasped, opening his eyes as the heat of the fire rushed back. "Sornel... I did it."
Standing in front of him, the red-haired boy blinked in shock. "Y-You really did it... I can’t believe it! Aldrus, you really did it!" Sornel sprang forward and shook him by the shoulders like an excited child.
"H-Hey! Stop that! What’s gotten into you?" Aldrus protested.
"You have no idea how hard it is to do that! Aldrus, the only people who ever managed to pull this off are now deep underground, you hear me?! You’ll only find them in history books!"
What is he saying?!
"Aldrus, tell me! How far did you go?"
"Uh... until dawn, I think."
Sornel fell quiet. His expression was unreadable.
Is it really that hard to do? Aldrus questioned himself. It hadn’t been particularly harsh, if he said so himself. In fact, what worried him most—getting stuck—didn’t happen at all; it was even easier to cancel the skill than it was to use it in the first place, so he was fairly confident in being able to do it again.
As his head began to hurt due to overthinking, the red-haired boy finally spoke. "N-No way..." he said in complete astonishment.
Well, if he reacts like that, I have no choice but to believe him. Aldrus chuckled. So, this is my strength. "Sornel... go wake the others. I have a plan."
***
The plan had been simple. Aldrus had thought about it upon noticing the absence of his other senses during [Visione]: What if, instead of sending his sight into the future, he sent his voice?
If he were able to do it, then their chances of winning the game would dramatically improve. So they tested it.
It turned out it wasn’t really hard to do either. Aldrus had managed to pull it off fairly quickly, practicing in coordination with his team. In the end, they came up with a strategy for the following day:
Loyu, Sornel, Seris, and Oriel would hold their position at the camp, while Aldrus would go after a stray enemy from another team. Then, he would try to defeat them and approach the enemy’s camp by himself. He didn’t need to win the fight; he only needed to show them he was being serious—that would be enough.
Needless to say, they never intended for Aldrus to win on his own against an entire opposing team. His task was simply to get captured by them without arousing suspicion, hence why it was crucial for him to fight properly at least once before the capture.
Once guarded inside the enemy’s camp, he would then send his voice into the short past, back to where his team awaited. He would tell them where the enemy’s base was and how each student was deployed, creating the perfect opening for a surprise attack to free him and secure the flag.
Everything had been going well. Aldrus had managed to defeat Cedric and approach the Red Team’s camp, which he had glimpsed with [Visione] shortly after leaving his own.
"...Um, can you hear me? The first part is done," he had said.
No response.
Crap... Have I really lost my mind?
"I’ll keep moving now. The second part is beginning."
***
"The second part is beginning." Those were the words he regretted the most.
The second part of the plan was for his team to start moving. Even if Aldrus hadn’t had time to tell them the exact location before being captured, his team was, at the very least, on their way into the depths of the forest now. Which most likely meant... they would eventually stumble straight into them.
Damn it! "Guys, don’t go! Head back to the camp, now!!" he shouted into the darkness, desperately trying to throw his voice into the past once more. But the chains sucked his Perspective dry again, preventing him from using his powers.
Shit! Please, no! Move! Move, damn it!
But his shackles didn’t flinch. He was completely and irredeemably trapped. Along with two other lost souls and his own bitter regret.
