I Guard The Book That Slays Gods

"What captivates the attention of the one I hold dearest?" Klein el Seer inquired, his form solidifying as he crossed through the portal.

The wind played through his dark-brown hair and tugged at his unbuttoned green shirt, the collar fluttering against his neck.

Confidence radiated from him as it always did, but the familiar black blindfold had been replaced by a wide band of white cloth wrapped securely around his eyes.

Klein strolled toward Raiden with unhurried ease, and Raiden responded by dissolving his moon dragon transformation, rolling his shoulders as his body returned to its natural state.

Still, Raiden found himself squinting, his yellow crest offering little comfort against the disturbing absence of Klein's aura.

Klein stepped closer and rested his hand against Raiden's shoulder, his smile easy and familiar. "How are you doing, buddy?"

Raiden lifted his eyes to meet Klein's covered gaze, his look carrying a tired weight. "You lied to me."

"Not quite the reception I was hoping for," Klein said, something peculiar flickering beneath his usual composure as Raiden's words found their mark. "A month without seeing each other, and that's how you greet me?"

Raiden's face contorted in a bitter sneer. "Right now, I should be hauling you across the ground."

His hand moved to remove Klein's from his shoulder, the gesture sharp and dismissive. "You assured me no one would know I'd left my duty, didn't you?"

Klein adopted an almost theatrical air of childish frustration. "You know perfectly well those guarantees never included Alora." A heavy sigh escaped him. "She's nothing short of a complete menace where I'm concerned."

He shook his head, disgust plain on his features. "Those stellar eyes of hers, when she narrows them at you with that deadly stare, you know chaos is coming."

"I suspect she'll prove to be my greatest enemy one day," he murmured, running his hands along his arms as if warding off a chill.

Raiden held his tongue, studying Klein's strange behavior with quiet intensity. He knew firsthand how formidable Alora could be when circumstances demanded it, particularly given her ability to breach even his dreams while he existed in that precarious space between dimensional planes and reality itself.

He had known her throughout his entire life, though not intimately—the rumors he'd heard over the years meant little to him now.

What really troubled him was that he could tell Klein was being sarcastic, maybe even lying outright, but his eyes caught no emotional tells whatsoever. Could people actually slip past him with blatant deception?

"She is inside. I can get her for you if you want," Raiden said, grasping for something concrete to focus on besides his spiraling thoughts.

"It would be futile."

Raiden raised an eyebrow. "Let me guess, you already know how that goes."

"I don't waste my time on such mundane matters," Klein said, and something dangerous flickered across his face. "You were already informed of the mysterious girl, right?"

Raiden's expression turned serious as the pieces clicked into place. This was why Klein was here, and whatever it was, Klein had been waiting for this moment for a long time.

"You know something about her," Raiden said flatly. "What does she want from me? And who is she?"

Klein began massaging his forehead in frustration. "She wasn't supposed to show up this early." He shook his head. "The future has been disrupted somehow and now I can't really tell what happens next."

Confusion dawned on Raiden first, then his expression dropped to something even darker. "What do you mean?"

Klein took a deep breath, "I can't tell you much about her, but she is the huntress."

"Huntress?" Raiden repeated.

He gave Raiden a firm nod. "She targets specific people because of what they're destined to become, and ensures they never live long enough for that future to unfold."

Raiden knew the huntress wanted him dead from the moment he heard of her, but he hadn't expected such a ridiculous reason. All because of what he might do in the future? The irony was bitter—he had no future in this world because he was determined to return to his past life.

However, at that very moment, understanding hit him like a cold wave. What if the huntress wasn't trying to prevent what he might do here—but what he would do when he returned to his world?

"What exactly did I do in the future?"

For the first time ever, Klein looked helpless in his own game. "The huntress is like an unbreakable force, and once she's involved the future becomes… blank. Uncertain." He shrugged helplessly. "So with you, I can't see past this moment."

"So you're useless?"

Klein smirked. "Is that how you want to put it?" He sat up straighter, reclaiming his presence in the room. "I am Klein el Seer."

Klein's boasts meant nothing to Raiden now. This wasn't a matter he could overlook, not when it confirmed his deepest fears.

An unbreakable force,—he thought.

Was it Aaron's warning—that staying on this path could drive him insane if he couldn't return home? Which would mean… he actually managed to get the pages?

Raiden's thoughts spiraled. How was he supposed to face an unbreakable force? If the huntress simply wanted to stop him from obtaining the twenty pages, killing him would be the most efficient method. He had no intention of dying, though, he would have to make the unbearable bearable, whatever it took.

Dawn was breaking, the sun creeping up from the eastern horizon. As soon as Klein noticed the light, he turned to the teleportation portal that waited behind him.

"I will see you after your mission, kid," Klein called out, but Raiden's mind was completely consumed by thoughts and confusion.

However, it didn't take long before he came to a conclusion—but by the time he raised his head, Klein was already gone.

He clenched his fist and gritted his teeth, frustration mounting as he realized el Seer was gone.

Alora had mentioned something crucial, when the huntress visited, she hadn't attacked them once, despite their attempts to kill her. If that was the case, then the huntress's future-blocking effect only applied to him. Klein could still see what happened to his comrades.

But Klein's rushed exit made it clear; he'd already thought of this but had no intention of helping.

Still, he refused to spend his remaining training days obsessing over the inevitable. When the huntress came, he would counter her however he deemed necessary.

As he stood there, a voice suddenly came from behind. "You really spent the whole night training? Impressive."

The voice snapped him from his thoughts. He turned to find Alora and June, their yellow aura dancing gently in the morning breeze.

"We have to leave," Alora said, coming to a halt before Raiden.

Raiden was at a loss for words. He would have felt more at ease knowing they'd be there when he left on his mission tomorrow, but he didn't want to make his departure too conspicuous.

"We are Stars of the kingdom, you know?" Alora said, brushing her white hair behind her ear. "Duty calls, but we will return as soon as we can."

She smiled. "After all, I can't afford to go much longer without seeing my future husband."

Raiden narrowed his eyes, focusing his sharp gaze on her emotions, but found no fluctuations whatsoever. It confirmed his suspicions about his ability—Alora was either being completely truthful or blatantly dishonest.

He smiled and took a deep breath, then reached into his pocket and withdrew a badge. It was the Dawnbringer family crest Alex had given him as proof of their alliance to free the family from bookkeeping duty.

"Would you give this to Alex Dawnbringer when you return?"

June squinted. "Alex? He's been coming by repeatedly, looking more dejected each time, searching for you. But your clone always hid from him."

Raiden looked confused. "Really?"

June gave him a firm nod, took the crest, and both she and Alora headed toward the mansion.

"We'll settle this with a fair duel when I get back," June said enthusiastically, waving at Raiden as she turned to follow Alora.

Raiden watched as they walked away, saying nothing. He already had too much on his plate, but June's words about Alex's constant visits and depression sparked his curiosity. He'd been keeping the proof of Alex's Dawnbringer lineage from him for far too long.

"Well, the pages are what really matter," he muttered to himself.