Wrong Time, Wrong Place

The present

It's been days since Celesteal's defeat. I don't know what to expect, being stuck in the future and my friends have no memory of me or Nick who lived my life during the Starpocalypse. All I know is that we can live at peace, living our present day lives to make new memories, even when it hurts to leave the past behind.

"Stefan, are you alright?" Nick would ask, I only nod to him.

"Come on, I know something's wrong, Yawgate's concerned about you"

"It feels so empty when my life three hundred years ago doesn't matter. I barely feel connected to your life"

"I know it's rather mundane and lonely, but at least you have us! They can't remember you but that doesn't mean you can't give them good memories with you"

"How can you say that if you've, in a way stolen my life?"

"Oh, now we're doing this? Did I ever complain about you stealing my future?"

"No, not at all"

"That's right. Now come on, the others are looking for us"

Nick reached his hand out for me, I grab it and got up. We walk along the emporium floor, he takes me towards the room where Mason and Umbra's world entrances resided.

"Stefan! Took you long enough to come!" Mason's warm gaze seemed apparent despite the symbol on his face, looking at him resurfaced the pain in my heart.

"Yeah... Sorry about that, I was zoning out somewhere else"

"Is it about the whole swap thing? Come on, let's move from that. Besides! You get to spend most of your life with us now! It's strange, but we'll get used to it"

"I'm just a human, how could I ever enjoy life knowing I'd leave you all first?"

"Well, if it was possible, pointifying you wouldn't give you much worries. But that's not possible isn't it? Unless by some twist of fate, you get that. But you shouldn't dwell too much in your sorrows. You'll see us again one day! Don't think about it too hard"

Before I could respond, Yawgate came rushing in with Morward and Pasless following close.

"Hello, sorry! I was trying to convince Pasless to come with me, has anything happened?"

"Oh nothing much, you haven't missed anything at all"

"Ah, good. So what's the plan?"

"We introduce them to the others! Taking them to each world and area, surely they'd love to see new things considering their isolation"

"Is it dangerous?" Pasless asks.

"Nope! If danger ever comes, we're here to protect you- isn't that right Verosfear? I mean- Nick, I'm sorry"

"Nah, it's all good! Call me whichever, Verosfear grew on me really"

"I see!"

I gaze over to the two points, Morward seemed thrilled about exploring the worlds, Pasless seemed wary and afraid. We met Yawgate within the other door in that same place where we went to confront Celesteal. The others had notice how that door was stuck in a sort of time loop, and for safety reasons it had been closed shut. There was a remnant of Celesteal hidden within the pocket dimensions, so I was tasked to check it out. At the end of the pocket dimensions, Exosphere belonged to a point named Voixer, he seemed to be made of 'nothing' but after trying to initiate a sort of battle to determine history, he made the shocking discovery of being the final remnant of Celesteal. Due to that, he dissipated his form and I never saw him again, but something tells me he's not gone foreve-

"Hello? Stefan you can't just be zoned out all the time! Let's go!"

I shook my head and followed after, I didn't bother to listen to the others as they introduced the two to everyone. Eventually they finish off their little tour and Yawgate brought the two back to their pocket dimensions to rest, Mason invites me to the sanctuary. The angels had been shocked about learning the truth about Verosfear but had welcomed him with open arms, giving him a place to stay in the sanctuary. Nick went to speak with the angels while Mason took me to his estate, I was confused but I followed him there.

"Hey, you've been really distant for the last few days. I understand what's troubling you at this moment, and go on, tell me what you could've told me all those years ago when you wanted to visit me"

"But you wouldn't understand it much"

"I'm still that person you knew. Just go on, I'll listen"

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry that I've left you, as much as I wanted to give you space, sometimes I wonder if I should've stayed and help you cope through it, you were so young... A young and new mayor that had to handle the grief over your father, I was such a terrible friend"

"Oh, that's a lot, uh... You did came back didn't you? You still care, you had the effort to try and make amends with me"

"Things didn't work out the way it should've been, and seeing how Nick had it, even if we didn't swap, it'd still be miserable"

"It won't always be miserable, not if you let it be that way. The past shouldn't haunt you, the future can't bother you either. You have your present to pave into a path you want to take, and if it helps, you can tell me something about the past that's about the other points, the happy little memories you've had with us. Who knows, it may help us remember something"

"Hah. I wish"

"Well. That would be a miracle if it happens, though miracles can happen. But let's not think about it, just have fun for now! Don't you have anything to do in the moment?"

"Well tomorrow I want to go to Signol and maybe play some music with him"

"Good, good. Do you have plans today?"

"Not really, and I don't really want to go home today"

"So you're sleeping at the emporium?"

"Pretty much"

"Then just stay here for the night! I have a spare bed for you to sleep on"

"Sounds great, I think I'd like that"

"Are you hungry? What would you like?"

"Hm, a sandwich?" I say with a smile, feeling a bit better.

"Of course! If it makes you feel better! It's nice to see you with a smile!"

Anshine's symbol flickered happily, in that moment it felt like the older days. Perhaps things won't need to be as sad as it is, since my friends are all still by my side. That's enough for me.