Shadow Monarch in Tensura

Chapter 14: Chapter 14: Chronoa [Part 2]

I spent what felt like hours admiring my new sword before turning to my new teacher and bowing as a gesture of respect. "I'll be in your care.".

"I will meet you at the city gates. Make sure to take everything you need before coming," said Chronoa.

"Okay," I said before turning to my mom. "I'll see you when I come back," I added as I hugged her.

"Listen to Chronoa and behave yourself," Mom said in a caring tone, "And if you cause trouble, I will lock you in your room for a week."

"I am not a troublemaker. I always behave well," I assured her while hearing Chronoa chuckle from a distance.

Going to my room, I swiftly gathered my belongings and wrote a brief note for Aiden and Mai to inform them I would be away for some time. Then, I headed towards the city gates, where Chronoa was already waiting.

As I left the city, I walked towards her, and she gave me a weird look seeing me having a backpack.

"Why aren't you using your inve..." she began to ask before interrupting herself. "Nevermind, let's go. We can't waste time." She said, and we started heading East.

Inve? I started thinking, and then it hit me. How could I forget about having an inventory? At that moment, a new screen popped up displaying 36 slots with a slider on the right side.

My right eye visibly twitched at my stupidity. Having never had any use for it for the last six months, I didn't think about it.

I lamented over the number of books I could have brought with me, but I didn't want to admit to her that I wanted to return for them.

But now I was certain that I existed in the previous timeline and as myself, not the original Cale. However, I was confused about how we could still fail even though I was there with the powers of the Shadow Monarch.

Actually, does it work like that? The whole time-travel thing is confusing.

But considering she knew who I was and knew about my inventory, I had it in the previous timeline. Could something change that in that timeline, making me weaker?

But how do I start the conversation? Do I go and say something like, 'Hey, why did you travel back in time? Oh, how do I know you can travel in time? I just know...' Yeah, maybe not the best thing to say.

We continued to walk as I thought of a way to ask her about the previous timeline but couldn't find a good way.

The problem isn't just asking her about the previous timeline but explaining how I know she traveled through time.

"Just ask what you want to ask." She said with a sigh.

"Ask what?" I acted confused

"You know what." She replied

"Know what?" I asked again

She sighed in annoyance before muttering, "Allways a pain to deal with..."

Deciding to stop acting like an idiot, I asked her, "So you knew me in the previous timeline?"

"Yes, I did, and you are as annoying as I remember." She said

"But then, why are you here? What happened?" I asked, wanting to know.

"The last timeline was the worst out of all of them." She said and tightened her grip into a fist. "You were controlled by Michael due to your virtue skill and went on a rampage killing everyone."

"Didn't I do anything about that? I should know he could control me if I had a virtue skill." I asked, not understanding how I could make such an obvious mistake.