Eliabeth had destroyed several cities – all belonging to Temple of Void – in her rampage.
The news was spreading among the upper echelons already.
"Did you know Mom would encounter the people from Temple of Void?" Amelia asked with a shaking voice.
She shouldn't have asked such a question from Neo.
He was the one who saved her mother from the curse.
He was her savior.
But after being betrayed by her siblings, she had started to doubt everyone.
"…"
Neo exhaled deeply.
"Yes."
"Why didn't you tell Mother to bring more people with her…?"
"…"
The truth was bare before her eyes, but she remained desperate.
She wanted to hear anything – even if it was an excuse – to trust Neo.
"Neo… Answer me…"
"More people could've jeopardized the secrecy of the mission. Besides, they would've become a burden on Elizabeth when the battle started."
"Then, why didn't you ask Sir Sebastian to go with Mother? He is an Exalted Demigod."
Amelia didn't know why she questioned Neo.
She wanted to know if he had purposely pushed Elizabeth into harm's way.
She was afraid of the answer.
Afraid that he would say yes.
His answers until now were enough.
They should've satisfied her even if they sounded like excuses.
But she continued to question him despite not wanting to hear his answer.
"…"
Neo remained silent.
It was enough as an answer.
A crisp echo rang, and a sharp pain rose from Neo's cheek.
Amelia stormed away, crying.
Left alone, Neo sighed.
"Fuck."
He moved down the corridor and left the building.
After arriving in the park outside the place, he sat on a bench.
He stared at the clear blue sky with a muddled gaze.
"Was my choice wrong?"
Neo shook his head.
"It wasn't–"
"It wasn't wrong. If you had sent more people, then Eliz might've actually died."
He snapped his head towards the source of the voice.
Charlotte, the principal, sat next to him on the bench.
Her cane rested next to her, and she stared at the sky.
"It's funny, isn't it? The more you try to change the future, the more Fate resist."
"…"
She kept her eyes on the sky.
"There is a famous story among the Time users. Do you know about it, brat?"
"No."
Neo answered, even though he was confused.
He didn't understand what Charlotte was trying to say.
"Nine hundred years ago, a genius was born. He grew up to be one of the best time mages.
"He was capable of going as far as eight years into the past."
Charlotte continued.
"He was prideful and arrogant for obvious reasons.
"One day, he was assigned to protect a village.
"Long story short, the village was destroyed by 'them.'"
Neo's face hardened at the mention of 'them.'
He listened to Charlotte's story with attention.
"Arrogant as he was, the man was also kind.
"He regressed to save the village.
"He failed and regressed, failed and regressed, failed, regressed, failed, regressed.
"He kept going on for decades."
Charlotte stopped for a moment.
She took a glance at Neo before returning her gaze to the sky.
"He didn't have an extraordinary will. Nor was he kind enough to waste decades of his life in a fruitless attempt.
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