William left the sleeping Nicolas at the house and made his way to his favorite spot in the Lost Forest—a secluded lake not far from home. He often visited it at night, drawn by the way the moonlight shimmered across the water's surface.
The forest was quiet, with barely any animals in sight. Only the rustling of leaves filled the air as the cool night breeze passed through the trees. William lay on the grass, gazing up at the breathtaking expanse of stars.
To many, such things may have seemed unimportant, but to William, they were worth pausing for. He cherished the quiet countryside and the peacefulness it offered. Usually, it helped him relax and forget the burdens of life—but something about that night felt different. The boy's words kept echoing in his head.
—A hero…
William stretched his right arm toward the moon, closing his fingers around it like a child catching fireflies. When he opened his hand again, it was empty.
—I don't understand… why do people look up to me so much?
It was a question he asked himself often, but never found an answer to. Outsiders always seemed to expect greatness from him—fame, accomplishments, a legacy. Maybe it was because he was young, single, with no children—his future a blank canvas full of potential in their eyes. What they didn't see was the pressure he carried, the anxiety building over the years, and the quiet turmoil of his family's legacy behind closed doors.
—Why me?
The boy had looked at him with those same eyes—full of hope, of expectations. But unlike others, his admiration hadn't faded. That only made William wonder why. Why would someone still see value in a man wasting his days drinking and being idle?
—I'm no hero. What could I possibly teach you?
"It's only a matter of time before you're disappointed in me too…" he muttered.
He didn't know when it would happen, but he was sure it would. One day, Nicolas would grow tired of him and leave. And William would be alone again, with nothing but that tiny house deep in the forest.
"—Isn't it a lovely night?"
"Hm?"
William's eyes widened. The unexpected voice pulled him out of his thoughts. He turned from the sky toward the lake's edge, where a woman stood, gazing at the moon's reflection on the water.
He couldn't see her face clearly, but the moonlight lit her crimson hair in a way that left him momentarily speechless.
"I think it's too beautiful a night to look so gloomy," she said softly.
"I-I suppose you're right…"
—What does she know? he thought.
Still, her words reminded him of Lucy—how she always seemed to know when he needed something, like the drink she offered during one of his lowest moments. This woman hadn't brought him anything, but her presence and intuition told him she could see right through him.
—Am I that easy to read?
His face flushed slightly. Embarrassed, he stood up and cleared his throat, furrowing his brows.
"Excuse me, ma'am, but it's not exactly safe to be wandering around the forest this late."
Still facing the lake, the woman tapped her lips with a thoughtful finger. "I suppose you're right… though I should say the same to you."
William gave a dry chuckle.
—You got me there.
The Lost Forest was infamous for its dangers. Few dared to enter unless they were familiar with its unpredictable terrain. He couldn't help but wonder what brought someone like her—so out of place—into the woods at such an hour.
"Not to intrude," he said cautiously, "but what brings you into the forest this late?"
"Oh? I heard this spot was beautiful at night."
—Really...
As far as William knew, he was the only one who regularly visited this lake. Most avoided the forest after sunset, and for good reason.
Still, he didn't press further. If she didn't want to share more, he wasn't going to pry.
"You should've seen it at sunrise. The view was incredible."
"Ah, what a shame. I must've misread the time. Looks like I'll have to stay until the next one."
"—You really have no sense of danger, do you…"
William was taken aback by her casual attitude. Most people wouldn't take a single step into the forest without preparation, and here she was, talking about camping out like it was a picnic.
He observed her more closely. She had delicate features—pale skin, bare arms and legs, no armor. Just a flowing white dress. No weapons. No supplies. Nothing to protect herself.
"If you're planning to wait for the sunrise, don't bother. The forest changes constantly. You won't get the same view again until maybe next month."
The forest's geography followed a strange pattern. On the morning before a full moon, the trees would part just enough to reveal the sunrise reflected in the lake. But it only happened once a month.
"Waaah? Waiting that long isn't something I can afford… then again, maybe I can."
She trailed off, lost in thought. Then, as if a lightbulb went off in her head, she clapped her hands together.
"Guess I'll have to rewind time!"
"—Like hell you can!"
Magic was well-known throughout Heratia, studied and developed by pixie scholars. Healing, combat, and enhancement spells were widely practiced. But rewinding time? That was beyond any known magic.
"Hm? You don't think I can do it?"
"Well… magic can do a lot—healing, elemental spells, maybe even teleportation. But altering time itself? That sounds… impossible."
She giggled. "You're right. I can't. I wish I could..." Her voice dipped into melancholy, but she quickly brightened again.
"Speaking of time, tell me—what's your opinion of the future?"
William scratched his head. "I'd say… it's uncertain."
"Oh?" She crouched by the lake and dipped her fingers into the water. "If you knew your future, could you change it for your own benefit?"
He crossed his arms, thinking. "Hard to say. Knowing the future might change it in itself."
"True. But what if the future you know is already the one where you do know it?"
"…If it meant saving someone, then yeah. I'd try."
"Really? Do you think you could challenge fate—and win?"
He smirked. "With that kind of power? I'd make fate kneel before me."
Her eyes widened slightly, surprised by his boldness.
"Let's say… in every future you see, you die. Every single one—except one. Would you still fight?"
"If there's only one chance to survive, then I'd do everything I could to reach it. No matter how small, I'd follow that future."
The woman smiled softly. "I see… so this is how it began," she whispered.
Late-night musings were common, and William didn't mind the conversation. But he had stayed out longer than usual, and the forest wasn't safe—especially at this hour.
"It's getting late," he said, turning to leave. "I should head home. You should too."
She nodded. "I suppose you're right."
He began to walk away. "If you want, we can continue this conversation another time, miss…"
—Wait a second...
They'd been talking for ages, and he hadn't even asked her name. He paused mid-step and turned back.
"That's right, I never caught your na—"
"—I wouldn't move so abruptly if I were you."
She was already facing him. And that's when everything changed.
His legs buckled. His chest tightened. He collapsed, face-first into the grass.
"What are you—agh!" He tried to stand, but pain surged through his body. His limbs refused to move. "What… what did you do to me?!"
The woman didn't answer. She walked calmly over to his limp form and crouched beside him. Rain hadn't started falling, and yet he felt droplets on his face.
She leaned in close and whispered in his ear.
"I'll wait for that day—the day you defeat fate."
A low roar echoed through the forest.
And then, everything went black.