I woke up with a massive headache. What had happened again?
Right, I got killed by those warriors of the cat-people tribe. Dying really wasn't a feeling I could get used to, but it somehow just kept happening. But I guess that at least confirmed that I'd always be reincarnated when I die. If reincarnation was even the right word for this...
Just before I died, I saw myself running after Kaitlyn again. Even though I was sure she had died. Was this some kind of time loop? I'd think it was some kind of hallucination, but I was sure that what I saw was real. The only way to find out would be to go outside and look for myself.
Just like last time, I was in an unfamiliar environment. But instead of a tent, it was an actual small house this time. Although it was in no way modern and looked like it was built mostly out of wood and clay.
And just like last time, my body felt different, too. When looking into a mirror in the bathroom of the house, I stared into the face of an unfamiliar person. He was a relatively old but muscular man with many scars on his face and body. And since he stood right in the place where my own face should have been, it looked like I once again took possession of a new body. When seen objectively this should have scared me, but it felt somewhat... comfortable. Almost familiar. I wonder where this body came from; if it belonged to someone else in the past. But I didn't have any way to find out, other than this house, of course.
And for now, my top priority was to gain some insight into this world. Not researching the backstory of my body. And if I was really in a time loop, I needed to find a way to save the women in the Laboratory. Or at least Kaitlyn.
When stepping outside, I was greeted by a quite familiar environment. It looked just like when I had rushed through the capital, trying to help Kaitlyn. I had tried to suppress my thoughts about what had happened to her, but just remembering it again made me sick... But if this was truly some kind of time loop, I might actually still be able to save her.
Since I had no idea where exactly in the capital I was, I headed to the castle first, which stood prominently in the center of the city. On my way there, I once again noticed the lack of people, but since I only walked at a normal pace at least the few people weren't all staring at me. Most of the city also seemed to be a residential area, everywhere looking eerily similar. If it weren't for the towers of the castle getting bigger, I'd think I'd still be right where I started.
Shortly before arriving at the castle, I noticed the number of people getting larger. It seemed like some kind of market was currently the main event on the plaza in front of the main entrance of the castle. Since I hadn't seen this plaza or the main entrance before, I had to be on the opposite side of the castle from where I had entered the last time to find the Stone of the Goddess. Since I came from the south the last time, I was now probably on the northern side.
The market looked mostly like what one would imagine a stereotypical medieval market to look like. Booths from different merchants were set up all over the plaza, and the place was buzzing with activity from all the people trying to buy fresh vegetables and meat. But in addition to all the food, there also seemed to be a lot of stands selling magical items or weaponry. Many of the castle guards also seemed to be patrolling the area, but both they and the people around them seemed to be very relaxed about it.
There was also a big group of what seemed like mercenaries gathered in an empty corner of the plaza. It was a jumbled group of men of all ages, and even an amateur like me could see that most of their weapons were either very cheap or had seen better days before.
However, I wasn't here to buy anything or watch those mercenaries. I didn't even have any money, so I couldn't have bought anything, even if I wanted to. Maybe I should have checked the house I left earlier for money or stuff I could sell. If I had, I could have bought at least a cheap weapon here on the market or hired one of those mercenaries... But now was too late for that; I didn't have any time to waste. Instead, I needed to head to the Magic Research Laboratory again.
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It took me a short while to find my way to the Laboratory again. While my assumption of being on the wrong side of the castle was correct, I realized I didn't remember much of the surroundings while I ran there in my frenzied state. So instead of trying to find the street I took back then, I instead went to the southern gate first. Where I had entered the capital for the first time. After being at the gate, finding the street to the slums again proved to be straight-forward, and now I finally stood in front of the Laboratory again.
However, the atmosphere was completely different back then. There were many people trying to enter the building, and there were even multiple guards stationed at the big entrance doors. However, none of the people here had black robes, and most of them just looked like regular civilians.
Should I just try to enter the building? There shouldn't be anyone here who'd recognize me.
Nervously, I headed towards the big door, squeezing through the crowd. When coming closer I could already start seeing the interior as the doores were opened again and again as the people entered and exited the busy building. It was the same big lobby I'd seen before, but it was lit brightly by both the sunlight through the windows and a lot of candles all around the walls.
Unconsciously my eyes settled on the door near the back of the room again. It was closed and guarded by two guards. Each of them held one of those strange black staffs with two cross-beams – similar to the mage who abducted Kaitlyn.
Just when I wondered whether I should just storm in there and try to resolve this by force, I suddenly felt a hand on my shoulder.
"You'd better come with me." The deep voice came from a muscular man in full armor and equipped with a mace. His face didn't look like he meant it as a suggestion. Did I already make a mistake? I didn't even get close to my goal.
But as I didn't really have any other choice, I just nodded and followed the man outside again. It didn't take long until he spoke up again:
"I know what you're up to, Arthur. And we are on your side." He seemed to be more relaxed, as soon as we left the crowd of the Laboratory. We were still going somewhere. From what it seemed like, it was probably the castle.
"How did you know my name? And who are 'you'?", I once again had more questions.
"Well, you know about the time loop, right?", the man asked with a bit of a sad smirk. "Our group – we are all Arthur. We are all you."