Part 1
"Life has a way of transforming in an instant."
Though I've heard this saying countless times, its true significance often eludes me until the moment has passed.
At present, you might be nothing more than an ordinary high school student, but the twists of fate can't be predicted...
Tomorrow could see you wielding the very power of time itself.
Part 2
It's been a full week since I, presumably, found myself transported back in time.
I'm gradually adjusting to this bewildering situation.
Even something as basic as conversation requires a shift in my language and mannerisms, as my usual way of speaking might draw unwarranted attention.
For now, I've secured an apartment as my place.
Surprisingly, it's quite accommodating, although it falls short of modern standards. Yet, it provides a livable environment, allowing me to get by decently.
In terms of my immediate plans, I'm contemplating how to gather clues about the whereabouts of the enigmatic watch.
However, uncertainty looms over whether I'll be successful in locating it. In the worst-case scenario, I might find myself perpetually trapped in this era.
In addition, I'm mulling over the idea of securing employment to ensure a steady income.
I'm grateful that the landlord of this building, Mr. Albert, has extended their kindness by allowing me to stay temporarily until I can cover this month's expenses.
Hence, I must prioritize earning money before the month concludes.
"This looks promising."
While strolling along, my attention was drawn to a hiring poster affixed to a wall.
The announcement indicated that they were seeking newspaper delivery boys, offering a daily wage of 30 cents.
It might appear modest at first glance, but considering the context, this would roughly translate to about 10-13 dollars in today's currency.
"Hmm... Where exactly is that..."
The poster mentioned heading to the nearest newspaper office, but I'm still getting my bearings in this city. Perhaps I should ask some locals for directions.
I scanned the area and my eyes landed on a young boy, seemingly of a similar age to mine. He stood there, immersed in contemplation, his gaze fixed on a distant point.
Gathering my courage, I lightly tapped his shoulder.
"Uh... Excuse me—"
"...?"
"—Oh!"
A sudden realization struck me: were people's eyes noticeably different in this time period?
He had a peculiar look in his eyes, like that of a foreigner from some unknown land. But simply being around him stirred an unsettling sensation deep within my stomach.
"Uhm... do you happen to know where the nearest newspaper office is?"
"..."
He remained silent, his expression completely blank.
"Um, well, never mind. Have a good day, sir..."
I hastily bid him farewell and instinctively turned away.
He was undeniably strange, to say the least.
I spotted another man, this time considerably older, appearing to be in his late 70s or 80s.
"Good day, sir. Could you kindly direct me to the nearest newspaper office?"
"Oh, it's just to the east of the main street. You'll notice a sign pointing in that direction."
"Thank you very much, sir."
"You're most welcome, young lad."
With smiles exchanged and farewells given, I was gradually growing accustomed to this archaic way of speaking. It almost felt like I had stepped into an old movie.
On another note, considering his age, he likely lived through the 1800s, right?
It's quite remarkable to be encountering individuals from such ancient times.
Wait a moment... didn't my great grandfather live during this era?
Maybe, just maybe, I could cross paths with him someday.
Well, that's assuming I manage to find my way back home in this era, which, in this technological landscape, seems like quite a challenge.
After a brisk walk of around five minutes, I finally reached my destination.
"Excuse me, I'm interested in applying for the position."
"Ah, certainly. Right this way," came a prompt response, and I followed the person's lead.
I took a seat on the chair and waited for approximately 10 minutes. Eventually, another individual, presumably the manager, arrived, and we proceeded with the interview.
Fortunately, I managed to secure my first job. They mentioned that I would require some training, so I've been instructed to arrive here at 5 in the morning tomorrow to begin. It seems like a reasonable arrangement.
Part 3
After three weeks of training, I'm starting to get the hang of things.
Interestingly enough, this experience is proving more advantageous than I initially thought.
I've developed a solid familiarity with the layout of the city, become attuned to the news and events of this era, and now I have a meaningful routine to start my mornings.
Though history classes in school had provided a glimpse into the past, I'm acutely aware that tumultuous times lie ahead.
War, plague, economic crises—the challenges this era faces are significant.
My perspective has shifted, and I now hold a deeper respect for the people who lived through these times.
Should I intervene in some way?
In this peculiar position, I possess knowledge of the future that far surpasses that of the people around me. It's tempting to think that sharing this information could potentially benefit them.
But the question is: how?
As a mere lower-class citizen in this era, I lack the influence or authority required to enact any significant change.
The dilemma is that any action I take could inadvertently alter the timeline. A prime example is Sakura, whom I saved from a fate that was meant to be her demise.
My interaction with the mysterious watch changed her destiny, allowing her to continue living.
If I were to make changes in this era as well, it's conceivable that the repercussions could cascade into the future, altering the course of events I'm familiar with.
While it might be tempting to improve the lives of those around me with the knowledge I possess, I must consider the potential consequences and the delicate balance of the timeline.
Even a seemingly minor change could lead to a future I'm unfamiliar with, and that uncertainty is a risk I must weigh carefully.
Part 4
"Great work today, young man."
"Thank you, sir. Have a pleasant evening."
As I finished my shift and stepped out of work, the sun was making its descent, casting a warm glow over the city as it prepared to surrender to the embrace of night.
"Hey, sir. Mind if I borrow the bike?"
"Oh, sure thing. Just treat it right, you wouldn't want to lose your share of the deal, eh?"
"Haha, absolutely. Thanks a lot, sir."
Mounting the bike, I pedaled away, the chilly breeze creating a resistance that seemed to push against my progress.
"..."
With each passing day, a sense of homesickness begins to creep over me.
Initially, I didn't let it bother me too much. After all, I held onto the hope that I could return to my own time at some point.
But with the disappearance of the mysterious watch, the gravity of my situation has truly sunk in.
If we were to put it in mathematical terms, I might be able to taste a hint of modernity if I'm patient enough.
Considering it's the year 1902 now, and factoring in the life expectancy of the near future, it's not entirely far-fetched to imagine myself eventually enjoying the music of Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, and other modern classics from the late 1900s.
However, even with this glimmer of hope, the fact remains that I can't return to the exact life I had before.
My original home, my family, my memories... and my friends like Sakura... they all seem like distant echoes of the past that I can't quite grasp anymore.
Part 5
".....!"
Pedaling furiously, I had finally reached the bridge, and to my growing terror, I seemed to be the only one on that desolate path—or at least, that's what I desperately hoped.
My heart pounded wildly in my chest as I strained to see through the dim lights ahead.
My eyes caught a glimpse of something, a shadowy, indistinct figure lurking at the far end of the bridge, right in the direction I was heading.
The feeble illumination did little to penetrate the darkness that enveloped the figure, making it even more ominous and enigmatic.
Fear gripped me like a vice, and I could feel a cold sweat forming on my brow.
Panic surged through my veins, urging me to turn back, to flee from whatever unknown horror awaited.
My bike's wheels slowed involuntarily, as if my very instincts were trying to protect me from the looming danger ahead.
My mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, all screaming at me to halt, to reconsider, to find safety.
"I think I should stop for now..."
Clink Clink
My heart nearly leapt out of my chest at the eerie sound that echoed through the air, slicing through the silence like a chilling whisper.
"...!? H-hello?"
My voice trembled as I called out, the lump in my throat making the words barely audible.
My senses were on high alert, every nerve in my body screaming danger. The shadows seemed to thicken, and the atmosphere grew thick with an unsettling tension.
I swallowed hard, my breath caught in my throat, as I waited in dread for any response, any sign of what lay concealed in the obscurity.
This was the kind of fear that digs deep into your bones, that makes your skin crawl and your heart race uncontrollably.
Ah, shit... This was about to get really, really scary.
Then, emerging from the darkness, a small object slithered into view, its presence an unsettling interruption in the night.
It was barely discernible from my current distance, shrouded in obscurity, yet an inexplicable curiosity compelled me to take hesitant steps closer.
But wait, why was I moving toward it? The rational part of my mind screamed at me to stay put, to avoid whatever unknown entity lay ahead.
Yet, an internal battle raged within me as my desire to uncover the truth warred with my instinctual fear.
Arghh... my better judgment was losing ground. Despite the apprehension that gripped me, an irresistible urge pushed me forward, eager to unravel the mystery of that elusive object.
"....!"
Disbelief surged through me—was it really possible? The watch, the very object I had lost, lay right there before me.
A chill slithered down my spine, a nagging suspicion echoing in my mind. This felt too convenient, too coincidental. Hadn't I misplaced it somewhere else? How did it end up here?
Regardless of the doubts gnawing at me, an irresistible compulsion overtook me, urging me to reach out and grasp the watch once more.
But then, something inexplicable occurred.
The watch moved.
I recoiled slightly, my heart hammering in my chest. I attempted to reach for it again, only for the watch to shift away once more.
As if guided by an unseen force, it began leading me into the surrounding darkness. Panic surged within me—this wasn't right.
"Darn it!...?!"
Frustration mingled with trepidation as I leaned in, drawn closer to the enigmatic object. My fingers stretched out, trying to reclaim the watch, and that's when I saw it—a peculiar sight that defied all reason.
There, amidst the void, floated the disembodied eyeballs, devoid of any surrounding silhouette.
They defied all sense of logic, suspended in mid-air as if defying gravity itself.
A strange sense of familiarity tugged at my consciousness—had I encountered those eyes before?
Then, it struck me—the peculiar individual from before. The colors matched, and that same unsettling vibe emanated from this bizarre apparition.
"Error deprehensus est qui dat purgationem."
"Error deprehensus est qui dat purgationem."
"Error deprehensus est qui dat purgationem."
"...huh???"
The voice, unexpected and alien, reverberated through the air.
My heart pounded in my chest, panic welling up within me. This wasn't just some random phenomenon—it spoke, and its words were cryptic and unsettling.
Realization dawned upon me that I had stumbled upon something far beyond my comprehension, something that sent shivers down my spine.
Without a moment's hesitation, I seized the object—my lost watch—and retreated in haste. My heart raced as I pedaled furiously on my bike, desperate to put distance between me and whatever strange, ominous presence I had encountered.
Part 6
Had I managed to escape the clutches of that uncanny presence?
It felt like an eternity since I had last glimpsed those disembodied eyeballs. My mind raced, grappling with the reality of what had transpired.
The minutes stretched, each heartbeat accompanied by the ghostly memory of those eyes fixed upon me.
Biking relentlessly for five minutes, my instincts screamed at me to keep moving, to put as much space as I could between me and the enigma that had manifested before me.
The city's lights cast strange, elongated shadows that seemed to reach out in a sinister dance, intensifying the eerie atmosphere.
Gasping for air, the adrenaline still coursing through me, I was spurred onward by the urgency to escape whatever malevolence had tainted that bridge.
With every rotation of the bike's wheels, the grip of fear began to relent, gradually allowing me to reclaim a semblance of control.
Though the distance grew, an unsettling sensation lingered, as if unseen eyes continued to track my movements.
A shiver cascaded down my spine, but I dared not look back, fearing another encounter with that sinister gaze.
My focus remained fixed on the path ahead, on familiar landmarks that offered a thread of comfort amidst the unnerving uncertainty.
Could this all be a figment of my imagination? The byproduct of an overwhelmed mind grappling with the strangeness of this era and the watch's elusive powers?
As I continued to pedal, the persistent feeling of being watched gnawed at my consciousness, an intangible weight that refused to dissipate.
The minutes dragged on, my surroundings a blur as I propelled myself forward, determined to outpace whatever malevolent presence might be trailing me.
With each turn, each intersection left behind, a sense of relief mingled with a lingering unease.
Finally, the bridge disappeared from sight, replaced by the growing brilliance of city lights and the symphony of urban sounds.
A shaky breath escaped my lips, releasing some of the pent-up tension that had held me captive.
The specter of the unsettling encounter began to recede, replaced by the unease of the unknown.
My fingers brushed the cool metal of the watch that now rested in my palm, a symbol of both victory and foreboding.
A faint smile tugged at my lips, a testament to the small triumph of reclaiming this object that had baffled me for so long.
"Hah, I finally did it, I guess?" I muttered, my voice a blend of disbelief and exhaustion.
"Now... I can..."
The words hung in the air, pregnant with the weight of possibility.
With the watch back in my possession, the thought that had been simmering at the back of my mind could finally take center stage—I could finally return.
The prospect of leaving this era and returning to my own time was tantalizing, promising a reunion with the life I had left behind.
But as hope began to swell within me, doubt crept in like a whisper. The elation of success was quickly replaced by a daunting realization.
Yes, I had the watch, but did I truly understand how to wield its power? The previous instances of time travel had been spontaneous, almost accidental.
The watch seemed to operate on its own accord, without my input or understanding.