"Very simple and easy to understand. Basically, I will 'die' because of the fate I have."
Ray was slightly surprised, although he had actually suspected it from the beginning. Elaina's answer made him understand that the girl in front of him was someone who was not afraid of death. Because Elaina's expression didn't even change when she said those words to him.
"Die? Do you mean you will really die?"
"Yes, you're right."
"How can you die just because you broke a promise?"
"My promise has been heard and recorded in an absolute contract by this world. It is impossible for me to escape the fate of death that awaits me after breaking a promise that has been recorded by this world."
"What if you just stay silent and do nothing?"
"It would be futile, because even if I just stay silent, I will still die. Maybe someone suddenly recites a random spell and it hits my head? Or maybe I suddenly have a heart attack? Or perhaps an unknown assassin comes and kills me. It could even be that the place where I stay suddenly collapses and the building material hits my head, causing my death. There are still many other things that could happen."
Ray looked back at the word 'yes' on the screen in front of him. But now his expression showed no emotion. A feeling of emptiness and void haunted him due to the uncertainty he was experiencing.
Elaina, confused and feeling strange, looked at Ray's peculiar behavior and asked, "What are you doing? Is there a problem?"
"No, there's no problem. It's just that I suddenly feel uncertain after hearing your explanation."
"Why?"
"Thinking that someone can die so easily just because of a promise they made with themselves makes me feel uneasy.
Moreover, I don't know if in the future, you end up dying not because you broke your promise with me. But I'm sure that I would assume that you broke your promise to me.
Even though I know that it's just a possibility. But still, this thought bothers me."
Elaina smiled after hearing Ray's explanation. With a happy heart, she said, "You are a good person, Ray."
"What makes you think that?"
"It's your doubt... It's the doubt within you that makes me feel that you have a very kind heart.
I rarely meet people like you, Ray. You are a good person, I'm sure of it."
Ray smiled happily hearing the praise. But deep down, he doubted it too.
It is actually my frequent doubt that always gets me into trouble. Or more precisely, I am always late in solving the problems in front of me.
I also know that doubting something is normal. But I am aware that I often doubt things to the point where it exceeds a reasonable limit.
I would even doubt someone who simply passes by me while I'm walking or just standing still.
I am not the good person that you think I am, Elaina. I am just someone who doubts everything in the world. I even doubt myself.
Elaina looked at Ray in silence, as if pondering something. She was curious and asked, "What are you thinking, Ray?"
Ray, with a panicked expression, quickly tried to smile in front of Elaina, hiding the dark side within his heart at the moment.
"Oh, nothing... There's nothing. I'm just wondering how to thank you."
"Oh... I thought so. Don't make people worry about you all the time! Why does your face always look like someone who is constantly thinking about heavy things?"
"Maybe it's just your perception?"
"Really?"
What heavy thoughts? I'm just complaining to myself...
With mixed feelings, Ray still maintained the smile he showed.
Suddenly, Elaina remembered something. "Oh yeah... We were supposed to talk about your ability! Come on, quickly press the word 'yes'."
Ray started moving his finger towards the screen that was still next to him. But he still felt uncertain and looked sideways again, looking at Elaina's face.
"What are you waiting for? You just have to press it. What's difficult about doing something as simple as that? Come on..."
With his eyes closed, Ray finally pressed the word 'Yes' on the screen. Making the screen disappear and another strange screen appear.
[Congratulations, the agreement has been made.
The gods have become witnesses and acknowledge the agreement made by Ray Lewinston and Elaina Rainkhard.
The world has successfully recorded this agreement and has started the program to be executed.]
Ray no longer looked surprised by what was happening in front of him. Showing that he was already accustomed to the strange situation.
Ray turned to Elaina and saw that she was looking in a certain direction without any clear reason. Making Ray understand that Elaina also received a notification from the screens.
I really can't see those screens. It seems that no one can see the screens intended for others.
"Now it's time for you to explain your ability. You did promise before, right?"
If it's like this, there's no other way.
With a smile and a feeling of happiness, Ray began to gather his courage to reveal the truth about his known ability to Elaina.
With his eyes closed, he said, "Actually... I can go back to the past when I die."
With great confidence that he had fully uttered that sentence. But when he opened his eyes, Elaina looked curious, waiting for the explanation he wanted to give.
At first, Ray didn't fully realize what was actually happening at the moment. But as time went on, he began to feel the strangeness happening around him.
There was no sound at all, not even the sound of insects could be heard in Ray's ears.
There was no wind at all,Ray didn't feel any breeze or wind pressure when he waved his hand.
There was no movement whatsoever, Ray couldn't even see any movement from Elaina who was standing in front of him.
A feeling of emptiness that he usually faced when he was alone now haunted him again. Ray felt a sense of emptiness and a feeling that there was nothing in the world. After trying to understand that feeling, he finally realized that it was a result of loneliness. He wasn't surprised because he felt that this wasn't the first time he had experienced such a feeling.
Without any warning, a strange red screen suddenly appeared in front of Ray. It was different from any other screens he had seen before.
[Warning!
Time has been temporarily stopped.
You have violated the established rules. There will be consequences if you continue with what you intend to do.
Do you understand?]
This is getting stranger and more stranger, and I don't even know what rules they are referring to.
Am I not allowed to tell others about my abilities? Why?
Is it because I might be harmed if I do so?
I don't mind that. Because I trust Elaina with all my heart. I believe that she would never betray me.
Moreover, she would die if she broke her promise.
I am certain that she is a princess who would not abandon her people just to spread information about my abilities.
Besides, I am not convinced that Elaina is so cruel that she would exploit me for her own gain.
It seems that I now hold Elaina in very high regard.
It's strange considering I used to think of her as a burden on my shoulders.
I never expected that burden to give me such a strong push that I can stand up straight like I am now.
Ray smiled, feeling relieved. He also felt happy because he believed he had become a better person than before. Even though it was only his own perception, at least he felt that way now.
The red screen in front of him quickly disappeared, and time returned to normal as it used to be.
He saw that Elaina was moving like a living being.
He could also feel the air blowing through the gaps in his skin.
The sound of insects like crickets could be heard again in the surroundings. Although it made Ray realize that it was starting to get dark. Because he knew that crickets never chirp when it's still daylight.
Ray looked around the room and found ventilation around it. He stared at it and realized the truth that it was now completely dark.
Meanwhile, a few seconds had passed. And now Elaina was observing Ray's strange behavior of being lost in thought and paying attention to his surroundings. It made Elaina slightly annoyed because she felt completely ignored by Ray.
"Ray... Why are you ignoring me?"
Ray was slightly surprised to hear Elaina's voice sounding annoyed.
"Oh, sorry, I just realized that it seems to be getting dark now."
"Then shouldn't you explain to me as quickly as possible?"
Honestly, I feel like our conversation so far has had nothing to do with the problem we are currently facing.
But it is necessary for you to fully trust me. Besides, you did something so daring just to gain my trust.
Gaining someone else's trust just so you can trust others? Truly... You are amazing, Elaina.
Even though you actually seem foolish for making us do this foolish thing. Especially since we are in the wrong time. Do you still have time to talk to me like this?
Well, I can't blame you for that. Because I am better than you at wasting time on useless things.
Ray started speaking while closing his eyes like before, "Actually... I can go back to the past when I died."
He finally felt relieved because this time he was sure that Elaina could really hear the sentence he spoke.
He opened his eyes and suddenly Elaina fell forward onto his chest. Making Ray have to catch Elaina in his embrace.
"Eh? What are you doing, Elaina?"
In that mysterious situation, Ray slowly looked at one of his hands that was wet with something. He found a red liquid that he didn't know where it came from.
Worried about Elaina's condition and panicked because of the red liquid he found, he finally carefully checked Elaina's face.
The face he saw at that moment was the face of a girl with her mouth closed, with red liquid flowing from between her lips.