Chapter 11: The Awakening of Yurina
Zack slowly opened his eyes, the familiar scent of the dorm room filling his senses. For a moment, he wasn't sure if he was still in the academy or if the recent battle with the Apostle of Envy had all been some kind of nightmare. But the soft light filtering through the curtains and the calm stillness of the room told him he was back. He wasn't dead.
As he blinked, trying to shake off the remnants of his grogginess, his eyes fell on something—or rather, someone—that made him freeze.
Lying on his bed, with her head resting on the pillow beside him, was Miss Yurina. She was asleep, still in her usual blue and white uniform, her short white hair slightly tousled from her nap. She looked peaceful in her slumber, but that only made Zack more curious. What was she doing here? How did she get into his room?
Zack remained still, debating whether he should wake her or not. It wasn't uncommon for someone to come by, but he didn't recall asking for company. Yet, before he could make a decision, Yurina stirred.
A soft sigh escaped her lips, and she slowly rubbed her eyes, wiping away the remnants of sleep, a thin trail of drool still visible on her cheek. She blinked a few times, adjusting to the light, before her eyes locked with Zack's.
"Oh…!" Yurina's voice cracked in surprise. She bolted upright, her cheeks flushing a deep shade of red. "You're awake!" she exclaimed, before hurriedly wiping her face and adjusting her position, attempting to regain her usual composure.
Zack couldn't help but feel an odd sense of familiarity in the moment. He'd seen it before—a thousand times, perhaps, but he didn't recall in which life. He watched her fumble with her words, clearly awkward at the situation.
"Hi," she said, her voice quiet and uncertain.
Zack offered no response at first, simply staring at her. He wasn't sure what to say. The awkward silence stretched on for a moment.
Then, to Zack's shock, Yurina suddenly asked, "Zack… Are you a regressor?"
Zack's heart skipped a beat, his eyes widening as the weight of her words settled over him. How could she know? How could she possibly—?
Yurina's voice dropped as she seemed to search for her words. "I mean… I've noticed something... different about you. The way you carry yourself... You don't seem like others. It's like… You've seen everything before." She paused, her gaze intense. "You've… died before, haven't you?"
Zack's breath caught in his throat.
Flashback: Yurina's Point of View
Yurina had always been the helpful sort. It was just in her nature to lend a hand, whether it was to the other students or to strangers in need. She had grown up in the Hydro family, well-versed in how to use her powers and how to control them, even if she still wasn't fully aware of her potential.
On the day she'd noticed Zack's strange behavior, she'd been running through the halls of Aether Academy, helping students with minor injuries, aiding those trapped by magic snares, and making sure everyone was safe. But as she ventured through the campus, her steps took her to her favorite place—the white and golden flower garden. It was a place she often visited for peace, to clear her mind when the weight of the Academy's demands grew too heavy.
When she arrived, she was stunned. The flowers—those beautiful, vibrant blooms—were all withered, lifeless. The scent that usually filled the air had turned sour, and the once-pristine garden was now filled with death.
Her heart dropped when she saw him. Zack.
He was lying unconscious on the ground, his body bruised and bloodied from battle. The signs of a fight were all over him, and Yurina's heart clenched in her chest. She rushed to him, dropping to her knees, her hands trembling as she checked for a pulse. He was alive, but barely.
Something compelled her to do more. A strange urge deep inside her stirred, and without thinking, she reached out, touching Zack's forehead. She knew her ability had awakened—she hadn't fully realized it before, but now it seemed undeniable. She could feel the echoes of memories, fleeting and painful, coursing through her fingertips.
She read his memories.
What she saw shook her to her core. She saw a man trapped in an endless cycle of pain and death. Over and over again, Zack had died, each time a different way, each time more violent, more painful than the last. She saw him lose everything—his family, his loved ones, his friends—and yet he persisted. No matter how many times he died, he came back, only to suffer again. And every time, the same truth haunted him: the unbreakable cycle of Eternal Return.
Tears filled her eyes as she pulled her hand away.
Why did he keep this secret? Why didn't he share his burden with anyone?
Yurina trembled, clutching her chest as she thought of how desperately Zack had suffered. She could feel his pain, his hopelessness. He didn't deserve this. He didn't deserve to carry such a weight alone.
As she thought back to the present, sitting now by Zack's side in the dorm room, she looked at him with a mixture of empathy and sorrow.
"Why didn't you tell me?" she whispered, almost to herself. "Why…?"
Zack remained silent, his usual emotionless expression masking whatever was going on inside him. But Yurina knew. She could sense it now.
"I know…" Yurina began, her voice barely a whisper. "I know when someone finds out about your Eternal Return... you reset yourself to stop it from happening again. You... don't want anyone to know, because you think it would break you."
"I won't tell anyone," she promised softly, her voice steady but gentle. "I won't let you face this alone, Zack. I won't let you go through this anymore."
Her hand reached out, gently covering his hand in a quiet gesture of reassurance. She could feel him stiffen, but he didn't pull away.
Zack's lips parted slightly, his eyes narrowing in quiet contemplation. Yurina could see the hesitation, the uncertainty, but also the faint glimmer of relief. He didn't want to be alone in this. He wanted someone to share his burden with.
With a small, silent nod, Zack finally agreed. He didn't have to say anything. His eyes met hers, and in that moment, they understood each other.
Yurina squeezed his hand once more, her gaze firm. "I promise, Zack. I won't let you reset again. We'll find a way to break this cycle."
For the first time in a long time, Zack felt the weight of his eternal struggle lift, if only for a moment.
And in that moment, he allowed himself to believe that maybe, just maybe, things could be different or so he thought.
End of Chapter