He lets go of me, and I stumble back a bit, but manage to catch myself. My head swims as I turn to everyone standing around me. Wasn't the sun out just a moment ago? Didn't I just get knocked out?
"Polish," an orange grey energy that I've seen before exits the palm of the man before me, the liquid I covered with him disappearing into thin air. His expression wearily turns towards the building.
"Some kind of mental curse? I didn't see any mana flux . . . Ms. Cellavort, your thoughts?" Turning towards Vivian he lets mutters off some questions. Did I just get hit with a curse?
"I failed to detect anything beyond the standard, whatever this is must be fairly complex." Vivian replies with lack of confidence, and what I can only assume to be some shame?
"I'm not stepping inside there." The dark haired girl walks off into the forest, leaving the five of us behind for the second time.
. . .
Did I see the future?
"Any thoughts on the matter?" The man in front of me turns my way. His serious look bores into me, but while he does look a bit concerned I can't tell who for.
"I-uh, I don't know?" Seriously, what's going on?
"Well until we can figure out what exactly caused," Gesturing towards the pile of vomit he continues "that, I recommend we not try and engage with this structure." pointing his hand again at the pile his nose crinkles and he speaks,"Polish" that same energy washing over it and causing the mass to disappear.
Letting out a breath I didn't know I was holding a sigh of relief exits me. Though what am I supposed to say now? That I saw my head get crushed? Felt it. A shiver runs through me. It's cold outside.
Stepping through the door into the warmish, but barely lit room I exhale slightly. Hearing a few slight gasps I turn my head. Five people stare at me like I'm crazy or stupid. Oh. I- yeah, huh this must look pretty strange. I should probably say something . . .
"Sorry, I think I'm just stressed."
All I recieve is stares. No matter what happens I always miraculously embarrass myself.
To my suprise Jiang steps forward and into the space behind me. He turns slightly towards everyone else voicing his thoughts,"This structure doesn't seem to have afflicted me with anything. The Celladian may speak with weight, despite his unstable mind."
Making his way over to the table he sits down in one of the four chairs. My exhausted body calls for me to take a seat, but I'd rather sleep in one of the beds upstairs. Making my way over to them I look up and am daunted by their height.
I've been in this exact situation before. Standing at the base of this death trap I come to the only possible conclusion. I must have gone back in time. But how? Why? Isn't the protagonist only supposed to go back in time when they die?
Horror dawns on my face as I realize.
I died.
My legs hurt. My head hurts. Taking a seat on one of the steps I put my head in my hands. I wasted my protagonist regression on trash mobs?! I was supposed to go back once I've mastered magic and all the powerful techniques! Then I'd get the cutest girl in this whole place and be an awesome isekai hero!
"Move." Looking upwards towards the giant dragon guy I sigh but struggle to bring myself to my feet. After a brief struggle I stand up, though my legs feel gravitated towards the ground.
Looking at the stairs I force myself to move up them, each step feels like a weight is added to my legs. I turn around, to see how far I've come, only to see the face of an annoyed dragon man waiting for me.
I pull myself to the top of the stairs and step into the hall. I want to get this over with as soon as possible.
"There's only three rooms, we have to split into pairs" Just like last time, right?
"You have a keen eye, though there are only five of us." The brown haired man speaks up.
Ah, things have changed haven't they.
"Ms. Cellavort, I believe it in our collective best interest, in favor of an organized and quiet space, that we share a room." Her eyes flick to me for a moment before she nods her head.
"That sounds like a pleasant arrangement." The brown haired man reaches up his hand for a handshake then rapidly withdraws it. A moment of realization on his face. For a moment there's a tension between the two before it turns to awkwardness.
Clearing his throat he opens the door behind him, the same one as 'last night' and enters with Vivian following behind him shortly.
Jiang glances at me and Maryam, who seems to have a habit of being silent and mysterious and remarks,"I suppose I shall be rooming with you Celladian. You may refer to me as Jiang." His hand held out, his look expecting. Didn't we already do this? What could he-
Oh. I never introduced myself.
Though it's not like I could.
I hold out my hand, and shake his. His grip significantly lighter than our first encounter.
"My name is Mercury, sorry for earlier."
Wait, didn't he try and take the sole room for himself 'last night'?
Opening the door to a side room he steps inside, with me after behind him.
Leaving Maryam by herself.
Crap. I should say something.
Peaking my head out of the door I mutter,"Have a goodnight." She seems nice. Quickly going back into the room, Jiang's expression is baffled.
Walking past him and crawling into the bottom bunk I throw the blankets over myself. Yet, I don't hear his footsteps approach the bed. All I hear is silence.
"Aren't you going to sleep?"
"Why would you say that to her?"
Why does everyone have to be like this.
"Say what? Good night? Is it really that big a deal?" He sharp intake of breath makes my heart quicken slightly.
"You truly did grow up away from the rest of the Land didn't you. Listen, and listen well Mercury. If you ever seek the aid of the gods, do not expect to find it if you keep an Idja as company. Long ago the Gods cursed their lands and for the past 1,000 years have refused to aid their people in any way. Their souls do not go to the City of Adamn, and their paths are filled with strife and despair."
Peeking my head from under the covers his gaze is dead serious. Are the gods racist? That's stupid and doesn't make any sense!
"But why?"
"The Gods refuse to speak of it. However, some have theories due to events that occured nearby in time. I personally believe those theories to be swamp muck. Either way it is certainly a maddening feat. If it wasn't for the Waning Worlds Accord, I have no doubt their people would have been eradicated. Though the gods seem to have aired more apathy than anything towards them during this era." That tells me absolutely nothing. Also-
"What's the Waning Worlds Accord?" An exhausted sigh leaves him as he climbs up the ladder.
"27 years after the Great Divide, a deal was made between the Gods to not interfere in this world directly. Many of their followers however have had a large impact across the world. Excluding my home of course." A slump as he hits the bed in above me. Hopefully it doesn't break.
I can hear the pride in his voice when speaking of his homeland. Though, it's just more terms I don't understand. I'm way too exhausted to think about this.
"We have an arduous Vriday tomorrow. I recommend you rest, you certainly need it." But something's been pecking on the back on my mind. Something I just don't understand.
"Why did you want to room with me?" Such a change doesn't come from nothing, right?
"I wasn't going to let you be alone with her." That's a lie. That's not what he did last night.
I go to call him out, but my words catch in my throat. Am I really about to start a pointless argument with my roommate over something this unimportant? Whatever.
"Goodnight."
I shouldn't have said anything.
"May your rest be bountiful."
Staring at the bed frame above me I once again find myself alone. Putting my hands in front of my face they shake, my fingers trembling as I stare at them.
No one remembers yesterday. So I really have regressed right?
If that's true . . . then aren't I going to- sharp claws rake across my defenseless face and I-
I need a plan for tomorrow.
My mind stirs and exhaustion starts to take me. My desire to live, is stronger than my bodies drive to sleep.
"Could you walk with me to school tomorrow?" My face heats up in raw embarrassment. I sound pathetic. I think i'll have to shelve being a hero until I get to school. Then my talents can shine.
Silence, then a grunt.
"Fine. Now, get rest." Ok, hopefully the big guy is strong. Though my heart is slightly eased, my shaking hands do not rest.
Night takes me, as I shake under the covers.