Even so, there was something in Prince Kaellion's gaze that made Cedric feel uncomfortable, a curiosity that he could not predict at all. Suddenly a servant approached him, Cedric turned towards the servant.
"Sir Cedric, I am Anna, I will escort you to your room," said one of the maids who appeared politely, introducing herself while giving a friendly smile then motioning for Cedric to follow her this time.
Ah, so Cedric was rewinding time and going back in time. He followed behind Anna as she walked through the corridors of the palace.
However, as Anna led the way, Cedric felt the same tension as before. This... was a familiar feeling, as if he were back in time-the same time, the same events, but everything felt... a little different.
"Looks like I'm really back," Cedric whispered to himself, though he kept his expression calm.
Every step down this hallway brought back vague memories, like a riddle being revealed again. But he knew more now-about what was to come, and about the decision he was about to face.
"What a second chance," Cedric murmured softly, as if warning himself.
"This is your room, sir," Anna said, opening the door to the luxurious and spacious room.
Cedric stepped inside, his eyes sweeping around, taking in every detail of the room with mixed feelings. Although everything seemed familiar, there was something that felt... strange, like repeating an episode that had already been lived through, but in a slightly different setting.
"Please, if you need anything, please ring the bell," Anna continued, giving an explanation of the facilities in the room.
The maid bowed politely and exited the room, closing the door quietly. Once the door was completely closed, Cedric let out a long sigh as he continued to walk towards the long sofa in the room and finally let himself fall on it.
He looked up at the sky outside, the sun was shining brightly this time, very different from the heavy rain he had experienced before. The stark difference only solidified one fact in her mind, she was really back. Not just a dream, not an illusion.
His hands lifted up, staring at his clean palms, without the slightest scars from battle. He then dropped one hand, and the raised one covered his eyes this time.
"I don't even understand why I was summoned to this world," she murmured softly, "Not only that, I even got to repeat time..."
His brow furrowed, and for a moment, her breath caught.
"...Wait." Cedric suddenly opened his eyes wide, dropping his hands from his face. His gaze went to the empty air before him, as if trying to access something invisible.
"If I go back in time... what about my abilities? Will they disappear too...?"
He stood up from the sofa and clenched his fists, the magic energy still faintly felt in his body. She still felt it, like a warm flow that infiltrated her body slowly. With a slow breath, she closed her eyes and focused.
"Status," he muttered in his heart.
Instantly, a transparent screen that only he could see appeared before him. It was floating in the air, glowing with blue light.
None of his stats had changed in the slightest, everything was still the same as before he went back in time. But there was a slight difference. His charisma and experience points were now at zero.
Cedric frowned, "Why are these the only two that reset?" he muttered, his fingers sweeping the transparent status screen lightly, as if hoping for some further explanation to magically appear. Unfortunately, the system gave no clues.
"Is this from going back in time?" Cedric muttered, his eyes still glued to the screen that kept loading. His confusion deepened, trying to make sense of what was happening.
"Shit... I have to start from scratch again," Cedric sighed.
"Losing that expansion means I really have to start over with everything, even relationships with people here." He looked around, trying to take in this strange situation, but his heart was filled with a bigger question: who is the real client behind all this?
"Well, I'll think about that later. Utilizing information from the past is of course very beneficial to me," Cedric said with a slight smile, feeling a little relieved. He knew that knowledge of previous events would give him a great advantage in dealing with what lay ahead.
Then, his eyes fell on the title on his status, The Regressor. Cedric stared at the writing, The Regressor, a simple title but one that emphasized that he had gone back in time.
He lowered his hand, and slowly the status board disappeared from his sight. He stared at the floor of the room as he clenched his hands into fists, a sense of anxiety beginning to overcome him.
If all his stats hadn't changed... if his magic power was still there... then maybe...
"Astra," Cedric murmured softly, almost a whisper.
The name slipped from his lips reflexively, the owner of that name had accompanied him throughout his journey in this world. His spirit guide, the only one he trusted, the only one who stayed with him when everyone else left him. Cedric looked around the room, waiting. There was an eerie silence, as if the air held its breath.
As soon as Cedric called out the name, a faint light flickered in the air. The light began to swirl rapidly before finally forming a familiar petite figure, a shimmering transparent yap, and a gentle aura that warmed the surrounding air. Her hair shimmered like flakes of moonlight, and her eyes shone softly like morning mist.
"Ced!" the loud yet gentle voice echoed with excitement. "Thank goodness you're okay." She floated over quickly, almost bumping into Cedric's face in her relief.
Her small face looking troubled, she hugged Cedric's cheek smiling with relief.
"After that fight... for some reason I couldn't feel your energy! I tried to contact you, but there seemed to be a huge barrier separating us..." He then touched Cedric's cheek with both hands, as if to confirm that he was really there. "I thought... I lost you."
Cedric was silent, looking at Astra who now floated before him. Warmth and relief slowly erased the chill of uncertainty in his chest. He sighed softly, then nodded.
"I thought you were lost too, Astra."
Astra then flew away for a moment, making small loops in the air while glancing carefully at her surroundings. Her tiny wings flapped softly, giving off a subtle sparkle every time they moved. She tilted her head, her expression full of confusion and curiosity as she looked at the furniture, curtains, and ornamental arrangements in the room.
"By the way," she said as she turned to look at Cedric, her tiny brow furrowed, "isn't this the room you used to...? The one you lived in after you were first summoned to this world?"
She drifted down slightly, her eyes narrowing suspiciously. "Why are you here again? Isn't... this all in the past?"
She hung her words, as if realizing something. Then, her eyes widened slightly as the possibility she had dismissed began to make sense. "Wait... Ced, don't tell me that this is... the old time? Are we... back?"
Cedric sighed, his eyes sweeping around the room that felt so familiar yet also carried a heavy weight in his chest. "That's how it was, after that battle I somehow returned to the time where I was summoned to this world."
Astra was silent for a moment, noticing the change in Cedric's expression. Her face seemed to grow more serious, and she leaned closer, speaking in a more careful tone. "So that's it, it turns out you're regressing." She gave Cedric a worried look, "But Ced, isn't this strange? The thing is I'm here after all, didn't you meet me a week after being summoned here?"
Cedric bowed his head slightly, trying to collect his thoughts. "I feel the same way," he replied quietly. "Even my status hasn't changed a bit."
He looked at his status, which was still clearly displayed, and felt as if something was wrong with this situation.
Likewise with Astra, she lowered her head as if thinking about something, her small eyes looked sharp, as if trying to find hidden clues in this complexity of time spinning again.
"Ced, do you remember who you fought last time before coming back here?" Astra asked, her voice sounding more serious than usual.
"What...?" Cedric held his head, feeling something was wrong. "This is strange. I remember fighting someone, but I can't remember his face or name."
"Of course I remember every-...."
His words trailed off. His chest felt tight all of a sudden, as if something was pressing down on her mind, strangling his slowly from within. A strange feeling, like a shadow lurking in the corner of his eyes, blocked all his thoughts. His mind became hazy, as if there was something he wanted to remember, but could not reach.
His voice choked up, and his whole body felt an overwhelming tension, as if a heavy burden had just fallen on him. He bit his lower lip, trying to hold back the growing dizziness.
Astra who had noticed the profound change in Cedric flew over anxiously. "Ced?" her voice sounded soft, full of worry. "What's wrong? What happened?"
Cedric looked down, he was holding his head which was hurting a bit at the moment, "There's... something not right. It's like something is trying to cloud my memory," he replied quietly, his voice almost lost to the pain that was starting to creep into his head.
Astra was silent for a moment, she then flew around Cedric with anxiety, then she moved her body to hover, the light of her body dimming slightly. "That's not an ordinary thing. It could be that something is deliberately erasing your memories of her."
Cedric sighed for a moment, then he stood straight again while clenching his fists, his eyes burning with determination. He took a deep breath, as if trying to calm himself.
"Astra, there may be something that makes me go back in time, but I think what I do now should be different than before." She looked up at her bundle-shaped guide, her eyes full of unspoken hope. "So, I ask for your help once again," she continued, voice low yet firm, "Please be my guide in this world."
Astra moved slowly, as if contemplating for a moment before answering, her voice sounding soft, yet clear. "This is you." There was a slight chuckle behind her words. "Isn't that why I'm here?"
Cedric smiled slightly, feeling slightly relieved by Astra's response. "Alright, then, I ask your favor once more."