Chapter 80 - Back To The Past

[Balaghar, Avalon's main base

Shortly after Raphael's death,]

"Greetings, General!" A guard greeted him, as Alexander Gregovich entered the packed Dungeon. It was Avalon's big win day. So, many prisoners of war were imprisoned there.

Alex just glanced at him as he hurriedly stomped on the cold stone floor in his heavy boots. His breath was a little misty. Today it was predicted that a blizzard will come. But that didn't detract from his plans.

Raphael, one of his proud disciples, welcomed death when the general was at his side. Even at his last moment he still cared about Florentia. Ironically, he delivered his final message to himself, who was his enemy. Alex was an Avalon general who was feared for his mysterious powers.

He wasn't a fighting general like Gunther or the others. His cursed weapon, Kronos, cannot be used in one-on-one combat. Alex was an intelligence, who uses Kronos' powers for Avalon's benefit.

With the ability to control time, it seemed like an injustice to Florentia. Because he could turn back time at any time if the situation was not favorable for Avalon. He had repeated several times when Avalon lost. He gave Avalon a chance to turn things around and win.

Not everything worked. What Alex did was turn back time, the Avalons had to fend for themselves to complete their mission. The results could be just as bad, better or even much worse. He was always reminded that his power was a form of gambling.

Because everyone would not be able to remember the previous time except himself. Except if he uses it locally like what He did to Jasper. Alex didn't always bother to give directions to the Avalons when he went back in time. 

Over-intervention could be bad. Alex refuses to take responsibility for it.

But this time, he was going to use his abilities for his own purpose. He was betting on Raphael's testimony about the demonic soul within him that he said spoke to him. Raphael had to live, so he could ask further about it. Besides, the masterless cursed sword that Avalon wielded— had to have a new owner.

Alex entered a fairly quiet cell. No knight wanted to take care of her body. The girl looks bad. Worse than cattle skinned and displayed in the market. She was not only dead, but incomplete. The Knights of Avalon were acting beyond reason. They were notorious, but that didn't mean they have the right to torture someone when they didn't need to interrogate them.

"General, the corpse was just about to be removed and burned," said one of the knights who seemed worried because Alex looked angry.

Alex could barely carry out his plan. If the girl had been burned to ashes, he couldn't use her services.

"Go away, don't let anyone near this place," said Alex again. He had the best mind control abilities among Avalon. The knight immediately bowed away.

"Now, let's see, Valerie Dubois. Your breathing may have stopped but a person's body isn't really dead," Alex swung Kronis over her pale head. There was still an air of life there. The soul that was left behind, the hatred and regret that sticks strong and the feeling of relief.

"I'll take you back, Valerie Dubois. But before you go back in time, I'll first greet you in the past," Alex swung the kronos, then a mirage unfolded around him.

.***

[Florentia's main headquarters,

Four years before Raphael and Valerie's death.]

"Do you know where to get good blood here?" Alex said hello. He wore some of the attributes of a Florentian knight and seemed natural to be around.

Valerie, who was still called Valor at that time, looked at him confused.

"You talking to me, sir? If you want human blood, I suggest you go straight to the donor harvesting tent," he answered without suspicion.

"What's your name?"

"Valor, Valor Dubois," said the girl. She had not shown the passion, determination and patriotism that Raphael had said. She was now just a pure-blooded vampire who was reluctant to move up the ranks. She was comfortable living as a hunter and stayed away from conflict.

That might be better for Alex. He cannot intervene in history too far. He had to make sure that Raphael and Valerie would still be dead in the next four years. Right now he would be Alex who came to her often and told her a lot of important information. Valerie would remember everything. Alex hoped that when Valerie was given the opportunity to repeat the time—she could make use of that information, find his cursed weapon and strike a balance of power between Florentia and Avalon.

But when that happens, Alex won't help her. Like his role so far. He will repeat time. But the fate of the future would be determined by the perpetrators themselves.

***

[mountain resorts,

Valerie and Raphael's honeymoon.

Three years before the events of Florentia's great defeat occurred.]

Valerie listened with horror in her heart. She had just heard an extraordinary confession from an Avalon general.

No.

He may not be just a general but a god.

How could there be someone with such power?

Raphael told her that Alex could control time. But not long enough. Maybe he could rewind a few minutes or a few hours. No more than that.

Still it was very profitable for Avalon. King Dimitri could have been killed many times. But Alex could easily rewind the time for a few minutes and the king came back to life. It was like a massive fraud, one that would make the Florentians despair if they knew someone like that was on Avalon's side.

It was as if all their efforts and strategies were in vain.

However, Raphael believes that Alex has ethics to limit the use of his powers. Because changing the time wave has a big risk. The Avalons wouldn't be able to ask him to manipulate time unless it was absolutely essential to Alex.

Alex couldn't use kronos to hurt someone. Therefore when training Raphael, he did it with Caesar. Caesar and Raphael became training partners for several years. They were friends and cared for each other even though they knew that fate wanted them to be enemies one day.

But now, Valerie knew that Alexander Gregovich could do far more than Raphael knew. He could go back four years!

"Why did you choose me?" Valerie asked.

"What do you think?" Alex answered, still in a friendly and unpretentious tone.

"You made me remember everything that happened to me, including the information you gave me..You appointed me as a pawn to further your goals. But, why not Raphael? Even though you know that I'm just a weak knight and everyone underestimated me at that time," said Valerie, feeling that what Alex had explained was not enough to answer her anger.

"I want you to find the cursed sword on your own. Besides, Raphael testifies that you're the most patriotic knight he knows. I trust him," said Alex again.

"I also wanted to give Florentia a second chance but to keep things fair..if I give this task to a formidable knight like Raphael, Avalon can be defeated. I don't want it, after all I'm a patriot too," Alex said again smiling at her.

Alex still had goals that were bigger than all of this. He was so intrigued by the demon's DNA. As he said. He would come to Raphael again, when he had awakened his demon DNA. Right now, Raphael was probably just getting started. Valerie still remembers her battle with Caesar during the Taverin war. It seemed like it was the moment that Raphael awakened the demon's DNA for the first time.

"Then what are you going to do now?" Valerie asked.

"Why are you looking at me fiercely like that, Lady Valerie? Shouldn't you be thanking me? because I gave you a chance to live longer?" Alex laughed.

"No, because you took my right to die and used me for personal purposes that I don't know about."

General Gregovich fell silent and looked at the woman with a faint smile.

"I've done everything I needed to do. I've provided information that could help you in your second life,"

"Everything turned out differently from my memory, sir. Including the talking Shadows, the truce and the like. That didn't happen in my previous life. Did I do it right? Sir, you're betting on an amateur knight like me. What if what I did would only make things worse? Neither for Avalon, nor for Florentia?" Valerie snapped again, still emotional.

"I think all is well, especially about those Shadows Type C. I think I'm getting closer to the fact I'm looking for. Live your life well, Lady Valerie. I paid for all of this very dearly."

Alex patted her shoulder sympathetically and smiled at her once more. Then he got up and was about to walk away. After a few steps, he turned around and spoke to Valerie again.

"Everything I told you—you can't tell anyone. Well, but you really can't . .. because I already have a piece of your soul, Lady Valerie," he said again before disappearing behind the door.