[Jevan perspective]

Several days had passed and I was still stuck beside little Jevan. I hadn't been able to return to the present yet. Did this happen because I realized it wasn't a dream? Or was this the ridiculous price for making that wish?

But isn't that a bit too much? Well, if I think about it, no, it's not. I literally broke the barrier of time and space just to land a few punches on some bastards' faces. I knew my Authority would demand a price. Every time I tried using it, I'd end up sprawled on the ground, unconscious.

Still, I didn't feel regret. It was annoying that little Jeven's body would get hurt, and that pain would carry over to my current body. I didn't want to end up one eyed just because someone decided to rob him when he was seven.

And now, what next? How do I get back? I considered testing a wish, "I want to return," but quickly changed my mind. I had no idea what kind of price I'd have to pay for that. So I kept that plan as a last resort.

I looked at little Jevan, who was lying on the bed. His wounds hadn't fully healed yet. When I asked him how he would go out and buy food, he said:

"It's not a big deal, I'm used to going hungry for days."

"I hope his body heals completely." I muttered. And just like that, my wish was granted instantly, unlike before. The wounds covering his body vanished in the blink of an eye.

While I was basking in satisfaction with my power, I opened my eyes to find myself back in my apartment in the Lower District, lying on my bed. I lifted my head and stared at the ceiling, then muttered:

"Did I really come back?"

I stretched and rolled lazily on the bed, my thoughts a tangled mess. How had I managed to time travel and interact with little Jeven? Why couldn't I move away from him? This wasn't normal at all. Maybe it was connected to my Authority?

I needed to dig deeper into this. Maybe then I'd find a way back home. But… what was my home like again?

Red light pierced through my window, cutting my thoughts short. I walked over and looked outside. There was a flaming winged mass soaring through the sky. It was far off, but bright enough for any living being to see. Yet, apparently, no one but me had noticed it.

At first, I decided to ignore it. I told myself, "Who in their right mind would run after a burning bird?"

Two minutes later, I was wearing my coat and hat, sprinting after the flaming bird like the fool I'd just mocked.

Why? I didn't know. I called it the will of this body or rather, the will of the original Jeven.

I ran until I reached the Eighth District. Hiding behind a building, I watched from a distance. Before me was another strange scene. The fiery bird was flying across the sky.

And Raven was running, dodging its flames. On his shoulder… was that the inspector's assistant? Edward Graves?!

Wouldn't it be wiser to just go back to bed and forget this nonsense?

As I turned to leave, I heard footsteps approaching. Then, a cold hand gripped my shoulder. I turned to find Raven behind me. Before I could speak, he had already set the inspector's assistant down from his shoulder and said:

"Hold him."

I took the inspector's assistant into my arms without saying a word. Raven then dashed off. I stayed frozen for a moment, trying to process what was happening.

That was when the assistant in my arms spoke:

"What are you waiting for? Run!"

His nerve startled me, but I decided to listen and ran after Raven. Soon I caught up to him and asked:

"What the hell is going on here?"

That's when Raven started explaining everything from the beginning.

…

"So, you're telling me you managed to locate that researcher we'd been chasing, the one the inspector himself had been after for months without finding a trace?"

"Yes."

"And you went to confront him the next day? When most of the men were busy, and Inspector Edward was away on a mission in some remote village?"

"Yes."

"And you didn't suspect it might be a trap?"

"Yes."

"And in the end, you discovered he had been waiting for you? And after a long fight you couldn't win, Iris used some sort of power, transformed into that flaming bird, and burned the man?"

"Yes."

"Are you an idiot?"

Raven shook his head.

"Ye… what do you mean, you bastard?"

"Even a brainless fool would've seen something fishy. Didn't Garrod stop you?"

"The chief? Yeah, he objected and told us to wait until things calmed down in the Lower District, but we didn't listen. In the end, he gave in."

"What about Inspector Edward Graves?"

"Like I told you, he was sent on an urgent mission, so he couldn't come with us."

"Then what's this trainee doing here? I know you and Iris have personal grudges, but what about him?"

At that, the trainee I was carrying like an infant spoke up:

"I have a personal grudge against him too."

"Even you? What the hell did that researcher do to deserve this many people chasing him?"

From above, a massive fireball hurtled toward us or rather, toward Raven, who was running ahead. I instantly leapt back, while Raven dodged to the side. I looked up and saw Iris, flying in the sky with flames swirling around her.

We kept running without exchanging a word until we found shelter in an abandoned house. Once inside, I turned to Raven and asked:

"Care to tell me how Iris turned into that thing?"

Raven answered while catching his breath:

"You'll have to ask the inspector's assistant."

I tossed him onto the ground, making him yell in annoyance:

"Couldn't you put me down gently?!"

I grabbed his coat collar and lifted him slightly, my voice sharp:

"Tell me. What did you do to Iris?"

"I didn't do anything, I swear."

My grip tightened.

"Talk, or I'll make sure your end doesn't come from her flames, but from me."

He swallowed hard and said:

"She asked me for a solution when Valentine Crow had us cornered."

I scoffed.

"And your solution was to turn her into that blazing monster?"

"We had no other choice, and I warned her of the consequences."

"How did you do it? How did you transform her?"

"Normally, anyone not born with an Authority needs to undergo a sealing ritual, otherwise their body collapses under its power."

"So you unsealed Iris' Authority?"

"Bingo. Aren't you sharp."

"Is it easy to unseal?"

"Of course not. It's extremely complex. But her case was unique. Her Authority wasn't natural it was implanted. And the seal placed on her was crafted under the influence of an Authority's power."

"And what will happen to her now?"

He fell silent for a moment before replying:

"The flames will keep spreading until her body can't withstand them anymore. Then she'll burn to ashes."

"There's no way to save her?"

He shook his head.

"The Authority has already begun devouring her. It's practically impossible."

I hurled him hard against the wall. Not for any reason just to vent my rage.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.