Chapter 2: Allies in Anachronism

As Alec sets off on the mission to repair the timeline, he’s introduced to his new teammates—Ruson, Ulbert, and Snow. Together, they make up an eclectic and skilled group, each contributing something unique to their shared goal. Ruson, with his sharp wit and quick engineering solutions, lightens the mood with his humor, making the tension of their missions a little easier to bear. Ulbert, a historian and scientist with a deep knowledge of the anomalies they’re tasked to fix, brings a calm, methodical approach to the team, always thinking ahead and considering the moral implications of their actions. Snow, who is quieter but no less brilliant, takes on the role of strategist. She ensures they stay one step ahead, calculating every move with precision.

Under the watchful eye of their enigmatic mentor, Yusen, the team forms an unlikely but effective alliance. Each of them, including Alec, is focused on their mission to correct the time anomalies, but none of them truly know the full scope of what they’re up against—or the true nature of the man guiding them. They trust him, each for different reasons, yet there's an unspoken understanding that something doesn’t quite add up. While Yusen's reputation as a brilliant scientist precedes him, his past remains a shadowed mystery, and his motivations are something Alec has yet to fully comprehend.

In this new chapter of his life, Alec starts to form a bond with Ruson, Ulbert, and Snow, finding comfort in the camaraderie they share. They become a surrogate family of sorts, helping him deal with the weight of his grief over his parents’ death and the mysterious disappearance of Lina, the girl he once held close. Despite their different backgrounds and personalities, they all understand the importance of their mission, even if the full implications of what they’re doing remain unclear.

Back at home, however, Alec’s adoptive father, Ken, begins to grow concerned about Alec’s new mentor. Ken, a no-nonsense police officer, has watched Alec struggle with loss and change, and now, he sees his adoptive son becoming more distant, more caught up in something he doesn’t understand. While Yusen is well-known for his scientific achievements, there’s something unsettling about him that Ken can’t ignore—especially after the mysterious accident in his lab that tarnished his reputation.

Ken tries to warn Alec, telling him to be cautious about blindly following someone he doesn’t fully know. He urges Alec to trust his instincts and not to let the charm of the Yusen cloud his judgment. Alec, still reeling from the confusion and loss in his life, doesn’t fully take his father’s warnings to heart, but they linger in his mind as he moves forward with his mission. The line between mentor and manipulator begins to blur.