I'm back?

August popped his eyes wide open.

The sun shone through the gap of the not-so-properly closed curtains, illuminating the room just enough for him to see the interior.

He lay on a large bed—something that he had not done in at least a year due to the recent battles against the monsters. Speaking of monsters, was he not just on the battlefield?

August processed what was in front of him. A large red canopy for the cushy, large bed. Soft, carpeted floor, complementing the cream coloured walls. It was the room he stayed in while he still attended the academy. The last time was when he was 19, when he was enlisted to fight against the first monsters.

Still a bit disoriented, August rang the bell against his bed.

“My Lord, you called?”

A freckled maid came into the room. She was Marie, the maid that served August during his academy days. He remembered seeing her before leaving for the last battle, and at the time he thought he saw a few grey hairs of hers.

“Marie, did you grow younger…?”

“Sorry?”

“Nevermind. How did I end up back here? I must have been out for a while.”

Without skipping a beat, Marie replied.

“You have been unconscious after drinking three bottles of vodka in the bar ‘Crema’. Your guards carried you back here.”

Out drinking? August was always too busy training to drink. He was fighting a battle and sustained a fatal wound, when could he have drank?

“Actually, tell me the date. ”

“My Lord, today is the 16th.”

The 16th? He could’ve sworn it was the 31st. Well, he has been unconscious.

“Of which month?”

“Of the 8th month.”

That checked out.

“Of the year 382.”

August stared blankly at Marie. Year 382? Was it not 387? That could not be right.

“Marie… are you sure…?”

“Yes, my Lord. You’ve been unconscious for 12 hours, would you like something for your hangover?”

August held his head in his hand, pressing against his temples.

“No, no. There’s no need. Could you help me get dressed?”

Marie nodded and exited the room.

Time magic was not unheard of. August knew they were researching ways to turn back time, but had not heard of a successful attempt. Now according to what Marie had said, it seems that August went back in time to when he just turned 20. Maybe the crystal had a time turning mechanism also cast onto it. If so, then he had just less than 5 years before being fatally wounded. But why was he not already enlisted?

“My Lord. I’m here to help you get dressed.”

“Come in.”

Marie had brought in a few more maids, each carrying a part of the outfit. August would greet them as he usually did, but they all flinched in response. This was strange, as before they would usually smile back.

As he changed, he noticed differences in his body. All the scars he had gained from the battles against the monsters were gone, but tiny, minor scars he had from reckless training were still there. Another point of interest is the larger stab wound. It was from an assassination attempt when he was 17. From what he remembered, it was done out of jealousy, birthed from the fact that he had many friendly relations, came from a good household and was powerful enough to be able to win most duels. August was sure it was located on the left side of his waist, but now it was on the right.

That did not matter. All that matters is that he removes the source of danger that threatens the kingdom for the following years. Then he would have time to do whatever he wanted, like date, start a family, build a family…

*

August arrived at the academy. Usually the moment he passed by the gates, people would happily greet him. But no one did, they all seemed to avoid his gaze. People who August would not interact with came up to him.

“Hey August!”

“Thanks for the treat last night, the alcohol was great!”

“We’ll treat you next time. I know a place with really cute girls.”

August frowned.

“I don’t know what you mean.”

The slightly taller one of the three put his arm around August’s shoulder.

“Come on, August. Don’t play dumb.”

August slid the hand off his shoulder.

“From here on out, please do not interact with me.”

August, still muddled, but now also agitated, looked around for someone he knew. He spotted a man with light brown hair. He had green eyes that were covered by rectangular glasses.

“Francis!”

The man turned around.

“Marquess Vin Gardner.”

August stopped in his tracks. Francis Swiven was his best friend and would normally address him by his first name. The way he looked at August now was like you would at a stranger.

“What’s wrong? Why is everyone avoiding me?”

“Avoiding? I’m not sure I follow.”

“Do people usually not talk to me?”

“Did you not just talk to your friends?”

August blinked, puzzled. They were never his friends, however they seemed awfully close to him now.

“We’re not friends.”

“I see.”

An awkward silence followed.

“I’ll go to class now,” August said.

“Alright, see you around, my Lord.”

August entered the large lecture hall alone. It was strange that he was back as a student, and did not have anyone to be with. He felt the eyes on him, but instead of the type he was used to, there seemed to be a more mixed feeling.

Now settled in the middle rows, August sat closer to the windows of the room, wallowing in his thoughts. This was nothing like his memories. Although there were similar events, his human relationships were all flipped. Was this a different timeline? What sort of person was he?

August was pulled out of his thoughts from the sight of long, turquoise hair. This hair belonged to Heilke Crowell, the person with the best grades in the calculation classes. He remembered that his conversations with her, though little, were pleasant. He watched as she sat down on the seat in front of him, so elegantly flicking through her textbook.

Throughout the class, he could not help but watch her take notes. She constantly added annotations to each point she wrote down. Heilke would not put her hand up for questions, as if she already knew the answers.

After class, August went up to her.

“Miss Crowell?”

He thought he saw a flash of an expression full of hatred, though it quickly turned to a polite smile.

“Marquess Vin Gardner.” She curtsied, then left before August could say anything.