Prologue
Leaving the others behind was difficult. In fact, it was one of the most difficult things Ringabel ever had to do. Yet it was necessary if he wanted to save her. After returning through the portal taking him to his own world, to the very moment when Airy transformed into the hideous insect-like beast and attacked his friends aboard the Grandship, Ringabel donned his Dark Knight armour and gathered his courage to face down the enemy he failed to kill the first time.
To say Edea was shocked to see his face was an understatement.
For so long Ringabel—no… Alternis—had concealed his face to her, to the woman he'd loved since childhood, and it took losing both her and his memories to shed the black helmet.
Next came the hard part: defeating Airy.
With the four of them together, they managed to destroy the abomination, yet Ringabel then took part in helping his friends from the other world stop Ouroboros by aiding his strength to theirs by use of the Grandship. It was strange, seeing time reversed—and confusing, to say the least.
When everything was back to normal, Ringabel returned to his room, undressed to his usual attire, and threw himself onto his bed. The ceiling was thoroughly chipped, cobwebs in the corners, pipes visible to the world… but it felt like home, or one of his homes. He dearly missed his friends in the other world, wondering if his absence was greatly noticed, if Tiz and Agnes confessed their feelings yet, if Edea grieved his leaving… if they were all happy.
In this world, Ringabel hadn't travelled with them throughout the lands. He hadn't aided them in any cities or helped defeat any of the corrupted crystal monsters. Instead, as Alternis Dim, he deterred them at every step and became more trouble than good. That was perhaps Ringabel's deepest regret. In the other world he was a friend and hero. In this one he was just the latter, and only at the bitter end of everything.
Sighing, Ringabel retrieved his journal and began writing the day's events. Even now he couldn't put it down, couldn't skip an entry. Who knows? Perhaps it might come in handy again in the future.
The dream I've often had finally came to its completion today. I returned to the place where Edea's blood was spilt and used my dark armour to help shield her in the battle that once stole her life away. We prevailed as a team and finally—finally—the guilt I've carried for so long fell from my shoulders like water.
I saved her. I saved my Edea.