Sigmund was surrounded in darkness, his body was heavy and motionless; even though he did everything in his power to at least move one inch. Nothing.

He opened his eyes and gasped at the sight at many clocks surrounding him, all of them were frozen at the same time: 12:30.

"You're finally up and at 'em," Said a voice, then, the same apparition from before popped up in front of him, a smirk on his face.

"You!" Sigmund exclaimed in surprise, King Volsung nodded.

"Yes, me! Hmm, it's so nice to see my present self~! How are ya doing?" Volsung announced, he appeared to be floating; as he was sitting in midair with one leg crossed over the other. Sigmund glared at him.

"You're not Volsung, don't you dare pretend you are!" He snapped, "Just who are you? Where am I? Where's Capell?!"

Volsung "tsk"ed, uncrossing his legs and standing up, towering over Sigmund.

"Rather demanding, aren't cha?" He asked, crossing his arms, "Although it is true I am not Volsung, who I am is of no importance. Where you are, however, is the most important thing right now. You're in the Heat Haze!"

"The Heat Haze?"

"Volsung" nodded, "Yep! The Heat Haze! You enter this place whenever someone important to you dies on August 15th, sound familiar?"

The images of Capell's lifeless body flashed in Sigmund's mind and his agonizing scream echoed. The Liberator winced and looked away.

"Thought so," He heard the spirit say, "So now, you have to stop dear Capell from dying until tomorrow, August 16th. If you fail, you'll just be looped back to 11am, got it?"

Sigmund looked back at the spirit; it was sitting there idly, with its chin in its hand and a bored look on his face. Sigmund narrowed his eyes with suspicion.

"And what's your purpose?" He questioned.

"Me?" The spirit questioned, tilting its head as Sigmund nodded, "I'm just merely here to tell you when you failed, nothing more and nothing less,"

Sigmund nodded in at least a little understanding. His eyes landed on one of the many clocks adorning the space, not one of them move since the whole time Sigmund and the Volsung imposter had been speaking. He sighed and finally looked back at the spirit.

"Take me back," He ordered, "I want to go back and prove myself,"

The spirit smirked, showing pointed teeth. It raised a hand and snapped.

"Good luck~!" Was the last thing Sigmund heard.

…

"Lord Sigmund? My Lord?"

Sigmund blinked and looked down at Capell, the boy was looking at him with a worried expression. The soldiers around them were all dead and, unlike Sigmund's, Capell's blade was put away.

Before Sigmund could say anything, Capell smiled.

"There you are! You kinda spaced out there," Capell said, stepping away from his lookalike, "Are you all right, My Lord? Is there anything I can do?"

Sigmund blinked again, he was back in Vesplume Tower, and the staircase was in front of the duo. It was like nothing even happened.

Sigmund clenched his fist and put his blade away, no matter what happened, he would make everything right.

"I'm fine," He answered, "I apologize,"

Capell smiled a bit, "Don't apologize! Everyone spaces out; I mean I do it all the time!"

Sigmund sighed and began walking; he hesitated at the staircase but swallowed his uneasiness. He knew what to expect. There was no doubt that it was Leonid who fired that blinding light that finished Capell almost instantly. He would pull Capell out of the way and handle the Dreadknight while Capell handled the chain. Of course, Sigmund would stay as close as possible.

"Capell, are you ready? He asked, looking back at Capell. The musician nodded, "All right then, let's go,"

The duo ascended the stairs, Sigmund made sure Capell was right beside him and they eventually saw the outside and the beautiful, golden chain. Sigmund glared at it in disdain.

"Wow..." Capell whispered in awe. Sigmund winced at the so familiar words that left Capell's mouth.

"Hey but I...feel like I've done this before…" He heard Capell mutter under his breath, Sigmund looked at him in shock as Capell recomposed himself, "I'll go cut that chain and end this right now!"

Sigmund's eyes widened. Did Capell remember what had happened after all…?!

As soon as Capell took a few steps forward, Sigmund grabbed his collar and pulled him back behind him as the bright light came and struck the ground, missing its target. The Liberator felt the boy stumble at the sudden pull and Sigmund let go once Capell steadied himself.

"H-How did you know that would happen?" Capell asked, pulling out his blade as Sigmund did so.

"I've done this before," Was all Sigmund said as he rushed forward to fight the Dreadknight.

Sigmund held his sword to Leonid's neck as the man looked at him, a snide smirk on his face. Sigmund hated seeing this man's face; he despised the smirk on his face and the mocking gaze his brown eyes held. He despised Leonid himself.

"Hello, Liberator," Leonid greeted, Sigmund tried to slice his neck but Leonid back flipped out of the way, Sigmund's sword just barely missed cutting off some strands of the Dreadknight's white hair.

"Lord Sigmund!" Capell's shouted, standing beside Sigmund, his blade pointed at Leonid.

"Capell, go and handle the chain!" Sigmund ordered. He looked at the boy strangely when he shook his head, denying his order. He had never done so before.

"It's not wise handling battle's alone!" Capell reasoned, "Besides, we should clear out any enemies before we handle the chain!"

"You're refusing my order?" Sigmund asked, Capell glanced at him with an apologetic glance before looking back at the Dreadknight.

"Sorry," He said before rushing forward and trying to hit Leonid. Leonid simply dodged and teleported in front of the chain.

"This is all you can do, Sigmund?" Leonid mocked, crossing his arms and gesturing his chin towards Capell, "Just some silly doppelganger who doesn't know how to wield a sword? How pathetic,"

A surge of offense coursed through Sigmund, he grit his teeth and growled at the mockery towards Capell. The Liberator's grip on his sword tightened.

"Capell's a more stronger and dignified warrior than you'll ever hope to be, Leonid!" He snapped, Leonid just simply cackled in response.

"Oh, Sigmund, you were always such a fool," He said with mock sadness, "You didn't even remember that Capell was your-"

Sigmund yelled and started dashing towards Leonid, drowning out whatever he said. No matter what, no matter the situation. The only one who was going to tell Capell Sigmund's most precious secret was going to be Sigmund himself.

He promised Capell that he was going to tell him after the war. He never broke promises.

"You fell right into my trap, Liberator,"

Leonid sent a red chain towards Sigmund, Sigmund stopped abruptly and he prepared to dodge-

"SIGMUND!"

Sigmund's vision of the chain was abstracted by a blue of red and brown. The sickening sound of flesh being pierced through filled the air. Sigmund froze, his breath caught in his throat as Capell fell limply, and Sigmund caught him, easing him to the ground.

"Capell!" He exclaimed, shaking him. His stomach twisted when he saw there was no response, and what really drove the nail into the coffin was the sad smile on Capell's face.

"Capell…!" Sigmund shouted, shaking Capell even more, "No…please!"

Again, Sigmund saw a pair of feet in front of him. His head snapped up and there the Heat Haze spirit stood; a smirk on its face.

"You failed!"

Black.

...

Sorry this took so long! But I'm back and I'll start on Chapter 3 as soon as I can!

~ Mollie