After regaining some clarity, Mevis explained the story of her journey to this timeline and the events of the future to Leon once more.

When she finished, Leon fell silent.

After a long pause, he murmured,
"So that’s how it is… So, we lost to Shadow in the future."

He sat at the edge of the bed, holding the glass of water Mevis had handed him.

Leon stared down at the still surface of the water, which reflected his face—scarred, lifeless, and pale.

In that moment of quiet, Leon was reminded of a nightmare that had haunted him for …