"Syryn Syryn Syryn Syryn, hi, welcome back to my space! It's been forever since we last had a chat, hasn't it?"

The childish voice that greeted him was androgynous and high pitched.

"What's going on?" Syryn replied, confused as to how he had gotten to this white space. "And who or what the hell are you?!"

"It's me... Don't you remember?"

"I'm suffering from amnesia so do me a favour and recap so I can get back to Rowan quickly."

"Time flows differently inside here, Syryn. No matter how quick you are, you'll be a few days late when you leave this place."

"Start explaining, then," Syryn replied impatiently.

"We made a pact to help each other, Syryn. You and I will work together to make sure that Traxdart is defeated and the world saved!"

"What? Who is Traxdart? Why does the world need saving?"

"Oh Syryn, I wish I could help you. How did you lose your memories?"

"I don't know. I don't remember anything. Just waking up. That's all I remember."

"Oh... I sensed turmoil but couldn't get to you because something was blocking me. The only reason I could reach you today was because of Elius and Rowan's fight. We got lucky, Syryn. If she hadn't attacked, I would have never had an opportunity to find a hole in the wall that prevents access to your consciousness."

The child was bringing up names and scenarios that were going right over Syryn's head. But if a time dilation was taking place, he had no time to waste asking unnecessary questions.

"Get to the point," he told the child. "I understand we have a pact. Who are you? What do I get out of the pact? And who is Traxdart?"

"So many questions," the child moaned in annoyance. "Who I am isn't important. But Traxdart, he's the emperor of the demons and wants to destroy this realm and others. We have to stop him."

"What does it have to do with me? Find someone else to save the world from him."

"But it has to be you because not everyone gets to relive their lives a second time!"

"What are you talking about?!" Relive his life a second time? That was impossible.

"Eh? Rowan didn't tell you?"

"No."

"Why?"

"How am I supposed to know?"

The child tutted.

"You've lived and died once already, Syryn. Rowan and you were given a second chance at life to redo it and ensure that Traxdart gets killed. Why didn't Rowan tell you this?"

Why didn't Rowan tell him? Syryn had trusted the anti mage. He hoped that Rowan had a good reason for not bringing him into the loop about it.

"He probably has good reasons for why he couldn't tell me," Syryn replied. "What else hasn't he told me?"

"Unnnn... I don't want to cause problems between the two of you, Syryn. You should ask him yourself."

The mage scoffed. He didn't have time for this.

"So this Traxdart, where is he?"

"In his own realm. He can't come here because he's too powerful. But his puppet is definitely in this realm, somewhere, causing trouble."

"Did I agree to save the world or something?"

"Eh? Well... No."

"So you're telling me that I was coerced to be a part of it? What about Rowan?"

"Rowan agreed to kill Traxdart. But only if you- er- we shouldn't talk about this, Syryn. You'll eventually remember everything."

"Send me back," he told the child.

"But you just got here!"

"I have to ask Rowan a few questions since you seem to be reluctant to give me any direct answers."

"Syryn, tell me first, do you trust the sage?"

"Who?"

"Stop pretending. I know he's in there."

"Okay. Yes, I trust him. Why?" Syryn didn't really completely trust the sage yet but it was better to lie.

"Why? He's the reason I couldn't get to you. I don't know what he wants from you but I don't like that he put a wall between us!"

The last part was said petulantly. The child sounded like he or she was throwing a small tantrum.

"Listen, kid. I don't understand what's going on in my life. I thought I was beginning to but you suddenly brought me here and now I'm doubting everything I've been told. Even the things Rowan told me. So save your questions and send me back. When I remember the past, bring me back here for a real conversation."

"I only wanted to help you, Syryn. That was my job..." She replied sadly. "I didn't mean to make you doubt Rowan or cast him in a bad light. He's a good man. Rowan loves you very much, you know."

They'd exchanged rings. Syryn had put his faith in the anti mage and was very fond of him. A shot of unease took over his mind as he thought about what reasons Rowan would have for keeping such important information from him.

"And Syryn, you can't tell Rowan or anyone else about me. I've put a spell in place that prevents it from happening but I'm just warning you so that you don't try."

"That says a lot about the lack of trust between us. Thanks for letting me know." He was already in a really foul mood after the revelations. Being told about the spell ruined his mood further. Syryn had thought himself to be an ordinary person caught up in some bullshit mermen business but he had been completely wrong about everything. He was apparently a half-demon human in the centre of some world-ending scenario that involved the demonic emperor and time travel. It was either that or Syryn was crazy and his mind was making things up.

"It's not like that!" The child protested. "This is fail-safe just in case you accidentally mention it or sleep talk about it! I swear it's not because I don't trust you."

"Save it, little boy, or girl, whatever you are. Send me back right now."