Jennifer let out a sigh, leaning back on her seat. Magic pulsed all around her, a Tier-6 spell shimmering throughout the chamber as an insane mana output made her senses turn blank from overload.

She couldn't bring herself to pay attention to any of it right now. Her talk with Prince Laiken had gone long, as they’d discussed how to rescue Xar. Irwys and Nathaniel would be going alongside her. Nathaniel’s main job would be securing the teleportation network, preventing the demons from teleporting directly into the guild like they had last time.

The mana ley lines should be under the guild-head’s control. Nathaniel's informed them to keep it close for now. No matter his dislike and family issues, having Guild-head Zaress as an uncle is helpful.

Nathaniel had suggested informing the guild. As they did have spells to break through illusions. But Jenn had refuted him, pointing out how long it would take to ensure each of the mages wasn't another face of the demon. The demon would know by now that they'd discover its plans, and she was unwilling to risk Xar's life.

Jennifer had never thought about the fact of what’d happen should a Mark die. Would she bring it back? Her own mark had failed to prevent the demon’s abilities from growing across loops. Would reviving a mark nullify the trial?. So long as she lived, everyone could come back.

When she'd shared her fears with Laiken, he'd explained that he couldn't be certain until it happened, but all signed pointed to her being right to worry. She only had one chance. If Xar were to die to a Mark, then she wouldn’t be able to bring him back. A part of her was tempted to use her spell to kill herself, and rush to the guild before the demon knew. But it’d take far too long to get the blessing from the church again. And she doubted she could barge in without her allies.

This is my only chance.

Jennifer sighed once more. She’d gotten too used to failing. To the lack of consequences for her mistakes. All she’d done so far was wander from step to step as she tried to deal with the events thrown at her.

I need a plan. An overarching plan. Spanning across my resets, to gain enough ability and information to prevent the loop. I can’t keep wandering aimlessly like this. Not everyone will come back. Not everything can be undone.

Her gut churned with the responsibility. And the fear she’d felt on the night of the invasion returned. The fear of the end, and the inevitable. It was a reminder of why she was fighting in the first place. A reminder, to win before her time ran out.

I wish I had more time. Ironic considering my Mark. But I wish I could talk longer with Prince Laiken. There’s too much that I didn’t know even now. Far too much to be learned. Something for the next reset. Unless I lose Xar… I’m not sure if I’ll have the heart to continue if I lose him after all this.

“A few more minutes and the spell will be ready,” Nathaniel said, hovering nearby as torrents of mana flowed around them at his direction. Jennifer nodded, trying to focus herself for the job.

Her eyes drifted toward where Irwys waited nearby, leaning against the wall with his eyes closed. Perhaps she wasn't the only one who felt unsettled.

“Ready to jump into the trap?” Jennifer asked, trying to be casual about it. All of them knew it was a trap. There was no other reason for not killing Xar and obtaining his Mark, much less keeping him trapped.

“I am,” Irwys replied, without so much as a hint of humour. She paused at the tight set of his jaw, and narrowed eyes as he stared through the wall at some distant sight only he could see. The realisation came just a moment later.

He’s not me… He can’t come back. Not the him standing here, in this room. To him, death is the end.

Jennifer felt as if she’d swallowed something bitter. She was asking for their lives here. To risk it all because of her wishes. To trust her, and her mark. That she’d make it right. Prince Laiken’s words echoed in her mind, and she felt the weight of her responsibilities.

“Thank you, Irwys. For helping me. I always end up running into danger when with you, it’s strange,” Jennifer said, finding herself genuinely smiling. She saw Irwys nod, not replying. He didn't remember their past. But for once, that face didn’t bother her.

“It’s ready. We can head in at any time,” Nathaniel said, pulling his hands together as the matrix stabilized behind him.

Jenn walked towards the swirling magical circle, bright runes glowing on the floor with magic far above her own limits. She saw the frown on Nathaniel’s face as he continued to tweak the intricate mana threads keeping the spell running.

“Jenn I-” Rumina called and Jenn turned to face her friend. Jennifer had given her a basic rundown but they didn’t exactly get the chance to properly talk.

“I know you've got the mark and all but- I just... Don’t die! Please,” Rumina said, her face set with a frown as her eyes glistened.

“I’ll try, but no promises,” Jenn said, smiling slightly.

“I’ll be mad if you die. Just know that,” Rumina replied, coming in for a hug.

“I’ll be mad if you die too, silly. And I’ll remember it, unlike you,” Jennifer replied softly.

“I’m not envious of that. I’m glad I won’t remember it. That I don’t already remember it,” Rumina said and Jennifer found herself nodding.

“I’ll be back soon,” she replied, turning around as she faced the spell circle. And her allies. She received a nod from Irwys and a slight wave forward from Nathaniel. “Let’s go,” she said, walking in as the spell blazed all around her.

“Keep your eyes closed. Remember what you have to do. May Sera guide us,” Nathaniel said, taking in a breath as magic poured in a rising wave, a bright light flashing.

Jennifer felt her heart pound nervously, as she closed her eyes, and took her own deep breath.

❖❖❖

Xar had lost count of how long he’d been stuck here. Which was a strange question as he knew this wasn’t the first time he was here. The changing demon had done something with his Mark, suppressing. It had taken Xar a lot of time to finally free all the memory shards and go through them. Which was when he knew this wasn’t the first time he’d been caught.

Xar went through his memories once more. The spell stuck to his mark fought against him, but Xar held on. He’d long since learned how to push back the strange red magic thing. It had been thirty two cycles since he’d become Xar. Sixteen days, as he knew by his Mark’s knowledge.

It had been at least ten days since Xar had been stuck in his trap. The demon didn’t come around often, so the most difficult job had been to stave off boredom. Which he did by trying to unravel the strange magic cage and find a way to free himself from the demon’s spell. So far, he’d had little success at either.

But there was one way to alleviate his boredom where Xar had managed to succeed. It had taken a while, but Xar had managed to free his senses. It was a minor reprieve, being able to see outside his cage with his Mind-Soul-Mark. But it was welcome.

He'd been worried the demon would notice, but so far the demon hadn't reacted in any way. It let Xar scan for any and everything inside the room. The little mage chamber, the face-shape the demon wore most often had this room given to it. It had many notes, words that Xar could not read. There were also pictures of weird shapes, or maps, as he’d learned from his mark. And other magical stuff, like the light that copied dungeon home's magical glow.

He'd learned of the Soul-Mark-Bond's red haired friend. And how the demon had been trying to kill her. Xar had tried reaching out to Mark-Bond-Human called Jennifer. But the Soul-Link was broken or blocked.

Xar clicked his jaws in frustration once more. His instincts were still screaming at him to escape the trap-stuck-death. To dig his way through. Xar knew it was pointless. The instinct did not know he could not eat the trap-cage, but Xar did. Because he was Xar, the most magnificent spider.

Xar paused for a moment. The passing of the days had worn him out. Yet, he'd found a way to use his [Lesser Telekinesis] with the help of the new not-voice that gave him levels to move objects. Xar knew Mark's telekinesis was stronger. But his mark was not listening to him. The soul-link was broken, so he had to rely on the not-voice’s skill.

It was slow, but Xar had a plan. He’d been tempted to try and have one of the shelves fall on the demon. But if he wanted to be truly free, he needed to open the cage. Xar had managed to get a small crystal pulsing faintly with power. One of the shining lights had contained several. He'd had just enough range to get the crystal out of the closest.

The cage he’d been set in had little runes carved into them. He remembered the human Jennifer talking about them and how they could be broken by changing them. Xar had wondered if he could do the same from outside his cage. It wasn't like he had a better plan. And he was bored.

So he’d set to work, checking for the Demon-Mark’s presence before grinding the mana stone against the same spot repeatedly, trying to reach the mana circuit inside. He only needed a few more cycles, and he’d be able to escape his cage.

A click sounded out, magic flaring as an old man entered. Xar clicked his jaws, feeling the demon’s slithering dark magic hidden under its face. The demon walked in, its form shifting as it turned into the red haired friend. The demon always changed into that form whenever he entered the room.

“No scrying today then,” the demon muttered, in the girl’s high pitched voice. It turned to look at Xar, as the spell he'd put on Xar’s mark flared, pushing on his mind.

“You’ve resisted for quite some time now. So much defiance in such a tiny body. You should accept my offer. It would be shame to kill you. I wouldn’t gain all your abilities on your death, and a mind mage Mark would speed everything up. Think carefully, Xar, do you really wish to stick to this other girl? You're more like me than her.”

Xar froze, but stopped from reacting in any other way as he stared at the demon.

“I found her at last. The other mark. The nuisance-” the demon’s from flickered, it’s voice dropping the pretense of humanity as it spoke in a distorted screeching voice.

“Unpleasant. She found out about the mana disruptors. The Mark of Drought isn’t ready- the ritual… The ritual isn’t ready either,” The demon hissed, as two vertical slits for eyes stared at Xar, its form stabilizing.

“This is your last chance, Xar. Think carefully. You have a few minutes. I suspect the girl knows. Her actions are too guided. Somehow the information was leaked. All I need is to know how! And I have this red-head’s form, yet no memory of obtaining it,” Something shifted in its voice once more, it’s featured changing back to be human.

“But you like me, don’t you Niz? We are a whole now,” the girl said, her eyes shifting towards Xar. Xar felt his instincts tremble. More than the demon, he hated the girl. She was wrong-incorrect-twisted.

She was the red-head friend. She had the girl's memories and voice but she was wrong. A part of the demon. Not magnificent like Xar, twisted and broken instead.

“I suspect Jenn will be coming. She likes to rush into things. I sure hope she likes my gift,” the girl said, with a high pitched laugh before the demon turned around.

“Don’t interrupt me. We need to move,” the demon hissed, turning back towards Xar for a moment. Then with a shake of its still red-haired-countenance, it's form shifted to the old man as it walked out of the chamber.

Xar sat back, the crystal floating to the ground as he went through his memories once more. He felt his will tested, pain spreading through his carapace as he tried to reach out to the Soul-Link. Ignoring it, he pushed desperately, trying to reach out to Jennifer. To Mark-Bond-Human. The demon's Spell burned his back as his mark began to glow. Xar pulled his presence together, focusing on Jennifer. He needed to tell her. The demon knew.

With a crack, Xar felt something shift, a link stretched into darkness, as a single silver thread connected them together. Magic shifted as their marks linked for a brief moment and Xar heard a familiar voice speak. Xar didn’t wait to hear it, as he sent his own message before the fragile link broke, leaving him alone once more.

Xar picked up the crystal, and returned to his work. He needed to escape more than ever now. But he'd sent the message. His friend would be warned.