Lyric stood there. His heart pounding in his chest as he looked down at the artefact upon the pedestal. Everyone's voices were muffled. Was this finally the break he had long since been deserved?

Glancing up, Lyric noticed the figures of Flora, Damen, and Adrian all standing on the other side of the crumbled staircase. They seemed to be urging him to bring the artefact back so they could celebrate.

He then cut his eyes to the side to see the priestess standing beside him. She smiled, staring down at the artefact as she reached for it.

Her purity and gentle expression reminded Lyric of what he overheard the other night. How that bastard Adrian was jealous of how close he had become with her and how they wanted him out of the guild. Flora and Damen agreed of course. But poor little her fought for Lyric's honour and pleaded that they gave him another chance. Even though they agreed, he knew it was a lie.

Celebrate? What was there to celebrate? How he would be kicked out of the party and forced to be separated from her? The divine goddess who didn't deserve to be held back by these traitors? No. She deserves better.

That's when he heard it. A faint voice. Coming from the artefact before him. He looked down at the bracelet. It was gold and ancient looking. But it called to him. Egging on his desires. Clenching his fists, he quickly shot out a hand, grabbing it from her.

He could hear Adrian, Flora, and Damen shouting at him, asking him what he was doing and telling him to stop.

Smirking, he clasped the bracelet around his arm, holding it up. He could feel it's power surging through him. The air grew thick and magic swirled around like a powerful gust of wind. Reaching out, he grabbed her wrist as he used the bracelet. He felt something stab into his shoulder. An ice shard. He simply smiled down at his attacker, Adrian, and mouthed the words 'you lose'.

It was cold. Freezing even. It felt like winter. Lyric's eyes were closed as he laid in a pile of snow. He could hear the wind howling around him. He could feel the snowflakes nipping at his skin. The blood from his wound continued to flow from the gash and seep into the pure white snow beneath him. He muttered.

"Damn... I thought I had actually won..."

His hearing was muffled, but he could make out the sound of quick footsteps crunching in the snow towards him. He felt hands on him. Someone knelt down next to him. What were they saying though? His hearing was too muffled.

Slowly, his eyes fluttered open and his vision began to fade in. He saw a small figure, a female, kneeling beside him. He squinted then widened his eyes as he realised who it was.

The priestess.

From the way she was dressed, she appeared to be a healer from the nearby church. The white robes almost blending in with the snowdrop background. He could see the city and church far behind her. Her hands pressed to his chest, healing him of his wounds.

It finally hit him. He had succeeded. The way she acted and how she was dressed was proof. He had managed to travel back in time. Back to before she became an adventure. Before she met that scumbag Adrian. Just a perfect goddess waiting for a hero to protect her.

That hero being Lyric. She didn't seem to know who he was or remember him. He could befriend her, get to know her, get her to like him again. And maybe this time she could love him without fear of those bastards of Misute Rareta manipulating her.

Weakly, he raised a hand. The artefact bracelet shimmered, catching his attention. He still had all that power at his disposal. Lyric gently caressed her cheek with a smile and whispered.

"You're beautiful..."