It was quite a peculiar experience, knowing what was to come yet being unable to change it.
It was just as if a person would learn about their death day, but would be unable to do anything to stop it because any attempt to do so would end in one of two ways.
Either they would die sooner or if they survive their death day, they would die in a much gruesome manner.
That was the predicament Alex found himself in.
Aware of things but unable to do anything about it because any attempt to do so would result in the loop resetting and he had no idea how many more he could take before his mind fractured or worse, he got corrupted.
The temptation to make a move gnawed at him endlessly but he didn’t dare to take the bite and instead, remained seated in place while making the conscious effort to act just like in the previous loops, oblivious.
Of course, he had a means to figure out the main culprit for the loop but to do so, he needed to play according to their rules.
"Are you alright?" Arwen worriedly asked while standing at the doorway.
Managing a smile, Alex nodded. "Of course. Why wouldn’t I be?"
Arwen said nothing, her gaze shifting from Alex to the faceless paintings arranged in the room.
Each painting evoked a sadness in her heart and though she couldn’t figure out why, she understood that it served as a telltale to what Alex felt.
Unwilling to engage her in yet another conversation about his suffering, Alex opted to change the topic. "Shouldn’t you be in bed?"
"We have a visitor." Arwen calmly replied. "I asked him to come back tomorrow but he insisted on wanting to see you."
"He didn’t say. Something about a missing daughter."
Massaging his temples to give himself some respite from the temptations gnawing at him, Alex inquired. "Who is he?"
"No idea. Though from his clothes, I’d reckon he works in the mines."
"I see." Alex nodded only to drift off again as an annoying ringing sound echoed in his ear.
Noticing his discomfort, Arwen stepped into the room. "Alex."
"... I’m fine. Come, let’s meet with this guy."
Arwen said nothing though her expression made it clear that she wished to speak.
Alex flashed a reassuring smile as he walked up to her and placed a firm hand on her shoulder. "I promise, if there’s an issue, I won’t hesitate to let you know."
"... Alright then, I trust you."
"Now come, I don’t plan on listening to a client without my assistant."
A soft smile lined Arwen’s lips as she replied. "Even if you did, I’d still come along."
"Of course." Alex conceded.
And so, together, the two stepped out of the art room, closing the door behind them.
Alex arrived in the living room with Arwen trailing behind him.
There, he found the man Arwen mentioned waiting.
The man, noticing his stare, raised his head to meet his gaze and for a moment, silence persisted.
Furrowing his brows just as he’d done before, Alex opted to take a seat, and then he asked. "Hello, I’m John Smith. What’s your name?"
Silence persisted briefly as the man stared at Alex only for Arwen to facepalm.
"What?" Alex glanced back at her.
"I forgot to tell you, he is deaf and dumb."
"Ah..." Alex nodded, feigning surprise.
Letting out a sigh, he got to his feet and said to Arwen. "Get some ink, two quills, and some paper."
Then, he moved to stand next to the man, who seemed to grow anxious at his presence.
"Don’t worry." Alex flashed a warm smile. "I don’t want to harm you."
As he snapped, exerting his Will on the aether, he added. "I just want to help."
Then, he reached out with his other hand, gesturing for the man to take it and though the man remained nervous, he ultimately reached out and grabbed Alex’s hand.
Alex watched as the man trembled like someone experiencing an epileptic episode before he calmed down.
"Can you hear me?" Alex asked to which the man stared at Alex in disbelief.
Alex repeated his question at which point the man slowly nodded.
"That’s good." Alex let out a relieved sigh. "You should try not to speak right now since I’m guessing it’s been a while since you were dead and dumb."
The man nodded in agreement, and soon after, Arwen returned with the items Alex had requested, along with a diary and an additional quill to record the minutes of the conversation.
"Now then, you write and I talk," Alex said. "My name is John Smith. What’s yours?"
Hesitant at first, the man ultimately used the quill after dipping it in some ink to spell out his name. "Leokhares."
"Okay, Leo. Why are you here?"
"I’m looking for my daughter."
Alex stared intently at the write-up, his demeanor turning sour with each second that passed.
Finally, it took a cough from Arwen to snap him out of his reverie.
"Apologies. Tell me, how long has she been missing?"
"Three days." Leokhares wrote with trembling hands. "I left for work in the mines that day and when I returned, she was gone. I tried to ask around once it got late but everyone I asked told me that I didn’t have a daughter!... Some even said I was mad, but I know, sir, I know I have a daughter and she is missing!"
Pursing his lips, Alex looked down at Leokhares’ statement while seated in his study.
It was tiring, to be honest, almost like acting out a play.
Normally, it wouldn’t be troubling considering acting was not an issue for him.
What left him listless however was the fact that he had to assume that his enemy was watching everything he was doing, which meant he couldn’t make a single mistake, especially since he had to go with the assumption that his opponent knew him which meant they had the upper hand compared to him who knew nothing about what he was up against.
Alex let out a deep sigh as he knew he was in for a ride.