Chrono Requiem — A Death Song For Time.

I... came back?

"Hah... Hah... Hah..."

Rivan rubbed his face roughly.

He inhaled and exhaled repeatedly, trying to calm down. Then, he buried his face between his knees. Tears fell slowly, and his muffled sobs echoed faintly through the quiet room. Then, a trembling whisper escaped his lips: "Father... Mother... Elen..."

The ringing alarm snapped him out of his thoughts. He grabbed his phone, silenced the alarm, and saw that he had a message from Lunara.

"I really did come back."

Rivan let out a long breath and collapsed onto his bed. He covered his eyes with his hand. After lying there for a moment, he sat up and grabbed a notebook and a pen. He began to write down everything that had happened.

"The two events were similar in that they both happened in the afternoon at the restaurant. But the second death occurred earlier," he muttered, scribbling notes rapidly.

He paused, confusion clear on his face.

"But how could the Echo breach the capital? Every city should have a protective barrier.”

“Let’s set that aside for now,” he continued. "The most important thing is...what must I do to save my family?"

He murmured, his mind racing as he kept writing.

Right now, he was just an ordinary, powerless human. The best option was to seek help from the Aegis Division.

But would they believe his story? He didn’t know. The odds were fifty-fifty at best. He couldn't wait too long; by the time the Aegis Division arrived, his family might already be gone.

"The only option left is the simplest and roughest," he sighed. "I'll just tell them I want to celebrate my birthday at home."

Rivan lay back down, hugging his pillow. His eyelids grew heavy and finally closed. Exhaustion and stress from the two deaths crashed over him like waves.

...

"Rivan, wake up!"

The knocking and Elena’s shout jolted him awake. He stumbled as he rushed to open the door.

“What? What is it? Is there an Echo here?" Rivan asked, panicking.

He grabbed Elena’s hand, pulled her into the closet, and said firmly, "Stay here. Don't move. I’ll save Mom and Dad!”

Elena stared at him, her face full of confusion. “Wait a second.”

She grabbed Rivan’s arm. "Are you out of your mind? There’s no way an Echo could appear here.”

"Go wash your face. Mom told me to wake you up for breakfast,” she said, shaking her head as she walked away.

Rivan blinked once, twice, before finally realizing what was going on. His breath, which had been caught in his throat, finally flowed again.

"Thank goodness..." he whispered.

After washing up, Rivan went downstairs, sat at the table, and stared at a plate of familiar fried rice. This time, he swore he would protect his family.

“What’s wrong with you, Brother?” Elena squinted at him, noticing how he stared at his fried egg as if it held the secrets of the universe.

“The egg stared at me first,” Rivan replied flatly.

Elena slapped her forehead. "Oh my God! You ate too many mushrooms last night, didn't you?"

Rivan didn’t answer. He kept staring blankly at his plate. Elena glanced at their mother, who had a serious look on her face.

"Mom, I mean it. I think Rivan needs entertainment...or maybe an exorcism.”

Their mother sighed. She was used to her children’s antics. She handed Rivan a plate of fried mushrooms. "Your favorite. Eat."

“Maybe later, Mom. I don’t feel like eating mushrooms today,” he replied, lost in thought. He needed an excuse to skip school.

He was determined to stay home, to stay near his family and ensure their survival. Only then could he truly breathe again.

"Elena, wake your father up!" their mother called, sounding worried.

Elena nodded quickly and ran to her father's room, shouting, "Dad! Wake up! Rivan is acting weird! He refused the mushrooms!"

Rivan froze, startled. He rushed to his mother’s side, his eyes darting around the room.

“What’s wrong, Mom? Is there an Echo? We have to run—quick!”

His mother took his hand gently, concern filling her eyes. “My dear…”

"Where's Rivan?" their father's anxious voice called out from the other room.

"Here!" his mother replied. "Look at him! Something’s wrong. He said he doesn’t want mushrooms today!”

Their father approached and turned Rivan around as if inspecting him. Dizzy and confused, Rivan could only stand there in silence. At least it wasn’t another Echo attack.

But mushrooms? Rivan frowned. His confusion deepened. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the fried mushrooms on the table, and he realized what was happening.

“I’m fine, Dad,” Rivan said.

His father didn’t immediately believe him. He examined Rivan carefully before finally exhaling in relief.

"No injuries. Still, you should rest today. It's better to stay home.”

As a doctor, his father's words reassured his mother a little. "Yes, rest at home. I’ll inform your teacher.”

After that, they went back to their room, still worried.

Rivan frowned. "Why are they so panicked?"

“Are you seriously asking that?” Elena huffed. "You, the guy who refuses to eat anything without mushrooms!"

Rivan chuckled awkwardly and scratched the back of his neck. Then, as Elena grabbed her bag and headed out, he shrugged.

"I'm off!"

"Be careful!" he shouted after her.

Despite the morning chaos, Rivan was secretly relieved—he could stay home today. He picked up the plate of fried mushrooms.

"Mushrooms really are the best," he said, taking a bite.

....

“I’m home!” Elena called out, kicking off her shoes.

Her black-haired brother peeked out from behind the wall. “You’re home early, Len.”

"I asked for early leave," she said, tossing her bag onto the sofa. She followed him into the kitchen. "Ugh, it's so hot outside."

She gulped down some milk from the fridge. Then, noticing the brownish soup in the pot, she frowned. “What are you cooking, Brother?”

“Special soup,” Rivan replied plainly.

“Special how?” she asked suspiciously.

Rivan stirred the pot with a spatula. "I added chili, milk, and chocolate. That's special, right?"

“Your brain is special!” Elena yelled, horrified. "That's not soup—that's biological warfare!"

Rivan stirred calmly. "Relax. If it works, this could be a culinary revolution."

"And if it fails?" she asked automatically.

Rivan turned to her, dead serious. "Then we'll become legends... in the neighborhood chat group."

Their mother's voice interrupted the brewing argument: "I'm home!"

Elena rushed to her. “Mom! He’s cooking weird stuff again!”

“Let him be, Elena. He’s the one who has to eat it,” their mother replied, unfazed. “Go wake your father. I brought your favorite cake.”

While Elena went to get their father, Rivan muttered under his breath that no one appreciated culinary innovation. He continued to stir the soup, humming softly.

Then he froze. The house trembled—just slightly. A terrible feeling washed over him. Memories of the two previous deaths flashed vividly in his mind.

He immediately turned off the stove and ran to the living room. "Mom! Are you okay?"

"What's wrong with you today? Enough already!” His mother waved dismissively. "If you're not busy, help me tidy up!"

Rivan didn’t respond right away. His eyes scanned the room carefully. Once he confirmed that nothing was wrong, his shoulders relaxed.

"Maybe it's just my imagination," he muttered.

BOOM!

The explosion froze him in place. A second later, Elena’s terrified scream tore through the air.

“Dad!”

Rivan ran, stumbling toward the room. But he stopped short when he saw the collapsed ceiling and the pool of blood beneath the debris.

He lunged forward, his knees scraping wood splinters and his breath coming in ragged gasps. His trembling hands clawed at the still-hot rubble, covered in dust. The air smelled of cement, blood, and ash—a suffocating mix.

Rivan dug frantically, ignoring the cuts on his hands. His voice cracked.

"Dad...please answer me...Dad!"

No response.

Only faint cracking sounds and Elena’s sobs could be heard. Through the haze of dust, Rivan stared at the ruins before him. His face was twisted with shock, terror, and despair.

RAAAAH!

He looked up to see a swarm of Echoes circling above and screeching. Some dove toward his mother and Elena. Others sniffed around the fallen ceiling where his father was buried.

"Run!" Rivan shouted, but it was too late.

The monster devoured his mother and sister in a single bite. Once again, Rivan could only watch as his family died before his eyes.

Why? Why?! Why?!

Why was he so useless?

Why could he only watch them die?

Why?!

Why? Why was he so powerless?

His head rang with the monsters’ roars. One of them licked its claws and snarled in satisfaction. Then, its glowing red eyes turned to Rivan.

"Grrrhhh..."

It growled and stepped closer.

The creature’s dark, scaled body shimmered. Its breath was heavy, each exhale rumbling like thunder.

If I die here, will I go back again?

That thought echoed in Rivan’s mind. He stood motionless, his eyes already lifeless.

The monster lunged. The air itself felt crushed by its presence. Rivan’s heart thundered in his ears as the world around him slowed, froze, and darkened.

Then, everything turned black.

Not because he closed his eyes, but because the world itself had vanished, swallowed by something darker than fear.

...

“I...came back? Hahaha, I came back!"

"I came back!"

"...I came back."

From the dimly lit room came the cries and laughter of a young man.

His voice trembled between despair and madness.