The Binding Vow of Lazarus

Chapter 17

Divine light, bless my path, 
Cursed shadow, carve the way. 
Through the threads of past and future, 
You walk where mortal eyes may stray.

Eternity’s breath, heed my call, 
Bend the tides of time and fall. 
Through this offering of flesh and flame, 
Let the ages hear my name.

In the name of the lost, the found, the eternal, 
I step beyond the chains of now."

The golden light wrapped around Satoru like a warm blanket fresh from the dryer—soft, comforting, and absolutely overwhelming. It was the same as the first time: a paradox of gentleness and all-consuming power that left him breathless. He closed his eyes, letting it wash over him.

And then he heard it—Sarah’s voice. Not the strained, stoic tone she’d tried to hold in the ritual chamber, but the pure, genuine kindness she carried deep in her heart. The one he hadn’t fully understood before. 

“You got this,” her voice echoed, a soft reassurance that melted into the light. 

The sensation was like being held in the sweetest embrace. He let it linger, let himself feel the weight of her sacrifice in every fiber of his being. If there was ever a moment to make good on a promise, it was now. 

When the warmth finally ebbed away, Satoru opened his eyes, blinking against the dim light of his dorm room. The familiarity hit him hard—the plain walls, the scattered notes and textbooks, his favorite pair of sunglasses sitting crooked on his desk. 

He sat up slowly, the weight of his promise settling heavy on his shoulders. “December 2nd, 2005,” he murmured, glancing at the old clock on his bedside table. The red digits blinked back at him: 7:23 AM. 

He rubbed his eyes, a lazy grin spreading across his face despite the situation. “Well, guess it worked,” he said to himself, throwing his legs over the side of the bed. 

But then the reality sank in. This was it. His second chance. Or should he call it the third? He had weeks—barely weeks—to stop what had gone so horribly wrong the first time. He could already feel the weight of the timeline pressing down on him, the choices he’d have to make, the risks he’d have to take. 

Still, he allowed himself a moment to just be here. To breathe. To let that golden light linger in his mind like an echo. 

He glanced at the amulet in his hand, now warm and humming faintly with Sarah’s energy. “You really went all out for me again,” he whispered, his tone softer than usual. 

A knock on his door broke the silence, startling him. 

“Satoru!” It was Suguru’s voice, casual and familiar, completely oblivious to the storm brewing in Satoru’s chest. “You’re gonna sleep through the whole day or what? We’ve got a mission to prep for.” 

Satoru stared at the door for a second, then grinned, slipping the amulet into his pocket. He stood up, running a hand through his hair and stretching lazily. 

“Yeah, yeah, keep your pants on,” he called back, his voice carrying that familiar playful lilt. 

But as he reached for the doorknob, his grin faltered for just a moment. The weight of what he’d have to do, of what he’d already seen, was heavy. But if Sarah had trusted him enough to give him this chance again, then he wasn’t going to waste it. 

Swinging the door open, he greeted Suguru with his trademark smirk. “Alright, let’s get to it. I’ve got a timeline to save.” 

Suguru raised an eyebrow. “What are you talking about?”