Rex Crozzo, the Anemo Archon, and the current Herrscher of Winter watched as his best friend and beloved Kiana Kaslana finally returned from her watch. The young Archon watched the happy sight with a sad yet happy smile. After all this time, they never needed him. 

His position as the Herrscher of White Frost was taken after he had pacified the souls and prevented the awakening of his friends, Ana and Owl. The two now lived with each other after he helped them fake their deaths, even becoming the best man at their wedding and Godfather to their child. 

Reinhardt and big sis Elysia were married now and had his beloved Niece, Reese. Reve, Rita, and Bianka got hitched and were coming back from a mission. He had seen Mei develop some... feelings(?) for Adam and knowing Kiana... 

No! He can't think like this! 

Quickly 'Freezing' his intrusive thoughts, the young man dressed in a black suit with a green shirt turned around. He had been a master of stealth, easily blending into levels enough to fool even the senses of Herrschers even if he stood beside him. 

He remembered how Bronya got her company while he...

His music career hit a dead end. Being a savior of the world could not save his reputation from the brutal style of Combat that he used during the defense against the Sky People. Well, their loss. Maybe... he can join Uncle Welt in his mission. Might as well get off the planet and cross out one of his boyhood dreams or go to Charles' dimension and fight for him. Last he knew, he was still on his great Crusade.

Or he can go to the Mundus...

Lady Kyne did offer him a place there as her 'son'. 

The young Archon sighed as he found himself tapping into the concept of Freedom of the Anemo Gnosis and before he knew it, he found himself in the clearing in one of House Crozzo's estates. Gently, the Anemo Archon harmonized his presence with the area, effectively blending in with the environment. 

The Death of Himeko

The destruction of a part of St. Freya

The massacre of World Serpent

The destruction of the Hyperion

The eradication of his entire company called the Lamenters

The Sacrifice and Seal of Kiana

All of them happened because of him. Maybe... he shouldn't have been a warrior of House Crozzo. After all, he fucked up a lot. Not only that, he was still the weakest of the Herrscher squad and had to be protected. Even in the fight with Otto, he was taken out of it too quickly. 

All of his sacrifices were in vain. He even prepared a contract with Xipe and the Imaginary tree to save Kiana from the seal and it was for nothing since she was back. 

His fulfillment of the original mission of the Herrschers and the Honkai

All his training. 

That's right, all of this would have gotten better if you didn't help,

Who said that?!

I am an observer of sorts. I am Aha

Weird name...

How Rude! But true, you shouldn't have helped. 

What? 

Even now, they don't need you. You only made it worse.

That's not true! 

Or is it~ 

Rex blinked as he thought about it.

No...

No.

No!

NO!!!

It was not his fault! 

I will give you a chance. A chance to go back or rather... a chance to go to a timeline before you reunited with your best friend. 

No! Don't...

You can undo all of your mistakes! Ah~ What an amazing choice. To have all my mistakes wiped clean. 

Must... resist...

The image of a dying Himeko appeared in his mind as he remembered how he watched helplessly as the Herrscher of the Void's lance impaled her boy as she protected him. 

The memory of his failure at the Battle of St. Freya and how it took him too long to fight back as he evacuated the school.

The time he accidentally caused a massacre as he did not execute the sleeper agents they sent. The way those people were killed by World Serpent.

The ship Himeko owned was destroyed during a defensive battle he waged that he had to sacrifice to protect a city

The way his men sacrificed himself after they walked into a trap and how only he was left alive, having to endure days of being covered in blood and dirt from his enemies he killed and the companions that protected him

The miscalculation he made during the time he formulated the seal to allow Kiana to seal the moon without sealing herself as well. The slight flaw made it useless.

His biggest mistake. 

Letting the Herrscher core awaken inside of him, making him destroy an entire Planet after he let his guard down once he was Isekai-ed. 

So many mistakes~ 

That's right...

So many debts to pay~

Must... re...si...s...t

Do you accept my offer? 

Rex said nothing as he looked at his very being, the Gnosis and the gem both were indifferent, leaving him by his choice. 

Suddenly, an image of a grinning Kiana as she looked so happy during her time at St. Freya, without him, made him know. 

"This is the right choice..." The young man whispered.

He was too tired to listen to his instincts and mind as almost 2 decades of fighting and training weathered his mind. 

"I accept, Aha," 

Soft maddened laughter echoed in the entire area. He knew this was it. This time... he will stay out of the way. He should have done this a long time ago...

Rex blinked as he found himself back in the same spot. 

"Huh?" 

"Rex?" Kiana Kaslana looked at her best friend. No smile was present on her face as she looked at him. 

"Rex-kun..." Bronya whispered in horror as she saw how his body started disintegrating in front of their arms. 

'Ah... the contract with the imaginary tree...' The young man thought as he watched his hands disappear to dust. Smiling weakly at the girls, Rex looked at Kiana. 

"Welcome back, Kiana," Rex whispered and the last thing he saw was Kiana rushing towards him with tears in her eyes. 

'Even now... all I can do is make you cry...' He thought as he felt his body disappear. 'If I could spare you from this pain by staying away... I will do so...'

Rex closed his eyes.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Rex opened his eyes and found himself confused. Is this place hell? 

With practiced ease and using the...

Wait! 

Where's the Gem of Winter?! 

The fuck?! 

Standing up, Rex looked in the mirror of his room. 

'Auntie Senti's Real Illusion?' Rex thought as he looked at his younger form before digging deep inside... 

His gnosis is gone! 

He only got it when he turned 16 and now...

'Is this my second chance?'

Rex looked at his hands, analyzing the situation the best he could. He remembered most of his past life... He was given a chance to return. 

'I always wanted to travel and learn...' Rex thought as he remembered how passionate he was about learning and studying different things. 'I already have a Ph.D. and Master's from my past life...'

Moving quickly, the young man took his laptop, entered a website, and used a password to connect him to someone he used to know. 

"Great Grandpa Otto, it's Rex. I'm here to collect one of my birthday favors," He said with a soft smile. If he wasn't in the life of the girls, it would be easier for them. He had seen it and he knows they will do better without him. Sending a meeting location, Rex knew his brothers were asleep and Rein would be preoccupied with big sis Elysia. 

They might have hidden it well and their feelings only developed when they got older but looking back, it was clear that they often hooked up but it seems like tonight was one of their not-so-bang-bang days.

'I wonder how I didn't become an uncle earlier?'

 Preparing a bag with a good amount of clothes and supplies along with his wallet, the young man then took the flute Rein gave him, a harp Elysia gave him for his fifteenth birthday, and the violin Reve gifted him. 

Quickly storing them into a secure yet small inventory in Quantum space, along with the rest of his money containers, the young man changed to a new set of comfortable and casual clothes. 

'I'm a coward...' Rex thought as he wrote a letter to his family. Rin would be the best choice to inherit the family's secret sword style. In his past life, Rin's skill with a sword far surpassed his own and it did make him a bit jealous. But now that he has decided to stop being a warrior for House Crozzo, maybe his brothers can draw out the potential she had.

Gently opening his window and using the knowledge he received from the Gnosis and the will of the Honkai, Rex jumped off his window after closing it and disappeared into the night like the wind. 

=-=-=-=-=--=-=-==-=--=-=-=--=-=-=

"Rex-Onii-chan..." Rin said as she entered the room, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. "Sensei said you should get ready for a day in the beach...." 

Receiving no reply, Rin's eyes widened as she saw the bed was empty. Senses and instincts honed by training made her analyze the room. The lack of clothes and the money containers made it seem like he ran away but his instruments were gone and there was no way he could have...

Seeing the paper on his desk, Rin quickly read it before running to the living room. 

Rita, a young maid hired by Otto to work in House Crozzo, smiled as she watched how Reve oiled and cleaned his sword. Both she and Elysia cooked in the kitchen while Reinhardt sat on the dining table holding his tablet and checking some daily reports. 

"Rex-onii-chan is walking the path without his weapons!" Rin shouted in panic as she showed him the letter in her hand,  

-==-=-=-=-==-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Kiana Kaslana froze as she saw him. Her best friend... the one who promised to help her go back. She had seen it, heard it. She was aware of the things he did and how similar he was to Otto, yet she did not blame him. 

She never could. During her time in the seal, he managed to find a way to comfort her like he always did. 

'What should I say?!' Kiana thought to herself in panic. How awkward could it be for the both of them if she just...'Why is this so hard?!' Kiana thought, being the idiot little tuna that she was. True she loved Mei with all her heart but Rex and her known each other since they were kids.

"Huh?"

'This feeling...' Kiana thought as she finally processed it all. 'I... I love Rex as well...'  

"Rex?" Kiana Kaslana looked at her best friend. No smile was present on her face as she looked at him, unsure how to talk to him. She was finally back. 

"Rex-kun..." Bronya whispered in horror. 'Kun?! What happened to Rex and Bratnya while I was gone?!' Kiana thought in confusion only for her eyes to widen and for her to feel cold. 

Watching her best friend's hand disintegrate, Kiana moved as fast as she could. 

'No! Not like this!' Kiana thought as she could see him so close. 

"Welcome back, Kiana," 

Tears formed and fell from her eyes as she finally got closer. 

'NO!' Kiana shouted in her mind as she hugged him. 'I need you, Rex!' Kiana fell to her knees as she hugged nothing for his body had already disintegrated. She could barely register what happened and now... her best friend was gone... 

She felt the gem of the white frost in her hands. Embracing it tenderly, Kiana let bitter tears fall from her eyes.

'Huh? Why am I crying?' Kiana thought as she snapped out of it. Feeling a gem in her hands. 'A Herrscher core? But Whose is this?'

Aha, the Aeon of elation, smiled as he erased the existence of Rex Crozzo in his original timeline. Ah... what fun will this be?