A Brushstroke Across Time

Albedo had always known he would die young-an assassin's life was a ticking clock. But bleeding out on a rooftop, he hadn't expected to wake up in the middle of a sun-scorched sumeru desert.

Thrown into a world that shouldn't exist, in an era that feels like history's rough draft, Albedo is forced to adapt. A "dream" that refuses to end, a civilization on the brink of disaster, and-of all things-a near-perfect duplicate of himself, waiting where no one should be.

With no way home and too many questions, Albedo has no choice but to carve out a place for himself in a story he was never meant to be part of. And how do you earn the trust of a twin who sees right through you?

Survival was easy. Living with his choices? That's the hard part.

Story is also published on ao3 with the same title.