The sun rose slowly over the horizon, casting a golden light across the jungle that had become Elijah's home. But today, it felt as though that sunlight was no longer warm, no longer comforting. The weight of Eli-Ah's words pressed heavily on his shoulders, and the air around him felt thick with the uncertainty of what lay ahead.
The revolution had been his mission—his sole purpose—since he had first arrived in this time. To help his people achieve independence. To fight the American invaders and bring an end to their imperialist ambitions. But now, everything had changed.
The war he was fighting was no longer just about freedom. It was about time itself. About ensuring that history did not collapse under the weight of forces Elijah could scarcely comprehend.
He stood alone, gazing out over the camp that was slowly awakening to another day of struggle. The sounds of soldiers stirring, of fires being stoked, and of voices calling to one another seemed distant, almost hollow, in his ears. The battle for Baler had been won, but at what cost? The revolution was strong, but fragile, and it seemed the more victories they achieved, the closer they came to something far worse than they could imagine.
Isa approached him from behind, her footsteps quiet but deliberate. Elijah could feel her presence before she spoke.
"You're quiet today," she said, her voice soft but filled with concern. "Is everything all right?"
He turned to face her, his gaze distant. "I don't know, Isa. I don't know what's right anymore."
She tilted her head, her expression one of quiet understanding. She had seen him struggle before, but this felt different. His eyes were burdened by something far beyond the scope of their war, something beyond the scope of their reality.
"You're thinking about it, aren't you?" Isa asked gently. "The future... or rather, what you've learned about it."
Elijah nodded slowly. "Eli-Ah… she told me the truth. The revolution—it's only the beginning. There's a war coming. Not against just the Americans. There's something worse. Something from the future. And I'm the one who has to stop it."
Isa's brow furrowed. "A war from the future? You mean those machines you saw in the lab?"
He nodded again, his mind replaying the cold, metallic figure of the machine from Eli-Ah's hologram. The red eyes. The unfeeling, mechanical aggression. "They're coming for us, Isa. For all of us. And we have no idea how to fight them."
"Then we'll fight like we always have," Isa said, her voice steady. "We fight with everything we've got. The revolution was never just about weapons or tactics—it was about the heart of the people. We can't let the future take that from us."
Elijah smiled faintly at her words. She had always been the one to remind him of why they fought. But this time, it felt different. The stakes were higher. The future was slipping through his fingers, and no amount of heart or courage would be enough to turn back time.
"I wish it were that simple," Elijah muttered, his eyes scanning the camp. "But these machines—they're not like anything we've ever faced before. And if I'm the only one who can stop them, I have to find a way."
Isa stepped closer, her hand resting gently on his arm. "You won't do it alone, Elijah. You've got all of us. You've got the people who believe in you—and you've got me."
Her words were like a balm to his soul, soothing the gnawing doubt that had taken root in his chest. He had always known he couldn't do it alone, but hearing her say it… hearing her stand by him in this moment, it gave him a renewed sense of purpose.
"You're right," he said, his voice stronger now. "I can't do this alone. But I can't waste time either. If we're going to stop these machines, we need to act fast."
Isa nodded. "What's the plan then?"
Elijah's eyes hardened with determination. "We need to find out more. About the machines, about Captain Raines, about what's happening in the future. I don't trust that lab—it's full of secrets, and we've only scratched the surface. I need to track down the other time travelers. They could hold the key to everything. And we need to make sure the revolution survives long enough to fight this new war."
Isa thought for a moment, then nodded. "I'll help you. We'll find them, Elijah. And together, we'll make sure the revolution doesn't fall into the hands of the machines."
The Path to the Enemy
The journey ahead was uncertain, but Elijah knew he had to take the first step. He called together a small group of his most trusted soldiers—Isa, of course, and a few others who had proven their loyalty time and again.
"We're going to move out," Elijah said, standing in front of them, his voice commanding. "We need to find the other time travelers. They might be our only hope."
"Where do we begin?" one of the soldiers asked.
Elijah glanced at the map he had been studying for days. "There are several key locations where the other time travelers might have appeared. I've already learned from Eli-Ah that there's a facility in the south, near Mindoro. That's where we'll start."
The soldiers nodded, steeling themselves for what was to come. Elijah's resolve was contagious. They were ready to follow him, wherever he led.
The Journey Begins
The sun was high as they set out, moving quickly and silently through the dense jungle. The roads were treacherous, the landscape unfamiliar, but Elijah's mind was laser-focused on one goal: finding the other time travelers and learning what they knew.
As they traveled deeper into the jungle, Elijah's thoughts kept returning to the larger battle ahead. The Philippine-American War was still raging, but it was no longer just a fight for independence. It was a fight for the survival of time itself.
The future was coming for them, and Elijah couldn't afford to wait any longer. He had to find a way to stop it—before it was too late.
Main characthers in this novels.
🔥 Main CharactersElijah Reyes
Role: Protagonist, regressed time traveler
Age: 28 (physically); mentally older due to future knowledge
Background: A former operative of a futuristic organization that experimented with time and technological manipulation. He was regressed (thrown back in time) to 1898 after betraying or trying to expose the sinister ambitions of Dr. Raines.
Skills: Advanced knowledge of history, strategy, guerrilla warfare, and future tech. Charismatic leader and strategist.
Personality: Intelligent, burdened by guilt, decisive, protective of his allies, torn between pragmatism and hope.
Romantic Dynamics:
Isa: Current romantic interest; deep bond forged through shared struggle. Endgame pairing.
Eli-Ah: Former companion from the future; emotional tension from a past shared before the time regression.
Isa Delgado
Role: Elite sharpshooter and co-leader in the resistance
Age: 24
Background: Former schoolteacher in Tarlac turned rebel sniper after her village was raided by Spanish forces. Known for her intelligence, fierce will, and loyalty.
Skills: Long-range marksmanship, reconnaissance, battlefield leadership.
Personality: Independent, brave, emotionally guarded but warm beneath her armor.
Romantic Dynamics:
Developing love for Elijah, initially subtle but deepening with every shared trial.
Eli-Ah Vance
Role: Enigmatic future operative, originally aligned with Raines
Age: Looks 27, actual age unknown (from a future timeline)
Background: Once Elijah's close ally—and possibly more—in the future. Was involved in Raines' original project. She was thrown back into the past separately and has since been operating in secret.
Skills: Advanced hand-to-hand combat, espionage, cybernetic enhancements (limited in use due to tech decay).
Personality: Sharp, mysterious, emotionally complex, carries unspoken regret and longing.
Romantic Dynamics:
Still in love with Elijah, though she masks it with pragmatism.
⚔️ Revolutionary Allies
Captain Gregorio Alano
Role: Former officer under Aguinaldo, now part of Elijah's command
Age: 35
Background: Disillusioned with internal infighting among Filipino leaders, he defects to Elijah's resistance, seeking a more unified path.
Skills: Conventional military tactics, logistics, diplomacy.
Personality: Loyal, honorable, skeptical of Elijah's "visions" at first but becomes a true believer.
🪓 General Antonio Luna
Age: Early 40s
Background: Real historical figure, a fiery military leader of the First Philippine Republic.
Personality: Passionate, brilliant, hot-tempered, values discipline above politics.
Skills: Military tactics, close combat, leadership.
Character Arc: Forms a strong alliance with Elijah, though sometimes clashes over command authority. Respects Elijah's knowledge but dislikes secrets.
Fate: TBD—could follow historical arc or diverge based on Elijah's influence.
🎖 Emilio Aguinaldo
Age: Early 30s
Background: President of the First Philippine Republic.
Personality: Charismatic, calculating, patriotic—but politically driven and often cautious.
Arc: Initially hesitant to trust Elijah, later becomes dependent on his military insight. Faces growing internal divisions and political pressure as the war drags on.
Role: Head of state, symbol of national legitimacy, often torn between revolutionaries and moderates.
🧠 Antagonists
Dr. Marcus Raines
Role: Main antagonist, mastermind behind the time experiments
Age: Unknown (from a future or alternate timeline)
Background: Visionary-turned-tyrant who believes history must be "corrected" through technological intervention. Manipulated the timeline, indirectly responsible for the Philippine-American conflict intensifying. May still be alive and influencing events.
Skills: Scientific genius, manipulative, commands secret advanced technology.
Personality: Cold, calculating, sees human lives as variables in his equations.
General Otis (Historical Figure)
Role: Commander of American forces during the Philippine-American War
Background: Driven by expansionism and the desire to pacify the Philippines, he sees the resistance as savage rebels.
Function in Plot: Represents the brutal force of U.S. military might during the war.