The format for the path and filename does NOT want to start with "\\".

These lines should all use the 'path' format as follows.
if(GetFileAttributes("Saves\\chronicle_2.sav")+1)

API-based functions assume you are starting from the project folder.
If you put a '\\' at the beginning of the file/path string, then it assumes
you want to look at the root directory of that drive letter.
ie If your project is at C:\projects\myproject, and the you use the test
GetFileAttributes("\\Saves\\chronicle_2.sav")+1),
then it will be checking for the file "C:\Saves\chronicle_2.sav"...
(When you use API functions anyway)