Ifrin's Time (1)

Snow falls on the Floating Island too.

It's a magical effect artificially created by the mages. They have to do something like this, or too many addicts would lose track of the passage of seasons and time.

Crunch— crunch—

In the Floating Island's urban district, Sylvia trudged through the snow while waiting for Idnik.

Crunch— crunch—

She deliberately stomped to make the sound.

Ding-!

At that moment, accompanied by the chime of a bell, the door to the magic shop swung open. Idnik, who had told her to wait a moment, stepped out.

With a backpack slung over her shoulder, she handed Sylvia a newspaper.

"Sylvia. Take a look at this."

Sylvia accepted the newspaper without a word. Her expressionless eyes scanned the printed lines. Deculein and Julie dominated the headlines.

"They're saying the breakup is in progress, but there are all sorts of nasty rumors too. Like Deculein killed both Veron and Rockfel..."

"No."

Sylvia shook her head. Then she pointed at Julie in the paper.

"This woman's an idiot."

"What're you talking about all of a sudden?"

"......"

Sylvia knew. What Veron had done to Deculein. What had transpired between those two.

And how deeply Deculein loved Julie.

Yet this oblivious woman knew none of it, understood nothing...

"Whatever."

Idnik shrugged at Sylvia's curt reply.

"Fine. Anyway, you ready?"

"Yeah. But—"

"Here ya go, kiddo. The thing you asked for."

Idnik held out a stone to Sylvia.

The stone called Deculein's Test. The moment the Imperial University Tower distributed it on the Floating Island, it became an enormous fad.

You could tell just by looking around right now.

Stones clutched in the hands of nearly every mage passing on the sidewalk. Stones sitting on tables at cafes and restaurants. Mages glaring at their stones before plop—collapsing.

"Tch. Damn. That guy's a pro at starting trends."

At Idnik's words, Sylvia gazed steadily at the stone. Just infusing it with mana made it clunk—and activate.

"Oh, and. You know Deculein privately published a treatise?"

Sylvia looked up.

"Treatise."

"Yeah. It's causing a stir again lately. He published it privately, so it's not on the market. And knowing Deculein's personality, he probably won't sell it. Rumor has it the Floating Island libraries beefed up security."

"......Security."

"They've got like five copies there. Apparently, some mages are half-joking—nah, dead serious—about robbing the place."

"......"

Sylvia bit her ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠lip impassively.

Mage Deculein was achieving great feats on the Floating Island. His theories were now treated like those of a king there.

"Sylvia. Aren't you curious too?"

Sylvia looked up at Ifrin wordlessly. After pondering silently for a long time, she spoke.

"I might be able to borrow it."

"Borrow what?"

"Deculein's theory book."

"Hm?"

Sylvia immediately turned and dashed toward the library. Her magic-enhanced sprint left an afterimage in its speed.

Soon, she arrived at the 10th floor of Mejseion on the Floating Island.

The gathering place of all the world's books—Pentamol. Sylvia approached the "library addict" at the info desk.

"You've arrived, Esprit Sylvia."

He nodded as if he'd been expecting her. Then he handed her a book sealed multiple times over.

"Read it carefully. It's classified as a Class 2 restricted book. Also, this is a note left by Monarch Deculein for Esprit Sylvia."

Sylvia took the small slip of paper as well.

Deculein's elegant handwriting bore a short sentence.

* * *

A blizzard smeared across the train window. The howling icy winds scattered pure white dust in wild disarray, but inside the car, it was warm and cozy.

"Look at this. That's why you should've studied theory harder."

"......Gotta be reasonably difficult to bother learning it."

Drent tutoring Ifrin. Allen quietly knitting. The occasional chug-chug of the engine.

This peaceful atmosphere wasn't so bad.

For me, for Ifrin, for Allen. Knowing this tranquility wouldn't last long.

"Professor. Whatcha reading~?"

Then Allen asked. I showed him the cover wordlessly.

"......Hehe."

Allen grinned like a fool and held out a fluffy bundle.

A scarf.

"Here... Your neck looked a bit chilly."

"Unnecessary."

"Ah...... Okay~."

Allen looked a little disappointed, bowing his head. I added one more thing.

"Consider it a gift from me to you. I don't get cold, so you wear it."

"Oh...... Okay......"

Screeeeech—

Right then, the sound of metal scraping rang out as the train slowed. The three assistants hurriedly gathered their luggage.

—Knock knock. We've arrived, Professor Deculein.

The conductor announced through the door. We all stepped out of the train together.

"Brr, cold."

"Y-yeah......"

Mazar Station in the north. The moment they set foot on the empty platform, Ifrin and Allen hugged their shoulders.

I surveyed the surroundings.

It was utterly desolate. Not a single soul in sight, and the distant snow-capped mountains were faintly shrouded in mist.

"No people."

"It's winter now, so everyone's probably staying indoors."

The stationmaster replied.

Brrr, so cold— freezing— why's it this cold— I said to the shivering trio.

"Let's go."

"......Yes."

Outside the platform, four horses stood ready.

Neigh—! Seeing the snorting horses, Ifrin and Allen swallowed hard. Those two suffered from a condition called "horse sickness"...

* * *

With Allen on Drent's back and Ifrin on mine, we arrived at our destination: the northern fortress Resental.

"You'll stay here. We call it our little magic tower, but it's embarrassing to show it to a professor from the Imperial University Tower. It's quite a ways from the parade ground, so you should be comfortable."

The guiding officer said. It was indeed cylindrical like a small magic tower, five stories tall. Impressive height considering the north.

"Understood."

"Yes. Rest up from your journey. Your assistants too."

Once the officer left, Ifrin, Allen, and Drent quickly claimed their rooms. Ifrin beamed first.

"This one's mine! My room!"

"What. Little ones get the smallest room."

"Pfft. Don't you know ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠meritocracy? Assistant Professor gets the biggest, then me..."

I left them on the first floor and headed up.

It was well-equipped, as if mages visited often on business. The third floor was a lab stocked with tools, the fourth a study lined with northern books, and the fifth suitable for me.

But.

"How do you do~?"

An unexpected intruder.

"My lord... or should I not call you that anymore~?"

A coquettish voice. A soft, flowing smile.

Yuseffin.

I turned to her.

"What is it."

"Oh, nothing much. Just... here to give a little warning~."

Yuseffin smiled sweetly. I asked curtly.

"Warning."

"Yes~. Oh, not aggressively. Just ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠that precursors to mana phenomena have been detected in the north."

Yuseffin handed over a few photographic images.

Red lightning. Rippling auroras. A comet falling—and reversing.

"All this started two days ago."

The comet especially seemed to defy time: falling, then soaring back up, soaring then falling again, repeating until it warped space and vanished.

A sudden event.

"......I wouldn't know. Professor Deculein will overcome anything. But the fledglings downstairs, sensitive to mana, might get caught up."

I nodded.

"I'll take the details. So—"

"Julie's doing well. Still resenting you, hating you."

"......"

A smile played on Yuseffin's lips. But her eyes hardened as she stared at me.

"Her health's really improving. Julie's overcoming it herself~."

"Good."

Yuseffin propped her chin on her hand. She tilted her head slightly in that pose.

"It's amazing, my lord. I never thought your words would really come true..."

"Did I not say it? I do not lie."

"Hehe. Truly so~."

She giggled playfully like a noble lady and turned to me.

"Is this... what you wanted?"

"......"

I met her eyes silently.

Her pure white irises shimmered like transparent shards. Eyes like Julie's.

"I only wish for Julie to live on."

At those words, Yuseffin let out a deep sigh. Then she murmured softly, as if laughing.

"You love Julie as much as I do."

Death variable erased.

A phrase I'd ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠never seen before.

Probably meant Yuseffin's killing intent had vanished completely. That this paranoid sociopath had finally come to trust me.

"Then I'll be going~. But if anything happens, contact me anytime~."

Yuseffin set a crystal orb on the table. Then she faded away like a shadow.

"......"

I sat across from where she'd been and gazed out the window.

Sleet fluttered like petals.

* * *

The next day.

Ifrin woke early at dawn. The world outside was still dark, but her body felt strangely refreshed. Mana overflowed through her entire being.

"What is this."

Rooooar...

A fireball gathered in her hand. The simplest spell to check a mage's daily condition—and today, its density and power were exceptionally potent.

"......Ifrin, whatcha doing."

Then Drent appeared, his face heavy with sleep. He rubbed his eyes as he looked at her.

"Oh, Drent. I feel weirdly full of energy today?"

"......Yeah."

"Right. We're doing civilian support, yeah?"

"......Yeah."

Yaaawn— Drent yawned and headed to the bathroom. Ifrin rolled up her sleeves.

"Gonna put this overflowing vitality to good use!"

She shouted cheerfully and headed straight outside to begin civilian aid.

First stop.

The village near the fortress.

"Aigoo, what brings a precious mage to this humble place..."

"Anything I can help with?!"

"The barricade's a bit damaged..."

"I'll fix it! Where?!"

"......Pardon? Oh, yes... I'll show you."

Ifrin repaired the monster-breached barricade in an instant.

She reforged the vigilantes' weapons and the herbalist's gear like new, and felled dozens of trees for winter firewood.

"Kiddo. How old are you?"

"Ten. Not a kid."

"Hehe. Got it."

She patted the cute boy's head.

Small stature, looked super young, but apparently a capable little herbalist.

"Name?"

"Jupan."

"Hm, Jupan. Keep gathering herbs diligently~."

"Yes."

Jupan nodded stiffly and headed straight into the woods. Ifrin watched him go, then placed a hand on her hip.

"Alright~ everyone!"

She called out to the gathering villagers.

"Anything else?"

"No, we're good now. Yesterday a shooting star fell in those woods—"

"No worries! Oh, right. Lots of weeds for livestock feed over there. I'll clear 'em all!"

Ifrin strode energetically into the forest.

She marched in to uproot the weed piles—and right then.

"Hm?"

She discovered a mystical pond.

A depression in the brush, like a sinkhole. Its surface sparkled like stars, pure mana bubbling up.

Ifrin tilted her head and approached.

"What is it..."

She peered blankly into the pond.

Her reflection on the surface—Ifrin's face, growing prettier with time... ahem!

Anyway, the pond's color and light were so beautiful she reached out unconsciously.

... Tap.

The hand in the pond touched the hand outside. Zap—! Electricity sparked.

A stinging pain.

"Ow!"

Startled, Ifrin yanked her arm back. She fiddled with her fingers and stared at the pond.

"What the heck?"

Should ask the professor. This pond might be a mana phenomenon itself.

Thinking that, Ifrin turned to retrace her steps.

"......?"

But something was off. She realized it after just a few steps.

...The path was different.

The path she'd just walked wasn't the one she'd come from. For one, snow had piled much higher than ten minutes ago, and the weather was far colder.

She couldn't quite put her finger on how to describe it, but anyway.

It was eerie.

"What now... Hey! You there!"

Then she spotted a passing young man.

Ifrin waved frantically. The herbalist-like man approached with heavy steps upon seeing her.

"Yes. What is it."

"Anything happen in the village just now?"

"Happen?"

The man echoed.

"Yeah!"

Ifrin nodded vigorously, but upon seeing his face clearly, her eyes widened.

"Huh?"

"Something wrong?"

"No way..."

The man. A youthful face. Taller than Ifrin by a head.

But that lingering baby fat was unmistakably the same as the boy she'd seen just fifteen minutes ago...

"You're... Jupan?"

"Hm? How do you know my... Oh~."

The young man seemed to recognize her belatedly. He spoke with a blunt face.

"The mage from before. You haven't aged a bit."

"Aged? What..."

"Hm. Figures. Now that the professor's here."

"Professor?"

"Yeah. The professor who came with you last time."

"Where?!"

Ifrin demanded loudly. Jupan leaned back, replying reluctantly.

"Waiting at the village hall..."

Ifrin bolted toward where he pointed.

Thud thud thud thud—

Full sprint, kicking up snow on the road.

Upon reaching the village, Ifrin was, in that moment, the most shocked person alive.

"What..."

The village wasn't a village anymore.

The modest hamlet from moments ago now bustled with a marketplace full of people, fur-clad merchants and villagers haggling.

"What."

Ifrin trudged along. For some reason, her heart shrank timidly, so she clasped her hands at her chest.

The village hall Jupan mentioned wasn't far.

"......There."

Village hall. Just that dawn, it had been a mere shack. Now it was huge.

Perplexed by the inexplicable situation, Ifrin gripped the door handle anyway.

Gulp—

Swallowing nervously.

She slowly opened the door.

Creeeeak—

Through the roughly opening gap, a figure in a black robe came into view. He sat in a chair, reading a book.

A lantern illuminated him, and Ifrin...

"......Professor?"

He turned to her. Just the face revealed beneath the robe hood told her who it was.

Deculein.

With a stern expression, he rolled up his sleeve. He tapped his wristwatch and spoke.

"I should have specified the exact time, Ifrin."

"Pardon? What do you..."

"Six-oh-five."

Deculein removed his robe hood. He looked as neat and tidy as ever.

"Five minutes late. When you return, say six-oh-five, not on the hour."

"......?"

His words today were bizarre.

Ifrin pursed and unpursed her lips repeatedly, finally just tilting her head.

"Huh?"

She felt like her soul was leaving her body.

However, all the "changes" she'd witnessed on her way here boiled down to one fact.

Time.

"No way."

And the future.

Deculein nodded. He furrowed his brow slightly, as if she'd realized too late.

"Correct. There was a momentary confusion in your time. That's why I'm here."

At his words, Ifrin's jaw dropped. Seeing her dazed, Deculein smiled warmly.

"Whaaaa..."

But that smile was far more shocking—honestly, more than this magical situation—so Ifrin briefly lost her grip on reality.

Thud—!

......And collapsed, bashing her head on the wooden floor.