Episode 4-a. Tangled and Diverging Timelines (1)
The intense clash of mana can twist even ordinary space. Continuous collisions between massive mana clumps upend the flow of time itself. In fact, it's become such common knowledge that clashes between grand mages are now forbidden. But since it happened often in the past, remnants still linger.
Versio Ruins, a massive ruin where space and time are jumbled, tangled, and preserved as-is. That place is the past, the present, or perhaps even the future.
It could be an empire, a kingdom, a duchy, or a holy nation. So if you're lucky, you might obtain what you desire. But if your luck runs out, you could end up preserved alongside the twisted, knotted timelines.
Those who enter Versio and vanish aren't called missing persons. They become pilgrims eternally wandering time and space. Wraiths doomed to repeat time and space forever. If you don't want that fate, take heed. Venture too deep, and if it grabs your ankle, you'll become one of them too.
A decent-sized, ordinary city.
"Bro, we'll meet again someday."
"Cut the bullshit and go home, pop out three kids, and live a good life."
I glanced at Arum Solis and the gals, waved dismissively, and climbed into the carriage.
"So you'll come down south at least once someday, right, bro?"
"In your dreams."
All three were still moving awkwardly, looking worn out, but they waved feebly at me and my companions.
"Haha, like I said, thank you so much."
"Don't go dying in some weird place. Live well."
"Yeah, now we really have to head home. We'll go as soon as we're recovered."
It had been a short connection, but we'd shared some intense moments, so there was a twinge of regret. Still, it was time to say goodbye for real. We'd already spent quite a bit nursing them back after saving them—we couldn't drag it out forever.
"Alright, see ya later."
"Yes, bro! May you achieve everything you desire!"
With the reagents Aberly made and the bright red fruits from that small village, they'd probably recover fully and head home within a month after we parted. I nodded vaguely and cracked the reins.
Behind us, they kept waving until the carriage was out of sight, then limped and staggered back to their inn. Even as I drove, I watched them enter, until Horn grumbled.
"Sentimental fool. Get all emotional like that, wasting time, and you'll croak of old age before reaching your goals."
Of course, Horn wasn't entirely wrong.
"But you kept peeking back too, old man."
"Hmph, I was just watching to see when they'd piss off. And unlike you puny humans, I don't age or die."
Horn himself was pretending not to, but he'd been glancing back nonstop. The kids and Aberly hadn't spoken up either, but they'd waved until Arum Solis and the gals disappeared into the inn.
"You're bummed too but acting all tough."
"...I don't know what you're talking about."
"Sure, of course not."
"I said I don't know, you cheeky bastard."
We bickered as always. The carriage rattled over the bumpy mountain road, but we'd gotten used to it. I shot back at Horn's every word while whipping the reins hard.
Time to resume our slightly delayed journey.
The sky darkened.
"Make the bonfire bigger. The kids are shivering."
"No, the branches around are soaked from the snow—won't catch properly."
We'd pulled the carriage to the roadside before nightfall and lit a bonfire. Midway, snow started falling suddenly, turning into a blizzard by the time we stopped. No choice.
"Just toss a spare wheel on it."
"Don't say crazy shit."
"I'll remake the spare later. Ugh, I'm cold too—hurry up and chuck it on."
"Don't compare a blacksmith to a carpenter hack..."
With the kids and Aberly trembling from the cold, I sighed deeply, hauled out a spare carriage wheel, and plunked it onto the fire.
The flames devoured it instantly, roaring higher. The chilled air filled with warmth.
After that, smooth sailing. With our camping experience, we pulled out the pot, dumped in ingredients, and waited for it to boil.
Beyond the tent, white flakes piled up like trash. We huddled by the fire, staring blankly, then tossed out random chatter to pass the time.
"Oppa Ain, so where are we going now?"
Tori's question kicked it off—she'd been blankly alternating between the pot, snowflakes, and fire. Talk mingled with the bubbling.
"Haven't decided yet, actually..."
Of course, it didn't go smoothly.
"Huh...?"
"Eh?"
"Hm?"
"Haha... as expected, n-no plan is Ain's thing."
"Hey, well... I figured we'd head east and hit whatever comes up. Been too hectic lately to scout. Sorry."
And this Aberly punk acts like no-plan is my trademark when this is his first time too. Making me wanna raise a fist, seriously.
Anyway. Point was, we hadn't picked a destination. No time to leisurely plan in Tebris or that village, like I'd told the others. We'd followed the prophecy letter east, nailing Tebris as our first goal, but the other spots weren't all conveniently eastward.
As I scratched my head sheepishly, Tori—who'd started it—trotted over, grinning and hugging me.
"It's fine! Decide before this stew boils!"
"Uh, yeah. 'Fine' but with a tight deadline."
"Heehee!"
It'd boil in under ten minutes anyway. I gently stroked Tori's head in my arms, pondering deeply.
I tried sorting what lay ahead, skipping boring cities for the weird and mysterious spots—about three places.
"First off, uh... excluding normal cities, filtering for strange and mysterious stuff, there's roughly three."
"I know one. That freaky city with the guide signs, right?"
"Yeah, you know it. Specifically, a hotel where you must follow the signs."
"It's pretty famous."
First: the infamous hotel laced with Napolitan ghost stories that eats people.
"Yeah. And next, there's a massive workshop nearby. Bring materials, they craft or repair stuff. Our ancient gadget from the reward's busted anyway."
Second: a city with a huge workshop. Nasatya's relic from Tebris was totally dead, shoved in the carriage corner, but maybe they could fix it.
"Haha, I th-think I know the third. S-so... probably Versio Ruins n-nearby..."
"Yep, Versio Ruins. Where ancient grand mages dueled, causing bizarre magic that warped and fixed space-time in place."
Third: the closest of the three, a twisted space-time ruin. Famous enough we knew it without scouting our path closely—one of those three.
I briefly explained them. Horn spoke first.
"Hotel's out. Hate to say it, but with this ragtag party, it'd just be dangerous."
"If we follow the signs..."
"If it were that easy, why call it a people-eating hotel, idiot?"
Horn shook his head firmly, and the others nodded cautiously.
"Hotel's off. Pick between the other two. Quick, pot's boiling."
Two left.
""We vote workshop! Sounds fun!""
"I-I'm leaning toward Versio Ruins a bit. If luck's good, we c-could get future or past knowledge for r-research progress..."
"...Sorry kids, but the ruins sound better to me too."
""Ehhh!!""
Vote: 2-2 tie.
The pot boiled furiously now, but the split group stared me down, urging a choice. Silently pressuring me to side with them.
No. Guys.