Episode 4-a. Entwined and Diverging Timelines (5)
What the hell is a prophecy, anyway?
How could anyone possibly peer into the future, predict what was coming, and just casually spit it out like that?
Truth be told, even when I got that letter in Litera, those same thoughts crossed my mind. The letter that flew in from there wasn't purely a prophecy, but I found it even more astonishing than Asha's from the future. I knew it was some kind of magic, yet facing it head-on was a sight to behold. Out of all the countless people in the world, how did they zero in on me, mapping out my path like that? How much could they see from such a distant past?
The idea that someone with zero connection to me was watching and prophesying about me felt both wondrous and terrifying. As far as I knew, there wasn't just one ancient prophet. In an era overflowing with those who had mastered magic to its limits, seeing the future had become one of the lost ancient arts, honed to perfection. The prophet who sent those prophetic letters to Litera must have just chosen an elegant hobby, while most others weren't so refined.
The Versio Ruins, remnants of a magic storm, were one example. The man-eating flower that defined that small village's existence was another. No doubt, many more such relics lay in wait as we pressed forward.
In other words, ancient mages weren't all noble and profound thinkers. Some were outright evil. Some surely twisted prophecies for nefarious ends—observing the future, foretelling it, then cackling as people tumbled into the nets they had cast, dying in the chaos.
So that's how it was. The old things were starting to stretch their limbs, one by one.
“œŧжлюф.”
“œ..., Ah. Ahh, you have come of your own accord.”
After clearing his throat a few times, he spoke again, reciting our language perfectly. But the words, wrapped in thick, overflowing mana, didn't sound like they came from the same man.
“Fool who dares to save the gray.”
His deep, resonant baritone echoed through the space, reaching not just me but the ears of everyone who'd entered with me.
“Hilariously, you've walked right into this place on your own two feet.”
His eyes blazed with fury, while his lips curled upward in madness, twisting into a grotesque grin.
And so, we instinctively staggered back at the sight.
The scholars who'd come with us alternated shocked glances between me and the ancient mages, shoving aside their scribbled notes and ducking behind the wide desk.
My thinking had been too shallow. Rushing in without a second thought at the mention of the Gray Research Society was the mistake. The Versio Ruins themselves were born from ancient mages' clashing spells. Maybe the spatial distortions, perception drops, or alterations here didn't affect them. I'd dismissed it as a novelistic safety net, but it might actually be some massive spell they'd anchored in place.
“Horn, the door...”
“It's shut—completely gone. No exit at all.”
But we'd blundered in anyway. With the door back vanished, we were now just pilgrims adrift in space-time ourselves.
“Then just remember one thing: we have to survive first.”
“Yeah. Never thought my last stand as a dwarf would be against space-time ghosts.”
Horn let out a heavy sigh at my words, stepping in front of the kids and Aberly with his shield raised. Of course, we still had options.
“Actually, there is still a way.”
“W-What...? What's that?”
“Kill the spellcaster.”
The space-time door was forcibly sealed by current magic. That meant, in principle, removing the caster would restore it. Normally, these doors vanished after about an hour, so with only five minutes passed, we could probably reopen it and slip out.
“...Just say you're ready to die. Do those guys look like the low-rank black mages from Tebris to you?”
And naturally, parlor tricks wouldn't work against a mage shrouded in that much mana. It was theoretical—impossible in practice.
“So first, let's try talking it out. I'll handle that. You all stay hidden back there.”
With that, I sent my companions behind me. One trembling hand gripped my sword hilt, the other tucked behind my back as I stepped forward alone.
“...”
I'm dead. This is it.
“Hoo...”
I'd volunteered for this ill-suited role before, surviving near-death more than once, but this time, death was right there, tapping me on the shoulder.
So I forced the words out.
“Noble ancient mage, is this about me?”
After deep breaths to steady my shaking body, I continued.
“Have I offended you?”
“Fool seeking to save the gray, your choices and decisions will shatter the world.”
Fighting and winning was never an option. Combat implied equal footing, but between a puny, powerless adventurer and an ancient mage, it was just one-sided slaughter.
So I took another step forward and spoke.
“In the future you foresaw, am I the obstacle?”
“You have scattered ashes upon our noble plan to eradicate the gray and forge a peaceful world.”
“...”
I'd half-expected it from their vicious reaction.
In short, this wasn't a gray research society—it was a gray extermination society. And a dumbass trying to save a gray had waltzed right in.
“From the moment you entered, no other futures are observable. The fool's fate is sealed.”
“I have a request.”
“Meet your end.”
So.
“Kill just me—the one who disrupted your plans—and show mercy to the others.”
“...”
“Execute only me, who offended you, and reopen the space-time door so they can return safely without becoming wanderers.”
I'd die, but at least the others could live. A bellow echoed from behind at my declaration.
“What the fuck is this lunatic saying!!”
It was Horn, eyes wide in uncharacteristic shock, hammer drawn as he lunged—only to be grabbed.
“A-Ain oppa...!”
“Ain hyung, what do you mean...!”
The kids, thrashing in Aberly's hold, their panicked voices. Aberly had his eyes shut tight while restraining them.
Grateful, but damn, this guy was unpredictable to the end. I glanced back, then spoke again.
“If you've seen the future, you know they bear no guilt.”
I had no idea how to survive. No mana to speak of among me and my companions, scholars clutching papers and trembling. Trapped with the door sealed, no escape for all of us came to mind.
So.
“Take my life alone, and show mercy.”
Surely they'd spare everyone but the guy openly begging to die. I looked up at the mage, and he, now inches away, gazed down and replied.
“Very well. I shall show mercy to the others.”
“...Thank you.”
With his words, the vanished space-time door reappeared. The scholars gulped, staring. Horn and the kids kept yelling.
And then.
“Sever their arms.”
“Guh, kuh...! Aaagh!!”
Screams mixed in from behind.
“Then pluck out their tongues and eyes.”
“Kyaagh!! It hurts, hurts, mmph...!”
The mage's lips curled higher, nearly splitting, his eyes mocking me directly.
“I shall grant them the mercy to return.”
The scholars who'd rushed to the door first were mangled horrors. Blood flowed from the back, soaking my shoes where I stood.
As if to toy with us, the briefly reopened door vanished again.
“...Why.”
“No possibilities, no variables left behind.”
The ancient mages smirked, raising their hands. I drew my sword and shouted.
“Aberly! Protect the kids! Horn, run—get over here!!”
Pointless, of course.
“O-Okay..., Gyaaah!!”
“Should've said that sooner..., Kuh...!”
Those without power or talent crumpled at a mere gesture. Horn and Aberly collapsed, spilling blood. The kids, untouched so far, trembled soaked in Aberly's blood.
“Ahh, what a beautiful sight.”
And so. My swung sword snapped powerlessly at the mage's playful words. Crack—my armor tore away in an instant. The dagger from my bosom turned to dust on his barrier, and splat—both arms burst.
“Observe the future, alter the future.”
Bracelet. The one from Asha snapped, tumbling far away.
“Ah...”
Another splat, legs mangled and ripped, and I toppled. Two orbs rolled from my chest to the mage's feet.
I couldn't see his face from the ground, but he toyed with them before crunch—stomping them to shards.
“We have built a beautiful world without the gray.”
“...”
No screams left. Too much blood from torn limbs; I couldn't even tell what I was doing. Just bit the sword hilt by my face.
“Ahh, what a ridiculous sight.”
Probably howled like a beast.
And then. Like a fleeting montage, I longed for a certain woman. The beautiful one who always smiled warmly at me.
“Ain!!”
The one who called my name full of affection, toddling over to grab my hand.
“Ain, Ain!! Snap out of it...! Ain!!”
The one who'd hug me tight, nuzzling her face into my chest. I think I missed her a little.
Maybe that's why such thoughts flooded in.
“Ain!!”
“...Ah, Sha...?”
“Yes, it's Asha. I came to save you, so, so...!”
Impossible scenes flickered like illusions. Gray ash flew. Mana surged fiercer than ever. The ancient mage's arms and legs turned to ash in an instant.
A beautiful woman cradled my broken body, tears like beads falling. That vision filled my eyes for a moment.
After that, memory fades. I stared blankly until consciousness slipped away.