Not a Special Day
It wasn't a special day. It was a sunny afternoon like any other. I was overseeing Elfin's training, while Liwin played with Yustina.
Yustina had an unexpectedly child-loving side for a dragon, so whenever I was busy, she often took responsibility for Liwin and Elfin.
Less like fellow kids and more like a big sister.
Thanks to her, I could go hunting alone in peace—or sometimes with Elfin—or occasionally focus on assassination preparations. Lately, my resolve for the assassination had been fading, but I still hadn't forgotten my original purpose.
After wrapping up training with Elfin and heading to my warehouse to recheck my weapons and various poisons, I finally returned home.
"You're back, Dane."
"What's with that look?"
An assassin's job demands sharp instincts. If the atmosphere at a site feels off, you have to choose between rushing the job or fleeing—immediately. A moment's delay past the golden window, and an assassin's life becomes cheaper than a summer fly's.
Reading subtle facial shifts for emotions or gauging the mood? Child's play.
"What's going on?"
The moment I saw Yustina's rigidly tense face, I knew something was wrong. For someone who called her human-world outings mere "play," any issue serious enough to make her drop the act was no ordinary matter.
This could be a grave problem. Maybe something incomparable to a kingdom's rise and fall or a regicide.
"Follow this Yustina for now. It seems inappropriate to discuss it here."
But Liwin was still beaming innocently here, and Elfin had just returned from training, whining about how exhausted she was. We had to step away.
"This should do."
After stepping a few paces outside, Yustina casually flicked her finger. Just like that, the sounds around us vanished as if by magic. The chirping insects of early evening, the twittering birds, the wind rustling through field grass, the leaves quivering—no more.
It felt like we'd slipped into a separate realm, temporarily cut off from the world.
"I've cast a soundproof barrier. Even if Liwin or Elfin sneaks over to eavesdrop, it should be fine."
"So, what's this about?"
"......It's about Liwin."
"What?"
I tilted my head at Yustina's words. Liwin? What could she have done?
From what I'd seen, Liwin was just a mixed-blood kid with a rough family history—sweet-natured, quick to smile, and affectionate. Whatever trouble she could cause didn't seem major, so hearing it was about her actually eased my mind a bit.
"Did you two break a plate playing or something? It's fine, we can just buy a new one......"
"No, it's not that. Dane, you...... do you know anything about magic?"
"......Magic?"
The question came out of nowhere, but I pondered it. My life had never been deeply tied to magic. I'd never studied it, nor had much talent for it. As an assassin, I'd picked up bits here and there about mages and magic, but that was the extent of it.
"No specialized knowledge."
"I see. Then you wouldn't grasp the value of time magic, either."
"What? No, I know that. That's just common knowledge."
"You just said you didn't know! Humans......"
I shook my head.
"Time magic isn't something I know from magical expertise. It's more like historical trivia."
"Historical trivia?"
"Yeah. Stories of ancient time mages linger in history like ghost tales, passed down that way. I've heard them."
"Hmm, I see. Then you'll understand this Yustina's explanation."
I furrowed my brow slightly. By now, I couldn't even guess what Yustina had dragged me out here for. Even if she was an unpredictable human—no, dragon—a string of events beyond my foresight was problematic.
"Listen well, Dane. Liwin has the makings of a time mage."
"......?"
My reaction was lukewarm, not quite matching whatever drama Yustina expected. Above all, I couldn't parse what it meant for a kid like Liwin to have talent in time magic.
Mages were elite specialists, often in high positions. Good for her? But then why the grim face?
"Sigh, as expected, you don't grasp the gravity. Try telling me, as a test—what sort of people were those historical time mages you know of?"
"All I've read about are ones deployed in wars."
Time magic was extremely rare, barely leaving traces in history. But wartime miracles by time mages? Those stories endured.
"Wars raged, time passed, yet the side with a time mage stayed unscathed. Their foes grew haggard, visibly wasting away."
"Hmm."
"The ghostlier tales say enemies already slain rose again."
"Not necromancy, surely."
"Obviously. Even a one-eyed man wouldn't mistake undead for humans."
"Precisely, Dane."
Yustina pressed her pale forehead and sighed deeply.
"Time magic shatters causality, twists the natural order, and wreaks havoc on the world. Even dragons like this Yustina can't escape it. Such talent appears once every millennium, if that."
"And that's Liwin? Come on."
"That's exactly this Yustina's point. How did three such anomalies end up together......"
"One dragon, one cursed elf, one time mage."
Even ignoring that their guardian human was an assassin biding his time for the king's throat, or that the cursed elf was a genius who could've played hero against the Demon King in another era—it was absurd.
"So, what do we do?"
"Pardon?"
"If time magic's that dangerous, we have to act. Let's think it through."
These kids had been thrust upon me by chance. But living together, I'd grown to feel responsible for them. I'd delayed my planned date again and again, telling myself it was to solidify the assassination prep—but really, I just wanted to live a bit longer.
Ideally, with Liwin, Elfin, and Yustina.
"We protect Liwin."
By now, resistance woes or that uncle's request meant nothing. I just wanted ways to shield this child from her dangerous power—and the world.
"......Heh, indeed."
Yustina fully endorsed my resolve.
"Young mages often cast unconsciously. We discovered it just now, playing—she used it by accident. So this Yustina shall teach her control."
"Can I trust you with that?"
"Hahaha, what do you take this Yustina-sama for? All dragons stand atop your so-called grand mages from birth. Teaching magic is child's play—colder than cold porridge."
"Enter the mighty magic tutor. And me? What do I do?"
Yustina pondered, then spoke.
"You...... teach Liwin human common sense."
"Common sense?"
"Yes. She's still a child. And with no long parental care, wandering hither and yon."
"True. She's grown well despite it, which amazes me...... but if she veers wrong, it could be dangerous. Better watch closely."
"A time mage twisting to the dark? Catastrophe waiting to happen. You know this, Dane."
"......Yeah."
It was ancient history now, but rumors said the Demon King from a millennium ago was a time mage. Baseless, of course—they said he wielded all magic. Few humans knew, records being scarce, but Yustina's words confirmed it for me.
"You've lived over a thousand years, Yustina."
"What? No! Not over a thousand!"
"Then how do you know Demon King tales from a millennium ago?"
"From Mother! This Yustina isn't that old! Besides, does it make sense for a dragon to never emerge for play in a thousand years?!"
"Hmm, dragon logic's beyond me."
The mood finally lightened. Yustina fretted deeply over Liwin, but I wasn't as worried. She'd teach her well to be a good mage, and Elfin and I would influence positively too.
Above all, Liwin is Liwin.
I didn't believe she'd go astray. Kids change growing up, but the Liwin I'd seen was an angel. Pure and kind, despite half demon blood. With her good heart, she'd use time magic for good.
Guiding her mindset—that's my role.
Yustina and I emerged from the soundproof barrier, steeled, and returned home.
"Huh, where's Elfin?"
"She forgot her sword and ran back to the training ground."
"Ah, she'll be back soon."
Among the three kids, Liwin was the only one using polite speech with me. I plopped down before her.
She held a wilted flower. Yustina's glance said now was the time.
"Liwin, we need to talk."
"......?"
Liwin stared with her big, sparkling eyes. My uncharacteristic gravity felt strange to her, it seemed. Hopefully she didn't think she'd done wrong.
"Let me go first."
"Ah, yes."
"Liwin, can you show this Yustina that magic again?"
Liwin tilted her head, then beamed.
"Oh, the flower-blooming magic?"
"Yes, that one."
"Hmm, it only works sometimes by accident, not when I want...... but I'll try, since Yustina asked."
"Me too—please?"
"Hehe, if Uncle asks, of course."
Liwin shyly smiled, raising the flower high. Nothing at first, then it glowed white, transforming. Wilted petals and dried stem writhed, reclaiming lost life.
"Incredible......"
Even dragon Yustina marveled. That's when I realized Liwin might harbor genius equal to—or beyond—Elfin's.
I don't know much about magic, but......
Even an ignorant human grasps reviving the dead's weight. Awe welled up.
"Ta-da! The flower's pretty again~"
Thrusting it before our eyes, beaming innocently. Ignoring the mood, Yustina grew grave again, explaining time magic's perils to Liwin.
"Liwin, listen well. This isn't mere flower-prettifying magic. It's time magic—profound and extremely dangerous. Mishandled, it could bring world-shaking chaos......"
"Eee......"
Of course, Liwin couldn't follow. Grasping half would be a miracle. And our seriousness scared her to tears.
"D-did I do something b-bad......?"
"No, not that! Nothing yet... Argh!"
"Good enough, Yustina. I'll explain now."
Stuck mid-convo, Yustina eyed me helplessly.
Too much detail now would just confuse her.
Dangerous time magic, ancient catastrophes, once-in-a-millennium talent...... To a just-turned-six-year-old? Gibberish.
Better to encourage simply.
"So, Liwin, it's like this."
"Y-yes......"
"You've got an amazing power to help lots of people. But it's tricky to handle. So Uncle and Yustina-sis will work hard to help you master it—that's the idea."
"Ah......!"
Her face lit up in understanding. Glancing at Yustina, she smiled faintly too.
Finally wrapping up, I stood, dusting my rear.
"I'll fetch Elfin and prep dinner. You two practice magic meanwhile."
"Got it. Make something tasty again!"
"W-we'll be waiting!"
Creak!
Opening the door with a smile like theirs, my grin vanished, face twisting.
"What the hell is that?"