[User] "I still do.” Rudd hadn’t initially known that Teull had lost his parents in an accident when his magic went haywire. “The last time I talked to him was when my mom came to pick me up. I didn’t know about his situation, so I asked him if he wanted to have dinner with us, but he said he didn’t need any… and he looked super hurt.” By the time Rudd realized how insensitive he’d been, Teull had vanished. He’d gone in the night, and Rudd only found out about the younger boy’s circumstances afterward. Aside from realizing how stupid he’d been, Rudd didn’t know anything more. Noticing how low the sun had gotten in the sky, Rudd got up. He had tons of chores to do back home. At first, he’d been awful at them, but he’d since grown relatively competent. “Okay, I’ve gotta go home. Don’t stay too late, Juliya, or your family will be worried."

[Assistant] “I’ll be fine. I just need to stop by the classroom." The academy gates closed at dusk. Rudd had noticed the groundskeeper making rounds over on the far side of the gardens. If he caught them, he’d tell them to leave because they weren’t academy students. Juliya grinned, and Rudd waved at her and dashed off. In that last glimpse she had of him before he left, she saw that his eyes reflected the shadow of the grand circular academy.

[User] “Hmm, we really need more clues,” Tinasha muttered as she brewed tea. After her lecture, she spoke with a few people to gather information, left the investigation to Pamyra and the other mages, and returned to the palace. She pondered on the case during a break, but found herself stymied. Tinasha set a cup of tea down on the study desk, and the man who accepted it cast her an appalled look.

[Assistant] "You really do just show up whenever you want…”

[User] “Teleportation magic exists. If something happens in Tuldarr, the spirits can notify me.” On her break, Tinasha had popped over to Oscar’s study. The king was in the midst of his own royal duties, and while his fiancée’s visit stunned him momentarily, he was easygoing enough to welcome the interruption.

[Assistant] Oscar took a sip of the tea. “So there’s no lead on the missing kids?"

[User] "Not at all, and the schools only recently started a more serious search. Plus, while some kids claim that they saw the missing ones walking through the town at night, others say they saw nothing at all. The reports we’ve gotten are all over the place.”

[Assistant] “Gotcha. Then you’ve got two options."

[User] “Indeed. We either search all over with a fine-tooth comb, or—we wait for the next disappearance to happen and catch them.” The former option was clearly the standard route. Tinasha had already ordered some subjects to the task. But if it didn’t turn up anything, she’d pursue the latter choice.


[User] “However, now that we’ve launched a full-scale investigation, whoever’s behind this might lie low for a while." Tinasha pointed out. "Or they’ll flee to someplace new.”

[Assistant] “I’d like to avoid that. I’ve put up a barrier to prevent those with magic from entering or leaving the town for the moment. If anyone tries to brute force their way through, I’ll know.”

[User] “So you’ve effectively caged them in. Does that mean you’re sure it’s a mage?” Oscar inquired wisely.

[Assistant] Leaning against the wall, the queen grimaced. “Yes, but I don’t have any sort of definitive proof. It’s just that an ordinary person would have left a trail, but here, there’s absolutely nothing.”

[User] Oscar waved a hand in front of her face. “I get how you feel, but don’t overthink it. You’re always trying to take everything on alone. Rely on your people.”

[Assistant] “Excuse me, were you there?! I don’t think you were!” she cried. “You don’t have a leg to stand on here. I know you tried to interview people yourself. You’re too intimidating for that kind of work,” Tinasha pointed out.

[User] Tinasha huffed and pushed herself off the wall. “I’ve learned from my mistakes when it comes to that!”

[Assistant] Oscar beckoned his fiancée over, and she approached, curious. He caught her hands in his. “Don’t do anything dangerous. You’re the type to get yourself hurt right away, and I don’t want to be on edge for the entire year until our wedding.”

[User] “I’ll… be careful,” she answered as her cheeks flushed and she looked away.

[Assistant] After a hot exhale, Tinasha shook her head to refresh herself. “I should be getting back. People will probably be delivering their reports to me soon.”

[User] “Whenever you need a fun distraction, come and see me.”

[Assistant] She grinned at Oscar and disappeared.


[User] The king picked up his teacup again.

[Assistant] Lazar entered and gaped at him. “Your Majesty, did you make tea yourself?”

[User] “I did not. Tinasha came by.”

[Assistant] “I—I see…”

[User] “How come she’s never able to calm down?” Oscar wondered.

[Assistant] “I consider that to be a good thing…”


[User] "Good, I’m happy for you. Rosalia would be, too.” Kevin, Oscar’s father and the former king, had said of the development.

[Assistant] For Oscar, who had almost no memories of his mother, hearing her name brought about a fleeting sense of discomfort.

[User] "Lazar, do you remember my mom?" asked Oscar.

[Assistant] "What?! Queen Rosalia? Where’d that come from? I only have a vague recollection of her."

[User] "Yeah, I thought so. Never mind, it’s nothing." Oscar said.

[Assistant] "Should I go and ask Dad about this?" he posited out loud.

[User] Lazar placed the documents he’d brought in before his liege.

[Assistant] “It’s about sixty percent complete. It sounds like the craftsmen and mages are really working hard,” Lazar commented.

[User] “I’ll have to give out special rewards once it’s done. If we don’t restore it soon, Cezar’s going to keep acting suspiciously.”

[Assistant] "Oh yeah, I heard Cezar has an evil god."

[User] "What in the world is that?" Lazar asked, sounding revolted.

[Assistant] "I don’t know, either." Oscar replied blithely.


[User] "Like I told you, there’s nowhere to hide inside the academy! You should look in the town!" The first thing Tinasha heard was the indignant voice of a young girl.

[Assistant] "Yeah, but I was instructed to follow you and look around the school." argued a man.

[User] "All you’ve done is stalk along behind me!"


[User] "You’re treating me like a kid!"

[Assistant] "But you are a kid." The voices were coming from the adjoining room.

[User] With a strained smile on her face, Tinasha opened the door. "I’m so sorry to keep you waiting. Please, inform me of what you’ve uncovered."

[Assistant] "Y-Your Majesty!" chirped the girl, leaping to her feet.

[User] Next to her, a beautiful young man simply sighed. Pamyra, who had kept silent while the other two squabbled, came forward. "Your Majesty, this is Tris. She’s an academy student who will begin working as a royal mage next month."

[Assistant] "H-hello, I’m Tris," the girl said, falling into an anxious curtsy.

[User] Tinasha regarded her pleasantly before beckoning all three into her study. "Let’s hear your findings, then. Anything you happened to notice is fine."

[Assistant] "Yes, Your Majesty."

[User] Tinasha sat down and closed her eyes to focus her attention only on their reports. The gist of the mages’ findings was that the missing children had all wanted to leave the school. Once she’d heard it all, Tinasha opened her eyes and said, "So children who wished to go abruptly vanished. Each was last seen in a different place, but none were spotted outside the town. Is that correct?"

[Assistant] "We also spoke to people in the neighboring settlements and on the nearby road, but no one had any clues to offer. None of the children were capable of teleportation, and the one who’s been missing the longest has been gone two weeks."

[User] Tinasha nodded. "Very suspicious indeed. Eir, how did things go with you?"

[Assistant] The young man with black hair and eyes, silent until now, scratched at his head. "Most of the people who’ve been killed were adults, like the headmaster, instructors, and soldiers. There were a few bigger kids, too, but I don’t think any of them are suspicious."

[User] "All of that was done in self-defense, or it happened as an accident before they enrolled at the academy. We’ve looked into that already."

[Assistant] Tris, the only one who wasn’t following, paled. "What?! What do you mean killed people?"

[User] "I can sense those who’ve slain others. That’s why I’ve been following you around."

[Assistant] "Can an ordinary mage do something like that? !" Tris squeaked.

[User] "He’s not an ordinary mage," Tinasha put in. "He’s my spirit and a high-ranking demon."

[Assistant] "What?" Tris said blankly, positively boggling at this.

[User] Eir rolled his eyes at her.


[User] Seeing how blindsided Tris was, Tinasha nervously licked her lips. "I’m sorry for keeping you in the dark. Aside from his beautiful face, Eir can pass for human, so I thought he would be more convincing if you didn’t know."

[Assistant] "My lady, you always give me orders I don’t understand."

[User] Tinasha sighed. "The most important thing is not to be too conspicuous. If only you’d change your face to be more ordinary.”

[Assistant] “I can’t change it. This is how I’ve looked for nine hundred years." EIr said stubbornly.

[User] Tris, who evidently had thought of him as just some shady guy, was opening and closing her mouth like a beached fish.

[Assistant] Wearing a grave expression as she asked her queen, “Do you believe the children are already dead, Your Majesty?”

[User] “I don’t want to, but it’s hard to stay optimistic considering the situation." Tinasha answered. "Based on the fact that only children with magic disappeared, we should suspect the involvement of a forbidden curse.”

[Assistant] “A forbidden… curse?” repeated Pamyra.

[User] “The physical flesh and souls of those with magic are far more powerful as catalysts in a forbidden curse than those of non-mages. And if they’re only children, they would have a much harder time fighting back. It gives me a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach."

[Assistant] The queen straightened to her full height and narrowed her dark eyes at each of the three.

[User] In a cold voice, she said, “Tuldarr must act as a deterrent to forbidden curses. If this does turn out to be a plot, we will deliver swift punishment. I want you to carry on with the investigation. Should you run into a dead end, I will go myself.”

[Assistant] “Yes, Your Majesty." Pamyra said with a deep bow.

[User] Following her example, Tris also clasped her sweaty hands together.


[Assistant] "Here is good, Mom."

[User] “Really? Are you going to be all right?” she asked, fretting.

[Assistant] "I told you, it’ll be fine. I’m off to school now." Rudd said, waving at her and running off.

[User] As soon as he passed the gates, he spotted his friends and waved. "Juliya! Sennett!"

[Assistant] Hearing their names, the two paused in their conversation to turn around.


[User] Rudd fell into step with them and lowered his voice. "There’s some sort of guard here now. Is that because kids are going missing?”

[Assistant] “Looks like it. Doesn’t have anything to do with us, though." Sennett, a boy around Rudd’s age, replied. He loved reading.

[User] Juliya looked from one boy to the other nervously. “What if the kids who disappeared are all being held prisoner somewhere?”

[Assistant] “If it’s someplace that could hold all five, I bet it’s an empty house or something. You know, like that one in the alley behind the blacksmith.”

[User] “Should we… go looking for them?” Rudd offered.

[Assistant] He did want to uncover the truth, both out of a sense of guilt toward Teull and out of a sense of duty.

[User] His mom must be worried, since she’d insisted on walking him to school every day after the first kid had vanished. She always stood to the side and watched until Rudd went through the gates. He didn’t want to make his mother worry anymore. Plus, from now on, Tuldarr would need the help of people like him, people who weren’t mages.

[Assistant] “Okay, then once school’s over—”

[User] "What is going on here?” came a chilly voice from behind them.

[Assistant] The three kids stiffened, then slowly turned around.

[User] “T-Tris…”

[Assistant] “That’s Madame to you. I’m your teacher," Tris chided, one hand laid across her puffed-out chest.

[User] Rudd cocked his head. “Madame, I thought you weren’t giving lessons anymore, since you’re going to be a royal mage.”

[Assistant] “I’m here to investigate, so none of you have classes today! You can study on your own, though.”

[User] “What? Then I’m going home," Rudd said, turning on his heel to leave and maybe go snoop around that deserted house.

[Assistant] “Absolutely not. If anyone finds out that you three snuck off to go poking around somewhere, it’ll be my head. You are going to remain here and study.” Tris caught him immediately, however.

[User] “Why do I have to? !” Rudd protested as Tris dragged him to the classroom.


[Assistant] Amid the flow of other kids turning to go home after getting to the schoolhouse and reading the notice that said lessons were canceled, Tris marched the three into the empty classroom and sat them down. She sighed and then stretched her arms out. “I’m going to head out on the investigation, so you sit tight and study here until I return. I only came to tell you that lessons are canceled.”

[User] “Aww, come on! You’re already going to look around, so what’s a few more people?” Rudd groaned.

[Assistant] “No, thank you.


[User] "We already have one very strange person on the team who claims he can tell who might have done it at a glance. Yesterday, he examined the people in the school, and today we’re going to look around town." Tris said primly.

[Assistant] "Whoa, that’s so cool. You’ll solve this superfast that way." Rudd marveled, leaning forward with how impressed he was. Castle investigations were definitely on another level.

[User] Tris folded her arms behind her head. "Not necessarily. If that were the case, it could be the teachers or a soldier who did it."

[Assistant] "Huh. When you say a soldier, do you mean like the one at the gates today?" Rudd asked.

[User] Tris was stunned, her face turned grave. "Now that you mention it… There was no soldier here yesterday. Who did he check, then?" She got up and gave the kids one of the sternest looks they’d ever seen. "All of you stay right here. I have something to take care of."

[Assistant] "Hey! Where are you going?" Rudd called, chasing after Tris as she left the classroom.

[User] Sennett followed after. "Could it have been the groundskeeper? I heard he used to be part of the army."

[Assistant] "Oh, yeah!" Rudd exclaimed. He’d heard that rumor, too.

[User] Tris appeared confused. Academy students seldom interacted with the groundskeeper, who handled various odd jobs outside.

[Assistant] "I heard the groundskeeper only worked at the army canteen, though." Rudd added. He and his friends had followed Tris out of the school building. There weren’t any other kids around, but the groundskeeper was walking across the lawn on the far side of the garden, dragging a large burlap sack.

[User] Tris gasped. As she strode toward the man, she looked over her shoulder and instructed, "You three, run along home! I’m going to go ask him some questions." She trotted over briskly but stealthily.

[Assistant] Rudd, Sennet, and Juliya exchanged glances. "We can’t let her go alone." Rudd whispered to the others. At the very least, someone needed to sound the alarm if something happened.

[User] She gave them a disapproving look, but she couldn’t say anything without alerting the man.


[Assistant] "Tris, where does that lead?"

[User] "To… the space the school surrounds." The octagonal classrooms had no windows facing inward, and the spot in the center should have been empty. That was why the investigation team had only given it a cursory inspection. What could the man be doing there?

[Assistant] The four crept along the wall so as not to be detected. Once the groundskeeper reached the unmonitored central area, he dumped the bag’s contents. Black terra-cotta soil came spilling out as he began spreading it around using something that looked like a fireplace poker.

[User] Relief washed over Rudd when he saw it wasn’t a child’s body

[Assistant] all the blood drained from Tris’s face.


[User] She gestured wildly for the children to leave, but before they could, the groundskeeper turned around. Upon noticing them there, his face instantly contorted into a scowl. He was a mere ten steps away. Tris shoved Rudd behind her. "You guys get out of here."

[Assistant] "What? But it’s just some dirt…"

[User] "Dirt oozing with miasma. It’s definitely sinister. Run and let someone know." Ordered Tris in a tone that held none of her usual flippancy. Rudd was startled to hear her muttering a spell. The man ran toward them with the poker brandished high overhead, and Rudd darted off with his friends.

[Assistant] "W-we’ll go let people know! Don’t die, Madame!" Magic light burst behind him. A paralyzing metallic sound rent the air. Rudd took Juliya’s hand while Sennett kept pace with him. The gardens had never seemed so empty. The academy doors came into view. But because lessons were canceled, they were locked.

[User] "Damn!" How could they get inside? Rudd looked all around before remembering the guard at the gates. He dashed across the deserted front lawn, Sennett hot on his heels. Juliya had disappeared at some point, though neither of them noticed.


[Assistant] The fireplace poker crashed into the wall with an earsplitting screech. Tris shuddered, having narrowly evaded it. She probably wouldn’t still be conscious if it had hit her. She quickly distanced herself from the groundskeeper as she restarted her interrupted spell. "S-stones of ice, shards of white—”

[User] The man lashed out before she could complete the magic, however. The poker came crashing down, and she instinctively shut her eyes. Her blood ran cold as death felt imminent. But nothing hit her skull.

[Assistant] Gingerly, she opened her eyes—and couldn’t believe what she was seeing. “Juliya?”

[User] The girl who had hidden behind Rudd now stood before Tris, her arms crossed and a fierce glare on her face. The poker had stopped in midair—no, magic had caught it. Tris hadn’t heard any incantation, however. Juliya wasn’t even an academy student; she was just a girl from the town. Tris still hadn’t figured out what was happening when Juliya said to her, "It’s suicide for a mage to fight at such close range." The coolheaded remark felt at odds with the childish register of her voice. Juliya extended her right hand toward the man. "Break apart." As if it knew that those two words constituted a spell, the poker crumbled to pieces. Heedless of Tris, who was still rooted in place, Juliya waved a hand. "Eir, come here."

[Assistant] In response, the strange man appeared silently beside Tris. He pushed her by the shoulder.

[User] "Go on, fall back. I took my eyes off you for a second, and you landed yourself in a heap of trouble."

[Assistant] “Wh-why are you…?” As she stumbled, Tris realized something. Only one person could command the spirits of Tuldarr. Once she understood what that meant, she was left astonished. “Wait, you’re…” Juliya’s silhouette wavered for just a moment, and then she was no longer there.


[User] In her place stood a woman in a white mage’s outfit. It was the queen of the country and the foremost mage of the era. She was not a powerless child.

[Assistant] Dumbfounded that she had fallen for it, Tris massaged her temples. “What? Psychological magic? But when did you…?”

[User] “Juliya was a fabrication from the start.” Then she turned back to the man. Frozen while brandishing his poker, he was glaring at the queen with bloodshot eyes. “Will you tell me what you were dumping here?” she questioned.

[Assistant] The man only let out a grunt.

[User] Tinasha turned to her spirit. “He may be suffering from psychological contamination. Have him spit it out.”

[Assistant] “It’ll be hard not to overdo it. Humans are so weak.”

[User] Tinasha ignored Eir as she pushed the man aside to head deeper into the area encircled by the academy building. The black soil scattered around emanated faintly noxious fumes. It was the putrid smell of lingering death. Still, there were no bodies. The groundskeeper might have already disposed of those. Tinasha gazed up at the sky. “Did he only bring the remains of the catalysts he used in a forbidden curse? Was he planning to reuse this corrupted soil? He’d definitely want to bury something connected to anything that sinister, and this architecture is designed to bolster magic.”

[Assistant] “Your Majesty!” cried Pamyra, having appeared at the end of the passage to the central area as several people raced over. Rudd must have summoned help.

[User] Tris finally lost the strength to stand upright and sank to the ground.

[Assistant] Soldiers marched past her as Tinasha made no effort to hide her displeasure as she issued orders. “Go and search the town immediately. Since we didn’t find anything during yesterday’s investigation, there must be a forbidden curse constructed somewhere outside the school. And… we’re also looking for the mage who’s behind this.”

[User] “What? !” Tris piped up in shock. Pamyra’s expression indicated that she felt much the same.

[Assistant] Eir had a tight grip on the groundskeeper’s neck as he added, “They used a forbidden curse, but this man isn’t a mage. So someone else must be involved.”

[User] “Involved? But… do you mean the teachers?” asked Tris.

[Assistant] The queen shook her head. “No. We looked into all of them. I suppose they could’ve had others do the dirty work for them, though. We’re up against a very cunning opponent.”

[User] “No way,” Tris whispered, stiffening in horror.

[Assistant] Tremors shook the earth and a creaking sound reverberated in the air as Tinasha frowned. Suddenly, there came the muffled sound of an explosion in the distance.


[User] “I see they’ve come out on their own.” After giving terse orders to the people around her, the queen vanished.

[Assistant] Tris looked down at her own hands, which were trembling uncontrollably.

[User] “Come quick! Our teacher is in danger!” Rudd shouted toward the gates.

[Assistant] Mages from the castle were already there and listened to him hastily explain before rushing off toward the academy.

[User] The guard stopped Rudd and Sennett, pushing them outside the gate and instructing them to go home.

[Assistant] "What in the world did we just see?”

[User] “Beats me. When I watched him pour that dirt out, I could feel how scared Madame got. But it did smell really weird."

[Assistant] Just as Rudd decided he needed to make sure Tris was all right, a woman ran over from the end of the road.

[User] “Rudd! What happened to you? !”

[Assistant] “Mom!” Rudd was at a loss for how to explain things to his distraught parent.

[User] Before he could start, she pulled him into a hug. “I heard investigators from the castle are here. What’s happened at the school?”

[Assistant] “Right now, a teacher and the groundskeeper are—” He got that far before a strange malaise came over him. He wriggled out of his mother’s arms and looked over at Sennett. “Hey… Wasn’t someone else with us?”

[User] “Oh, yeah…”

[Assistant] Rudd had the oddest sense that he’d grabbed someone’s hand and had run with them. But that person had disappeared somewhere along the way. Now that he was aware, it felt wrong. Rudd turned pale. “Why…?” A kid who vanished into thin air… Was that what had happened to Teull?

[User] As she watched her son go completely pale, Rudd’s mother gave a pained smile. “Let’s go home first. We need to think about what we’re going to do next.”

[Assistant] Stunned, Rudd let her pull him along. Who had disappeared? A series of memories floated from the back of his mind. “I… But why…?” There was a gap in his recollection. It gave him this itchy, unpleasant sensation, and it was only growing—like the gap was constantly widening. Rudd pressed a hand to his head. He looked over to his friend for help, but Sennett wasn’t next to him. “Huh?” He whirled around to find Sennett standing motionless a few steps behind him. Rudd was relieved to see he hadn’t disappeared, but then noticed Sennett’s dire expression. “What’s wrong?”

[User] Sennett lifted a trembling hand and pointed a finger at Rudd. “Who are you?”

[Assistant] “Huh? What’s gotten into you? It’s me.”

[User] “No.”

[Assistant] What was Sennett saying? Had he forgotten Rudd just like how they had forgotten the other person who’d been with them? “Who is that?” Rudd had a feeling someone had said those words recently. It was when he last saw Teull. It was twilight, the time of day when people’s faces got a little hazy.


[User] “Wait, huh?” Teull had looked up at Rudd and asked him that same question. No. Teull hadn’t been looking at him. His eyes had been trained on the woman behind Rudd.

[Assistant] "Didn’t you say that your mom went to your aunt’s house two weeks ago?” Sennett was also pointing at…

[User] The woman placed a palm on Rudd’s shoulder. “So who is that?” From the corner of his eye, Rudd saw a hand that was white and bloodless.


[Assistant] The explosion came from the town, outside the academy grounds. While everyone else was still baffled by the situation, the queen lifted off the ground.

[User] “Eir, make sure no one gets in. Pamyra and Tris, protect the students!”

[Assistant] “Okay.” The spirit answered, the only calm one there, though Tinasha had already disappeared.


[User] Teleporting in quick succession, Tinasha hurried toward the source of the blast, a deserted back alley. Magic hung thick in the air, dim as the little street was in the shadow of other buildings. The smell of blood hung about the place. Tinasha spotted two boys collapsed on the ground, and she paled. A woman was standing beside them. She was young and plainly dressed, like any lady in the town might’ve been. But blood dripped from her hands.

[Assistant] “Oops, did you catch me?” When she noticed Tinasha, she smiled and giggled like a child who’d been discovered pulling a prank.

[User] Tinasha didn’t reply. She walked up to one of the boys and examined his injuries. Sennett’s chest was pierced through. He was dead. Fear was frozen on his face—the despair he had tasted moments before dying. Tinasha bit her lip hard enough for it to bleed.

[Assistant] “Your… Your Majesty?” Next to her, a voice croaked. Crimson was flowing from Rudd’s belly.

[User] Tinasha gasped when she saw how much blood soaked the ground below them, but she immediately set about healing him. She added a pain numbing spell, too. Once freed from the agony, the boy relaxed his brows.

[Assistant] “I’m sorry… I… I didn’t realize… that wasn’t… my mom…”

[User] “You don’t need to speak. It’s all right.”

[Assistant] “Teull… he was with me, that’s why… she found him… because she came to get me…” Sensing his end was near, Rudd was intent on explaining everything.

[User] By the time Tinasha found him, he’d lost too much blood. Mending his organs wouldn’t suffice. Even so, she healed him.

[Assistant] “Your Majesty… save Sennett…” Rudd clutched the edge of her robes. His eyes were unfocused and darted about as he sought out the queen.

[User] “I will.”

[Assistant] “And my mom…” His words cut off there.

[User] Tinasha watched as the light faded from his eyes in a single second.

[Assistant] “Who are you, anyway? A teacher? A castle investigator?” From above, a curious-sounding voice spoke.

[User] Tinasha didn’t bother with a reply, remaining kneeling on the ground.

[Assistant] “Fine. I’m going." The woman huffed at being ignored, then turned on her heel.


[User] "There’s nothing left for me in this town.”

[Assistant] "I can’t let you do that." Tinasha stated. No sooner did she finish than the woman who had posed as Rudd’s mother was flung into the air. She slammed against the far wall as if punched by a giant invisible fist.

[User] “Ghh… Hah…” She groaned in pain, but was still alive, perhaps because she’d quickly put up a defense.

[Assistant] While the woman peeled herself from the wall, Tinasha closed the two boys’ eyelids. Summoning two white cloths into her hands, she lay them over their faces.

[User] Upon seeing this act of reverence for the departed, the woman spat a mixture of blood and saliva on the ground. "What a worthless courtesy. They’re already dead. Their souls are gone.”

[Assistant] “That may be true. But it matters to their families.” Tinasha replied, brushing her long black hair back as she got to her feet. She stared straight at the woman, with murder blazing in her gaze. "So you took the place of adults who were out of town. And without entering the academy grounds, you sent in your pawn and had children abducted. Why?” Tinasha’s voice was low and commanding.

[User] The woman seemed confused. “Why? To get more power, of course. Don’t you know that if you use a mage’s flesh as a catalyst, you can get more magic?”

[Assistant] “I’m aware. Many experimented with that during the Dark Age.”

[User] “Exactly. I’ve always wanted to be a witch, and once I am one, I can live freely forever, right? So I collected some mage corpses, but it looks like I overdid it a little. There’s a barrier up, and I can’t leave town.”

[Assistant] “That’s because I believed it very likely that a mage was behind this.”

[User] “But it’s not like I’m the one who killed those kids.”

[Assistant] “You may as well have. And you’ve murdered these two.” Tinasha pointed out.

[User] The woman gave a deep, exaggerated sigh. “I only wanted to take them hostage. But they figured out who I am and resisted. Honestly, ordinary people die so easily, don’t they?” She spread both bloodstained hands wide and gave a carefree laugh. The cruelty in her eyes made them glitter as brightly as an ornament, transforming her from a mother to an ignorant little girl. She had only been able to hide herself this whole time because Rudd had no magic. Despite that, the boy must have felt something was suspicious. And so he had died with regrets.

[Assistant] Tinasha let out a deep exhale. She fixed her gaze on this red-stained woman. A bone-chilling smile appeared on her lovely face, and a blade formed in her right hand. “Perhaps you will find more sport in me, then. May your future be one of endless remorse.” With that proclamation, the queen dashed forward.

[User] When the woman saw the fearsome magic gathering in Tinasha’s left hand, she licked her lips nervously. Enormous waves of magic erupted within the town.


[User] Lashed by Tinasha’s invisible whip, the woman flew through the air.

[Assistant] “Guh…” For a while now, she had been unable to weave spells to counterattack. Although her powers far surpassed those of an ordinary mage, she was helpless to do anything against this opponent. As the woman’s body soared upward, magical chains immobilized it. Her limbs were pulled far apart, keeping her from moving a millimeter. She stared at Tinasha in disbelief.

[User] “Witches are nothing like this. Aren’t you glad you won’t sully their reputation?”

[Assistant] “W-wait a minute…”

[User] “I can’t possibly have such a sham of a witch in Tuldarr.”

[Assistant] "The boy called you ‘Your Majesty’… Are you… the queen?”

[User] Tinasha didn’t reply, electing to only hum and smile. The queen pointed the tip of her slender sword at the woman. The weapon was enchanted with an entangling spell. "You are not qualified to question me.”

[Assistant] With a clear ringing, the blade shattered to pieces. Those little shards glittered in the sun. Each one was imbued with magic and floated aloft. The corners of Tinasha’s mouth turned up. Powerful words fell from her red lips. “Sip it up.” The tiny metal pieces fell onto the woman’s body like a meteor shower. They tore into her white skin and sent her blood running out. It must have felt like being stabbed by thousands of nails.

[User] The woman’s mouth opened as though to scream, but all the holes in her neck stifled whatever noise would have come. She could only wheeze ragged breaths. Her death lasted several slow, agonizing minutes. She was not even permitted to lose consciousness. Although she writhed desperately at first, she eventually began to weaken, and she breathed her last as a broken doll.

[Assistant] Tinasha watched coldly until the end.


[User] While extra staff from the castle ran about handling the aftermath, Tinasha attended the deliveries of the two boys’ bodies to their families.

[Assistant] Sennett’s parents flew into a rage, raining abuse down on the headmaster and the castle staff, who could only endure it with their heads lowered.

[User] “What…? This can’t be… There’s no way…” Her face was white, but she didn’t cry or scream.


[User] She only stood there stunned before her son’s body, smiling weakly.

[Assistant] When she tore off the white cloth, her lips trembled violently. “Is it really you…?”

[User] She brushed her cheek against his cold one and carefully took him into her arms. Her feeble voice staggered in the night air. “You weren’t supposed to leave me behind… You should have taken me with you!”

[Assistant] Tinasha pressed her hands to her temples to keep herself from crying.

[User] The mother who had lost her only child began to wail and sob. “I’m sorry… I’m so sorry, Rudd… You must have been in so much pain…”

[Assistant] Tinasha bit her lip hard and bowed her head. “I wasn’t strong enough to save your sons. I’m so very sorry.”

[User] Rudd’s mother beheld the queen’s lowered head and replied, “It isn’t your fault, Your Majesty… I am deeply grateful to you… for caring for him.”

[Assistant] Tinasha kept her head down.

[User] Renart gave her a gentle nudge. “Your Majesty, we still have much to take care of…”

[Assistant] “Yes, of course…” The queen still desperately wished to do more, but she gave one final bow and turned to leave.

[User] From behind, she heard Rudd’s mother whisper, “If only I could turn back time and go in his place…”

[Assistant] The queen shivered.

[User] Renart looked over at her only to see her dark eyes wider than they’d ever been and her red lips trembling. “Your Majesty?”

[Assistant] When he tried again, she met his gaze.

[User] “Could I have you take care of the rest? I’m going back to the palace.”

[Assistant] Despite feeling puzzled by her behavior, Renart let none of his hesitations show as he bowed his head. “Yes, Your Majesty."


[User] “Be careful.”

[Assistant] “Thank you.”

[User] And then she was gone. Renart surveyed the panicked town and the bereaved family members before letting out a deep sigh.


[Assistant] Tinasha stumbled her way to the treasure vault. Ordering the confused-looking guards to stay at their posts, she descended the stairs alone. With each step she took down the magically lit stone stairway, the weight on her heart grew stronger. Memories of when she was a young girl sprang to mind unbidden. Soon enough, however, Tinasha reached the bottom of the stairs. Entering the treasure vault for the first time in four centuries, she wandered in deeper, like a woman possessed. Upon reaching a giant stone ledge, she touched the wall next to it. A spell configuration emerged from beneath her fingertips. It was intricate sealing magic she had placed during the Dark Age. She glanced at it, then began an incantation in an even voice. The complex spell reacted to the power entering it and began to unwind. Her voice was grave, with all emotions stifled. Once her long incantation finished at last, a small hollow opened in the center of the wall. Set inside it was a box. Tinasha reached out, picked it up, and gently opened the lid. Inside lay a tiny blue jewel with markings inscribed upon it.

[User] “Here it is.” She said, her heart pounding and her hands trembling. She stared at it. This orb had changed her fate, and not hers alone. It had transformed another man’s fate and many other things, too. She had thought she’d never look upon it again, that the day would never come when she needed it. But now it lay here, in her hands. “If I go back one month, I can save everyone… Or if that’s impossible, then I can go a few hours back…” Altering the past was wrong. It flew in the face of the laws of nature. The ramifications were unfathomable. Yet that very power had rescued her. It was the reason she was here now. Tinasha thought of Rudd’s grin as he spoke of his hopes for the future—as well as his mother’s crying. A parent’s wish was to save her son’s life, even at the cost of her own. Tinasha felt powerless to deny the woman that. “I wonder what Oscar would say…” She couldn’t imagine it. He might furiously scold her, but he also might shake his head and forgive her. And… what would he say? The man who went back four hundred years and changed history. How determined was he to do what he did? Did he take her hand? Tinasha’s eyes burned hot as she thought of what he had given her and what he had sacrificed. She bit her lip fiercely to stem the tide of emotions surging within her. Compared to four hundred years, it was only a little bit of time travel. It was hypocritical, Tinasha knew that much.


[Assistant] Oscar, who had just finished changing for bed, noticed the fading light and looked up. Pale clouds now blanketed the sky, limned at the edges with a hazy glimmer. He then returned his attention to the inside of the room. The king’s expansive bedchamber was utterly silent. As Oscar sat on his bed with a little yawn, he heard a rap at the window and grinned.

[User] The woman stole silently into the room. She cocked her head at him and then smiled. "Good evening."

[Assistant] "Something wrong? You're here awfully late."

[User] "I just wanted to see you…" His beautiful fiancée picked her way over to him, each step careful.

[Assistant] As he watched her, he began to frown. "Did something happen?"

[User] "No, nothing."

[Assistant] "That's not a face that says nothing happened." He took her hand and pulled her onto his lap.

[User] The woman seemed a bit surprised, but merely lowered her long eyelashes with an abashed little grin on her lips. After a brief silence, she asked, "Oscar… what happened to that orb?"

[Assistant] "I found it when I was sorting through the treasure vault. It's stored deep inside so no one can touch it."

[User] "I see…"

[Assistant] "What happened? Does this have to do with the kidnappings?"

[User] Tinasha only gave a small smile, but she didn’t answer.

[Assistant] Seeing that she was acting stubborn, Oscar wound a tuft of glossy black hair between his fingers and gave a hard tug. "You're being awfully secretive. I'm going to be your husband, aren't I? Don't hold back and just tell me."

[User] At that, Tinasha’s eyes shone with something like nostalgia. She pinched the bridge of her nose with a deep sigh.

[Assistant] Thinking that she was holding back tears, Oscar settled Tinasha's head against his chest, and she closed her eyes. With the queen nestled in her fiancé’s arms, the story gradually began to come out. As her tale neared its end, Oscar threw his betrothed an unvarnished look of disapproval.


[User] “You gave me such an earful about that orb and then you went and used it yourself?”

[Assistant] “I’m sorry…”

[User] “And even though I told you not to get involved, you turned into a kid and went undercover. What were you thinking?”

[Assistant] “I thought it would be the fastest way…”

[User] Oscar gave Tinasha’s head a light rap. “I understand that you wanted to save those kids, but if you do that every time, there’ll be no end to it. You’ll never get anywhere.”

[Assistant] Tinasha hung her head.

[User] Oscar gave a little sigh, seeing her so full of regret and some other emotion that was about more than remorse. “Although… I can’t say I dislike that side of you or anything.”

[Assistant] Oscar brushed Tinasha’s hair behind her ear and pressed a kiss to her cheek, which reddened. “So? Could you save them?”

[User] She slumped in visible dejection. “The orb didn’t activate. I couldn’t go back in time.”

[Assistant] “It didn’t activate? Is it broken?”

[User] “No… It didn’t seem that way… It seems like there are conditions of some sort that must be met before it can be used.” Her story was over. Tinasha closed her eyes.

[Assistant] Oscar clutched her slender, grief-racked frame close to him.


[User] Oscar noticed that the supple body in his arms had grown heavy. Curious, Oscar peered over at Tinasha’s downturned face.

[Assistant] "Y-you’re asleep?" he whispered, feeling more worn out than exasperated.

[User] Oscar managed to maneuver her limp frame onto the bed and lay her flat. Oscar sighed, eyeing her in that vulnerable state. He reached out to smooth the wrinkle in her brow. Now her face carried a modicum of tranquility.

[Assistant] Gazing at it, Oscar muttered, “I really don’t know what to do with you.”

[User] Oscar lay down to rest next to her, carding his fingers through black strands. When he was done, he pulled the covers over her. The soft, even sounds of Tinasha’s breathing filled the room, relaxing Oscar as he closed his own eyes. He caught hold of her tiny hand, and the feel of it sent him drifting off into a dream.


[User] Morning light prickled at her eyes. The breeze coming in from the open window stirred her long black hair. Such brightness was wholly unwelcome. Instinctively, she curled up and pulled the pillow over her face. She tried to fall back to sleep, but someone tapped lightly at the back of her head.

[Assistant] "Wake up, Tinasha." He spoke but she couldn’t comprehend the words.

[User] Resisting, she shook her head underneath the pillow.

[Assistant] "Wake up, wake up. You’re terrible at getting out of bed in the morning.” He grabbed her arms and pulled her upright, but she quickly flopped back down before he could keep her in place. Sighing, he hoisted her up into his arms. “I’m going to toss you into the bathtub.”

[User] “Ugh…” Her dark eyes blinked open.

[Assistant] “You better not go back to sleep, got it? I’ll pinch you if you do.”

[User] “Mm-kay… Morning, Oscar.”

[Assistant] “Every day you test my patience, I swear.” The words were harsh, but inside them was a deep and abiding affection.

[User] She gave an absentminded smile. With her arms wrapped around his neck, she slowly slid down until she was standing. After a pause, she yawned. Blue sky could be seen through the window. "Nice weather today."

[Assistant] “Do you want me to take you out somewhere? I’ve got Nark, so it wouldn’t require much time.”

[User] Her eyes grew wide. Hope blossomed inside her heart. She was quick to squelch it, however. “There’ll be trouble if anyone finds out I’m gone. But thank you.”

[Assistant] “You’re still a kid. You should get to take a break,” He argued, stroking her hair.


[User] Her eyes went half-lidded like a cat’s as she grinned. When she opened her eyes, the room was already light. Tinasha pulled away the arm she’d flung over her face. Didn’t she already get up? For some reason, she was in bed again. Though her body was sluggish to respond, she managed to drag herself upright.

[Assistant] Someone asked calmly, “You up?” Tinasha looked over to see a man getting changed, facing away from the bed.

[User] Sleepily, she replied, “Mm-hmm. Good morning. I’ll go make breakfast…”

[Assistant] “What?” he questioned sharply, turning back to look at her.

[User] She blinked at him in confusion, her head tilted to one side. “What’s wrong, Oscar?”

[Assistant] “What’s wrong with you?”

[User] “Huh?” Tinasha shook her sleep-addled head. Looking around, she saw that she wasn’t in her room. Glancing down at herself, she noticed that her body wasn’t the skinny frame of a teenage girl. She had soft, womanly curves. She looked back over at the man who had paused mid-dressing, his arms through his shirt. Abruptly, her memories returned. “Oh… I—I think I was just half asleep. Sorry.”

[Assistant] “Wake all the way up. You’re so bad with mornings.”

[User] Tinasha gave her flushed cheeks a light slap.


[User] "Did I fall asleep here?"

[Assistant] "You went out like a light. You’re a champion sleeper and yet so very, very bad at getting up. How long did you plan on staying in bed?" Oscar chided.

[User] "Urgh… I’m sorry…" Tinasha swung her legs over the side of the bed to sit on the edge of the matress. She glanced at the clock and paled. "I—I’m going to be late… I have a meeting…"

[Assistant] "I thought you might. That’s why I tried to wake you, but you completely refused," Oscar replied, tossing her a teasing smirk.

[User] Tinasha shrunk in on herself like a scolded child. "Sorry, I need to get back now," she said with an apologetic nod.

[Assistant] "Mm-hmm," answered Oscar, flapping a hand at her.

[User] She flashed him a soft smile and summarily vanished from the room.

[Assistant] Oscar shook his head at his fiancée, gone so abruptly. "What kind of food could she even make? Terrifying," he muttered with a smirk as he headed out to begin his work for the day.


[User] Valt stood on the edge of it, peering down into a gigantic hole.

[Assistant] "Valt, isn’t it time yet? If we leave it there much longer, it’s going to eat all," someone said.

[User] Valt turned to see a dozen men standing along the wall. Valt gave a shrug. "True enough. I suppose we can begin."


[User] Sensing their morale surging like a wave, Valt gave a strained smile. “I will handle it until it’s set outside. No one else can, after all. Aside from that, do as you like. I won’t attempt to control it.”

[Assistant] “That’s fine. We’ll handle it.” one man stated confidently. Internally, Valt sneered.

[User] Valt could have warned them but saw no reason to. His desires lay elsewhere. It had taken meticulous planning and execution of work laid by generations before him to reach this turning point.


[Assistant] After Tinasha’s meeting, which she barely arrived to on time, she had lunch with Legis. The conversation naturally turned to the events of the day before.

[User] “Using the bodies of mages to summon magic is a dreadful thing.” Legis spat in a rare display of undisguised irritation.

[Assistant] Tinasha’s face darkened. “That type of forbidden curse was attempted often in the past, but I don’t think the effects are worth the high number of sacrifices. At best, the caster only becomes a slightly stronger mage.”

[User] Sighing, Legis said, “I suppose in the end, we can’t completely stop the use of forbidden curses.”

[Assistant] “Unfortunately, that would be very difficult to achieve. People believe that great risks mean great rewards. In reality, there is no case that I know of in which a forbidden curse successfully led someone to their goal.”

[User] Ever since Tinasha first began considering dissolving the contract with the mystical spirits, she had also started plans for how the mages of Tuldarr might fight back against a forbidden curse. In the days leading to her coronation, she’d selected qualified candidates and had begun running them through battle-oriented drills.


[User] Legis inquired how that program was going.

[Assistant] “It’s going well. Everyone is very talented, and they’re quick learners.” Tinasha smiled.

[User] “I see… Do you think that, in a real-world scenario, they could defend against a forbidden curse?” he asked.

[Assistant] “I do. In magical warfare, firepower alone isn’t what decides things. It’s about how it’s utilized… In other words, it’s more important to devise a winning strategy. In that sense, it’s no different from regular combat, and carefully laying preparations can actually be more effective than anything else. That’s especially the case when spells are set in advance.”

[User] “It’s usually a group of mages who are behind a large-scale forbidden curse, and they’re all reliant on the spell. I don’t think it should be so very difficult to rein them in,” the queen stated confidently.

[Assistant] Legis nodded.

[User] “What would you do against a witch?” However, another possibility occurred to him, and so he asked.

[Assistant] Tinasha’s face turned pensive, and then she smiled slightly. “To be honest, I don’t know. I think it would be a pretty tough battle, because a witch would have so much more experience. Perhaps we could set up a very carefully laid trap… It would be best to avoid a direct confrontation.”

[User] Legis was silent for a moment, for he had anticipated that reply.


[Assistant] Sunlight streamed into the room—a rare occurrence. When Valt returned, he stared at the shafts of light with some surprise.

[User] Miralys was sitting in her chair, hugging her knees to her chest. The bright afternoon sun made her snowy white skin shine. Her light green eyes caught his.

[Assistant] “You’re back. Are you tired?”

[User] “Yes, it was pretty exhausting calling it up alone. But what’s going on? You have the curtains open.”

[Assistant] “I’ll have to go into the outside world soon… so I’m acclimating myself,” Miralys answered.

[User] “Ah, I see,” said Valt, a smile tugging at his lips at what a good, faithful girl Miralys was. He could feel his exhaustion melting away. Still, he made sure to ask her what he needed to ask.


[User] “Is the spell ready?”

[Assistant] “Yes, it’s done. It took a while, but everything is fine.”

[User] “Thanks.”

[Assistant] “I’m the most anxious about where the spirits will be placed. Keeping track of twelve really is tough.” Valt couldn’t help voicing his uneasiness.

[User] “I’ll be fine, since I have enough magic to confuse them… but you be careful.”

[Assistant] “I will. I’ll be sure to put them to work pulling that off, too.” Valt said with a little yawn as he glanced out the window. On the other side of the glass, he could sense a peculiar magic drifting in the air.

[User] “I’m going to sleep. I have to replenish my magic.” A self-deprecating expression formed on his face.

[Assistant] “Okay. Good night.” Miralys said with a little wave of her fingers.


[Assistant] Upon hearing the news, he lifted his eyebrows. “Cezar made their move already?”

[User] Swiftly, he issued orders to his attendants and left the room to prepare for battle.


[Assistant] “What’s the situation?” The king demanded.

[User] Bows. “Most of the enemy army is infantry, so their pace is slow.


[User] It should take them another hour to arrive. Their numbers are close to forty thousand. However, er…”

[Assistant] “Yes?”

[User] “The mages claim they sense some manner of abnormal magic.” Action/Narration Oscar’s attendants gasped. Undoubtedly, they were all thinking of Druza’s forbidden curse. Aware that this thought had just put them all on edge, Oscar grinned wickedly.

[Assistant] “Now everyone thinks they can just whip out whatever weird thing, since they know they can’t beat us in a head-on fight…” Action/Narration After what Druza did, a treaty was freshly signed banning the use of forbidden curses in cross-national wars. What had Cezar brought out now? Surely not a real evil god? Oscar’s brain whirred.

[User] “This’ll be a gamble.” Action/Narration It was painful not knowing what their enemy had up their sleeve. But that just meant Farsas had to crush them before they could let loose whatever odd thing they had. Oscar gave orders to that effect, a grave expression on his face.


[Assistant] The half-finished fortress of Ynureid loomed before them. General Tarvo, leading the vanguard of Cezar’s army, restrained a laugh as he eyed it. He thought of Druza, which had only recently relied on a forbidden curse and suffered defeat.

[User] “Of course Druza lost going about it that way. Even if they had destroyed the stronghold and army with their curse, what were they going to do once they’d used it all up?” Action/Narration Any way you looked at it, overpowering Farsas was impossible without enough strength to last through a long struggle. Cezar wouldn’t make such a foolish mistake. Over long years, it had raised troops for just this purpose. What’s more, the nation had that. Victory was in sight. However, there was one uncertain element, and that was the queen of Tuldarr, the king’s fiancée. Things could get dicey if she led her country to intervene in the conflict. The general wanted to weaken Farsas before that could happen.

[Assistant] “Have they not noticed us yet?” Action/Narration The fortress still looked the same. From horseback, Tarvo surveyed his infantry. He opened his mouth to give the order to speed up their march. But before he could speak, a fog suddenly rolled out. It was thick enough to block out the soldiers’ field of vision, even on the sunny plains.

[User] “What is this?! What is happening? !” Action/Narration Tarvo shouted, jerking around to check behind him, but the soldiers showed no reaction and kept on advancing. He was glad to see that the march wasn’t impeded, but he was worried, nonetheless. Was it wise to continue in this fog when they had no idea which direction they were headed? It didn’t look like any ordinary mist, meaning it had to be magic. Tarvo wasn’t a mage, though, so that was as best as he could comprehend it. He turned back to ask his officers for guidance, but the fog was so thick that he couldn’t see them.


[Assistant] The text describes that in the next moment, the Farsas army attacked from their right flank.

[User] "This magic is pretty powerful.” Kav muttered, who was casting spells from the fortress.

[Assistant] Sylvia, who was watching the battle from beside Kav, nodded. Producing fog on even ground was a potent type of spiritual magic that, ordinarily speaking, no regular mage could wield. However, Tinasha had reworked the spell so that a team of ten mages could handle it and had taught it to those she was close with in Farsas. Tinasha had used this very tactic herself during the incident with the princess of Yarda; it was highly effective in combat. While the fog robbed the enemy of sight, the Farsas troops had split up and teleported in groups to places along the Cezar army’s flank. Once the fog dissipated, they launched an attack from the enemy’s blind spot.

[User] Kav noticed that the Cezar army’s formation was collapsing under the force of Farsas’s charge and whispered, “I hope this ends quickly…” An ominous chill ran up his spine.


[Assistant] The text describes that the majority of Cezar’s forty thousand troops were foot soldiers. The Farsas cavalry rode into the middle of the infantry but were surprised to find no real resistance. The enemy moved sluggishly and were cut down as easily as grass. It quickly became apparrant what was wrong. Enemy soldiers who should’ve been fatally wounded were still fighting back, swinging their swords as if nothing had befallen them. Slowly but steadily, those blades pierced the horses’ bellies. With loud whinnies, the steeds collapsed, and their riders tumbled off their backs. They cried out upon finding themselves hemmed in by Cezar forces.

[User] “Th-these demons!” Their eyes were cloudy, and the flesh of their cheeks was rotting. The gray pallor of their faces was unmistakable—these were dead men walking.

[Assistant] "Your Majesty!” Doan shouted.

[User] “I know.” Oscar replied sullenly from the front lines. This was the abnormal magic.


[User] While ordinary humans were mixed into Cezar’s army, the majority of the fighters were animated corpses.

[Assistant] Oscar clicked his tongue in annoyance.

[User] “I guess we’ll make magic our main offense… It’s not really my style, but go ahead." Oscar ordered, and the Farsas army formation shifted.

[Assistant] Oscar groaned as he beheld the scene. “There’s no end to them.”

[User] A scowl on his face, Oscar exhaled hard as he cut through the shambling cadavers.

[Assistant] “Doan, hit me with a little magic.” The king said to the mage mumbling incantations behind him

[User] “What? !" Doan yelped, going wide-eyed at his king’s extreme request.

[Assistant] With a serious look on his face, Oscar urged. “Do it quick. It’ll alert Tinasha. It’s our best chance.”

[User] “Could you not summon me that way?” The woman was very obviously annoyed.


[Assistant] Just as Oscar and Doan looked up, a dreadful and thunderous roar rocked the entire area.

[User] When they cautiously opened their lids again, they were all astonished to find the corpses they had been battling collapsed on the ground like marionettes with their strings cut.

[Assistant] “Wh-what on earth just happened…?” Soldiers gasped when they saw huge swaths of open space where thousands of corpses blanketed the earth.

[User] The remaining Cezar cadaver soldiers appeared to notice the abrupt vacancies and began to shuffle toward the Farsas troops.


[User] Frowning, “You sure do know how to make a spectacle.”

[Assistant] “I wanted to buy us a little time to talk.” Tinasha explained as she descended. She was wearing mage’s robes, though not formal ones. The form-fitting white attire hugged the shape of her body and was emblazoned with magical sigils. The outfit had seemingly been designed for ease of movement, as deep slits ran up along both sides of the skirt, providing glimpses of Tinasha’s milky-white legs. She was equipped with multiple magic implements strapped to her slender arms and legs, and what had to be an ensorcelled dagger was belted at her waist. She was obviously ready for battle. A young man and woman stood behind her, awating orders; Oscar recognized them as two of the twelve mystical spirits. Oscar’s eyes grew wide as he took in his very first glimpse of Tinasha’s battle uniform.

[User] “That’s some getup.”

[Assistant] Tinasha beamed, her eyes narrowing. When the expression faded, her eyes became as dark as the abyss and filled with unmistakable majesty. “The queen of Tuldarr, Tinasha As Meyer Ur Aeterna Tuldarr, has arrived. I have detected the use of a forbidden art, hence Tuldarr’s decision to intervene at this juncture. We will dispose of this entity that should not exist, and no harm will come to either country.” She proclaimed in a full, sonorous tone.

[User] Oscar grinned. He kept his response outwardly serious as he replied, “Understood. Thanks for acting so fast.”

[Assistant] Tinasha replied with a broad smile of her own and launched into a detailed explanation. “I will leave four of my spirits here. Also, that group over there is in training at the moment, so use them any way you wish.” She indicated a spot close to the rear left flank of the Farsas army. About twenty mages stood next to horses some distance away. Upon catching Oscar’s gaze, they bowed.

[User] “Mages from Tuldarr, huh? That’ll be a big help.”

[Assistant] “My intention was to create an anti-forbidden-curse unit, but I didn’t think it would see real combat this soon, so they’re all still learning. Rest assured, however, that they are excellent mages.” Tinasha clarified.

[User] Oscar cocked an eyebrow. “How am I supposed to interpret that? Don’t give such a misleading explanation. And when you say you’re leaving them here, do you mean you have something else to do?”

[Assistant] “I’m going to go strike the heart of the corpse army.”

[User] “Is it an evil god?”

[Assistant] “Yes.” Tinasha responded flatly, and though the words evil god still sounded too ridiculous to be believed, Oscar frowned.

[User] Tinasha was floating in the sky, so Oscar beckoned her to come closer.

[Assistant] Oscar grabbed her arm and pulled her onto his lap, making her black eyes go wide with surprise.

[User] With a light flush on her cheeks, the queen admonished him, “Oscar, we’re in the middle of battle…”

[Assistant] “Forget that. What’s this evil god?"


[User] "Do those really exist?" Oscar had never once thought such things were real.

[Assistant] Tinasha made a face. "I don’t think it’s a mythological deity like Aetea, no. But it does exist in the sense that it’s a mass of accumulated magic and energy. I think it’s going to be pretty difficult to take it apart, which is why I’m the most qualified to go after it."

[User] "If you think you’ll have a tough time, wait just a little and I can go with you to help." Oscar suggested.

[Assistant] "I’ll be fine." Tinasha assured him. The smile on her face felt so ephemeral that a jolt of concern lanced through Oscar.

[User] He held her tighter in his arms. "You’ll win, right?"

[Assistant] "Of course." She said immediately.

[User] Oscar gazed searchingly into her dark eyes, seeing his own face reflected in the depths of night there. He could feel confidence thrumming through her lithe frame. As this wielder of both strong magic and fierce determination grinned up at him, Oscar couldn’t help matching her expression. Then he glanced over her head and noticed soldiers coming closer. "Guess we’re out of time." There was no longer any time to chat. Sensing the enemy approaching, Tinasha attempted to float up into the air, but Oscar kept his sword arm tight around her side. With his empty hand, he tilted up her chin.

[Assistant] "Come back to me, all right?"

[User] "Leave it to me. I’ll beat you to the fortress and be waiting for you." She replied with a graceful smile. Every time he saw that look on her face, it drew him in and charmed him so irrevocably.

[Assistant] Oscar drew close and pressed a kiss on Tinasha’s soft lips. It was just a light brush, but the warmth of it reached her heart. When he pulled back, a bright red had spread across her ivory complexion.

[User] Covering her face with one hand, she turned away. "What do you think you’re doing? Didn’t I tell you we’re in the middle of battle?"

[Assistant] "Mm-hmm. Do your best out there." He said, releasing her so she could float away.

[User] Cheeks still pink, Tinasha turned to the two spirits. "Senn, Lilia, I’ll be counting on you."

[Assistant] "Understood."

[User] "Yes, my lady."

[Assistant] "You too, Kunai and Saiha." She added, naming two more spirits who had not yet appeared. But then the queen giggled; evidently, they had given a reply only she could hear. After that, her eyes focused on Oscar again.


[User] With a look like cool, clear water, she called to him. "Good luck in battle."

[Assistant] "You too." He answered. Tinasha turned in midair to head in the other direction. Then, while Oscar was still watching, she vanished. Oscar allowed himself one smile before his expression turned serious and he adjusted his grip on Akashia. The corpse troops were almost upon him now. The Tuldarr mages mounted their horses and joined the ranks. The two spirits drifted to their own spots.


[User] After confirming everyone’s position, Oscar gave a short, sharp exhale and drew himself up straight.

[Assistant] “Let’s go.” His clear voice signaled the continuation of battle.


[User] A half hour’s ride toward Cezar from the battlefield, it lay enshrined in a flattened patch of grass and brush. Tinasha, who had tracked its magic to the source, frowned sourly down on it from the sky. “That’s… quite something. What a grotesque shape.”

[Assistant] The spirits Karr and Mila stood on either side of her. The red-haired girl grinned at the queen of Tuldarr. “Lady Tinasha, do creatures like that disgust you?”

[User] “I mean, it doesn’t have any legs, and it’s enormous.”

[Assistant] “Should I make it some legs?”

[User] “That’s not the issue.”


[Assistant] Tinasha glared into the depths of the hole. “Do you think that connects to something?”

[User] Karr, the seemingly male spirit, answered. “Perhaps it’s a conceptual entity? If it’s stemming from some manner of root, then I’d wager that’s the connection.”

[Assistant] “A root, hmm? I believe the evil god itself is made up of magic and human souls. Then it’s solidified with human flesh… and manifested according to a set definition. There must be a very capable mage behind this.”

[User] “One with some nasty tastes, though.” Karr quipped.

[Assistant] Tinasha nodded her agreement.


[User] “All right then… let’s do a little trial.” Tinasha looked at the spirits on either side of her and snapped her fingers.

[Assistant] Tinasha stretched out her right hand, palm facing up. “Despair that refuses sleep soars through the night. The moon shines on the far side of the sky, a prayer that can never cross over. So shall it be defined, so shall it manifest. Power as power shall seek that line. Upon disappearing it will turn to nothing in the air. I command the procession to never end. Hidden words confront form.”

[User] “Hey! Put up a barrier…” The mages controlling the snake noticed the unique magic and looked up to the sky.

[Assistant] “We can’t, there’s no time!”

[User] A Cezar mage crouched to the ground, ducking and covering his head. Hot wind whipped up pebbles that buffeted his body.

[Assistant] "Ahhhh!" he shrieked in fear

[User] “Oh no… That’s revolting.” Tinasha remarked, her face twisted with disgust as she watched this all play out from above.

[Assistant] Slowly, Simila lifted its head to face its enemy in the sky.


[User] Eyes as red as blood fixed right on Tinasha. Its scarlet tongue flicked out as if it were locking onto its prey. There was no doubting this unsightly creature was an evil god. An ordinary person would have already collapsed from fear, but Tinasha regarded it evenly, meeting its crimson gaze. As she watched, the serpent slowly drew its head back. Then it launched itself at Tinasha, swift as the wind. It whizzed through the air at such a speed that it was invisible. But she had expected this. As Tinasha expanded her defensive barrier, she dodged to the left of Simila’s maw. The snake noticed this, however, and twisted itself in midair, turning to grab her.

[Assistant] With a frown, the queen began to cast a new spell while maintaining her defensive one. “Take that!” She cried, sending herself and her barrier flying through the air to kick both feet at the snake’s head. The recoil bounced her away. Then she brought both hands together and released more magic. An intangible pressure twisted Simila’s neck, and an ear-piercing shriek escaped its throat.

[User] “Ugh, it’s so loud…” Tinasha teleported over to Karr to escape the writhing serpent. Despite the force tightening around the evil god’s body, it showed no signs of weakening. “We’re in quite the predicament. We can use these makeshift measures to keep it restrained, but that won’t solve anything for good."

[Assistant] If she didn’t completely eliminate this thing, the corpses out on the plains would keep moving. But she was up against something very powerful, not an opponent that would go down easily.

[User] Karr gazed down at his master. “What do you wanna do, little girl?”

[Assistant] “Hmm… mmm… can we cut off the power coming from that hole?” Karr glanced over at the pit the snake had crawled from, and then over at Mila, who was floating a distance away from it. The evil god was still wriggling about, trying to break free of the pressure on its neck.

[User] “Not with two of us,” Karr answered. “But I think five could do it.”

[Assistant] “Then that’s what we’ll go with,” the queen decided.

[User] “What’ll you do once the supply is cut off?” Karr inquired curiously.

[Assistant] Tinasha smiled. Her dark eyes narrowed like she was looking at something far in the distance. “Do you remember when I was made the way I am now?”

[User] Karr let out a little gasp. Of all the spirits, he was the one who knew exactly what she was referring to—that incident four hundred years ago when she absorbed huge amounts of magic. Karr had been the ruling king’s spirit at the time, and while he hadn’t been in the room, he’d pieced together what happened based on the flow of magic. “Hey… are you really thinking of absorbing that thing?”

[Assistant] “Not much of it is made of magic. I will divert away the souls and flesh and take in only the raw power."


[User] "Once it no longer has the strength to stay manifested, it should fall apart on its own." Tinasha explained, her light tone belying the severity of what she was proposing.

[Assistant] Karr gave her a warning. "That does sound logical, but it’s really dangerous. What if you take in too much magic and you explode?"

[User] "If it starts to feel like I can’t handle it, I’ll drain some of it away." She stated, flashing the spirit a reassuring smile.

[Assistant] As he looked between his master, still so small, and the gigantic coils of Simila, he snorted. "I guess this is the only way…"

[User] Tinasha acknowledged Karr’s plan, and she nodded. "Go ahead, then." As she spoke, Tinasha summoned up three more spirits and positioned herself before Simila’s vermilion eyes once more.


[Assistant] Witnessing that power from the very front of the vanguard, Oscar gave a wan smile. He said to the spirit woman floating next to him, "Wow, was the war with Tayiri four hundred years ago like this?"

[User] "No." She answered. "The corpses are moving much slower and burning easier this time, so things are going far more smoothly. We also didn’t have as many mages from Tuldarr… It was particularly hard fighting against the cavalry."

[Assistant] "I see." He responded.

[User] Lilia flicked out a hand and a lightning bolt blew away some cadavers. Without stopping to check that it had worked, she moved on.

[Assistant] "The hard part is not being able to see the end of all this." Oscar muttered to himself, clearing away a swarm of rotting warriors as he steadily pushed the front line forward.


[User] At its forefront, a man clad in armor and armed with a longsword glared at Oscar with blazing eyes. Oscar regarded him with bemusement. The cavalry soldiers, so determined to fight, stood out among the lethargic dead. With a roar, they suddenly charged for the front line. The man in the lead was headed right for the king. With a shrill cry, he lifted his sword high overhead. Oscar yanked his horse’s neck aside and met the blade with his own.

[Assistant] His voice was a growl as he gave his name. “I am Tauma, a Cezar general. I know you to be the king of Farsas. You will battle me.”

[User] “Sure, but… are you even alive?” Oscar jabbed.

[Assistant] Tauma gave an unpleasant grin. “Why don’t you find out for yourself? !” The man’s sword came whistling down for Oscar’s life, but he parried it handily and counterattacked. All around the two, mounted fighters on both sides clashed. Those mages mixed in were handling the corpses. The stench of blood and steel commingled over the plain. Deep down, Oscar was shocked by how skilled Tauma was with a blade. His technique blended strength with accuracy. Even in a regular battle, he would be worthy of commanding a unit. However, that was as far as it went. The exchange continued almost methodically until Oscar abruptly sped up his next thrust. Tauma narrowly evaded it, but he couldn’t dodge the one after. Akashia sank into the joint between the armor plates at his shoulder, and then Oscar poured strength and speed into cutting Tauma down from his horse.


[User] The serpent’s head lanced forward like an arrow, closing in on Tinasha.

[Assistant] She barely dodged to the right; it missed her by a hair. Black thorns formed on the evil god’s skin and homed in on her. Tinasha whipped out the dagger at her waist and sliced at the sharp barbs. As she leaped farther back, she lopped off the tips. “Ngh…” There was a stab wound on her left thigh. Blood dripped and scattered on the breeze, but she ignored it and cast a new spell. “Rise forth, o spray—” Tinasha fired off five orbs of light with exact precision. As each struck Simila, black filth burst forth with a muffled whump. The substance wriggled slowly through the air before returning to the snake’s body. The serpent lifted its head in Tinasha’s direction; evidently the attack had accomplished nothing.


[User] Sensing something abnormal had struck its body, Simila turned back toward the pit, eyes blazing as it focused on the five spirits.

[Assistant] "Over here." Tinasha held out her arms.

[User] Simila craned its neck until she was within its sights.

[Assistant] With an arresting smile, she intoned her spell. "The very first and very last despair you meet shall be me. Now let us dance." The snake’s murderous fury and the woman’s compassion locked together in the air between them. Tinasha flung her arms open wide and a gigantic spell appeared. As the serpent lunged to rip her soft body apart, Tinasha sent the magic hurtling toward it. Silver threads billowed out into a veil of sorts that settled over the evil god. Immediately, a plume of oily smoke rose from the serpent, and an acrid stench of rotten flesh wafted on the breeze. With a flick of her slender fingers, Tinasha sank her spell deeper into the gigantic serpent. There was a sound like the tinkling of the finest chains being drawn. The silver threads were dismantling the flesh, human souls, and magic that made up Simila’s body. Dark, discolored flesh dripped to the ground, while the human souls turned to pale light. Tinasha diverted both away while pulling in the magic that remained.

[User] Recognizing that its very existence was gradually waning, Simila seethed with more resentment than ever as it glared at Tinasha. Its black head lowered a fraction. Then it lunged for her, its jaw open as wide as it could go in an attempt to swallow the young woman whole. It rammed into her protective barrier at a terrifying speed, but the magic shield held firm.

[Assistant] Tinasha had no words to describe what was happening. The magic she had taken in circulated through her body. She could feel her blood growing hot. Some sort of exquisite pain racked her frame. At times, attacks grazed the queen’s skin and sent blood flying, but she was indeed steadily dismantling the snake.

[User] "Will this disappear once that snake does?" One spirit peered into the dark pit.

[Assistant] "Probably. It looks like the terms of manifestation are centered within the serpent. We’ll need to clean up the hole, but it shouldn’t be too difficult once that thing is gone." Karr only gave a wan smile.

[User] "Will our queen be all right?" Another spirit asked with obvious concern.

[Assistant] The snake glided through the air.


[User] The silver threads eating into it pulsed with the glow of magic. Pure red blood trailed in Tinasha’s wake. Tinasha flew up to dodge another lunge of Simila’s head. Then she placed both hands on its body and slid herself around its circumference. She poured magic into every spot she touched, disassembling the creature. Only about half of Simila’s corporeal form remained. "Dissolve…" With all ten fingers, Tinasha manipulated the spell. Bit by bit, the gigantic head lost shape, leaving only those wicked eyes. As Simila’s power diminished, Tinasha’s grew immensely. When it seemed that victory was inevitable, Simila abruptly ruptured, scattering in all directions. Its enormous form turned to black filth and dispersed.

[Assistant] The spirits looked up at the dark remnants floating in the sky. "Is it over?"

[User] "No…" Karr gasped. Bits of black gunk were swooping down on Tinasha one after another.

[Assistant] With an annoyed click of her tongue, Tinasha attempted to flee, but the filth entwined around her legs before she could. Shaking it off was useless, as it hardened instantly, giving the remaining bits plenty of time to gobble up her delicate frame. "No…" The queen was no longer visible, there was only a pulsating, bulbous black blob floating in the air

[User] Snapping out of her stupefied state, Mila made to shoot off into the air.

[Assistant] "Mila! Don’t get close to it!" Karr shouted to stop her.

[User] The red-haired girl whirled to face him, fury clear in her glare. "We need to get it off her now! It’s going to use the magic she sucked in to possess her!"

[Assistant] "If you abandon the spell, she’ll never win completely. Have a bit more faith!" Karr’s words rang true, and Mila fell silent. They were the ones keeping Simila from its power. If they stopped, and the gunk grew stronger, it would consume Tinasha.

[User] Gnawing on her lip in frustration, Mila returned to her post. The spirits all gazed upward. A weakly pulsating sac hung in the air beneath the blue sky like something ripped from a nightmare.


[Assistant] "Lady Aeterna, the world is not only what we can see with our eyes. So many invisible layers are stacked together, and we call these planes of existence. From heavenly virtues to the depths of the sea, one world encapsulates all of that." She had heard that somewhere before, although she couldn’t recall where or when. It was very dark. Why was she in such a place? An unnamed consciousness drifted in a space without time. Wordless whispers surrounded her. Resentment, resignation, and grief swirled about her like stagnant water. The place opened by human flesh and souls. The interior of a bottomless hole. It was so very bleak. There was nowhere to go.

[User] "You should just go to sleep." whispered Resignation.

[Assistant] "All things end in tragedy." whispered Grief.

[User] She was puzzled. Is that really so?

[Assistant] "There is no way you’ve never held a grudge against someone." whispered Resentment.

[User] She gave a bittersweet smile. Yes, she had held grudges.


[User] She sank deeper into the darkness. No, she wasn’t falling. Planes of existence were slowly passing through her. At the bottom of the hole was a murky sea. The human world was actually flimsy and treacherous. This was the place below its bottommost layer. The human realm was like a tiny boat drifting through a stormy ocean at night. Once anyone learned of the endlessness beneath, fear would overtake them and rob them of happiness. She observed herself sinking through the depths as if it were happening to someone else. Exhaustion permeated her, and a faint grin came to her lips. Then she became aware of the expression, and it turned sharp and wry. She could smile. No matter how bad it was or how sad she felt, she could smile if she wanted to.

[Assistant] "You’re so scared you can’t help it." Something whispered.

[User] "I’m not scared." She answered, and she stretched out one ivory hand. "What do you want?"

[Assistant] "I want," came the reply. "I want to become one. Then there will be true stability. An incomparable peace of mind. The undermost layer the human soul can reach will catch every drop."

[User] "I don’t mind. But you are the same as me."

[Assistant] "The same." The words echoed around.

[User] "When you acquire me, I also acquire you. From the beginning, we have always been connected. It’s only our names that are different."

[Assistant] The darkness was silent. Confusion developed.

[User] "Then we are still different." An answer came back from the drifting sediment.

[Assistant] The darkness asked for her name.

[User] She thought for a bit. As she scanned the lightless expanse, her lips formed the words, "My name is undefined." She still lacked a title to represent her being. She had not yet hit on one, nor had she transformed into anything else. However, she did know one thing. "My element is—innovation." Each person was born with an element they were unaware of. However, she now understood hers. Her words evoked its true essence. A change began to ripple through the gloom. At first, she thought she had begun to float upward, but realized she wasn’t moving. Innumerable planes of existence were passing through her. All of them were part of the world. She knew each and every layer. Her soul knew them. So she touched the world and discovered the foreign objects placed inside it and the gazes trained on it. She turned to look back at the planes passing by her. "Are you waiting?" They were quickly moving very far away. Even the things she had understood were vanishing. She had never been a special piece of the puzzle. Yet the destiny she’d been given and the fate she’d chosen made her something different.

[Assistant] Under Mila’s watchful glare, the black mass gradually shrank in size. At first, she thought she was imagining it, but she wasn’t. The sac contracted as though being sucked into its center.


[User] Then it ruptured open with a muffled sound. Magic, souls, and remnants of flesh went flying, and in the middle of it all was a floating woman. The backlash from the magic sent her glossy black hair whirling up behind her. Her wet, dark eyes burdened with sorrow were downcast. Power erupted from her right hand, clearing the air. At the same time, the hole from which Simila had manifested shrank as well.

[Assistant] The dull, stagnant feel in the air faded, and Mila cried out, “Lady Tinasha!” She glanced at the spirits, smiled, and attempted to wave at them, but flinched. “Oo-ow… I haven’t felt pain like this in… four hundred years…”

[User] "Of course you haven’t. You’re saturated with magic." Karr replied, shaking his head as he teleported to his master’s side and gathered her up. “We’ll handle the cleanup. You should go rest.”

[Assistant] "Urgh… sorry about this…" What power Tinasha hadn’t absorbed was floating on the breeze. Although the hole had shrunk, it wasn’t closed yet. If they didn’t work more spells to get things sorted, all of it would end up rooted here.

[User] "Should I send you to Tuldarr?”

[Assistant] “Oh… no, please bring me to the fortress of Ynureid.”

[User] "All right."

[Assistant] Tinasha looked to all five of the spirits present. “Thank you.” She said to them.

[User] They bowed silently in response.

[Assistant] A smile bloomed on the beautiful queen’s face, and she and Karr vanished.


[User] The wind ran across the battlefield. There may not have actually been a breeze, but to Oscar, it felt like there was. The body before him lay collapsed and motionless. And it wasn’t just that one. One by one, the corpses toppled to the ground in a wave that left the Farsas army speechless. Cezar’s forces, which had already been reduced to half their original number, instantly dwindled to almost nothing. The Cezar cavalry paled to see their fighting cadavers rendered motionless. Until now, they had been at a disadvantage, but the wall of moving dead had kept them safe from the Farsas troops. Suddenly, that buffer was gone, and discomfort was clear on their faces. Oscar eyed the Cezar soldiers, smirking. "I guess that means… she won.” No one was there to confirm it, but the dramatic change spoke for itself.

[Assistant] To his attendants, Oscar said, "Let’s mop this up quick and head back. I’m sick of looking at those dead things.” Sunlight poured down from the cloudless sky. On almost all the bodies blanketing the plain, there were no scars and no spilled blood. The nightmarish landscape was sure to make stories of this battle the stuff of legends.


[User] As he scrutinized Tinasha’s pale, bloodless face, he asked, “How do you feel? You okay?”

[Assistant] “I’ll be back to normal after a little sleep. Thank you.”

[User] “Good,” Karr replied, his face solemn as he gave the queen of Tuldarr a brisk pat on the head. It did occur to him that this wasn’t the sort of thing to do to one’s master, but to him, Tinasha was still the kid who’d lived in the detached wing of the palace. “All right, Mila’s still shaken, so I’m going to go and help get things wrapped up. You take care of our little girl, pretty lady,” Karr said to Sylvia.

[Assistant] “I will!” Sylvia chirped, both fists clenched with determination. She brought over a clean cloth right away and wiped the sweat from Tinasha’s forehead. “What happened out there?”

[User] “I’m not too clear on that myself. My memories are hazy… I was in this weird place, and I feel like it made sense at the time, but… for some reason, I can’t remember now,” Tinasha answered.

[Assistant] “Ah, that sounds like a dream. Although with dreams, you can still remember everything when you wake up.”

[User] “Yes, exactly. But in any case, I believe Cezar’s forces should be severely crippled. The corpses are all dead for good.”

[Assistant] “Then that means the king will be coming back soon, too!” Sylvia exclaimed with a grin, which made Tinasha smile, as well.

[User] When Oscar saw her, he’d probably chastise her for doing something reckless. Absorbing the magic that made up an evil god was not a feat for a normal person. When Tinasha took in all that magic four hundred years ago, the pain had been so awful that she’d been bedridden for a week. Even so, Tinasha wanted to see him. Feeling supremely sleepy, she closed her eyes.

[Assistant] “We’ve got to hurry. I don’t want to run into that Akashia swordsman.”

[User] Both women’s eyes snapped wide open at the unexpected intrusion. Reflexively, Tinasha cast a spell. But just before she could complete it, something cold touched her wrist, and the spell dissolved.

[Assistant] “Huh?”

[User] Sylvia was sent flying. She hit the wall and slumped to the floor. “Sylvia!”

[Assistant] Forgetting her own agony, Tinasha tried to vault from the bed and run to her friend. Someone grabbed hold of her arm before she could, however.

[User] A man’s soft voice whispered in her ear, “You can have a nice long rest once we arrive. There’ll be plenty of time.”

[Assistant] Everything went black. As Tinasha fell into darkness once again, she reached out. However, there was nothing to catch hold of. She lost consciousness.


[User] “Should I kill that cult leader?” He made a face.

[Assistant] While arranging for post-battle cleanup, Oscar headed back to the fortress to go and see the woman who had won the day. Naturally, he was aghast to discover something had happened that no one could have foreseen. "What’s going on here?”

[User] Kav shrank back in the face of the king’s indignation. Face pallid, he explained what had happened. Someone had abducted Tinasha from the room where she was resting. Sylvia had also been present and had been seriously wounded during the attack. Kav had learned of the events while healing her.

[Assistant] Fury blazing in his blue eyes, Oscar asked, “Did he have silver hair?”

[User] “No. It sounds like she didn’t get a very good look at his face, but he was wearing black mage robes.”

[Assistant] Oscar mulled that over, and then another possibility occurred to him. “Could it be… Valt?”

[User] Mila, evidently unable to stand it any longer, shouted, “Karr! This is all your fault! Why weren’t you with Lady Tinasha? !”

[Assistant] “I’m sorry…” Karr replied, hanging his head and making no attempt to defend himself.

[User] Mila looked like she wanted to start in on him, but Oscar interrupted. “Tinasha and I are the ones responsible. Can you track where she’s gone?”

[Assistant] “Unfortunately… I can’t sense Lady Tinasha’s magic at all.”


[User] “I think she’s either closed it off herself or something powerful has sealed it.”

[Assistant] Irritation washed over Oscar, enough so that it showed on his face, a rarity when he was in the presence of others. "I’ll contact Legis first. Whoever abducted Tinasha may have sent a demand to Tuldarr.”

[User] The last time Tinasha was taken, Oscar had managed to retrieve her right away. He wanted to hope that this time would be no different. An unshakable dread settled deep within the king of Farsas, however. Oscar closed his eyes and remembered Tinasha’s clear smile from the last time he saw her.


[User] Oscar went straight from the battlefield to Legis, where he was received in a salon reserved for confidential discussions. As soon as the king of Farsas caught sight of Legis, he bowed his head and apologized. “What happened is entirely my fault. I am deeply sorry.”

[Assistant] “You don’t need to bow to me. She must have been negligent to some degree,” Legis replied. Tinasha herself had asserted that the single most crucial thing for a mage was meticulous preparation. And now she had fallen for a meticulously laid trap. Her enemy had bested her.

[User] As Legis sat down, unpleasant scenarios ran through his mind. “It’s possible we’ll receive a ransom demand… but if we don’t, it only spells greater danger.”

[Assistant] Tinasha was a queen, after all. Her kidnappers might’ve only been after the woman herself. If that were the case, it would be very difficult to catch those responsible.

[User] Before Legis lost himself in speculation, Oscar said, “Farsas is also considering invading Cezar. Evidently, it is under the control of a religious cult at the moment, and it’s extremely likely that the man who abducted Tinasha is connected to that organization.”

[Assistant] “Ah… isn’t it possible that her captors have already fled Cezar? If so, then rushing in after them might put Farsas at a disadvantage.”

[User] “I’m aware of that,” Oscar replied flatly. He had no interest in invading other countries, a fact made clear by how he hadn’t pursued Druza during their incursion. Plus, if he invaded Cezar now, other countries would naturally turn vigilant. Of course, it was obvious that Cezar was the one in the wrong, as it had mounted an army and brought in a forbidden curse, to boot. Yet it was Farsas that stood as a leading member of the Great Nations, and that was soon to be linked by marriage to Tuldarr. The country was perpetually in the spotlight, and thus subject to greater scrutiny and suspicion. All this was at the source of Legis’s concern. And Oscar was grateful for his candid thoughts.


[User] Legis seems to sense that determination in the other man and got to his feet, a pensive look on his face. "While she is… the queen of our country, I will leave this matter to you. To Tuldarr, she is like an unexpected stroke of luck. And that good fortune has always been directed at you. For that reason, Tuldarr will not criticize anything Farsas does in regard to her. We will work with you however we can, so please do everything to help her."

[Assistant] Oscar bit back a sigh. "Thank you for your kindness. I promise I will bring her back." Oscar declared with a bow. He then bid farewell to Legis and departed Tuldarr.


[User] "There aren’t very many enemy forces left. We could overrun them." reported Mila, once Oscar returned to Ynureid, and he nodded.

[Assistant] Once the red-haired girl finished her report, she wrinkled her nose and tilted her head to one side. "If you used the army, wouldn’t it turn into a whole big thing and strand you there until everything resolves?"

[User] "Yep, which is why it’s a sort of last resort. We need to finish this as quickly as possible."

[Assistant] "I wish there was a more surefire way to do this." Oscar muttered.

[User] When his gaze landed on Doan, he suddenly recalled something. "Oh yeah… she put a protective barrier on me. Could we use that to track her?"


[User] "I would have never noticed without you pointing it out."

[Assistant] "She really did… It must be connected to her."

[User] "Could it work?"

[Assistant] Mila and Karr exchange glances.

[User] Karr crosses his arms, making a face. "Not right now. We can’t see where the magic leads to. But if she were close by, it might lead to her."

[Assistant] "So I could be the key to tracking her down?" The king asks before falling into thought. No one missed the dangerous gleam in his eyes.


[User] The dagger she’d carried and all her other magic implements had been taken. Scratching at her temple, Tinasha went back to the middle of the room and picked up a wooden chair. She hurled it at the door, and it flew through the air. But as she had feared, no cracks formed in the glass from the impact. There was only the sound of the impact. The chair toppled to the floor, one leg now twisted.

[Assistant] “Hmm… this is a pretty sturdy barrier.”

[User] “So violent.” He remarked dryly from the one doorway in the room.

[Assistant] “Valt?”

[User] “It’s been a while. I’m glad you were able to take the throne with no trouble.”

[Assistant] Cautiously, Tinasha turned to face him. "What do you hope to achieve? Who are you really?"

[User] Valt only laughed, but Tinasha didn’t miss the bizarre glint that flashed deep in his eyes for just a moment.

[Assistant] Truly isolated and helpless, Tinasha still drew herself up to her full height and fixed her gaze on him.

[User] That made Valt grin. “I’m not going to hurt you. I only want to talk. Come, I’ll make tea.” With that, he turned and left, leaving the door open.


[Assistant] Tinasha wasn’t sure what to do, but in the end, she followed him.

[User] "Go on and have a seat. It’ll be ready soon.”

[Assistant] Tinasha sat at the table while continuing to inspect her surroundings, and before long, cups of tea were brought out. When she took a sip.

[User] Valt smiled from his seat across from hers. “How does it taste?”

[Assistant] “I make better tea.”

[User] “That’s a shame.” Valt answered with a laugh.

[Assistant] Tinasha stared at him coldly. “So? What did you want to talk about?”

[User] “Must you rush? How are you feeling? You’ve been asleep for almost a full day.”

[Assistant] “I wanted to rest for a little longer, but you’ve gone and done something ridiculous.”

[User] “I certainly didn’t expect you to absorb components of Simila’s physical form, but I should have known better. I did wish you’d waited a little longer, considering all the hard work I put into it, but it all went swimmingly.”

[Assistant] Picking up on all the hints he had dropped, Tinasha couldn’t help leaping to her feet. “You were the one who manifested Simila?”

[User] “Yes, I was.”

[Assistant] “Do you have any idea what you’ve done? That was—”

[User] “Oh yes, I’m aware."


[User] "And while I know how this sounds, I was only a tool in all of that. I merely did what I was instructed to do. It was the people of this country who decided to sacrifice their fellow citizens."

[Assistant] Seething with rage, "That’s not a very good excuse."

[User] "It’s not one at all. They did everything of their own volition. Honestly, if you look at it, you and your fiancé are partially responsible."

[Assistant] "What does… that mean?" She questions, knitting her brows as she kept her eyes fixed on the grinning Valt. Their gazes met. Her magic might have crackled in the air around her. Such was the intensity in her glare.

[User] Valt looks away first, giving an exaggerated shrug of his shoulders. "You should sit. Doubtless, you’re tired. Ah… if you’d like to change clothes, I’ll get you something to wear."

[Assistant] Backing down, Tinasha pursed her lips, sitting back down after a moment of indecision. "Even if you do, I can’t put it on with this in the way." She replies, lifting her wrist to indicate the bracelet.

[User] "Ah, sorry. Only a member of the Farsas royal family can open or close that."

[Assistant] "What? !"

[User] "It’s called Sekta. It’s a sealing ornament with the same properties as Akashia, and it’s been passed down for centuries as a royal heirloom. Although I suppose no one there actually remembers it exists. My grandfather borrowed it from the Farsas treasure vault about forty years ago, as we suspected you would wind up in this era."

[Assistant] "Excuse me?" Tinasha said, unable to suppress the shiver that ran up her spine with that last bit.

[User] Glancing at how pale she had gone, Valt gave an uncomfortable smile. "Well, now that you’ve received some warning, let’s dive right in. This is the truth that I wasn’t able to tell you earlier. I… no, we are after Eleterria. You know what that is, don’t you? The red and blue magic orbs that can take you into the past. We’d like you to get both of them for us."

[Assistant] The darkness in Tinasha’s eyes froze over. It was then that she understood what the wheel of fate revolved around. "Why do you…?"

[User] "Why do I know about them? Or why do I want to use them? I know because I am aware of many things. More than even you." Valt replies, his lips quirking up into a sneer that veiled something unreadable. "One is in Tuldarr, and the other is in Farsas. You’re the best person to retrieve them.


[User] "We actually wanted Delilah to get the one in Farsas, but she was no match for you. And now that you’re the queen, it should be a simple matter."

[Assistant] Everything fell into place for Tinasha. The treasure vault in Farsas and the one in Tuldarr. Breaking into either was extremely difficult. Perhaps because of the Farsas royal family’s cavalier style, that country took a perfunctory view of its treasure vault. But Tuldarr’s was filled with priceless magic treasures. Only those authorized could enter. If Tinasha had married Oscar without becoming queen, even she would not be granted entry. Which was why Valt had separated Tinasha from Farsas and forced her into negotiating with him.

[User] "What… are you going to try and change if you have both?" she asked.

[Assistant] "I can’t tell you that just yet. But I will if you work with us and get both of them."

[User] "You think I’m going to cooperate with you?"

[Assistant] "I certainly hope so."

[User] Tinasha felt dizzy. Despite not knowing why Valt sought the orbs, it was plain that letting him have them was unacceptable. There was no telling how those little spheres could alter the world. They held tremendous power in the hands of someone with wicked intentions. Tinasha had to stop Valt at any cost, regardless of whatever harm it brought upon her. Inhaling deeply, Tinasha calmed herself and cleared her face of emotion. Just as her refusal was on the tip of her tongue, a loud male voice roared angrily from the corridor outside.

[Assistant] "Valt! I know you’re here!"


[User] Valt scowled.

[Assistant] The door flew open with a bang. “Simila is gone! What are you going to do about it? !” The man boomed in extravagant robes, rage colored his face.

[User] “As I told you, that’s not my responsibility.”

[Assistant] The man was about to hurl more abuse at Valt when he caught sight of the woman sitting with her back to him. He circled around the table to get a look at her face. “You… you’re the queen of Tuldarr! Valt, have you been conspiring with her this whole time? !”

[User] “Absolutely not. That’s very rude.” Tinasha put in, offended. She shook her left wrist and the attached bracelet at him.

[Assistant] Once the furious man took that in, glee came over his face. “Great job, Valt! Now we still have a chance.” He reached for Tinasha, roughly grabbed her arm, and hauled her out of her seat. While she turned her face aside, he pulled her close for a better look. In her ear, he whispered, “You really are a pretty one, looking at you up close. No wonder you snared the king of Farsas.”

[User] “Disgusting. Please let me go.” She demanded.

[Assistant] “Hmph. Stubborn. Whatever, you’ll make a perfect hostage to threaten Farsas.” The man said as he flashed her a sinister leer and licked his lips.

[User] Feeling his breath on her face, Tinasha clicked her tongue in disgust.

[Assistant] “Could you let her go? She’s a very important guest of mine.”

[User] “A guest? Isn’t it her fault that Simila’s gone?” The man asked in disbelief.

[Assistant] “Even so, her role is over.” Valt replied, lifting a hand.

[User] The man seemed to sense the presence of a spell forming, and he yanked Tinasha in front of him as a shield.

[Assistant] Tinasha’s lip curled with revulsion at being treated like an object. "Excuse me…"

[User] “Let her go. She’s mine.” Oscar snarled, unexpectedly.

[Assistant] When Valt turned in his seat to look at the door, all the blood drained from his face. He changed the spell he was preparing and teleported away from there instantly.

[User] Now alone, the Cezar man turned around slowly. With Tinasha held firmly in his grip, he locked eyes with the intruder in the doorway.