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Chapter 25: Side B, The Memory (2)

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[Inside the tower —in the fortress that was said to have been impossible to break through, I used my specialty magic to sneak in.

My silver hair was a sign of the magic that I can wield and also because of my hair and that magic, I can only use a few more low ranking magic to fill my Manna consumption.

*Spatial Manipulation Ability*

If my ‘memory’ when I was born would be 1GB in the human terms, then the space that my inborn ability has used would be around 90% of that.

I was born with this ability to ignore space and time in an area I designate as ‘my territory’.

Using that ability, I sneaked in passed through guards and the sentinels, afraid of the wrath that the angry Commander Flynn would bestow on me.

Designating an unseen space in an unseen area takes a toll of manna on me. I don’t know if there are people on the other side of the wall or am I going to land in an area with prisoners or inside a tank, I blindedly used my ability because of one single fact.

Master Merlin had never once asked me to do a special task in our whole apprentice-master relationship…

Ever!

It’s always been me making up excuses and making us escape angry patrons and travelers whenever we are in trouble because of his clumsiness.

If it’s me, I can just switch places with a rock whenever ‘the’ accident was about to hit me.

That would save my ass. But never have I actually saw my master that serious before. That’s why it made me happy that I was of use for once in my life. Finally.

When I reached the place where the hidden tower was supposed to be, a large wall with the top covered by clouds and fog with rocky hills greeted me.

I can’t see the top so I don’t know if there really is a tower in there or not. The wall was also high enough that I can’t just jump up there randomly without knowing if there were any trap there.

So I went into the door, into the place with the opening for peeking out and knocked.

The sliding window opened and I flicked my fingers, I switched places with the knight who opened the door.

The sounds of war was still outside, covering the noise of vacuum that my ability made.

But to my surprise, I saw two guards beside me,

“Huh?”

“What?”

I hurriedly flicked my fingers and the two guards was replaced by an empty space with only the silhouette of air remaining.

Switching places needed something to replace it so I used my ability to make the two guards switch places with the ‘air’ on the other side on their shape.

I heard the puzzled sleepy guards talk to each other on the illusion that they saw someone else in the first guard’s place while the first wondered just how did the peeking window’s handle was reversed.

Without any more care to them, I proceeded and felt so utterly surprised to see what’s inside.

There were no tower. Just a large door, nothing more.

It wasn’t called a secret if it can be easily seen so I, again, used my ability to feel and ‘detect’ if there are any hidden objects beyond the large door but there was actually none, just pure, empty air.

The guards I teleported outside felt that there was something wrong so I, again, used spatial manipulation to actually throw them to sleep.

In front of their faces, I summoned a vacuum, then blew it all up to make them lose their wits.

The sounds of thuds could be heard and I continued to scan, going beside the door where I saw that its horizontal shape seemed to be odd.

Below, I ‘scanned’ the area and realized that there was a large empty space just beneath my feet.

The space extended endlessly down, so far as to make me gasp as to not ‘feel’ its bottom.

Without further ado, I entered the door and that’s where my suspicions lay proven as to see a bottomless pit with flares of torches lighting endlessly down.

The idea of a secret tower was met but the elements that treats it as a Spire was still to be proven.

I didn’t use the lift as it would make sounds. Instead, I jumped down without second thoughts. If anyone would see me now, they’d think I was crazy but if there is one that my ability is good at, then it is that I can somewhat teleport myself on any space I see.

All I need is to mark that area as ‘my territory’ and I can access that place as long as my Manna would permit.

So if I am about to hit rock bottom, all I have to do is to teleport myself into that ground. Voila. Safe.

Long story short, my sneaking in wasn’t smooth. I was discovered by roving guards many times and I had to deal with them more times than I can remember.

Reaching the very bottom of the ‘tower’ is also a bit of a challenging fact. I can barely breathe and I feel that the air is both cold and thin. I could only say that I pity anyone who is ‘imprisoned’ here throughout this war.

With a slight push of my hand, the door opened.

And there, I saw, a beauty that I could not fathom to imagine in my entire life…]

At this part, the five people who’s been following him all this time made a unified gasp of surprise.

““““You’ve got to be kidding me. ””””

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“Master Janus, did you purposely gave them my journal?”

“Are you worried that it would reveal some unimportant secrets?”

“No. Not at all. Though, like I said, what I’m worried about is their questions right after they see its contents.”

“Ah. Indeed. These kids had so much questions on them there really are not enough time to answer them all.”

With another refilled tea cup, filled with a certain blend of cappuccino, the two talked and talked as they watched the giant book corrected all details on a certain person named Rogue.

The book that was “supposed” to be enchanted with the power to write the details of the events that has something to do with the history of the world was being written.

In fact, the past wasn’t the problem for it is unchangeable. No matter who tried to change it, the supreme force that rules over Terroa will always find a way to correct the flow of time.

This is one reason why there are things such as an H-rank Quest.

H literally meant history.

One of the rarest quests and missions are such that only a very select and persistently searching lucky bunch could actually discover them.

But the most delicate part is what’s actually happening in the present.

For all who knows, «The Book of Legends» is the book that records all that affects the flow of history. To change a detail’s name requires an authority such as Janus’ kind. But this particular «Book of Legends» is not the same as the other generic copies. This one is the very one that Janus himself began.

In this version of «The Book of Legends», the details about certain events that wasn’t recorded in the pages of the generic version was written.

Meaning, events that wasn’t recorded in the Council of Elders’ version of the «Book of Legends» was in Janus’ own version.

So far, according to the game’s history, there are only a few instances that Janus had lost the ability to direct the flow of history to its rightful destination.

And that would be the time when the aliens attacked Terroa 70 years ago that led to the War of the Braves 14 years later —still according to the game’s storyline.

But now, the same phenomena where Janus is powerless to do anything is ominously taking a stroll as the dreaded name of all malice was revealed.

The events where the name Rogue had appeared were quite small in numbers but the people he made contact with created a chain of events that forever altered the course of time.

No.

In fact, it can also be said that Mefisto’s actions as the mysterious war bringer Rogue served as a catalyst.

Perhaps it can be said that the real time is finally moving to its rightful destination. This can be proven by the next words Janus said as a reply to this question.

“Master Janus, regarding that person, this… Siva… if he was the catalyst that made time move again. Is it also safe to assume that with it, you have lost your powers?”

“Not entirely, Gabriel.”

“I see.”

“You see, Terroa is the world where I am both the only one with the supreme authority to dictate history, and as well as do nothing to change it. Mefisto might be an entity of a forgotten time but it can also be said that aside from The Oracle, he has the authority to render this world in chaos.”

“The Invasion?”

“Indeed. The Invasion.”

The two of them sighed while Gabriel sipped through his cup and let go of an “Aah”.

“What a trouble some fellow.”

“He’s making your eyes hurt?”

“Not only that,” at this reply, Gabriel raised his cup to the old Janus. “If he really succeeds to gain back his memory, then it’s not too safe to say that he’d also be successful on calling the second LAGRAM Armada.”

“And if that happens?” Janus looked puzzled with the gesture.

“If that happens,” Gabriel sipped another one. “Then I wouldn’t be able to taste such fine blend.”

Janus blinked then looked at the offered empty cup. He touched the hilt and Gabriel’s empty vessel was once again filled by a warm light brown liquid.

“Aren’t you afraid that I will die?” Janus challenged.

Gabriel only chuckled. “You can’t die. Pegasus would not allow it. Besides, you’re strong.”

To that, Janus whispered “I wonder” and gazed down at the giant book beside them.

He refilled with his own cup and they raised their cups at each other.

“I told you, didn’t I? That you’ll like it in time.”

“Only if it’s something you offered.”

“Heh. This is something that Siva made me taste.”

At that Gabriel seemed to remember something. “Oh,”

“About him, Master Janus, I seem to get confused of a few things in your book.”

“The book?”

“Yes master. According to the Authority I received when I succeeded your work, this Siva person seemed to use three different names. And although it seems that he doesn’t know it, some of his names’ activities had caused a few chain of events that was written in the Book. Like for example, how he defeated a Forest Dragon in Hagonoy. A few citizens had spread word of this deed until it reached the ears of the Council.”

“Oh, I didn’t know that part.”

“That’s because you’ve been traveling.”

“And? Tell me more of the Council’s reaction.”

“They issued a meeting with the person named Volume Hunter. And not the actual Siva you spoke of.”

“I see. But isn’t that a good thing? With the council’s help, the War of the Braves that devastated the Central Continent will be rebuilt a lot more faster. I think the Council’s decision with a meeting is inclined with this general direction.”

“Maybe. But I find worrying is the fact that all his names right now are making their own histories in the book. Aren’t this going to be bother some?”

“Hm? Ahahahahahaha… haha… hahahaha…”

“…”

“I’m sorry, Gabriel, I just couldn’t help it. It’s funny.”

“What’s funny about it?”

“Imagine the people fearing one of his name, then they approached the other for help?”

“Pft… Bwahahahahahaha…”

“Ahahahahaha…”

“I bet he’s going to get nuts.”

“And you now speak like a human!”

“Why, aren’t you too?”

At that, the two looked at the cup of brown liquid.

“Pft…” “Pff…”

““Hahahahahaha…””

As they laughed their hearts out into what seemed to be a funny detail in the actually dire situation of the world, the side where the secret of why time is frozen in the first place continued to revolve.

***

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[What I saw inside were endless threads of golden silk, all meeting up into a lady’s head seated in the middle of a sort of altar in the center of the room. I knew that that’s her hair but if I could actually say something at this moment aside from her mesmerizing beauty…

It’s just that…

“Why isn’t she moving?”]

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Next Issue, the great revelations about Rogue!

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