“Masked Entropy? The fuck kind of name is that?” Artian suddenly interjected, complaining about Sylvester’s naming sense.

“Shut up Artian, it sounded cool at the time!” Sylvester explained. “And besides, it seemed happy with it so you don’t have grounds to complain.”

“I still think that name sucks.” Artian murmured.

“Ahem!” Mona Lisa then tried to steer the conversation back into the original topic. Sylvester and Artian then dropped their little argument and faced the headmaster once again.

“So, anything else it did?” Leonardo explained.

“Well, my arm was kind of busted and was bleeding really badly. It then healed my arm and said something about de-synchronization or something I dunno it was weird.” Sylvester replied.

“Weird? How?” Leonardo said, prompting Sylvester to elaborate.

“Well, blood started flowing backward into my wound and the spear thing that pierced me appeared and dislodged itself. It was like time was flowing backwards.” The moment Sylvester said those words his friends all stared at him with shocked expressions. They couldn’t believe what they were hearing.

Whatever it was, it was a powerful entity capable of messing with time itself, and this fact alone was enough to send shivers down their spine.

“Hmmm, I see.” Leonardo then scratched his and looked at Mona Lisa and gave her a nod.

“Mr. Sylvester, I would be happy if you were to cooperate for some observations for a short while just to see what exactly happened to you and your arm. Is that okay?” Leonardo asked.

“Sure, why not.” Sylvester replied.

“Thank you. Anything else this “Masked Entropy” thing told you?”

“Yes there is.” Sylvester then shifted his seat and leaned backwards on his chair.

“Aside from the book it also gave me that weird card thing with strange patterns etched onto it, you probably saw it inside the book already. It said it was a gift for me. Oh speaking of the book, can I ask you questions about that later?”

“Yes no problem, it’s why we’re having this debriefing at the moment. Was that all?” Leonardo asked again.

“Wait let me think.” Sylvester then closed his eyes as he recalled his encounter.

“I am your biggest fan! We have been watching you for a looong time!” Those words echoed inside his head as his face started to create a complicated expression. As he was about to speak he subconsciously glanced at the seat beside him and saw Rossa’s frightened face. He then looked to the other side and saw Artian and Estelle holding similar emotions.

Sylvester realized that what Masked Entropy said holds a heavy weight, and that weight would also affect those he deemed as his friends. Whether it was a sense of duty or a desire to shield them, Sylvester decided to keep it to himself as he gave the headmaster a smile.

“We mages protect the world by maintaining a lie. I don’t see why I can’t do that in order to protect my friends. I’m sorry Rossa, Artian, Estelle, but I feel like this is something you all shouldn’t know for now. A magician needs to keep a few secrets.” He thought to himself as he prepared to answer the headmaster.

“No, headmaster. That was all Masked Entropy told me.” Sylvester declared with a smile, causing his friends to breathe a sigh of relief.

“Ah, that’s good to see.” Sylvester thought as he made a gentle smile.

“Are you sure that is all, Mr Clearsight?” Leonardo asked one last probing question. His face looking calm and serene, but Sylvester knows there is more to it than that he then decided to take the headmaster on.

Smiling as naturally as he can, breathing as naturally as he can, sounding relieved as naturally as he can, these are skills a performer should have. And he made good use of it.

“Yes, now can I ask questions now?” Sylvester smiled as he shifted the topic.

“Yes, but I would assume you would want to know more about that golden book handed to you correct?’ Leonardo declared.

“Yup, bingo.” Sylvster replied.

“I suppose I should start with explaining what that book is first. Normally, this information is considered classified but since you managed to retrieve one and dealt with an incident, I think it’s only fair I show you the whole picture. That being said I trust that you will not leak this outside.” Leonardo said in a serious tone.

“That book is no ordinary magic item, it is something far stranger. It is something we classify as a Lost Item. These objects can range from familiar looking objects like books or keys, to stranger ones that could only be described as a mass of overly complicated geometries.” He began explaining, and despite everything that had transpired, the burning curiosity in Rossa’s eyes didn’t dwindle.

“The Lost Items are objects that hold incredible power and have the potential to cause great harm to the world at large. What’s troublesome is that they just randomly appear whenever they damn well please.” He continued as he put up an image of the golden book on the tablet and showed to Sylvester and the rest.

“Unlike your average magical tool, Lost items can also be used by people completely unfamiliar with magic, and be oblivious to its effects. It is why these artifacts are considered extremely dangerous.”

“This thing for example, we now have designated it as Lost item #44 The book of erasure.” Leonardo continued to explain.

“This book seems to have the power to erase every trace of someone’s existence the moment they are written on it.” He continued as he showed images of the aluminum foil like pages that had names written all over.

The group of four immediately put two and two together and realized what the headmaster’s word meant. The lack of missing cases? The rampant ghoul activity? It seems this book is what allowed the ghouls to devour people discreetly.

“And now I would assume you would want to know who or what created these troublesome items, and all I can tell you is that we don’t know, I’d to tell you about a few theories but at this point they are nothing more than just wild guesses.” Leonardo said his shoulders slumped down.

Sylvester and his friends were left at a loss, unable to completely digest what had just been told to them. They could not believe such a thing was even possible. It was a terrifying reality, but at the same time one could not help but try to stare deeper into the abyss.

“So yeah, I guess that’s all for today. You four will be going through some therapy in the next few days to make sure you all don’t suffer any sort of long term mental problems going forward.” Leonardo was about to move to the next agenda but Sylvester stopped him.

“Headmaster, I have a few more things to say.” He said.

“I would like to invoke that new Nicaea thing professor Bridget mentioned. The one about jurisdiction with the items.” Sylvester said with a smile, causing his friends to suddenly freeze one the spot.

“What are you saying? Are you insane!? That book can erase people, why do you want it?” Rossa berated Sylvester.

“No, I don’t want that book. I want the card that was inserted in there. Masked Entropy did say it was a gift to me.” He explained as he looked back towards Leonardo.

“You are full of surprises aren’t you Mr Sylvester. I suppose I can hand that card over to you after we’ve done a few tests. Because right now we are not sure whether it is a lost item or not.” Leonardo seemingly agreed.

“I see, fair enough. Well then, one more question please?”

“Go ahead.” Leonardo obliged.

“During the mission, I met a little girl. Her name was Honey S Carter. She was a cheeky little brat who called me a cheater. But when I asked her about her parents, or rather her father, she made an uncanny and weird reply almost machine-like. And then, when I opened the book, opened it to where Masked Entropy placed that weird card, it called my attention to a name.” Sylvester paused.

“Randolph Carter.” The room was then veiled by a thick silence as Sylvester waited for an answer, despite him not really asking a question.

“Hmm, so Mr Sylvester. Would you like a comforting lie, or a painful truth?” Leonardo replied with a sly and knowing smile.

Sylvester seemingly froze as those words from Leonardo seemed to be aimed at him rather than his question. The headmaster’s gaze had a sort of all knowing feel to it, that Sylvester can’t help but feel that he was being read like an open book.

Sylvester then let out a sigh of resignation before answering the headmaster.

“It’s okay. I’ll just think it was a mere coincidence then.” Sylvester said with a smile.

“I see then, if that is all then shall we proceed to the next agenda?” Leonardo asked. The four then nodded in agreement and the debriefing continued onto the next issues.

They were then told about the measures the academy will be taking to maintain and ensure the secrecy of the magic world. While many things remained confidential, they were told that the town had been blocked off using various means and everyone that was involved would be mind wiped of their harrowing experience.

However, this conversation caused Estelle to realize something. With folds appearing on her forehead, she looked at the headmaster in the eye before asking her question.

“Headmaster.” Estelle spoke out.

“Yes my dear?” Leonardo replied, seemingly knowing what she was going to ask.

“You said that the lost item we retrieved was capable of erasing all traces of someone’s existence, correct?” She asked.

“Yes.” Leonardo replied, and immediately followed it up before Estelle could continue.

“I’m sorry.” He replied in downtrodden demeanor.

The four of them wanted to oppose this decision. They all knew it wasn’t right. They weren’t gods who can just decide these matters like they were everyday and normal tripe. People’s lives and memories were at play here.

This was cruel, too cruel. But an overwhelming and sickening force of reason overtook their emotions as they knew that this was a necessary step. They might not know the full reason, but the consequences of widespread knowledge of magic is something far more terrifying.

Leonardo had an idea what the youngsters were all thinking at that time, and frankly he is oftentimes scared of how calm he can be when deciding these matters.

“Hypocrisy is something we cannot escape. You should cherish those feelings, for one day you will grow numb and indifferent. Have solace in fact that this decision is something out of your control and was done by a person higher above you.” Leonardo replied.

“All I can say is that there is more at stake here. And if we are not careful, a terrible fate awaits our world and despite all my power, once the gears have turned, I will be unable to stop it.”

It was a bitter pill to swallow, but Sylvester and his friends had no choice but to comply and bow their heads. There was nothing more they could do.

“That being said, if you four do not want this to happen again, if you all do not want lives to be wasted like this promise me one thing. Promise me that you will get stronger, strong enough to save as many lives as you can.” Leonardo declared.

A glint of inspiration then beamed from their sad eyes as they all responded in unison.

“Yes Headmaster!”

“Good, now just as I said you will all go through some therapy to make sure you guys are at tip top shape. Don’t worry, we’re much more effective here.” He assured them.

With all points thoroughly discussed, the Magician’s troupe. But then Leonardo suddenly called out to Sylvester as if he just remembered something.

“Mr Sylvester, can you please return the magic staff to me?” He asked politely. Sylvester nodded and took out the now blackened staff out of his hat. Leonardo’s eyes twitched slightly upon seeing the drastic change it has gone through.

The once bluish metal and clear crystal was now swallowed by a deep black color, like it was created like that in the first place. So much so that Leonardo almost didn’t recognize his own creation. He then took the staff away from Sylvester and dismissed the Magician’s troupe.

They were then escorted back into the campus area. Upon their return they realized that it was already afternoon and that they even forgot their own hunger.

“Why don’t we grab some food guys?” Sylvester suggested, trying to liven up the mood. The rest of his friends agreed, but there was still a heavy atmosphere among them. Because of their mission they would be excused for their current classes so they took this time to try and relax.

The afternoon then became night but the weariness was still there. The boys then separated from the girls as they all headed back to their dorms eager to finally put an end to this long and dreadful day.

While Estelle seemed to have been able to sleep almost immediately, Rossa found herself wide awake. Her spirit is still restless from the events that she just went through.

She then decided to get up and look for a piece of paper.

Sitting down at the desk lit up by the moonlight from outside, Rossa began writing a letter for her home. With a heavy sigh she started moving her quill pen.

“Dearest father.”

“Today, I experienced my first ever mission. And in this mission I found myself staring into the eyes of death itself.”

“It was frightening, I could only feel despair in my inability to do anything. I felt that I was weak and helpless. I really didn’t know what to do.”

“However, despite the odds, my friend pushed through and with his grit and cunning managed to save all of us from certain peril.”

“He too almost died from trying to protect us all. In just one day, I saw my friend dance in between the jaws of death.”

“This experience taught me something. The world of magic is truly a cruel place, it is unforgiving and uncaring and yet, this something I must face head on.”

“I’m sorry, I know this letter would only serve to make you, mother, and brother, worry about me. I understand but, this is my life now. This is where I chose to go, this is where I chose to run.”

“Maybe there is a reason why the goddess seemed to have lost favor in me, maybe this is where I was meant to go.”

“But one day I know I will find my own path, my own goals.”

“Your dearest daughter, Rossa.”

---

An old woman can be seen standing atop a tall white tower. Above her was nothing but the night sky and the endless cosmos. She stood quietly as she squinted her deep set brown eyes as if trying to focus on a far away object.

A voice then rang out from her surroundings, calling out to her and asking a question.

“What did you see?” It was a deep male voice that thundered throughout the featureless white tower.

The old woman did not respond immediately, but her next words sounded more like a riddle than an answer.

“Lines that should have not crossed have intersected and converged upon a common point. Stories that should have not met have mingled and joined, forming an amalgamation of fates that otherwise would have remained separate. And with that convergence my sight was blurred for just a moment”

The surrounding was quiet for a short while until the deep voice once again echoed.

“Is this something we should be dealing with?” The voice asked, immediately prompting a reply.

“No, not at all.” She replied.

“And besides, it is already too late.”