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"What's the matter?"
"I was in Nezen with my grandmother and the Archmage just a little while ago."
"Ah, I see! But wouldn't it be better to tell them before heading back?"
"They're enjoying a rare moment together after a long time. I'm worried they'll get upset if I tell them I'm going back to Nezen. I'd rather go and come back quietly..."
Of course, if I had simply told them, it would have been easy to leave. But I didn't want to risk my grandmother insisting on following me.
Crow, listening to my explanation, widened its eyes and flapped its wings enthusiastically.
"Aha, such thoughtful consideration! Follow me!"
I followed Crow as it energetically led me to the storeroom floor. Finally, we stopped in front of a wooden door tucked away in a corner.
"This is the magic supplies warehouse!"
I followed Crow. Crow flapped its wings vigorously and took me to the storeroom floor. Then I stood in front of a wooden door in the far corner.
"This is a magic supplies warehouse!"
Crow opened the door right away and guided me in.
'Is it really okay to bring me here?'
Even though I was treated as a special guest in the Magic Tower, I couldn't understand why they would allow me into a room full of magical items.
"Crow, is it really okay for me to come in?"
"Of course! The things in here aren't particularly valuable---they're mostly discarded items. If you see something you need, feel free to take it!"
Crow's confident tone reassured me as I stepped inside. Just as it had said, the room was filled with various magical items scattered haphazardly.
There were some objects I had never seen before and others that were more familiar, like scrolls and crystal balls.
"Do you need anything like this?"
"No, I'm okay, Crow."
While some of the items did catch my eye, I didn't feel comfortable taking anything.
-Child, why not grab something? You're being offered a gift.
'No, it's fine. I don't want to cause unnecessary trouble.'
Even Kyros seemed regretful, but he couldn't argue against my stubbornness.
"I wanted to give you something as a memento of your visit to the Magic Tower, but I guess it can't be helped."
"I appreciate the thought, Crow. But why did we come here to the magic supplies store?"
"Oh, I almost forgot! You said you wanted to go to Nezen. It would take several days to travel between the Magic Tower and Nezen...but you can use this."
It took several days to go back and forth between the Magic Tower and Nezen? I was surprised at the vast distance, but then I looked at the object Crow was pointing at.
"It's a scroll that will teleport you to Nezen. And this one here will bring you back to the Magic Tower."
A teleportation scroll---it was a familiar item from HSAW, but I never imagined I'd actually use one. I knew how they worked from the stories I'd read.
'Plus, these scrolls aren't valuable enough for someone to disapprove of me using this so....'
I gladly took the two scrolls.
"Thank you for your help, Crow."
"Oh, it's no big deal!"
We left the warehouse together, and Crow led me to a cozy break room.
"Unfortunately, I'm bound to the Magic Tower and cannot leave. This is where I must part ways with you, Revelof."
"I understand."
"I'll wait here for your return. Take care, Revelof."
"Don't worry---I'll be back soon."
After exchanging farewells, I ripped the teleportation scroll. A small light emerged from the scroll, enveloping my body.
When I opened my eyes again, I found myself standing in a quiet alley in Nezen.
Above me hung a sign that read "10th Avenue".
-Wow, magical items are really impressive.
'You're right about that.'
The teleportation scroll was remarkably convenient. However, it was worth noting that such scrolls were produced in limited quantities by the Magic Tower and required a significant amount of money to acquire.
'Even nobles have difficulty purchasing it.'
Of course, I could afford two moving scrolls, but they were undeniably expensive.
'Portals are the best for me after all.'
As I stepped out of the alley, I looked around and mentally mapped my location. Terdius and his younger brother lived on 13th Street, and since I was currently on 10th Street, their house should be close.
-Child, where are you headed?
'Oh, I thought I'd explore the streets of Nezen a bit. I didn't get much of a chance to look around before.'
-Are you scoping out a spot for a new temple?
Kyros's voice sounded oddly excited. Though my intention was entirely unrelated, I decided to go along with it for now.
'Yes, something like that.'
-That's a great idea!
Hearing his joyful tone, as cheerful as a child's, I couldn't help but humor him.
Pretending to assess potential temple sites, I wandered through the streets until I reached 13th Street, where Terdius's house was located.
'This must be it.'
The house was easy to spot, as I already had a rough idea of its appearance.
It was modest---a small two-story building without a yard---just right for two people like Terdius and his brother, Ivan.
'By the way...'
The sun was setting, casting long shadows, but there should still have been some light inside the house.
Yet, the interior was completely dark, as if no one lived there.
Even if Terdius, as an apostle of Diego, was away on some task, Ivan should have been home. The frail child rarely left the house.
Why, then, did it seem abandoned?
-Do you like this place?
'No, it's not that.'
-I thought so. It's way too small.
Ignoring Kyros's comments, I debated whether to get closer for a better look inside.
Though the street was quiet, the idea still made me hesitate.
That's when it happened.
-Child! There's a snake's aura nearby!
Kyros's urgent warning came too late. When I turned around, Terdius was already standing there.
'Fuh...'
I barely stopped myself from cursing aloud. Instead, I focused on keeping my expression neutral, though it wasn't easy.
-I'm sorry, child. I sensed the snake's aura, but he moves so quickly I couldn't pinpoint him in time.
The apostles of Diego were so mysterious and secretive, like snakes, that it couldn't be helped. So I said it was okay and continued to act as if nothing had happened.
Because at the moment, I wasn't wearing my cognitive dissonance glasses.
That meant I wasn't disguised as Leviathan, the leader of the Kyros Church, but rather as Revelof Holden, a simple priest.
Thankfully, Terdius appeared as indifferent as always.
'Maybe I can just ignore him and move on.'
Since the distance between his house and me wasn't close, it wouldn't seem suspicious if I pretended to be passing by.
I moved to walk past him casually.
But then---
Bam.
If only Terdius hadn't grabbed my wrist.
"Why are you hanging around someone else's house?"
His voice was flat, devoid of any real emotion. Had he been watching me look at the house?
"Oh, I thought this was my friend's house. Excuse me."
I smiled, trying to back away, showing myself as harmless as possible. But Terdius didn't release my wrist.
What's with this guy? Was it because my acting wasn't convincing enough? Or was he planning to harm me?
For a brief moment, I wondered if Terdius's personality was just that unpleasant.
"You... it's you."
He muttered something cryptic. What does he mean? Just as confusion started clouding my mind, Terdius's grip tightened.
"Leviathan, the leader of the Kyros Church."
And my heart sank.
***
Meanwhile, back in the Archmage's room, Helena Holden and Archmage Jenna were reminiscing about old times.
"Time flies, doesn't it?"
Jenna, seated across from Helena, looked up at her with a soft smile. Helena nodded with a kind smile.
"That's true. It feels like just yesterday that we first met."
"That cute little kid grew up so quickly---had a coming-of-age ceremony, got married, had children, and even grandchildren. Now, even those grandchildren are all grown up."
Jenna chuckled as if the passage of time felt surreal, and Helena laughed along with her.
But then Jenna suddenly straightened her posture.
"Helena."
She reached out and held Helena's hands, her expression turning serious. Helena, sensing the change, instantly became solemn.
"Revelof, your second grandson... Keep a close eye on him from now on."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"You know I have the power of foresight, even though it's weak, right?"
Jenna's powers as the Archmage included a rare ability---foresight. It was a power only a handful of her closest acquaintances knew about.
Though Jenna's predictions were always accurate, her foresight didn't activate at will.
Sometimes visions came every few days; other times, years would pass without any.
That power, however, had just activated---during the moment Revelof and Helena met in Nezen.
"Yes, I know."
Helena was also one of the few people who knew of Jenna's precognition. So, Helena became a little nervous without realizing it.
Jenna's precognition had never been wrong.
"Revelof...that child might be far more significant than we think. He could either bring ruin to the world or save it."
"...What are you saying, Jenna?"
Helena's expression filled with confusion, while Jenna's seemed equally perplexed.
"I'm sorry, Helena. This is the first time I've experienced something like this. But I see two distinct futures for Revelof. Either he brings disaster to the world, or he saves it."
"Tell me more."
"I can't explain it fully. All I see is the child standing at the edge of the world---alone. And there are only two outcomes."
In one vision, Revelof stood amidst a ruined world.
In the other, he stood in a world filled with infinite brilliance, bathed in countless rays of light.
These were the only futures Jenna could see.
"...I understand."
Helena nodded, resignation in her voice as she processed Jenna's words.
"Jenna, your foresight has never been wrong. I'll trust you and keep a close eye on that child."
"Thank you, Helena. I knew I could count on you."
Jenna leaned into Helena's arms, while Helena looked at her, lost in thought.
***
Terdius stared at the person before him, scrutinizing every detail as if engraving the image into his memory.
Golden hair, bright blue eyes, a sharp nose, and pursed lips.
Though everything seemed different from what he remembered, he was certain.
This person was none other than Leviathan, the leader of the Kyros Church.
The certainty stemmed from one undeniable reason---a feeling he could only feel near Leviathan.
It was a warmth, familiar yet strange, that only Leviathan could evoke.
Even though his face didn't match Terdius's expectations, he had no doubt about it.
No one else in the world made him feel this way.
"I know it's you. You are Leviathan."
Once again, Revelof's heart sank at Terdius's unwavering declaration.