Being treated with respect had a unique warmth to it, a sensation Baek Yu-Seol found strangely moving.
Once just an ordinary man on Earth, he had walked a humble path… graduating from a regular school and working as a cog in a small to mid-sized company. Yet, here he was, in a place far removed from his previous life, feeling the weight of reverence directed at him.
"Here, please have some tea."
Roden, a venerable Class 8 mage and head of the Mage Association's Grand Mage Council, personally handed Baek Yu-Seol a delicate teacup.
Seated beside him was Grand Duke Selphram, his gaze subtly yet unwaveringly fixed on Pale Yellow Autumn Moon, who sat next to Baek Yu-Seol.
The look in his eyes was filled with affection, but it was not the gaze one would direct at a lover. Instead, it felt like the adoration one might have for a mother—something that made Baek Yu-Seol feel rather uncomfortable.
After all, Pale Yellow Autumn Moon appeared to be in her early to mid-20s, much younger than Grand Duke Selphram.
"You've done an outstanding job."
Roden extended his hand toward Baek Yu-Seol. When Baek Yu-Seol reciprocated with a handshake, Roden turned to glance at Florin and Pale Yellow Autumn Moon, who were seated nearby.
However, despite his high status as the head of grand mages, Roden seemed hesitant to offer a handshake to them and instead awkwardly withdrew his hand.
Feeling a bit sorry for him, Florin briefly considered initiating the handshake herself but ultimately refrained.
Memories of people being bewitched upon physical contact with her resurfaced, triggering her past trauma.
For her, the act of shaking hands - so common in human culture - was still difficult to adapt to.
"The Grand Mage, Sael Ri, was unable to attend due to urgent matters, but he has instructed me to bestow an honorary award upon you."
There was genuine awe in his expression, and it wasn't misplaced. Resolving the synchronization of a colossal Persona Gate at such a young age was no small feat.
Still, Baek Yu-Seol couldn't shake an uneasy feeling.
'I wasn't the one who did it.'
All he had done was offer a suggestion.
Anyone could spout ideas, but it was Pale Yellow Autumn Moon and Florin who had done the real work, braving the dangers and executing the solution flawlessly. However, both women were averse to gratitude or recognition. They practically shoved the credit onto Baek Yu-Seol, avoiding attention as if it were a curse.
And so, left with little choice, he accepted the accolades with an uncomfortable smile.
"What exactly happened in there? This old man's curiosity is eating me alive," Roden said, leaning forward eagerly. "Would you be willing to share the tale?"
"Of course."
It was no surprise that a Class 8 mage like Roden would be intrigued. His interest seemed particularly piqued by Pale Yellow Autumn Moon and Florin, who remained enigmas even now.
Speaking about the event wasn't necessarily unpleasant. In truth, having someone genuinely interested in you was a rare and oddly gratifying experience.
Baek Yu-Seol and Florin shared that sentiment, and their conversation with Roden flowed easily. Time slipped by unnoticed until, at last, the golden hues of evening bathed the room in warmth.
"Oh dear, it's already evening. Since we're getting along so well, how about I treat you all to dinner?"
"I'd rather not…"
"I'd love to. I'm really looking forward to it."
"Sounds great."
"Haha, who would refuse an invitation to dine with Roden, one of the most renowned grand mages?"
Building connections was always a good idea. After all, no one could predict when or where a major incident might occur.
When Baek Yu-Seol had first arrived in Aether, he hadn't cared about connections at all. Back then, he had only focused on the main storylines happening within the academy. But now…
Everything was different.
He had to prepare not only for what might happen after graduation but also for the potential catastrophes that could strike before then.
"Let's move to a different room. Oh! It might be fun to invite some of the other mages too. I'm sure it'll be an enjoyable gathering."
"Oh… I'm more than happy with that idea."
What a stroke of luck.
As Roden left the lounge with Grand Duke Selphram in tow, Baek Yu-Seol prepared to follow. But just as he took a step forward, a hand gently but firmly gripped his arm.
"Baek Yu-Seol, may I have a word with you?"
"Silver Autumn Moon?"
Hovering in mid-air was Silver Autumn Moon, a translucent, silver figure.
Pale Yellow Autumn Moon gasped softly, immediately shrinking back behind Florin in alarm. Her wide eyes betrayed a mix of fear and unease, but Silver Autumn Moon seemed oblivious - or indifferent - to her reaction.
His expression was grave.
— It's serious. Something that was sealed with a fragment of my power has been unleashed.
"The power of time? But I thought all the remaining divine artifacts were under your control, Silver Autumn Moon."
— I thought so too. But it turns out that wasn't the case. Somewhere, something related to time existed without my knowledge, and it was released this morning. The problem is… I can't pinpoint its exact location. It feels as if it's completely obscured, shrouded in gray.
"… This must be the work of Fawn Prevernal Moon."
— And that's the real issue. If this were an ordinary matter, I could simply retrieve it. But if Fawn Prevernal Moon has started meddling with time, things could become extremely troublesome. If he gains the power to travel into the past, the present could be erased entirely.
"The present… erased?"
Silver Autumn Moon paused for a moment before speaking again.
— What I mean is, your very existence could disappear from this world.
The weight of those words settled heavily on him. If time could be rewritten, erasing his very being would be child's play.
His thoughts drifted to his arrival in Aether… a day etched in his memory. The relentless pursuit through the forest near the cabin, the desperate struggle to stay alive… It had been less than a year ago.
Back then, he could barely control his Flash magic. If the timeline were altered, even slightly…
'Seventeen-year-old Baek Yu-Seol, unable to escape his pursuers—dies.'
It wouldn't be surprising for such a history to come into existence.
Baek Yu-Seol had seen countless scenarios like this unfold before.
Consider the players of Aether World Online who played the character 'Baek Yu-Seol'... how many of them had died during the tutorial stage?
Thousands? Tens of thousands? At the very least, hundreds of thousands.
Of all those attempts, fewer than a few hundred players likely survived the tutorial.
Creating a future where Baek Yu-Seol perished during the tutorial was all too simple.
As long as time could be undone.
— Eliminating a rival would be an incredibly simple task.
Despite most of the Twelve Divine Moons siding with Baek Yu-Seol, Fawn Prevernal Moon remained silent all this time.
Why?
Because he still had one final option. The ability to turn back time.
"That's right... Now that I think about it, that bastard Fawn Prevernal Moon has already succeeded in combining our powers."
Pale Yellow Autumn Moon revealed her waist as she spoke.
"He stole part of my color and used it to wield a strange power. I still don't even understand how it works."
— Turning Pale Yellow Autumn Moon gray… Even I don't know how he managed that.
Baek Yu-Seol furrowed his brows, deep in thought.
Time reversal.
Had Fawn Prevernal Moon actually traveled to the past himself? No, that couldn't be it.
The laws of causality - or in Baek Yu-Seol's terms, [Narrative Power] - wouldn't allow it.
Fawn Prevernal Moon had been commanded by the Progenitor Mage to remain in this world and safeguard its spatial structure.
For that reason, he couldn't leave.
Which meant… He must have sent someone else into the past.
'It wouldn't have been just anyone.'
Fawn Prevernal Moon would have chosen someone capable of altering the timeline in his favor… someone who could achieve his desired outcome.
In truth, Baek Yu-Seol already knew.
"… He sent Flame into the past."
— What?!
"For real?"
Pale Yellow Autumn Moon suddenly turned pale, as if recalling something.
"Why? What is it now?"
"N-No, it's just… A while ago, Fawn Prevernal Moon forced me to infuse Flame with some kind of strange energy. Don't look at me like that! He said he'd erase me from existence if I refused. I—I only did it to survive…"
"… Sigh. I'm not blaming you, Pale Yellow Autumn Moon. What exactly did he tell you?"
"Uh, um… Something about 'forging her own destiny'? Honestly, I didn't even understand what that meant. Probably no one would…"
— Hah… So that's how it happened.
"I see. It makes sense that Flame would leave."
As Baek Yu-Seol and Silver Autumn Moon grew serious, Pale Yellow Autumn Moon looked increasingly uneasy.
"W-Wait… Am I the only one who doesn't get it?"
Ignoring her gloom, Baek Yu-Seol let out a deep sigh and said.
"For now, Silver Autumn Moon, please locate where the incident occurred. Honestly… I don't think finding it will make much of a difference."
— You're right. Once someone has traveled to the past, there's no way to pursue them. Time isn't a straight road; it doesn't leave a trail to follow.
"Then for now… We'll just have to trust Flame."
— … Are you sure? If things go wrong, you might be erased entirely. Not a single trace of your existence will remain.
His words hung heavy in the air, and the worry etched across the faces of Silver Autumn Moon, Florin, and Pale Yellow Autumn Moon only deepened.
But Baek Yu-Seol's response was simple. He smiled brightly and said,
"It'll be fine. Flame would never erase my existence."
It wasn't mere reassurance; it was conviction. A faith in Flame so unshakable that it resonated in every word he spoke.
— I suppose you're right...
"I'll face this head-on and win."
— Yes. I think so too.
Silver Autumn Moon nodded with a smile.
Since Baek Yu-Seol trusted Flame so completely, there was no need for others to worry unnecessarily.
All they could do was believe in her and support her—wherever she might be fighting in the depths of time.
***
… Failure.
At the Martevis Cemetery.
During the necromancer attack.
Too many people had been lost.
Stella cadet casualties: 4.
Civilian hunter casualties: 69.
Though Flame had barely managed to save Eisel, the battle had drained her completely. Her magic was exhausted, her mind numb from the chaos.
She wasn't alone in her despair.
The other Stella cadets, who had faced the horror of a necromancer - a nightmare made flesh far too early - were frozen. Their faces were pale masks of shock, their gazes vacant as they struggled to comprehend what had transpired.
'Four of our classmates died.'
The impact of that reality left some students still staring blankly at the sky, unable to process what had happened.
One first-year and three second-year students had died, or so they said.
Flame's expression contorted at the realization that she couldn't even remember their names.
'I should've saved them…'
Her mind conjured the image of Baek Yu-Seol, standing tall amidst catastrophe. He had saved everyone without losing a single life. He had confronted the necromancer alone, piercing its heart with unwavering determination.
But for Flame, who had returned to the past and had her strength reduced to that of a Class 3 mage, such a feat was impossible.
'Impossible? That's just an excuse.'
Baek Yu-Seol had also been weakened at the time.
Stripped of his magic, he had been powerless in a world defined by mana. Yet, even then, he had risked everything, pushing himself beyond his limits to save everyone.
"Don't blame yourself."
"Ah…"
Instructor Lee Han-Wol, who had arrived late with an airship to rescue the remaining Stella cadets, patted her gently on the shoulder.
"It's impossible to protect everyone. Even the greatest grand mages stand on a mountain of blood and tears from those they couldn't save. A mage who can save everyone perfectly... Doesn't exist in this world."
At those words, Flame forced a faint smile and nodded.
"Y-Yeah… I guess so…"
"That's right. So cheer up, and let's head back."
"Yes."
Lee Han-Wol's words were meant to console her. To lift some of the burden from her shoulders.
But they didn't.
If anything, they made the ache in her chest worse, as though his kindness had driven thorns deeper into her soul.
A mage who could protect everyone—
Flame couldn't help but remember a world where such a person had existed.
"Ugh…"
As she tried to stand up, a sudden wave of gray dizziness hit her, causing her to stagger before opening her eyes again.
"Ah…"
She was now standing in the middle of a hallway.
'Time slip.'
It was the same phenomenon she had experienced just a few days ago.
Her incomplete journey through time had fractured her temporal flow, causing her to move faster than others in this world. Every time it happened, it left her disoriented… and invariably placed her at the center of critical events.
'Right now…'
Thanks to the documents in her hand, she quickly realized what was about to start.
'The Mock Monster Battle.'
She remembered this incident well.
In the novel, Eisel had been sabotaged by Hong Bi-Yeon and was forced to face the mock battle alone without proper preparation.
Completely humiliated, Eisel had failed miserably.
But in this timeline, Baek Yu-Seol had been there.
He had supported Eisel, helping her demonstrate her true abilities.
Shockingly, Eisel had even displayed Supernatural Resonance, a technique only Class 6 mages could typically perform.
'I need to help her achieve that.'
Just like Baek Yu-Seol had done.
'I have to give Eisel a better future.'
'Where is Eisel?'
Flame sprinted down the hallway.
The Stella Dome's mock battle training area was enormous, making it extremely difficult to find a single person. However, there wasn't a single first-year cadet who didn't know Eisel.
"Eisel? Hmm, you probably shouldn't go there."
"Oh, I saw her… But I don't know."
"Uh, yeah? She went that way, but… You really shouldn't get involved."
A bad feeling crept over Flame.
She hurriedly ran toward the location Eisel was last seen, but…
She was too late.
"Tsk, how pathetic."
"Haha, and here I thought the brilliant genius Ducal Lady Eisel could do anything, but break her staff, and she's completely helpless?"
"I almost expected her to make ice with her bare hands or something."
Eisel lay crumpled on the ground, her uniform torn and dirtied. Surrounding her were several female students with red scarves… members of Hong Bi-Yeon's faction.
Her staff, broken and useless, lay discarded on the floor.
At Stella Academy, damaging a school-issued staff was a severe offense, resulting in harsh penalties and point deductions.
Eisel hung her head low, staring blankly at the ground.
Flame couldn't bear to watch any longer.
She stepped in between them without hesitation.
"What's this? Who are you?"
"A commoner?"
"Are you seriously interrupting something between nobles—?"
"Shut up."
Smack!
"Ahhh!"
The sharp sound of wood meeting skull echoed through the hallway as Flame struck one of the girls on the head with the staff she held.
The stunned silence that followed was short-lived. Flame's glare pierced through them as her voice rang out, cold and razor-sharp.
"No magic means no evidence, right? Someone once taught me that. And it seems like the perfect time to put that advice to use. So… do you want to fight?"
"You… You crazy bitch…!"
"Oh? Gonna use magic? Go ahead—try it."
"Ugh…."
Duels between students outside of designated areas were strictly forbidden.
And fighting with fists? That wasn't an option either—Flame's hits packed a punch.
As Flame twirled her staff like a club and stepped closer, the girls had no choice but to back away.
"Oh? Just leaving like that? No 'you'll regret this' or any other dramatic lines?"
Contrary to Flame's expectations, they left silently without any parting threats.
"Tch, how boring…"
Flame turned toward Eisel, who was still lying on the floor, and extended a hand.
"Get up. Let's get out of here."
Inwardly… Flame hoped that this incident might earn her some favor with Eisel.
After all, she needed to get closer to her somehow.
However, Eisel didn't take Flame's hand. Instead, she just smiled weakly.
"… I'm fine. I can at least stand up on my own."
With great effort, Eisel pulled herself to her feet and looked down at her broken staff, murmuring softly.
"… Am I going to have to spend all my food money on repairs now?"
After saying that, she trudged away with her shoulders slumped.
Flame couldn't bring herself to stop her.
It felt as though there was an insurmountable wall between them… One so large that Flame didn't know how to approach her.
"Eisel…"
Gripping her staff tightly, Flame stood there, staring at the floor for a long time.
Finally, unable to hold back her frustration any longer, she shouted.
"Arghhh!! I can't stand this! I'll kill those bastards!"
There were seven girls in Hong Bi-Yeon's faction, the ones who had tormented Eisel.
"I'll take them all down…!"
She might not be able to use magic, but hitting them with a staff? That was something she could definitely enjoy.