The Interval of Time

"Vector, you're back?"

Slowly setting down a magic crystal, Punk turned to look at Vector, the Magic Crow, outside the portal.

"Caw caw, Boss, I... came back..."

As he stepped through the portal with his head lowered, the Magic Crow answered Punk in a somewhat dazed manner.

Yes, after a full ten years, Vector had indeed flown back to Punk's Mage Tower.

The reason Vector, whose flying speed was no less than the speed of light, only returned now was entirely because Punk had given him the harsh command that "even if you escape by luck, you must fly to another country and may not return to the Mage Tower for at least ten years."

Thus, forced to obey his orders, Vector could only drag around a body that was nearly half-charred and wander without rest for ten years. Then... although Vector truly no longer wanted to return to Punk, his "master"... as long as he remained a virtual soul, he had to unconditionally obey the Mage's prearranged commands. So, once the time limit was up, Vector, who had wandered aimlessly for ten years, hurried back to the Legendary magic tower in the Hatak Kingdom without stopping...

Or rather, it was Vector's "body" that had flown back of its own accord to the incomparably beautiful yet utterly frigid magic tower.

And it was precisely because Vector had returned that the preceding bland exchange took place within the portal.

During this exchange, Punk's tone made it seem as if he were merely muttering to himself over some insignificant flower or weed, while Vector's voice was so low that it sounded like nothing more than a mechanical, polite response.

In truth, after this ten-year "journey," Vector's entire personality had become somewhat silent. Perhaps he had gained a little enlightenment between life and