"Based on today's performance, this Damaged Antarctic Constellation Clock should reasonably be classified as Sage Level. If you hadn't been here, there wouldn't have been many people in the entire Tobesk Diocese capable of dealing with it."
Iluna continued, while Shade remained puzzled by what he had just seen.
"That man had branches wrapped around him just now, and he wasn't affected by the relic. What was the principle behind that?"
"I don't know either. We'll need to investigate his background."
Though Iluna was answering his question, her eyes were actually fixed on the weapon in Shade's hand.
"Your staff is really impressive."
"Of course it is. This used to be a branch of the World Tree."
"You know?!"
Iluna was startled, then immediately asked:
"Then can it grow back into the original World Tree?"
Among the five conditions "If" had given her to help Shade—"flame, cards, resurrection, strength, love"—"resurrection" should have referred to resurrecting the World Tree (2016). But "If" had also said that she could not tell Shade about this, so she could only ask after he had learned it himself.
"This is a dead Time Key. Of course it can't grow again. What a strange question."
Shade shook his head, put away the staff, then bent down and covered the fallen clock's face with that piece of red velvet.
"I expect the people lost in the Gap of Time will be returning soon. I'll leave first, and you can handle the rest. Remember to think carefully about how to explain this. I'll be at the Opera House until ten tonight. If anything else happens, come find me."
Iluna returned the jar of umbilical cords to Shade. She had actually wanted to spend a little more time with him.
"If those lost people don't return within half an