The Mysteries of Time

Professor Garcia truly seemed to be lecturing at that moment. Shade thought that perhaps he should turn up the Gas Lamp a little, to make the place feel more like a classroom:

"As for the rules of the Time Key, they were covered in your course, Theoretical Basis of Time Travel. Also, there is no need to worry about any trouble caused by time travel. Our world is not as fragile as you imagine, and mortals are not as powerful as they imagine themselves to be. In a world where thought can influence matter, the world itself is the strongest. Now, please take the key from the basin."

He had resolved all of Shade's questions in a single speech. Probably every student traveling through time for the first time had similar questions.

"The basin?"

Shade looked towards the basin shimmering with a faint radiance. He crouched down and reached into the water, which was somehow a little warm, then really did pull out a key.

It was a wooden key, so tiny that it was not even as large as Shade's thumb. The flat key had an ordinary shape, with teeth on one side and a very smooth surface on the other. Its wood grain was unusually distinct. When he carefully ran his fingers over it, he discovered a line of engraved words, smaller than a grain of rice.

Though he had learned a lesson from the Darkness Box last time, this was clearly safe. Thus, Shade once again made use of his talent for translation and interpreted it as:

May the World Tree protect you within time.

"The World Tree?"

Shade was astonished in his heart, but his expression revealed little.

"The Academy has many methods of delivering relics. The Poet Manuscript is the most basic. The method used now is costly, but safer, and it can transmit objects of a higher level."

Professor Garcia still sounded as though he were teaching:

"Time Keys range from Poet Level, Level 5, to Unknown Level, Level 0. They come from the God of the Past, Father of Infinite Tree. Since this is merely a course exercise, the Time Key provided this time is Poet Level."

The professor had not used the term "Old God," instead vaguely calling it the "God of the Past." Shade took note of that.

"What do you know about this god?"

the sharp-eared professor asked.

"Only its name."

"Father of Infinite Tree is a very special deity. What makes Him special is that He Himself is also the World Tree."

Had Professor Garcia said that before Shade deciphered the engraving on the key, Shade's surprise might have been more genuine now.

"For the time being, you do not need to know about the World Tree. As for using the key, point it at the keyhole of any door, turn it, then push open the door, and you can travel to a point in the past. Before each key is used, you can learn the time it corresponds to. The trick is to place the key beneath your pillow before going to sleep. In the Dream, you will see the information Father of Infinite Tree left within the key. We search for major events related to Old Gods in the era indicated by that information, thereby determining the key's level."

"Then what period of the Fifth Epoch does this key correspond to?"

Shade's fingers stroked the wood grain on the key's surface.

The Chaotic Era of the Fourth Epoch was far too dangerous, and keys from the first three epochs were strictly forbidden for Ring Arcanists below the ninth ring. Therefore, this key could only be from the Fifth Epoch.

"Autumn of Fifth Epoch 1068. Every key's corresponding point in time is inevitably related to an Old God. That is why History College is proficient with Blasphemy Elements. Only History College has the opportunity to safely obtain Silver Blasphemy Elements without coming into contact with existing evil gods themselves."

Shade did not think traveling through time was safe at all.

"We are Time Travelers. We are investigators. When entering the past, you cannot carry any items possessing supernatural power. Even if you try, they will fall away before you step through the opened 'door.'"

Professor Garcia looked at Shade, who hurriedly shook his head to indicate that he had none on him. Both the Blood Ring and the Dice of Destiny were in the study.

"After entering a point in the past, a great deal of White Fog will fill our field of vision. Another Me will also give hints about the point in time and event information obtained from the relic key of the fallen god.

The White Fog will not disperse during the entire investigation. Investigators can only move toward places untouched by the White Fog, witnessing what occurs there. So long as you do not actively make contact with the past, no one will notice you. We are investigators. We witness and record the events of the past, then bring them back to supplement the missing history from before the epochs."

"So, we are actually going to watch a realistic electric opera?"

Shade offered an example.

"A very good analogy."

A smile finally appeared on Professor Garcia's face. Though this professor with somewhat pointed ears seemed stern, he was quite a good person.

"In exceedingly rare cases, the fallen Father of Infinite Tree may assign you certain tasks, but the probability is negligible. Then, Mr. Hamilton, let us begin."

"Now?"

Shade swallowed and looked towards the bedroom door. Little Mia was probably tired, since the sound of her paws scratching at the door had not appeared for quite some time.

"Do you have anything else to prepare? Oh, do not worry. Each opened period will allow you to remain for at most three hours. When you return to the proper time, you will appear only three seconds after you vanished."

"I mean, isn't this a little too hasty? Something like this..."

Shade had thought his instructor would provide some systematic training. He had not expected such a simple introduction.

"A Ring Arcanist must rely on himself. Of course, also on Another Me, but never on others. There is no need to take notes with pen and paper. Any matter you bring into past spacetime will return to its original state when you come back. Even if you truly have the ability to interfere with the past, it will only create a tiny ripple in the river of time. Do not underestimate time and the world."

"All right, Professor Garcia."

He stood and walked to the bedroom door, letting the light from the brass-colored Gas Lamp on the side wall fall over his head and shoulders.

The tiny key was aimed at the keyhole. To his surprise, it fit perfectly, though the two were clearly incompatible.

"Remember, when you turn it, you must speak the incantation. Any language will do—May the World Tree protect me within time.

Mr. Hamilton, see you in three seconds. Please relax. The Academy specifically investigated this. Nothing dangerous occurred in Fifth Epoch 1068. This is very safe. Cherish your first journey through time. It will be a memorable and interesting trip."

"All right, see you in three seconds, Professor Garcia."

Uneasy in heart, Shade gently turned the wooden key in his hand and recited:

"May the World Tree protect me within time."

There was a click, though there was no possible way the lock on his own bedroom door could have made that sound.

Shade took a deep breath and finally pulled open the door.

But beyond it was not Mia, the orange cat exhausted from playing, nor was it his bedroom. Wispy White Fog slowly writhed behind the doorframe, and beyond the door was a fog door filled with hazy White Fog.

He swallowed, heard Professor Garcia's encouragement once more, and, thinking of the cat, finally gathered his courage and walked inside.