Stories and Time

"Just as expected, three seconds—not a second off."

When Shade stepped out of the white mist door, Miss Galina's voice immediately reached his ears.

Compared to when he had left, nothing here had changed. The Witch still wore a smile, and Tifa was still watching him. Even Mia's pitiful little gaze had not changed. The cat had likely not blinked at all during those three seconds.

"What did you gain this time? Shade, I'm looking forward to the story you brought back."

Miss Galina asked while holding her teacup. This was morning tea, meant to refresh noble ladies before breakfast.

"Before breakfast, may I ask something first?"

Shade picked up the cat that came running over, then asked hesitantly.

"Go ahead."

He stood by the door.

"Regarding Saint Byron's, have you heard of the connection between the library of Saint Byrens Comprehensive College and the Old God, the Gray-Robed Sage?

"I learned from the librarian that the library's foundational ritual framework was provided by that god's believers. Also, my friend in Coldwater Port told me that after the Gray-Robed Sage departed, his believers continued working for Saint Byron's. After the Cult collapsed in the Sixth Epoch, they even became directly part of Saint Byron's."

But judging by this experience, the god's assistance to the library was certainly far more than a mere foundational ritual framework. Otherwise, it would hardly have been worthy of the story Shade had once again brought into this world.

"Yes. Would you like to hear something even more interesting?"

The red-haired Witch set down her teacup and answered after some thought.

"It seems your experience this time really was unexpected. Yes, that god's connection to Saint Byron's naturally goes far beyond that. Since you are only a low-ring arcanist, Miss Danist would not tell you more