The end had come.
The earth was stained with blood, and the sky burned red.
And then, a woman defied time.
With her green eyes gleaming, she twisted the laws of causality and returned to the past.
The force she used to distort causality came from the magic held by five men who had perished on the spot and the lifeforce absorbed into the mana of the archives.
As she crossed time, their magic and lifeforce followed her as well.
“Again, that dream.”
The Tower Master, Rain Adriche, sat up from his bed with a sense of displeasure.
Dark shadows hung under his eyes, his rough skin and unfocused gaze revealing his exhaustion.
At least he had gotten somewhat used to it. Unlike before, his magic no longer went berserk, shattering his chambers, nor did his emotions explode uncontrollably. However, one thing remained unchanged waking from that dream always left him in a foul mood.
‘Francia Ferbache.’
The Obsidian Saintess. A woman known not only for healing wounds but also for purifying dark magic.
She kept resurfacing in his mind.
Something deep within him cried out, urging him to find her.
‘I don’t understand.’
Rain Adriche gazed out the window, his face gaunt.
‘But… there was someone else. Who was that?’
In the pitch-black void where nothing could be seen or grasped, another being, like him, flowed as a single strand of light toward some unknown destination.
All he could discern was the nature of their magic.
Even as the strongest mage on the continent, that alone wasn’t enough to identify them.
‘Well, it probably doesn’t matter.’
He didn’t know who that blue strand of light belonged to, but one thing was certain the deep-seated fury rising from within him was directed at its owner.
And at Francia Ferbache.
* * *
Yohan narrowed his eyes as he gazed intently at the name written on the document.
Rudbeckia Friché.
The eldest daughter of Count Friché, a noble family from the empire’s borderlands.
Her record noted that she had previously served in the Second Civil Service Bureau and had attended the same academy as Yohan. Their time there had even overlapped.
‘Something’s off.’
Tapping the paper lightly with his fingertips, Yohan frowned.
The moment he read her name, an inexplicable sense of unease settled in.
A name that didn’t feel unfamiliar.
Yet, a face he couldn’t recall.
Was it simply because she had the qualities he was looking for in a capable aide?
Because they had studied at the same academy and even served in government at the same time?
No. It wasn’t that simple.
‘I can’t put my finger on it.’
Yohan closed his eyes and massaged his temple. A headache flared up.
It wasn’t just exhaustion.
It felt as though strange memories were seeping into him.
Yet, the more he tried to grasp them, the stronger the pain became.
And no matter how hard he tried, nothing came to mind.
More than anything, the name Rudbeckia filled him with an inexplicable guilt.
And an odd sense of longing.
As if he had forgotten something important.
‘Am I just tired?’
Yohan shook his head slightly.
These intrusive thoughts were probably just a result of his fatigue.
After all, he hardly had any real connection to this woman.
The only real connection he had with her was that their service periods had overlapped slightly and that they had attended the same academy.
Feeling guilt and affection toward someone like that was he drunk?
‘Enough. Focus.’
Yohan took a deep breath and slowly read through the personal information.
‘She has experience in reconnaissance of magic-infested zones, and her skills are solid she’s a first-class mage.’
On top of that, her rune interpretation skills and mana control were quite impressive.
There was always a possibility that some of it was exaggerated, but if that were the case, a simple test would expose any falsehoods.
‘There’s no reason not to hire her.’
Yohan stamped the document and rang the bell on his desk. A crisp, cold chime resonated through the office.
Click.
“You called for me?”
His aide, Elena, peeked in from the adjacent room.
“There’s something I need you to deliver.”
“What is it?”
“These documents.”
Yohan gestured to two separate stacks of papers and continued.
“The ones on the left are for Eris no, the Highlander Special Knight. As for the ones on the right, they list the knights and mages who wish to join the Purification Corps. The individuals I’ve marked need to take an exam, so send them a letter.”
One set of documents was for those seeking to join the elite forces, while the other was for those applying to the Purification Corps.
“Understood.”
Elena stepped forward with steady, practiced movements, gathering the documents and slipping them into envelopes with ease. By now, she had fully mastered the role of an aide.
After securing the documents, she glanced at Yohan and smiled slightly.
“Your complexion looks much better.”
“Does it?”
“Yes. You seem far less fatigued.”
Yohan brushed his fingers against his cheek and looked at the small mirror propped against the wall. She was right. His complexion had improved noticeably. His skin wasn’t as rough as before, either.
“Have you been taking medicinal tonics?”
“No, not really.”
“Then… did you start using new skincare products?”
“I don’t use skincare products.”
“…Then what’s your secret?”
Elena cradled the documents in one arm while touching her own face with her free hand.
“I’ve been struggling with my skin lately. Seeing you suddenly improve makes me curious.”
Her expression remained neutral, but her eyes gleamed with anticipation. There was no mistaking the expectation behind her gaze.
“Skincare, huh…”
Yohan chuckled softly.
The truth was, there was a very simple reason why his skin had improved.
“I’ve been sleeping better lately. I think it’s because my sleep deprivation has been resolved.”
At some point, Francia’s demands on his time had decreased. What had once been six times a week had now returned to three.
Thanks to that, Yohan had been able to get more rest.
“I see. Fatigue is the enemy of healthy skin. I suppose I’ve been losing too much sleep myself these days.”
Elena nodded slowly before speaking again.
“We’ve gotten sidetracked. I’ll deliver these documents right away.”
“Yeah, I’m counting on you.”
Without hesitation, she turned and left the office.
With a brief moment of respite, Yohan leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes.
‘What is this, really?’
Rudbeckia Friché.
The moment he saw that name, something had shifted.
It felt as if something foreign had seeped into the mana flowing through his body.
It wasn’t necessarily unpleasant, but it was… strange.
‘I’ll understand once I meet her.’
* * *
“Hoo…”
Rudbeckia let out a deep breath. A puff of white mist escaped her lips, momentarily veiling her face.
Stay calm.
She had come to the purification hall for an interview. Like anyone else, she couldn’t help but feel nervous, caught between anxiety and anticipation.
But the reason for her trembling wasn’t just because of the interview.
Today was the day she would finally meet Yohan the one she had been waiting for.
Maybe that was why her fingertips kept curling in. Rudbeckia glanced at her reflection in the mirror, checking her neatly arranged bangs.
Yohan…
Her eyes trembled with longing. Though much about Yohan had changed since her regression, she was certain his nature would remain the same.
He would surely be kind, even to someone he was meeting for the first time. That kindness was what made her fall in love with him.
Of course, she had to admit at first, it was his looks that drew her in. Yohan possessed an artistic beauty that made any woman dream of having him as a husband.
But that wasn’t what made her truly love him.
He was upright, always considerate of others’ feelings, and fulfilled his duties with unwavering responsibility…
That was what she admired about him.
Despite being forced into an arranged marriage nothing more than a business transaction to become the son-in-law of the Count of Friché, Yohan had initially despised Rudbeckia to the point of near hatred. Yet, he never let it show.
In time, he opened his heart and made an effort to love her. He had even shared a bed with her multiple times, something he had rarely done before, all in the hopes of having a child.
She had loved his warmth.
Though he had never once told her he loved her, Rudbeckia still loved him.
Even if her feelings went unreturned, someday, they would reach him.
“Hooah…”
Rudbeckia took another deep breath and opened her eyes wide. Her expression hardened with determination.
She had to leave a good impression on Yohan.
If she wanted to reconnect with him, this time, she wouldn’t bind him through a forced marriage, she would win his heart for real.
“Lady Friché, please come in.”
Just as she steeled herself, a well-dressed woman called out to her. The black uniform indicated that she was Yohan’s aide.
“I’ll be going in.”
Rudbeckia rose from her seat, her movements stiff yet filled with anticipation, and stepped into the office.
Click.
As the door opened, Yohan, who had been sitting on the sofa at the center of the office, stood up with a small smile.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lady Friché.”
“Ah…”
Rudbeckia stiffened, her body going rigid.
The way his eyes gently closed when he smiled, the slight downward tilt of his gaze, the soothing and reassuring tone of his voice. His pale skin, his lean but well-defined physique, everything about him was unmistakably Yohan.
“It’s good to see you…”
Her eyes shimmered with deep emotion. Before her regression, she had grieved, believing she would never see him again. But now, facing him once more, she was overwhelmed with feelings she could barely contain.
“…..”
Yohan felt an unfamiliar sensation as well.
Seeing Rudbeckia staring at him, lost in thought, as if recalling someone from long ago, he was overcome with a strange tenderness, something he had never experienced before.
And then, a single sentence surfaced in his mind.
‘Someday, I will atone to her as well.’
He had no idea why those words suddenly came to him, but they filled his thoughts completely.
“…Minister?”
Elena, sensing the odd silence between the two, called out with confusion.
“Ah.”
Only then did Yohan snap back to reality. He shook his head slightly, regaining his composure.
What was he doing, lost in thought before someone who had come for an interview? This wasn’t like him at all.
“Please, have a seat, Lady Friché.”
“Yes… Thank you…”
Rudbeckia’s voice trembled slightly, as if she were holding back tears. As she sat on the sofa, her eyes glistened with moisture, on the verge of spilling over.
Her green eyes quivered as she looked at him. But there was no doubt she was truly seeing him .
The conversation could only begin once they had both taken their seats.
“…I’ve heard you can interpret high-level rune scripts.”
Rudbeckia hesitated for a brief moment, as if debating whether to speak. She swallowed down the emotions threatening to surface and forced a small smile.
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“You also claim to have confidence in mana control.”
“I do.”
“Would you be willing to demonstrate?”
“Of course…”
Nodding, Rudbeckia slowly closed her eyes. The chaotic mana that had been swirling invisibly in the air began to settle, organizing itself into a controlled flow.
Impressive.
Yohan gave a slight nod. While the amount of mana she could wield wasn’t large, her control was exceptional. No doubt, she was also highly proficient in magic.
“Very well. Now for the rune interpretation. Can you translate this?”
He placed a sheet of paper on the table between them.
Rudbeckia studied the text carefully, then lifted her gaze to meet Yohan’s eyes before speaking.
“Even if you’ve already learned to fly, never lose the courage you had when you first took to the skies.”
Her flawless translation made Yohan’s eyes widen slightly.
“Is that correct…? This is a mind-related spell, isn’t it?”
She asked cautiously, and Yohan responded with a small smile and a nod.
“Perfect.”
The rune text I just saw was quite a tricky problem. After all, it was a magical flow that only those who had reached the highest level could perceive.
“Then, did I pass?”
“Without a doubt, you passed.”
“Th-Thank you…!”
Rudbeckia cheered inwardly. It wasn’t just because she had seen Yohan’s smile.
‘The first impression is perfect.’
Whenever he was truly pleased with something, he had a habit of smiling with the corners of his lips lifting even higher. Judging by his current expression, it seemed like she had made quite a good impression.
As Yohan tidied up the table, he remained silent for a while before finally speaking as he looked at her.
“…By the way.”
“Yes?”
When Rudbeckia tilted her head and looked at him curiously, he asked in a low voice.
“When you look at me… does anything come to mind?”