The ground she stepped over was caving in. Everything was disappearing. Wind, scent, water, time, space, everything… was growing further away like it was sinking into a far-off sea. The twenty-first try, which was unfamiliar and strange. Like the magical phenomenon of regression, it was uncomfortable and dubious, but the sense of arrival was surprisingly clear.
Tak-
The sound of something breaking, the bracelet that was no longer hers. The pain that filled every moment and suffocated her.
"Whew…"
After calming down with a deep breath, Epherene slowly opened her eyes. The very first thing she did was look for the bracelet on her wrist.
"…"
The connection point had been completely cut off, and now it was no longer a bracelet but a simple liner, but it was very important, so she put it inside her pocket.
—He loathed your mother, and he hated you, too. The one who looks like her wife.
Decalane's voice lingered in her ears; that scene appeared every time she slept like a nightmare.
'…I don't want to believe it.'
In the corner of her heart, she still didn't believe it. She believes in her dad, not Decalane.
"Are you awake?"
A voice called her when she was about to drown in emotion. As soon as she looked over, Epherene smiled brightly.
"Knight Julie!"
Shouting, she jumped up and rushed into her arms.
"Aagh…"
The bewildered Julie just let her be, but she looked quite flustered. Epherene spoke.
"I'm back again."
"…What?"
Julie blinked with confusion. But even so, Epherene smiled.
"I'm back."
"Hmm… yes, where did you come back from?"
"…What?"
"What?"
"What?"
"What?"
Repeatedly asking each other back, their surrounding landscape suddenly caught Epherene's eyes.
"…Oh?"
This wasn't Reccordak. Instead of being cold, it was rather temperate. She was surrounded by a room full of furniture, including a comfortable sofa and a nice table.
"Where am I?"
"It's a room in the Imperial Palace."
"What? How is that-"
'Possible,' was what Epherene was about to ask when her hair suddenly stood on end.
Hwak—!
Epherene turned her head left and right.
Hwak—! Hwak—!
She swung her head so much that she became dizzy.
"…There's no way."
And, a thought came to her mind lately. She quickly searched around and beat her chest with her palm.
"…"
It wasn't there. Deculein's letter. The letter that comforted her every time she returned.
It was missing.
"…Knight!"
Epherene looked back at Julie urgently. Surprised, Julie jerked back.
"Yes."
"By any chance, the Professor…."
Kiiiiiiiiiii—
At that moment, the door opened, bringing in new air and the sound of shoes strutting against the wooden floor.
"…Ah."
Epherene's mouth fell open. She saw a person with a slicked-back hairstyle, dressed in a poised black suit and with uniquely sharp eyes. Indifferent, heartless, cold-hearted…
"Are you awake?"
…Deculein. Epherene, staring, moved before she could think or even greet him. Her legs propelled her forward. And-
"…"
She charged into his arms and wrapped her hands tightly around him. Epherene buried her face in her chest, crying.
"…Huh?"
She could hear Julie's surprise from behind, but Deculein's furious mana was making her choke up, and she could hear a whine coming from her mouth, but it didn't matter. Right now, this moment was very important.
*****
…Deculein was alive. That fact made Epherene lose consciousness for a moment. It was so nice, she was emotional after seeing him again, and as expected, there was no such emotion in Deculein, not even a little bit. Epherene was freed from the huge burden that was weighing on her mind. When her heart's dam broke, a sense of exhaustion poured out.
"…Professor."
Anyway, she fell asleep just like that on the bed in the Imperial Palace. Lying on the bed, Epherene looked to Deculein sitting beside her. He was turning the pages of a book.
"Then, Her Majesty is still…."
"You have to regress more. I also haven't completely overcome it."
At Deculein's words, Epherene let out a sigh. The past had changed dramatically. Deculein overcame the regression and didn't die, but Her Majesty was still…
"But how?"
"I will handle the rest. You don't have to worry about that."
Deculein spoke calmly. Epherene looked at him quietly. Suddenly, dark thoughts came to mind. She rose, her hands wriggling against her thighs.
"…Professor, I have something I want to ask you."
But her voice sounded unusual. Deculein closed his book and raised his head, waiting for her to speak.
"Professor, what kind of person was my father?"
"…"
Deculein remained silent. He took time like he was thinking about it. Epherene didn't disturb him.
"I'm not sure."
He slowly continued in a low voice.
"He must have been the person you thought he was."
"…"
Deculein didn't tell the truth. He didn't even defend himself. He didn't speak ill about her father, either. If his aim wasn't to hurt her, then he answered correctly. Epherene's complexion paled, but it was only for a moment. She clenched her teeth and looked up at Deculein.
"Professor, can I go somewhere for a little while?"
"…Go somewhere?"
"Yes, I still have something to do. I have to check on something."
Deculein looked at her without saying a word. Looking into his eyes, Epherene added.
"If you're worried… oh."
Wait, it was ridiculous just thinking about it. Worry? Deculein? Epherene smirked and shook her head.
"There's no way he's worried…."
She muttered to herself like an idiot, then suddenly.
"Worry."
Deculein spoke. Epherene waved her hand.
"It's nothing~. It was-"
"I am."
"Non…"
She went quiet for a while and pricked up her ears to confirm what she had just heard. She blinked.
"…What?"
"I am worried."
Deculein confirmed it.
"Because you're regressing right now."
"…"
*Gulp*
Epherene swallowed. Whatever the reason was, he said he was worried. She scratched at her neck and asked back.
"Then… should I not go?"
Deculein didn't answer. She asked once again, wary.
"Don't go? Don't go? Because you're worried?"
"No, it's fine."
He shook his head.
"Anyway, it's your free time right now. To save Her Majesty, you have to be serious from your next return and going forward."
"Oh… okay."
Deculein rose from the chair.
"Well then, tell Ahan when you leave."
"…Yes."
Epherene nodded, and he left the room.
"…Tsk."
She was disappointed for some reason but shortly stood afterward.
"Hmm… should I get a train ticket?"
Something she had to do. Thinking of that place where she couldn't go because she was busy running, Epherene prepared to move again.
*****
Epherene's destination, 'that place,' was in Iliade's territory, Haylech. The small village where the Luna family stayed before. In her hometown where you would see a creek if you walked for five minutes and would get lost in the mountain if you walked for ten.
The mountain where her father was buried. The village's cemetery.
"…"
While silently looking at the name Kagan Luna engraved on the tombstone, Epherene glanced back.
"Grandma."
"Huh~? My granddaughter, you're here?"
Her cute grandmother smiled. Epherene smiled back.
"Well."
"Yes, but why aren't you crying today? You always cry every time you come here."
"…Well."
Her voice became low, and her grandmother's wrinkles drooped in question. Epherene asked carefully.
"My dad, he hated me, didn't he?"
"…"
A question that she had never asked before, a question she didn't have to ask before. At that moment, her grandmother's face hardened. It was a tiny but lethal change. From her grandmother, who could not lie, it was clear evidence. With that alone, Epherene knew.
"You, what are you talking about… no, never, absolutely not~."
Her grandmother denied it naturally, and Epherene deliberately smiled wide.
"Hehe~, I'm just kidding. Why would dad hate me~?"
She started to laugh. It was okay if she was the only one hurt; she didn't want to make her grandmother suffer.
"This kid! What kind of joke is that?"
Her grandmother's face reddened like an apple. Even when she was hit by her grandmother's heavy hand, Epherene smiled.
"I'm sorry."
"That's right! Your dad very much… liked you!"
"…Yeah, right."
When Epherene answered in a small voice-
—Epherene~.
Her grandfather's call came from afar.
"Oh, it's grandpa."
Her grandfather walked over fast with his hands behind his back. It could be a characteristic of the people living in the mountains, but they had a magical method of shortening distances when climbing.
"Why is grandfather…"
"Oh~, that's what I'm saying."
Her grandfather pointed behind the cemetery and to the entrance of the mountain.
"Are you going back immediately today?"
"Why?"
"Well~. It seems like someone is waiting for you over there."
"…What?"
Epherene's eyes grew bigger. She tilted her head and asked back.
"Who's waiting for me?"
"I don't know. I asked, and it's some professor."
"…Professor?"
"Yeah. He looks dazzling. My head almost fell off when I looked up at his face."
One person came to her mind the moment she heard. Epherene quickly turned around.
"Do you know him?"
"Yeah! Grandma, Grandpa, I'll get going now!"
"Hey, kid! Be careful! You'll fall!"
Just in case Deculein might run away, faster… there was no need to run fast. Under the shade of a tree at the mountain entrance not too far away, Deculein stood.
"…Professor."
Epherene called him and came close. He was looking up into the sky for some reason.
"Your hometown is clear."
It was the only good thing about the countryside. Clear sky, good land and grass, and untouched nature. City people usually found it nice for about two days.
"Yes, but why did you come here?"
"…Because the Altar might come for you. A knight is also guarding you not too far away."
"Aha. Is it maybe Knight Delric?"
Deculein raised his eyebrows.
"How did you know that?"
"Hehe. Well… oh, by the way, Professor, Delric is a great person."
"Great person?"
"Yes, he's loyal. So trust him. Leave him by my side."
"…"
Then, Deculein's expression grew distant.
"…I will believe you because you've experienced the future, but it's surprising that Delric is like that."
"I was also like that at first, but you can trust him."
Epherene slowly approached Deculein.
"He is a knight who is always earnest about the Professor."
Every time they exchanged words, one step, one step, one step. With about three steps left, Epherene looked up at Deculein.
"But, Professor."
He calmly looked back.
"That…"
"Say it."
Looking into his eyes that were bluer than the sky over the countryside, Epherene said.
"May I hug you one more time?"
"…"
At that moment, the space between Deculein's eyebrows narrowed sharply. This is ridiculous, this crazy fellow, what happened to her head, is her brain missing… his face was full of such thoughts, but…
"I think I'm going to kill myself now."
The truth was she was just as desperate.
"I'm serious."
Now, she couldn't help but be heartbroken. He was indifferent, and she couldn't be okay as usual. She didn't fester, but she couldn't help but be anxious because her dad was her universe.
"I'm not joking."
A genius wizard who could do anything, who could make anything, who always told her that he loved her, that she was the only one. The proud and loving dad.
"Just one more time… I think I'll feel better if I hug you one more time."
'Because he hated me. Because he tried to sell me out.'
"…Please."
Epherene dropped her head, tears falling to the ground. It wasn't until he realized that she was crying.
"Stop saying crazy things. It's pathetic, Epherene."
At that moment, Epherene's shoulders twitched. Deculein handed her a handkerchief instead of permission.
"Tsk."
She pouted her lips, pretending to be sulking, as she took the handkerchief and wiped her tears. Pretending that it was nothing, she shook her head while muttering how it was shameful.
Deculein spoke.
"You'll have another chance soon."
"…When would that be?"
"Someday."
Then, he turned around and headed down the mountain.
"…Oh."
Epherene smiled while watching him go, his shoes in particular. Such luxurious shoes even on the mountain path in the countryside. His character was too consistent; wasn't he uncomfortable?
Trudge-
Deculein, suddenly stopping, looked back at her. Epherene instinctively straightened herself.
"Epherene."
"Wh… what?"
"Follow me if you have nothing to do. I want to hear your memories of the future."
"…Oh, okay."
Epherene followed behind him. She kicked a pebble with her worn-out sneakers, maintaining a three-step stride.
Chirp, chirp… chirp, chirp…
In the mountain road where the time remained the same, the chirping of the birds resonated abundantly through the trees. Maybe it was since spring was coming, but they were quite lively.
Whiiiiiing—
The wind messed up her hair. The smell of the mountain and soil permeated her nose. And-
"Epherene."
Deculein called her name.
"Yes? What is it this time?"
Walking along the same path, sharing time, he spoke.
"Were the regressions bearable?"
A question that she was now used to. Julie, Allen, Delric, and even Sylvia once asked that question.
"Hmm…"
Epherene thought carefully and shook her head.
"…No."
She answered while puffing her cheeks.
"It was so hard that I almost died. I think I'm going to cry just thinking about it. I just believed in your words to wait, so I ran away and waited. That was for two years. Two years. It was so difficult during those two years that I thought about killing myself, but not only is it pathetic, the comfort…."
It was a long time of suffering that she couldn't tell anyone about until now.