Naruwa's party reaches the Kartika Village's entrance. He slows down the horse, then both of them dismount from it.
"Rika."
"Yes, Big brother?"
"I want you to stay close with me. We don't really know about those people ahead."
Naruwa extend his right arm. Rika holds it dearly.
They approach the Kartikan guards nearby. It does seem that they aren't welcomed warmly.
A guard walks in front of them and speaks out loud with his arms folded.
"Halt there! State your identity and your purpose!"
Naruwa flinches for a moment. He taken a step back then replies back.
"My name is Naruwa, and this is Rika. I believe my brother Ieza Horgan came here some time ago."
"And? What's the connections with your purpose I reckon?"
"I just want to meet my brother here. Listen, I've traveled far away to came here you know. My brother really left me behind and I demand his explanations."
"Sorry, kid. We can't let you pass. Please go back to where you came from."
Naruwa frustrated as he clenches his fists. Rika gazes on him and she's shocked as she notices his furrowed brows and those tense lips and jaws.
Rika decides to steps forward, tap her hand on Naruwa's stomach and telling him to reconsider Naruwa.
"Look, Mister Guard, we came here without ill intent. The clues from my grandpa leads me here." She shown the small book in front of the guard. He takes it and gazes on the content and closes the book.
He notices a symbol on the book cover. It's the symbol of the cultist. The shadowy organization his grandfather was involved.
The guards summon their magic spears from their left hand and pointed those toward Rika and Naruwa. One of them throws directly on Rika.
Rika cover her head with her right hand. Naruwa quickly repel the spear with his wind barrier magic.
"Hey! Aren't you being harsh on little kid, you grown up asshole! Bring it on then!"
"You possess the item that belongs to our enemies! Prepare to die!"
The magic clashes on each other. The wind explosions spray the gate, the walls and the trees surrounding them.
Rika trying her best to hold herself standing against those magic wave impacts, with her hands covering her head. In all the dust and winds, she tries hard to see what is going on.
A large debris suddenly hit Rika on her arms covering her head. She tumbled down and rubs her aching right arm.
She collects her breath, closes her eyes and yells.
"Please stop, all of you!"
The dome expands from herself, reaches Naruwa and the guards.
They slowed down, and realized on everything they see, just being too slow for them to move.
Rika slowly opens her eyes and she feels shiver on her body.
She's hyperventilated, not knowing what to do to restore things back to normal.
"I-I'm sorry, this thing, is happening again with me...This curse will be staying with me forever..."
Suddenly Aiden voice whispering on her ears.
"You're useless, Rika! Useless!"
"No! You're already dead. Just stop saying anything!"
"Does it matter? Despite having magic, you cannot do anything. Not even saving your parents."
"Please! Just...go away! I don't want to hear your voices!"
She overbearing the noise on her head. Until a hand reaches her little hand. A male voice spoken on her ears softly afterward.
"Child, please open your eyes. Watch this."
She opens her eyes slowly. A man with shining white robe appeared in front of her, raises his left arm, shooting a light beam, causing it crashes directly to the wall of the dome she created.
The dome slowly shrinks as the beam shoots, until it comes to a size of a marble. He clenches his fist and rotates his hand, causing the marble flies toward his hand. He opens his hand slowly and grab the marble shortly afterward.
He shows the marble to Rika. She opens her palm of hand, and switches her gaze toward the marble as if a leaf being trapped in a glass sphere.
She looks back on the man before, but he is gone.
Meanwhile, Naruwa, the guards and the other people surrounding tumbled back and forth. They feel the movement flows normally.
"What was happening?" Naruwa gazes on his right hand, and turned his neck left and right. He gazes on the guards standing on their knees, having the same thoughts as Naruwa did.
Gunzo approaches the guard from behind.
"Gentleman, at ease. This man with the child is the guests we are expecting. They are indeed the relatives to Ieza Horgan."
The guards stand up and dispel their magic spears.
Gunzo offer his right hand toward Naruwa. Naruwa gazes on his eyes as he is wondering something.
"Who are you, old man?"
Gunzo laughed. "You are just what your brother described. My name is Gunzo, the chief of this beautiful village as you can see here." Gunzo waves his right hand as if he's pointing on the inside part of Kartikan Village. "I apologize for the rough greetings from our people. Rest assured, you are treated very well here as my valued guests. Please, walk with me."
Naruwa grab his hand and stands up.
"Give me a minute. I'll talk to her."
"Take your time. She was panicked and definitely needs you cheering her up."
He approaches Rika and kneel on his left leg.
"Are you alright, Rika? I'm sorry about all the fuss, it can't be helped."
She wipes her tears on her eyes.
"I'm okay, big brother. I'm so afraid that I will going to lose you, because of me."
Naruwa pull her head toward his chest, and putting his head on her left shoulder. Rika felt the warm of his body. They are hugging each other.
---
Naruwa, Rika, and Gunzo are walking together. They finally reached the central hut where Gunzo lives and manage his village. Gunzo asks his servant to provide meals and banquet for them. They sit on the floor with the low table in the middle of it. In this room, Lilia and Robb also present nearby. They are sitting themselves beside Gunzo.
"Rika, was it? You seemed be able to use time magic."
Naruwa shocked. He gazes back on Gunzo, after hearing what Gunzo said just now.
"So, the weird feeling I've encountered just now is because...."
A brief silence filling the air, then Rika starts speaking.
"My parents and I weren't originally from Enkarsia Republic, at least what was my father told me in my bedtime story." She continues the storytelling. "When I see big brother's left eye, it reminds me of my father. He also has similar eye, but I never see him using his magic. Until recently...he met Aiden."
"Aiden? I reckon hearing his name. Where do I know, I wonder..."
"Aiden was like my grandfather figure to me. He is...a close friend from my father. Once I heard an argument from both people. I can only hear clearly something about cultist, then my father repeatedly rejects his idea to join there. Until, he...killed both of my parents..."
Rika sobbing. Lilia approaches her to make her at ease.
"You're safe here. I believe you're here because Naruwa helped you. It's such a destiny for both of you meeting us here.
Naruwa gazes on the table, thinking about what Lilia said might be true in coincidental ways.
"Mister Gunzo, if I may ask something. It's about my brother."
"Oh right. The important matters in hand. That young gentleman did visit us here after helping our fellow Kartikan against the bandit on the way back here."
"So, where is he heading now?"
Gunzo gave him a gaze, then he sips the wine from his glass.
"He wishes the less people know the plan, the better it will be."
He smashed his glass on his grip. Rika stops her sobbing after notices the sound of that glass breaking.
"That is great! Leaving his brother behind."
"Now, now." The servant behind him is calming him down with gentle voice. "I believe the chief have something more important to say, specifically for you."
The servant offering himself toward Naruwa to fix his hand.
"You were time traveled back to past, which is our timeframe as happening right on your eyes here. As you can see. This village existed today but nowhere to be existed as for, several years later."
Naruwa shocked. He's about to say something, but Gunzo continues his statement.
"And your reaction you're making right now is just like Ieza, when he was meeting with us here in the first time. We are indeed the preserve to ancient art of time magic in here, Kartika Village."
Naruwa doesn't seems to paying attention. Rika, on the other hand paying attention and write down stuff Gunzo tells them.
A man with white robe just entered and passes by. The man bows to Gunzo and Gunzo bows back as a sign of respecting each other. Rika calls his name.
"It's the man! The white robed man. You save me back there!"
He removes his hood.
"Hello there. Rika, is it? My name is Robb. You are quite potential time magic I reckon."
"No... not really." She reminded on the worst moment she encountered back then.
Robb tap her shoulder. He gives her a bow and special-made quiver contained with several arrows.
"What is this, uncle?"
"It's a tool. To control your magic output." Robb squats himself, facing toward Rika. "You are just look like me on my first day casting magic. I was just as shocked as you, then Gunzo saw me, and helped me down the road."
He gives her a marble, the item he formed from her time dome she created.
"Beautiful." Her eyes glazed as she aspires the beauty of it. They're treasuring the teacher and student moment as it's her first time experiencing the joy of learning.
Naruwa, Gunzo and Lilia watches them. They're smiling.
Naruwa suddenly remembering his magic training days back then with Ieza.
He furrowing his eyebrows. He tries to look on his surroundings.
Everything on his eyes seems rather blurry. It rather feels unpleasant for him. As he never felt such love other than being told to do as Ieza, or their parents exactly expect.
He clenches his fist, standing up and approaches Gunzo.
"Gunzo, thanks for letting us staying here. But I have to go."
"You sure? With Rika?"
"No" He replies. "Rika stays here. I can't really protect her at all times. And I need some time to be alone."
Rika yells at him. She is not happy about his decision he made just now.
"No! Do not leave me behind! I don't want to be alone again here, Big brother!"
Naruwa stands in silence. Gunzo and Lilia are gazing on him. They are not quite catching what he's about to find in this decision.
"I find it rather sudden for you to just leaving us away.
"The way I'm currently standing in. I feel aching pain in my chest. I'm overwhelmed with the knowledge I just happened to know here. Moreover, I'm afraid there is no more purpose for me to continue the journey. If I really meet my brother somehow, I don't know what to say. Will it be quarelling? Debates? Arguments? I'll just halting his path anyway. I just need to breathe some fresh air outside. If I feel ready then I will be back. Don't worry, I will protect this village under my watch."
Naruwa takes a deep breath, then continues talking.
"Besides, I need to infiltrate the cultist group Aiden had joined there. Ieza do not know this but I do. So I'll do my part from there."
Naruwa turns himself facing Rika. He taps both of her shoulders.
"Rika, you must get stronger. You have your first mentor of life here. My gut telling me all this people in this village are a good people. Please understand why I'm doing this."
"No, no. No! No way I let you go alone!" Rika sobbing frustratedly before her cry breaks out of silence.
"If I may, Mister Naruwa." Robb interrupts them. "Can you consider staying here for few nights? Rika is still young, just like you in younger days in another timeline, right? You might find something better here."
Naruwa draws a deep breath and exhales. He is thinking about Robb's suggestions. He gazes on Robb to say something.
"Very well. I'll stay here for couple nights to accompany Rika. Then..." Naruwa turns himself toward Rika. "I will still keep going no matter what. I need this."
"But, big brother."
"It's alright, Rika. Sometimes you need to listen to your brother, you know. He needs some trouble in his mind to be cleared." Robb asking Rika in gentle voice.
"Alright, Mister Robb. Big brother. You will accompany me for few nights. Then you can be on your way. But I will tell you this, Big brother. I'm still loved you as a family to me, even it is not blood related, but our universe always be connected to each other."
Naruwa bring himself closer to Rika. He hugs Rika gently.
"Thank you, Rika."
Rika grabs his body with her little arms.
He faintly smiled. He walks away from the room.
"Continue your magic training with Mister Robb."
"Yes, Big brother!"
"Hey, old man, can you show me all the places in the village?"
Gunzo laughing. He accepts his invitation wholeheartedly. Gunzo and Naruwa walks away from the room. And reaches the streets. They walked for several moments, then Naruwa starts asking to Gunzo.
"Gunzo, the time is now."
"Surely you are hard kid to please but, the cultist is rather disturbing our peace. Be real careful with those person around."
"Don't underestimate me, old man." Naruwa giggles.
They reached the entrance. The gates slowly opened by the guards.
Naruwa reaches his horse and rides it.
"Thank you, old man. I'll promise the cultist will no longer a threat to humanity. This is the only way to save Rika from the danger."
"I believe you can do it, Naruwa. Remember this, whatever happens. We want you to come back alive!"
"I will!" Naruwa starts galloping his horse away from the village.
The faint, yet loud yells appeared from inside of the village.
"Big brother! Wait for me! Big brother!"
She worked her legs twice as faster. She runs, chasing his brother. But seemed unable to close her distance with his horse.
She falls on her knees, then bursting cries loud enough, breaking all silences.
Robb and Lilia are running, approaches Rika. They tried to console Rika but to no avail. Her cries just getting louder and louder.
Naruwa, while galloping away from the village, turned his neck on the image of Rika, Robb, Lilia and Gunzo on the entrance spot, far away from him.
"I'm sorry, Rika. This is the only way. Please be stronger."
---
In Gerrard's mansion. In the new timeline. Ieza and Gerrard sitting on the grass near the fish pond.
"Ask away. My time is free today. You won't have any next day." Gerrard asking toward Ieza.
"Weird, usually people will ask about me and my origin first." Ieza replies, then gazes on him standing up. Gerrard gazes on the afternoon orange skies.
"To me, who you are probably somewhat important. But, where you from doesn't really matter much anyway. You'll see. I lived alone here. My parents died in the duty when I was barely even standing on my two feet as a toddler. People just know me that I'm from respected aristocrat family. So, I live on their expectation until now. I achieved so much goals people just see those things as a normal day for me as Horgan family member."
"Don't you feel that you are crowd-pleasing doing those things?"
"Listen, we'll be sitting until tomorrow if you're keep digging my personal feelings from me. I would start the question on why you accompanied Felicia back then?"
Ieza gulped, unsure whether he should trust this guy.
"You don't have to believe, but I'm just escorting her as she requested. We came from Kartika Village."
"Kartika Village? What are you doing there? That place is off limit for Akgardian like you."
Ieza shocked, thought Gerrard figured his identity.
"Ieza, you don't have to trust me either. But that's a good mindset from you. Always beware on who you're talking to. Here, I have a deal with you. If you want to hear it."
"Go on."
"Forget what i've asked. But you are neither citizen from Kartika nor Akgardia. To get your citizenship, there is a way for you. Go to Magistra Trial with me."
"Magistra Trial? Heard the rumors about only four percent of citizen in Akgardia passed the test."
"You can cast magic. And you are good on concealing it from guards. There's no other way unless you take this chance. You cannot save Felicia since she is literally a King's Daughter. But of course, you can always watch her from your post if you are passing those incredibly hardest tests in millennia. Funny enough I happen to need an assistant of mine, if that piques your interest?"
"Say no more. I'm in."
"Good. Let's get started. Cast your magic on me."
Ieza begins his intense magic training with Gerrard. The magic clashes each other until the sun sets.
They set on the goal for future years later. To become stronger. Especially Ieza. To make sure Felicia is safe and to save his family from disastrous future. The Horgan Family.
Several days later, on the Magistra Entrance Trial Day.
Ieza, Gerrard and many of future young students are sighted, walking in the Magistra Council through the gate.
The biggest journey of their life has just started.
Chapter 7 - End