-Oriana Mengral's point of view.
"Haaa..."
The sigh was so long that I dropped into the seat in front of the director's desk.
Meanwhile, Director Wilbek was reviewing some documents and suddenly let out a sigh as well.
"..."
I stared at him, saying nothing.
He had brought me to his office to formally hand me the rights to be the new headmistress of the academy. I wasn't officially yet, but that was the purpose of our presence here.
Although I knew that the appointment as the new principal would raise many questions among others, I didn't mind too much. If Principal Wilbek had offered me this position, it was because he was confident that it was the best thing to do.
There were situations in which the director proved to have an unerring eye for recognizing talent. This was due to his unique ability: the Eyes of Time, a magic that only those who completely mastered time could obtain.
The ability was simple but powerful: it allowed him to see fractions of seconds into anyone's future. Not only that, he could observe someone's potential, even their ability to create a spell, or prevent them from doing so by interrupting the flow of mana with a simple glance.
But this ability had limits. If the mage was stronger than the warden, the Eyes of Time were useless. If not, it would be a power worthy of a god.
What I was curious about was that the headmaster had never used that ability on Asher.
So I didn't know what his future would be. The visions might be blurry, limited to less than a second, but still, what had I seen in Asher to recognize his talent instantly?
I took the opportunity and asked him the question I had in mind.
"Master... Why haven't you used your skill on Cadet Asher?"
"..."
The director looked at me briefly and, with a smile, replied.
"That's a good question."
"So..."
"It's because I'm afraid to know the future of that child."
"...What?"
"When you try to see the future of someone with a talent never seen before in all of history, you wonder what kind of being he'll be in the future."
"Well..."
"I said to myself: if I see that kid's future, he could be someone evil, or maybe someone who will save and protect the weak."
"..."
I was silent, taking in his words. They were profound and understandable reasons.
He was right. Although I couldn't see the future like he could, I knew that ability carried risks. Sometimes knowing the future could bring unintended consequences.
But there was no time to dwell on such thoughts. The dimensional rift would open in about seven years, maybe less. The "Eternal Tower" Dungeon had opened completely, becoming a grade 0 dungeon. The doors all over the world had suddenly collapsed, leaving only the highest grade dungeons open.
I wanted to know how far Asher could go. If the director saw a future where he became a villain, we would have to stop him, no matter what the consequences. But if he turned out to be a hero, we had to train him with all our might. We didn't know if he would be the key to closing the dimensional rift.
It is true that in the past there were theories about how previous rifts were closed, phenomena that brought monsters from alternate realities. However, it was never known for certain how they were sealed hundreds of years ago.
"Still, I'll see."
"Huh...?"
I was surprised when the director spoke.
He had made a decision to see a fragment of Asher's future.
"I'll send you a letter when I see his future, because after that I'll be on the other side of the continent."
Portals. Headmaster Wilbek could create portals with great ease, one of the many abilities granted by his affinity for time. Unlike other mages, who could only distort reality, time magic allowed him to break down the barriers of reality itself and open portals.
"I understand."
I accepted without hesitation. Although we would only see a fragment of a cadet's future, that vision could offer hundreds of possibilities about what Asher would be like in the future.
For example, how powerful he would become, what his personality would be like, whether he would be a killer or a savior.
There were countless possibilities, and the fragment Wilbek would soon see would reveal a crucial clue.
He more or less knew when or at what time the director would approach Asher.
Because it was already evening, and first thing in the morning the headmaster would be leaving the academy to meet with the most powerful wizards on the continent, or perhaps the world, there was no time to waste.
Who knows? Maybe the dungeon problem wasn't unique to this continent.
"Now, sign this."
I took the paper without hesitation and signed. Either way, I was destined to be the new headmistress. Whatever conditions, responsibilities or decisions I had to make, I would do so without hesitation. After all, the person in front of me was my teacher, and he trusted me completely, more than anyone else.
I did not hesitate as I signed.
"Done."
I handed him the sheet, and the principal looked it over for a few seconds before nodding.
"You know the rules and regulations, right?"
"Yes."
"Are you aware of the responsibilities you will assume starting tomorrow?"
"Yes, I'm clear on everything."
"Good."
He knew Director Wilbek's position well. If she didn't know it, she wouldn't be here right now. Oriana understood the director's role and his daily work in this big office, without even leaving. But everything would change after the director's words.
"You won't get all the paperwork and tasks I normally do, as they won't be important in the face of the current problems."
"So... what will I be doing?"
"You have the position of director and will be in charge of all the preparations for the semesters and the next four years. Reorganize everything, rather. Besides... you can continue teaching as you always have."
"..."
That meant she could continue to teach as she had been, but with the freedom to make changes as she pleased, without complaint. Oriana, understanding this, nodded to herself and then spoke.
"So... may I continue my role as a teacher?"
"Oh, hahaha, my little apology has become quite the teacher, eh?"
"No... Don't say that, teacher."
"Yes," nodded the principal, answering her question.
After that, the principal finished with the papers. It was two hours before he concluded, and finally, Oriana was able to leave. However, before she left, she had something to tell him. The director would be gone for four years, and there was even a possibility that he might never return.
This could be the last goodbye.
Maybe it would be the last time she would see her master alive, and not at a funeral for trying to clear the grade 0 dungeon.
Oriana stood firmly in front of the headmaster, glared at him, and then....
"Master... I hope you come back alive. I'll take my leave for now."
"Of course... Goodbye, my dear disciple."
***
-Scene change.
Walking through the halls, I received praise and congratulations from several cadets along the way. However, my thoughts were elsewhere.
"Will you really come back, master?"
The grade 0 dungeon was the top priority at the moment. Even the leaders of the ten great families and tower mages would participate in its cleansing, the first of its kind in the entire world. It was possible that mages from other continents would attend the meeting about the dungeon and the discussion they would have about it.
Everything was ready. It only remained to wait for everyone to arrive to clear the grade 0 dungeon.
But still...
No matter how strong the headmaster was, he too could die in the attempt, as could the other wizards who would be participating. That was the reason Oriana was worried.
However, as worried as she was, there was nothing she could do about it. If fate dictated that they all die, it couldn't be helped. If fate decided that they would survive and the dungeon would be cleared, she would accept that as well.
"Haaa..."
I sighed and walked into my office, only to wait for the letter from my master.
For that letter would contain a small fragment of Asher's future... his disciple, the person I hoped to see become in the future, and not the one I would face as an enemy....