"We're here! The Grand Duchy of Augustus!" Olivia exclaimed, pointing at the city before them, a relieved expression washing over her face. Though she still couldn't explain how they had ended up in that strange place, the fact that they were now safely home made such details unimportant.
As the group descended the mountain, a small white wolf materialized beside Olivia. He yawned, rubbed his eyes with a paw, then glanced at Aria, Douglas, and Half, his expression remarkably human-like. "So, Olivia, what did you do? Sneak off while I was napping and pick up three more people?"
The sudden appearance of this peculiar creature instantly captured the trio's attention. Aria stared intently for a moment, then murmured, "Huh? What's this? Why does it look so much like Half?"
Douglas chimed in, "Isn't that normal? Cats and dogs with the same fur color often look alike."
However, their conversation caught Olivia's attention. Surprised, she asked, "Wait, how do you know Half's name?"
Half himself bared his teeth and growled, "Don't lump me in with those cats and dogs! I'm a wolf! A wolf!"
Aria's face lit up with sudden understanding. "A wolf? Oh, I must have been mistaken. The shared name must just be a coincidence, since you can speak human language, while my Half only meows."
"Still, you're both so adorable~! And this Half looks even more handsome. Can I pet your fur?"
"Ahem... handsome? Well..." Half coughed. "Since you insist, letting you pet me once isn't a big deal. Consider it a reward for your kind words!"
"Yay!" Aria eagerly dashed over to Olivia, extending her small hand to pet the dog. Having raised one herself, she was remarkably skilled at petting, her technique impeccable. Half immediately melted into a blissful, contented expression.
Olivia raised an eyebrow at the sight. "How peculiar. Half actually allowed a complete stranger to pet him on their first meeting."
Under most circumstances, Half would never allow anyone to touch him.
Feidric, who had witnessed the entire exchange, remained silent, but his mind raced with thoughts. Two Halfs, sharing the exact same name—could this be mere coincidence?
No, it shouldn't be. Feidric recalled that Aria's Half had hatched from an Ice Egg she had found, and that the name "Half" had been given by Cipher. Considering these facts alongside the present situation, it was difficult to imagine this was merely a coincidence.
If he truly had returned to the past, then these two Halfs were likely the same dog.
Aria petted Half while chatting with him. Half remarked, "You're telling me the dog you keep barks like a cat every day? Even for a dog, that's an absolute disgrace!"
Aria replied, "But what does it matter? As long as he's cute, that's all that counts!"
Half scoffed. "Hmph! If I ever saw such a creature, I'd fly over and teach him a lesson myself!"
As they talked, the group of four and the wolf had reached the outskirts of the Grand Duchy of Augustus. They could see everyone working in an orderly manner: felling trees, making paper, and brewing wine—all fundamental industries driving the Grand Duchy's development.
While Olivia led the others into the city for a tour, Evernight and Cipher, who had been tailing them, slipped away and quickly made their way to a house in the city center. They pushed open the door and entered.
Inside, a beautiful woman with crimson, hip-length hair sat in a chair, propping her chin in one hand and pouting, her gaze fixed irritably on the report in her other hand. Without a doubt, this was the former Tribios.
Thanks to the Century Gate's power, the past Tribios was the biggest wildcard in this prank. Evernight needed to come and "greet" this past version of herself in advance.
But truth be told, this was the first time she had ever seen herself through the eyes of another. In the normal timeline, all versions of herself were essentially one consciousness, their minds connected. But now, she and the Tribios before her felt like two distinct individuals.
Cipher pondered for a moment, then crept behind Tribios and gently blew into her ear. Tribios startled violently, leaping to her feet, clutching her hands protectively over her chest, and scanning her surroundings warily. "Who's there?!"
That reaction is actually kind of cute, Cipher thought.
Evernight and Cipher materialized before Tribios, their forms emerging from her memories. Evernight cut to the chase, explaining succinctly, "This place is a past memory created through my ability. You, the former me, are also a product of this ability."
Though their minds weren't directly connected, they were fundamentally the same person. Tribios looked at Evernight and quickly grasped the situation. "A past memory? Then why have you come here?"
Evernight replied, "It's a little prank we're setting up for Aria, but also a small trial for her."
Tribios considered this for a moment, then nodded. "I see. Is there anything I can do to help?"
"Actually, yes..." Evernight began.
The perspective shifted back to Aria's group. Shortly after entering the city, guided by Olivia, they quickly located Jay, the most learned man in the city and the greatest mage of this era.
Feidric cut straight to the chase. "Do you know anything about the Child of Flesh?"
He had already asked Olivia this question on the way, but naturally, she hadn't provided any useful information. Feidric had silently labeled the striking white-haired girl a "beautiful idiot."
Looking at the wizard before him, Feidric couldn't help but sigh in relief. Thank goodness there's at least one intelligent person in this city.
But Jay wore a puzzled expression. "Child of Flesh... what's that?"
Feidric pressed on, "Then what about the monsters in the darkness?"
Jay remained clueless. "What monsters?"
Feidric: "?"
Jay: "?"
The two stared at each other for a long moment before Feidric asked again, "What year is it right now?"
Though still confused, Jay answered without hesitation. For Feidric, this confirmed it: they were five hundred years in the past.
Suddenly, Feidric realized they had somehow traveled back in time, but not to the genuine past. It felt more like some kind of... stitched-together construct.
-
Spy-mans too smart...