'This is quite the pickle indeed...'

I was looking at my soon-to-be teacher and also the crazy siblings from yesterday.

George said that we'd begin my class as soon as Sir Lodrick, my teacher, arrived. But I never thought it'd be this soon.

Hence, my schedule with Helena and Howard has overlapped with my class.

"Just in case, do you both want to sit in the class with me?"

"Are you kidding me?"

"No, thank you, Alexander."

Refused the twins.

'Yeah, thought so too.'

"Then, can the two of you wait till I finish my class?"

"Argh, so annoying! Then call us when you're done."

Without waiting for anyone, Helena stormed off out of the room. I could only imagine the hassle the little devil caused for her attendants.

"We'll be waiting in the guest room then, Alexander." Said Howard deflated, catching up to his sister.

'Poor bastard...' I offered him my silent prayer.

"Are you going to stay here, Sister?" I turned to the side.

"Indeed, I am."

"Why...? Don't you have your own classes to attend?"

"I'm here to make sure you pay attention properly to Sir Lodrick's teaching. Don't worry, my dear brother. This sister of yours has finished all of her classes."

"What about your homework?"

"Done impeccably."

"Really?" It was a given that I'd doubt her. I mean, it was a common sight around here to see Maya scold Alyson whenever she tried to play hooky.

"Do you think I stay here leisurely if it's not through Mother's approval?"

'Yeah, that makes sense.'

"Alexander, for how long will you let Sir Lodrick stand there in silence?"

"Ah, that's right! Pardon me, sir."

The man was like the air, I tell you. His whole being was so faint you could easily ignore him whenever you felt like it.

"It is quite all right, young master."

"Please, call me Alexander. I'm way younger, and you are also my teacher. So please be comfortable, sir."

"...As you wish, Alexander."

The man bowed and smiled faintly. He put down his bag and took off the long robe that covered his entire body. Only then could I see him in more detail.

Trimmed beards. Strong and deep brown eyes. Slender yet muscle-toned body. And on his back, his short greyed blue hair fashioned his head. One thing that stood out the most though was how consistent he was at keeping the edge of his lips slightly upturned.

It was like he was smiling gently at first glance, but it also surely didn't seem like it. I didn't know how to put it but the man was weird, that was for sure.

"Okay, let us start, Sir. What will I be learning today?"

"For today, let us start with history. The Duke has made his point especially clear to monitor your health as we progress, so we will have that as our priority."

"Yes, I understand." I nodded.

"Good. Now tell me, Alexander. What do you know about this world we call Fysi?"

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"Long, long ago. Eons before even the oldest spirits had come to be, the world was created...Fysi was the name granted by Primordial spirits, its rightful rulers.

The world would exist between the two realms of existence for a very long time before a gift was bestowed upon it.

The Elements, the gods of the old, and the children born out of the supreme entities's essence fragments.

Water gave birth to a seed of life, and Earth was left to nurture the very seed.

So, life came to be.

The wind would blow and bestow upon prosperity for as far and as deep as the world could span and Fire was there to raze them down to the ground.

So, life came to an end.

Thus the cycle began and continued for eternity to come.

Soon before long, life began to change as though trying to break free from the shackles of the beyond. And they succeeded.

The shackles were torn asunder, and what made everything possible was nothing but an idea conceived from the notion of the endless loop of struggle.

A free will...The ability to defy Fate Herself...

However, everything came with a price.

And that price was the very fate of Fysi which was no longer a singular river as how it was preordained to be, but branches that flowed on and intertwined unlimitedly. Fysi was free, yet its fate was uncertain as a result.

The Law was broken, and forgotten was the forlorn balance. The harmonious cycle was disrupted, and chaos ensued, enveloping the world for a very, very long time.

Thrown in disarray, the elements had to turn into the mighty primordial spirit that gave meaning to their existence. The Holy Spirit of Light.

Through the very power of the mighty ruler, the whole world was elevated to be closer to the Great Law, so what was broken could be mended yet again.

No longer was the world breathed and lived within the grasp of the Elements, but lived alongside their gods, and they would learn how to speak the tongue of their idols.

Magic...

And we remembered that as the day the reign of five major races that ruled Fysi in the god's proxy began anew.

Every living creature was able to wield powers way beyond their imagination...yet...the expense was nothing short but enormous.

Lurking behind the short-lived peace, the dark had shown its ugly claws out into the world, distorting the Light that kept the frail balance.

Mindless monsters, the union between people and beasts, and the being that resembled the Darkness itself spawned in every corner of the world.

Changes brought about confusion, and confusion was soon followed by mistrust.

Mistrusts would breed conflicts, helping the forces from the dark that only crept ever closer by the moment.

It was the worst time to fight against each other, yet the five races, seemingly blind to the real danger, bled themselves dry anyway.

Then out of the seemingly doomed world, they appeared...

The heroes.

They were beings so loved by the world and the gods; the heroes could battle against thousands if they wished. The might in which they showed had managed to reassemble the world's scattered hopes.

It was through them that the entirety of Fysi steeled itself and welcomed the dark while casting aside the festering discord between their own kin.

They banded together as one to push the minions of the Dark back into the Abyss. The haze of the war was brutal as it was terrible, painting the land and the sea red with blood. The war we knew as the War of Eons.

True to its name, the war had lasted for Eons long. Heroes rose and perished while trying to push back the swarm from the dark until, one day; everything was over in an instant.

The Light shone bright, and the Darkness receded back to the depth of the void.

Theories and conjectures were spoken all across the world, debating how and who it was that marked the end of the world.

The Beastmans believed that the band of heroes was finally able to pierce through the swarm of enemies and pierce the heart of the Dark champion, thus bringing about an end to the long battle that was almost as old as history itself.

While the Demons believed that the Champion of the Dark had turned to offer the world a helping hand it severely needed.

The Dwarves and Elves thought that the answer lay in knowledge.

The Elves assumed that by studying the past and present, one day, they would be able to derive the cause.

The Dwarves, however, believed the answer was to be found in the future. By advancing themselves, they would overcome the threshold and be able to deal with the crisis should the need arise again.

Lastly, we humans. We believed that it was through the hands of the Champion of Light, King Boreas the Brave, was how the world be rid of the plaguing terror.

Through his unwavering and boundless faith in the Mighty Lord of Light, King Boreas had brought peace once and for all.

Monuments and records of his fable were still kept clear without even a speck of dust, right in the center of the royal palace, where he also lay in peace inside his tomb.

And that, Alexander, is the end of our first class."

'Hm. Okay...? Not what I expected, but it's fine, I guess.'

"Is there something you wish to ask?"

Catching my disoriented look, Sir Lodrick queried.

There was, in fact. Something that didn't quite add up with his story.

"Nothing, sir. I'm good."

Something that only I, who held the fragment of the world's fate, would be able to feel.

And that something was...the truth of the past and the future.