The next day was… uneventful.

At least at first.

I thought that after the last discussion the mood would be more tense, but anything but that.

For and Kon were just their usual selves, ignoring most of everything.

Il was with me, trying to get a read on me.

The other one as well.

And about my other self…

I managed to get a few words with him when Il was asleep, or at least it appeared so for him.

And it gave me an idea about her state of mind.

From what he told me, she was a lot more… mellow. Yeah, that’s the best way to describe it.

While both of us were unsure why that was, I felt like asking her wasn’t really a good idea and wouldn’t help.

But, that aside, there was still the main question for the day to answer.

-So, what are we doing? - asked Ilma, looking at me with curiosity. - You do have some kind of plan, right?

I wish I could say that I had, but…

-And what was your plan? It’s not like you escaped here just because.

-I did. I wanted to heal in peace, but that went south, as you are well aware.

-Well… we did speed up the process… or rather he did…

I gestured towards Kon, who nodded.

-I… I am pretty certain that you are now completely healed, although my methods were… a bit weird.

-Weird, but effective - she agreed. - I never thought I’d be… enhanced like that. Very strange indeed.

-I wouldn’t call it enhanced… - I said to myself, but almost immediately added louder - In any case, what would be your plans next, then?

She hesitated for a moment.

-Oh, you don’t have to tell us. I was just hoping that we might have a similar target, that’s all… - I said, trying to be understanding.

-Nah, it’s not that - she replied. - It’s just… I am not sure. My goal was to kill Axelrod, Michael or whatever his name really is. He’s dead now, soo…

-We aren’t so sure about that.

-What exactly do you think you got rid of him? - asked Il, breaking her silence.

Ilma flinched, not expecting to hear her like that.

I guess she wasn’t really used to this kind of communication.

-Er… about… let’s see… I landed a bit far from the capital… So I say at least a month ago.

I gave her a confused look.

-Month? Why? I thought you teleported here.

-Yes. I teleported here. I didn’t use a portal, so there’s bound to be a time difference…

-Wait. You are telling me that your “teleportation” takes that much time? - asked Kon, now interested even more.

-Yeah, that’s a good question… How does that even work? - I asked.

I honestly wasn’t expecting for her to answer. After all, she probably was still seeing me as an enemy. All of us.

And yet, she didn’t hesitate with the reply.

-Ah, right. So… long story short, it is dependent on location, or rather target. The further away you go, the more time you need to actually transfer there.

-What?! That’s… pretty bad - commended For, also listening. - That’s straight up worse than portals.

-I am sure there has to be some kind of upside - said Kon.

-Ah, of course there is. With portals you use anchors and all that stuff, right?

-Right…?

-Yeah. With my teleporting, I don’t need anything like that. I just need to learn about the location. I don’t even need to visit it. I just have to know where it is.

-That’s… a lot more powerful.

-Right?

-So wait, you can just get us anywhere we want? It's just going to take a long time, right? Or it doesn’t work on more than one person?

-While I never traveled in a group, I don’t see why that wouldn't be possible. Even then, if that was the case you could just mimic my spell and come along. Or wherever else you want for that matter.

-That’s… wait, you can just share the spell? It’s that easy?!

-I mean… yeah. My mother had… I mean… Melle made it and taught it to me, why wouldn’t I be unable to.

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That was unexpected.

Not only the fact that she was offering that so casually, no. At this point… I already had some ideas why that was the case.

It was more the fact that Melle was the one who supposedly was the creator of this thing. And the fact that she referred to her as “mother”. I thought that she saw Iloa as her mother, not her.

She realized my confusion, but did not elaborate.

-It’s just a spell. Short one to boot - she just said.

-That’s…. good… - I mumbled, absent-minded. - But there’s one issue with that… Not spell, no. More about the timeline of what you’re saying.

-Timeline?

-You said you got rid of him, what, a month ago?

-Well, more or less, I can’t tell the exact date.

-Well, I can.

-Huh?

-What I mean to say is that this shit doesn’t add up. We saw the guy yesterday.

-WHAT?!

Her being bewildered was an understatement.

So far, she’s been composed, probably thanks to the certain crystal making her more numb than she was normally, but this information snapped her right out of that peacefulness.

She immediately started bombarding us with questions.

-What do you mean?! Are you sure?! Where? What happened?

-Calm down. Yes, I am sure it’s the guy, I know him too, you realize that?

She nodded, but not replied, just staring at me with anticipation.

-Eh… Well, what I am saying is that the timeline you are presenting us with makes no sense - I said. - I want to believe you, and it’s…

-She is not lying - joined in the other me. - And if she is, she’s not realizing it.

She flinched, hearing him speak.

Like I needed to hear that to be sure.

I could tell myself that she was not trying to deceive me…

But then again, I already knew that I was able to be misled by my mana reading abilities, so having him was actually a good thing…

-I know - I just said. - That’s why I am a bit worried.

-Worried? That’s an understatement! - said For. - This fucker is able to survive that much!? I guess I shouldn't be surprised, knowing what happened to you…

She had a point.

I managed to survive much more than just being attacked by a singular woman with an angry spear.

Even if that spear was probably a better weapon than anything we’ve ever seen.

-Okay. I need information then - said Il trying to be calm. - When was it exactly? What date? How was he looking?

-I don’t know - I shrugged. - I honestly have no idea what kind of calendar you people use or anything. For, Kon, maybe you?

-Er… Actually, that’s a good question - said For. - I never really paid attention to that, but it probably is somewhere close to April?

-That doesn’t help! We fought in April, sure. but so what!?

-Wait. That makes no sense - pointed out Kon. - Weren’t there supposed to be at least a month's difference between now and then?

-I…

She hesitated for a moment.

Yeah, that’s definitely what she said earlier, that she fought him a month ago.

-Well, it could’ve been less than a month - I shrugged. - I wouldn’t blame you for not keeping track of time correctly.

-Where’s the time difference coming from? It’s the teleportation spell, right?

-Yeah, I told you. But, to be honest, I… I thought it should be even more than a month - she admitted. - This place is far from anything. And far from our last fight.

-Hm…

But… that gave me an idea.

Could it…

-Er… Il. Mind telling me what year was that? - asked the other me.

I guess he had the same idea…

-Year? What do you mean?

-Just as I asked. When you fought him. What year was that?

-The same as it is now. 132 of the new calendar.

I shot a questioning look towards For and Kon.

One glimpse was enough to confirm my suspicions.

-Ilma. - said calmly Kon. - Year today is 142.

For a second, it appeared like she didn’t understand what he was saying.

But slowly, it dawned on her.

-You let me sleep for 10 years?! How in the…

Never mind.

-Eh, no - I immediately cut her off. - It definitely was just a day. It’s your spell that apparently is less efficient than you thought. And just when I thought I found a better version of portal magic…

-That’s impossible! - she protested. - I used that spell for a very long time! It’s never been a problem before!

-You sure?

-Of course! I met different people, you know! That’s how I know how this spell works exactly in the first place! That’s how I calculated how the time flows!

I guess she had a point.

She had to somehow learn how the spell worked.

-Maybe they deceived you…?

-Deceived? You think I wouldn’t realize that someone had aged ten years or something?! That’s not possible.

-There are ways to keep your youth… - said Kon. - But I guess that is a stretch, for someone to use it just to deceive you…

-Wait. Keep your youth? What do you mean?

He tossed me a look.

I guess he was checking if he said too much.

Well, it checked out, she was young after all. It’s not like she knew that much magic that we were aware of. And besides, Kon’s magic wasn’t even something I was aware of until recently.

-Yeah. There are people who can change their appearance without much of an issue, Kon being one of them - I replied for him.

-Change appearance I can understand, but… to preserve youth?!

-What, that’s one and the same - I calmly stated. - It’s based on changing body structure, so why wouldn’t one use it to “fix” their aging?

-I…

As I was saying that, I noticed that Kon flinched.

Did he want to keep that secret? Surely not… anyone who knows about his magic would figure that out without issue, and he already shared that with her.

-Besides - added For - that’s not the only way to change one’s look. Remember, Axelrod’s supposed “werefera” or whatever? He was supposed to have a similar ability.

-Right… if he existed in the first place - I agreed.

-If he existed…? - asked Il, confused. - I heard about that one. I never knew he had that creature under his command…? I thought it was just a myth…

-Ah, well, he did. And according his ability… I assumed that it was not actually the ability, only just Mike himself fucking around with magic.

-Yeah… - agreed For. - Especially since he was a remnant… it wouldn’t be hard for him to just change his body to something else… or use illusion magic to cover his… “changes”...

-He wasn’t really hiding those last time we saw him…

-True… there was no point, really…