Magnus couldn’t make any sense of it.

It is possible that it's just a coincidence. I don’t know when ‘that’ Seraline, the one from the game’s art, loses her arm. For all I know, she could have lost it in a completely different scenario than how ‘this’ Seraline lost hers. But if that’s the case, it would still root back to me.

Seraline probably wouldn’t have taken on this assignment if it weren’t for Cain—in other words, Magnus—being here. Without his presence, who knows if this village would have been destroyed or simply saved by some other students? Either way, his existence here had altered things. So maybe Seraline’s injury was just a coincidence.

Then again, there’s another possibility.

It’s also possible this was how Seraline was always meant to lose her arm. But if that’s the case, and she only took on this assignment because of me being there, then that would have to mean that from the beginning, my existence was part of the game's story.

It was a thought that made him feel uneasy.

How would that even be possible?

[Master, this does seem to align with our earlier theory about a potential future cataclysm.]

Right…

Magnus had speculated that something disastrous must happen in the future for Seraline to end up losing both her arm and an eye. Something so bad that even her family couldn't heal her. But given her status as the heiress, it seemed impossible they wouldn’t have found some way to fix her injuries. Another part of his theory was that most fantasy games, at least ones that fit the genre of the world he was in now, usually started their stories right before or right after a catastrophe. The player needed a mess to clean up after all, and it would be that mess that would shape Seraline into the scarred warrior he saw in the splash art—armored and battle-worn on a bleak, desolate battlefield.

At least, that was the initial theory.

But after Magnus’s meeting with Monlam, Basker had suggested that this theorized event might actually tie into the breaking points Monlam’s teacher warned about. At the time, Magnus had questioned how such a theory fit story-wise. If the catastrophe was caused by a glitch—something not supposed to be here—why would it be woven into a game’s storyline?

Especially a fantasy game?

Like you said, Basker, it all depends on which came first. If this world is based on the game, then it makes no sense for these glitches to be part of the story. But if the game is based on this reality, then it’s possible. I didn’t really dig into the game’s story beyond the summary after all, so maybe the glitches are in the game’s storyline, and I just missed it.

Magnus couldn't decide what to believe. Was all this just chance, or was this world and its future already written out, a future that somehow accounted for him and even these glitches?

"Magnus, are you okay?" Elip’s voice pulled Magnus out of his thoughts. Glancing over, he saw both Elip and Rasan watching him with concern. To them, Magnus had just gone quiet, staring at Seraline with a troubled expression.

"Huh? Oh, yeah… sorry. Can you just give me a minute?" The two captains exchanged a glance before nodding.

"Of course. I know this must be a lot to process. There are some other things we need to discuss, but we’ll be waiting down the hall when you’re ready," Elip assured him. Magnus nodded in thanks as the two of them headed for the door, leaving the room in silence once the door clicked shut behind them.

Now it was just Magnus, Seraline, and Halen. Halen had been playing with his blocks while occasionally peeking over at Magnus when the two captains were here, but now he seemed to have lost interest in his toys and instead watched Magnus while resting their arms on the side of Seraline's bed.

Catching Halen’s gaze, Magnus managed a quick smile before turning back to Seraline. He took a deep breath, feeling the weight of everything pressing on him. As if sensing this, Basker’s voice echoed in his mind.

[Master, there is one way we can uncover the objective truth.]

Hmm, really?

[There’s always a chance this is just a coincidence. But we know Seraline is also supposed to lose one of her eyes in the future. So, all we need to do is wait and see.]

Magnus hadn’t thought of it that way, but after a moment, he realized Basker had a point.

Sometime in the coming years, Seraline was supposed to lose an eye. If she didn’t, it would confirm her losing an arm was just a coincidence. It wouldn’t entirely disprove the idea of the cataclysm in the future being related to glitches, but it became less likely. However, if she did end up losing her eye, then he’d have to confront the truth. The catastrophe he anticipated was part of this world’s story all along, tied to the glitches he kept coming across, and everything happening now was foreseen by that game he downloaded back on Earth.

I don’t really know how I feel about betting on whether or not someone is going to get hurt again in the future... but it seems I don’t have a choice.

[Indeed. We’ll also be able to see if this is simply a future prediction or true preordainment by whether or not she recovers her arm and still ends up losing an eye.]

Those words caused Magnus to reveal a pondering look. He hadn’t considered that angle either.

Until now, he’d thought there were only two possibilities: that the game had predicted this world’s future, including his own involvement, which essentially meant the future was set in stone—because how could he change anything if every thought and action was already part of the story?

Or that it was all a coincidence.

But Basker’s words had suggested a third option. The art of the older Seraline could really be showing her future self, but that future wasn't guaranteed just yet. Basically, it would mean that while this future accounted for his presence, it hadn’t factored in that he knew parts of what was supposed to happen, giving him a chance to change things.

"So there are three possible outcomes here, huh?" Magnus mumbled to himself, his voice barely above a whisper. Halen, who was still watching him, caught the words as Magnus let out a quiet sigh, this one tinged with a small sense of relief. Relief that came from realizing he wasn’t stuck between hoping everything was random chance or resigning himself to a predetermined path. Knowing that there was a chance that he had the power to change things meant he still had some control, even if his future had been glimpsed through some game.

As long as I have autonomy, then the worst still has a chance of being avoided.

Magnus grounded himself with that thought and a steadying breath, pulling his focus back to the present. Whatever theories he might have, right now he had to focus on what was in front of him: Seraline, unconscious and injured. He held out his hand, drawing a Mana Imprint Spell Catalyst from his storage ring as he stepped closer to her.

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Even if I can't heal her arm, I can at least take care of her other injuries.

He reached to move the blanket covering her so that he could place the mana imprint on her, but just as he moved, Halen—who’d been watching him quietly—reached out, covering the spot Magnus was about to touch. Halen’s eyes held a mix of protectiveness, worry, and fear. Magnus paused for a moment, confused, until he realized how strange this must look to a ten-year-old with no knowledge of magic, especially one in Halen's predicament.

He probably sees Seraline as his protector, even now. It would explain why he refuses to leave her side.

There was something both touching and sad about that. Smiling softly, Magnus stepped back, giving Halen a reassuring look.

"You don’t want me to touch her, huh?" He asked gently. Halen gave a small, cautious nod.

"But I’m just trying to help her feel better and wake up." Magnus’s words made Halen’s eyes widen in surprise, though a hint of skepticism lingered in his expression. Magnus paused, an idea forming.

"Have you heard of magic before?" He asked. Halen nodded slowly.

Magnus smiled, flipping the mana imprint in his hand a few times, letting Halen’s gaze lock onto it.

"Well, I can do magic. And I want to see if it can help Seraline feel better." As he spoke, he visualized the mana imprint floating, and soon, in reality, it began to hover in the air, spinning slightly. Halen’s eyes grew wide, transfixed by the sight. But Magnus didn’t stop there. A moment later, the spell catalyst that was slowly bobbing up and down in the air was surrounded by flames, making Halen jump back a little, startled. The flames vanished just as quickly as they appeared, replaced by shimmering ice encasing the floating spell.

"Whoa…" Halen gasped, his eyes alight with amazement. Magnus continued, cycling through elements—earth, lightning, water—even combining two at a time to create entrancing effects. Finally, the magic display came to an end as the spell catalyst dropped neatly back into Magnus’s hand.

When it was over, Halen blinked as if waking from a dream, his gaze fixed on Magnus with newfound awe.

"Pretty cool, right?" Magnus asked with a grin. This time, Halen nodded with visible excitement.

"So, do you mind if I try to help Seraline feel better? I promise I won’t hurt her." Magnus asked softly. Halen hesitated, clearly conflicted, but after a few moments, he loosened his grip on Seraline’s blanket and nodded.

"Okay."

"Thanks." Magnus gave him a reassuring smile before turning back to Seraline. He gently pulled the blanket down just a bit; even though she was bandaged, she was still technically naked. Finding a small area on her upper chest, he went to place the mana imprint. But as his hand and the spell catalyst came within a few centimeters of her skin, a sudden force struck. It felt almost like an invisible barrier, strong and defensive, pushing back as if protecting its territory. His arm flew back so fast he half expected he’d lose a finger.

The spell catalyst was thrown back even faster, bending like paper yet flying with such force that it was sharp enough to cut his cheek and ear as it shot past, embedding itself into the wooden wall behind him.

"Ow…" He winced, touching his cheek and noticing it was bleeding. Just then, he felt a small tug on his clothes and looked down to see Halen watching him, worry etched on his face.

"I’m fine; don’t worry. I heal quickly." Magnus reassured him, wiping the blood from his cheek and ear. By the time he ran his hand over the wounds, they were already gone. Halen’s eyes went wide at the sight. Magnus gave him a comforting smile.

"I was trying to heal Seraline the same way, but it looks like it’s not possible right now."

Thinking back, Elip did say he and Rasan had to work together to help the doctors amputate her arm because of her aura. I guess just because she's unconscious doesn't mean it won't actively protect her, even against things that aren't trying to harm her.

This was a bit of a setback; it meant he couldn’t heal her until she woke up and could lower her defenses. Sighing, Magnus rubbed the back of his head, glancing at Halen, who still looked puzzled by what was going on. Magnus took a second to explain.

"It looks like we’ll have to wait until she wakes up before I can help her." Halen’s face fell, his shoulders drooping in disappointment.

"Yeah, I know," Magnus murmured, sympathizing.

"Who knows when that’ll be, right?" They shared the same sentiment, but there was little Magnus could do until Seraline woke up.

Well, I guess all I can do now is go figure out what Elip and Rasan wanted to talk to me about.

He stepped away from the bed and started to make his way to the door. Before leaving, he glanced back at Halen.

"Keep an eye on her while I’m gone, okay?" The boy’s sad expression lightened just a bit hearing those words as he looked up and nodded.

"Good boy." With that, Magnus stepped out into the hall, closing the door quietly behind him. After walking a short distance, he spotted Elip and Rasan standing near the double doors at the center of the curved hallway. They seemed to be in conversation but stopped as soon as they noticed him approaching.

"How are you feeling?" Elip asked, his voice filled with genuine concern.

"I'm fine, just needed a moment," Magnus replied.

"I tried to heal Seraline like I did for the person downstairs." At that, both Elip and Rasan’s faces lit up with hope.

"Oh, you can heal people? How did it go?" Rasan asked eagerly.

Magnus shook his head.

"It didn’t work. Her aura is blocking the spell catalyst I use for healing. Unless you two know a way around it, I’ll have to wait until she wakes up on her own." Their expressions fell as they exchanged a look, and Elip spoke up.

"We had to combine our strength just to get through her aura to amputate her arm. Even if we gathered all the captains available, I doubt we could get her to accept foreign magic on her body."

"Yeah… I figured as much, but it was worth a shot." Accepting that waiting was their only option, Magnus decided to move on.

"Anyway, what did you want to talk to me about?"

"Oh, right." Elip’s expression shifted, becoming more relaxed as he nodded toward the double doors a little way behind them.

"The elders are waiting for you in the council room. They were pretty surprised when we told them about you and Seraline arriving from Takerth. They’ve been scrambling to get everything ready for you," Elip explained.

Magnus nodded in understanding.

Oh, right—the elders were the ones who sent the request. Makes sense they’d want to meet me.

"Things have been… hectic, obviously, so they hope you understand why this is all a bit unorthodox," Rasan added, noting Magnus’s thoughtful expression.

Magnus waved it off.

"It’s fine. I wasn’t even expecting to meet them, but since I have to wait for Seraline to wake up, now’s as good a time as any."

Elip and Rasan nodded, stepping aside as Magnus approached the double doors. He pushed them open and was met with the soft hum of voices echoing around the room. Surprisingly, the council room wasn’t all that large—just a little bigger than the room where Seraline was resting. Tapestries hung from the curved ceiling, each depicting a unique figure that seemed to blend human and animal traits. Magnus didn’t recognize them, but they didn’t resemble any monsters or mana beasts he was familiar with.

Lowering his gaze, he saw a round table carved directly from the wood of the tree itself. It held a detailed circular map of the entire village, fitting perfectly within its frame. Five chairs sat equidistant around the table, where Magnus guessed the elders would normally sit. But currently, none of the chairs were filled.

Instead, five elderly men and women with gray hair and bodies showing clear signs of age stood before the table, facing the entrance where Magnus had just walked in. Though they had been expecting him, their expressions revealed genuine surprise at the sight of Magnus and his attire.

"It really is a student from Takerth Academy," one elder murmured, stroking their beard.

"Truly a blessing," another added with a gentle nod. A few more quiet words were exchanged before the elder at the center of the group stepped forward, his wooden cane tapping softly against the floor. His warm smile and dark eyes mirrored his welcoming tone.

"You must be the Great Mage, Magnus. You look as young as they say, but you carry yourself with a strength beyond your years," he said. Magnus had to resist the urge to laugh at what felt like a truly NPC-like greeting but managed to keep a straight face.

"Thank you for the kind words, though honestly, I’m not as selfless as everyone’s making me out to be. I just took on an assignment." Another elder, a woman, chuckled softly at his words.

"That may be, young man, but we are grateful all the same," she replied, and the other elders nodded in agreement.

"And of course, we offer more than gratitude," the elder with the cane added, tapping it once on the floor. As if on cue, the council room doors opened, and Elip and Rasan entered, carrying a large chest between them. Even before they set it down, Magnus could hear the unmistakable jingle of coins.

"What’s that?" Magnus asked, looking curiously at the elder with the cane, who seemed slightly surprised by the question.

"Ah, well, your reward, of course." Magnus’s eyes widened slightly, suddenly recalling the reward for this assignment—something he’d nearly forgotten amidst the recent chaos. Before he could respond, Elip lowered the chest to the floor and opened it. The lid lifted to reveal an assortment of coins, glinting under the warm glow of the council room’s lanterns.

Inside were countless pieces of silver and pieces of gold as well, their shine reflecting in Magnus’s eyes.