Marzin Sagewind, the Boundless Gale. An old man with a flowing black robe. A robe with the infinity symbol emblazoned across the front of his robe in gold, proving his role as the head of the United Mage Tower. A man also known as the Grand Sage...
But more importantly, Marisa's grandfather. And one who had practically raised her after her parents had vanished in a Gate. One who saw her as even more precious because of that fact.
"...Luis." Marzin slowly spoke as he listened to the brother of his son-in-law across the crystal ball in his office "Say that one more time."
The man called 'Luis' was a stern looking man with side-parted white hair and bright blue eyes.
Marisa's uncle on her father's side, Luis Boreas, the Imperial Archmage.
Luis narrowed his eyes and said, "My niece was allegedly seen in public throwing herself at a young man in a cafe and kissing him with reckless abandon."
"...I must be hearing things in my old age." Marzin poked his pinky into his ear, digging out some gunk... or trying to.
But his ear was clean.
Meaning he heard properly the first time.
Luis pinched the bridge of his nose. "Yes. I didn't believe it as well. But a student at the time recorded the incident on their phone. And there are numerous photos."
"Show me."
Luis nodded and then said, "I'll send it to you now."
A soft chime echoed.
Marzin pulled out his phone... that darned new-age device that he still didn't know how to use properly.
Personally, he was of the opinion that magic crystal balls were FAR superior due to their utility.
But that aside...
It wasn't as bad as Marzin thought it was. In fact, it looked quite sweet. His dear granddaughter was kissing that red-haired upstart. But it was clear that she initiated it from the young man's surprised expression.
"...Hm." Marzin tilted his head and looked back at the crystal ball, staring at Luis's projected face. "I don't see the problem-"
"That is the tamest picture."
Marzin froze. "The TAMEST picture?"
"There are more. But if you see them, I believe you will go on a rampage, so..."
Marzin let out an icy smile. "Is that so. Do describe them then."
"Well." Luis cleared his throat. "...As I said, that is the tamest picture. It is also the picture at the start of the 'encounter.' Some students had recorded the entire incident. ...My niece straddles the young man at some point-"
*CRACK*
Marzin blinked and realized that he had shattered the phone in his hand. Tossing the pieces aside, he clicked his tongue and said, "As expected, these newfangled devices are fragile. But you were saying, Luis?"
Luis nodded. "I was saying that there are rumors that the young man in the picture took my niece's purity. Especially since there were reports that she rushed out in a haste late last night and was not seen until morning."
"...I see." Marzin slowly nodded. "Then perhaps I should take a visit to the academy... Are you coming?"
"Of course." Luis's icy blue eyes flashed. "Daring to put hands on my precious niece... I should have a talk with this young man."
"Good man." Marzin nodded. "As expected of my son-in-law's older brother. Then, shall I inform Sophia, or will you?"
"We are already on the line. Let's inform her together."
"Ah, of course." Marzin nodded and then waved his hand, sending a connection request to Sophia's communication crystal at Starlight Academy.
One second. Two. Three...
"Hm?" Marzin paused. "...Odd."
Luis frowned. "Allow me." He reached out. There was a brief pause as he waited. Then his eyes sharpened. "...Odd. The headmistress is always punctual. And she is always disciplined about answering communication requests."
Marzin narrowed his eyes. "...Call her. With that phone or what you call it."
Luis nodded. "Of course." He pulled out his phone and made a call, putting it on speaker.
A ring. Two rings. Silence.
Marzin frowned. "...Call that boy. Elio. He should always be with her. Even though they had that falling out ages ago, he should know her status."
"Understood." Luis made the call to Elio. But again, the same result. "...Odd. Let me call the princess."
"Hm? Why not call my granddaughter directly?" Marzin tilted his head. "At this point, we should hear it from the source, should we not?"
Luis pressed a button on his phone and said, "I attempted to earlier, but she blocked all calls."
"Ah, of course." Marzin chuckled. "That rascal would after a stunt like this."
*Yes, Sir Luis? Is there a problem?*
Evelyn's clear voice echoed over the line.
Luis glanced at Marzin.
Marzin waved his hand, gesturing for him to keep talking.
Luis nodded and said, "Yes, Princess. Do you happen to know where your uncle is?"
*Uncle? He should be in his office, should he not?*
"He isn't answering."
Silence.
One beat. Two.
Then Evelyn's voice continued.
*Sorry about that, Sir Luis. I asked around to confirm it. But... nobody can contact Uncle as well. Did you need him for something?*
"No. Thank you for your time, Princess." Luis hung up. Then he looked back to Marzin. "...This is unprecedented."
Marzin's wizened green eyes glowed. "...Something has happened at the academy. No, is this why that crafty granddaughter of mine did that?"
Sending a message out directly for help would make any hidden forces scramble. Not only that, but they would move to secure safety, potentially taking hostages.
For that timid granddaughter of his to be so bold as to act like this to cause a scandal just for himself and Luis to move...
On the other side of the communication crystal, Luis stood up and grabbed his staff. "I will go first. The prince is set to attend the Winter Solstice Ball, so I will use inspecting for safety as a pretense to arrive."
Marzin nodded. "Then you go first. I will arrive an hour later. Inform me if anything is amiss."
"Of course, Great Sage."
The formal usage of his title.
Just that alone showed the severity of the situation.
Marzin's eyes sharpened and he said, "Go with caution, Imperial Archmage. I had already detected some stirrings prior and informed Sophia and Elio. If they are absent..."
"...Understood."
===
Sophia Lux's office. The designated area belonging to the Headmistress of Starlight Academy.
After a brief moment, a magic circle on the floor flared to life. The one that allowed guests to warp directly into her office for meetings.
A flash of azure light. Afterwards, Luis Boreas stepped off the magic circle and looked around. "Headmistress Lux. Apologies for the sudden intrusion, but-"
Luis froze.
"...No."
The Headmistress's office. It was the core of Starlight Academy. As such, numerous enchantments and the like were keyed here, all tied to Sophia's magic. And because it was tied to her magic, they all depended on her life... meaning that as long as she was alive, they would be continuously fortified.
But right now, they were fading. Weakening. Ever so slightly, but unequivocably decaying.
Luis quickly held out his staff to reinforce the enchantments. Then he called Marzin with his communication crystal.
The moment the line connected, Luis said, "Great Sage. Headmistress Lux is dead."
*...What?*
Luis swept his gaze around, not wanting to believe it. But everything he saw confirmed it.
The trinkets that Sophia made for amusement. The wards keyed to the academy borders. The various systems that kept the academy running...
While she had been diligent, making sure that the key infrastructure was intact even if she perished...
There was no doubt that she HAD perished.
Because those trinkets that Sophia made had ceased to operate, a dull hue where they had once been bright with magic.
"...Something has happened. Something that no one detected." Luis quickly walked out of the office and headed towards Elio's office. But he did so calmly. Like a man who was frustrated at being kept waiting rather than someone with any proper urgency. "Stand by."
Marzin was quiet, waiting.
And then Luis reached Elio's office. Knocking, he said, "Pardon the intrusion."
After that, he opened the door...
And empty.
There was still a cup of coffee on the table. Notes on the desk left half-written.
Luis walked over and checked the notes. And what he saw there...
"...Is it possible to preserve a body long enough in a Gate to restore the soul...?"
*Hm? Are those young Elio's notes on how to revive the princess's mother?*
"...No." Luis flipped through the notes. "These are new."
He looked through them a bit more. And then he saw the last line, hastily scribbled.
*I was sent back. But Sophia wasn't. Time doesn't account for causality. Dead, dead, dead. No. I have to save her. She's still there. In that Gate. I'm going. Victory is not enough. I need more.*
Luis froze. "...Great Sage." He picked up the sheet of paper, stained with tears and flecks of blood. "...We have a problem."
===
Volume 1 - END
Inadvertent Disaster
===