I and the Witch of Time Who Seeks the Past

Time Travel (2)

"Quick! Lijedahl!"

"Mm!"

The magic circle flared; the Chronomantic Clock began to grind its gears.

"Deus temporis, quaeso, potestatem tuam mihi praebe."

She began chanting archaic, obscure Latin. I didn't have time to focus on the words. I drew my pistol, loaded it, and braced myself to fight the Christians outside.

A chill crawled over me — it came from Lijedahl.

I turned to look.

"In nomine temporis, da mihi magna magicae temporis."

The light from the circle intensified. All the clock's gears activated. I glanced around: the vast chamber — the walls, the ceiling — were covered in complex, indecipherable runes and sigils. They pulsed intermittently, and through that glow I understood: the visible surface was a façade; behind it lay immeasurable magic circles.

The symbols on the floor began to shimmer as well — even under my feet. The entire chamber was a mighty circle left by a powerful witch more than four centuries ago.

Outside the marble door, the statues' footsteps grew louder... and faster. What was happening?

Then I noticed the faintly glowing runes in the floor; I realized those symbols were amplifying the magic around them.

I heard bullets ricocheting off the statues. I moved quickly toward the marble door. If the statues could be driven back, I would have to hold this entrance at all costs.

"In nomine magae, da nobis potestatem mutandi praeteritum."

"Boom!"

An explosion shook the stone door. My heart leapt — they had explosives.

The blast shattered the statues' defensive line. I had to be ready.

Now it was up to God — or fate.

"Ista potestas est in contrarium fatum, id est potestas mutandi historiam."

The runes beneath my feet dimmed, like a warning; perhaps Lijedahl was close to succeeding.

One thing I could be sure of: the enemy was being cautious. The statues had likely taken down one or two of their men, so they advanced slowly, probing. They wouldn't be far from the marble door; with a little effort, its mechanism could be triggered. To be efficient, they'd push together—several at once. I should conceal myself along the inner edge of the door. When they forced a slit open, I'd fire at whoever was pushing.

That was the plan.

I hid and waited.

"Hopefully everything goes according to plan."

I murmured.

I raised my gun, aimed at the gap, and held steady.

"Hoc utar Horologio Magico Temporis et Spatii."

The light grew blinding.

The floor's runes brightened.

I... was incredibly nervous.

I was intensely focused on the gap in the door.

Suddenly, I heard the mechanism push.

They were coming.

The stone door moved, inch by inch, then stalled.

I heard a shout; one man called others to help push.

Good — just as I expected.

The gap widened, but I couldn't shoot yet. I had to wait for the right moment.

"Eliminate praeteritum sui, peregrinatione a semita temporis."

As the gap slowly widened, I saw half a white man's face through it.

Now.

In his eyes was sheer terror.

... Sorry.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Three quick shots. The three men pushing the door collapsed.

"Damn! There's someone behind that door! Throw grenades!!"

I heard the enemy shout.

I rolled aside just as a grenade detonated.

The blast blew the door a little wider.

That might not be good — but to me it was an opportunity. One of the bodies had a grenade attached; the widened gap let me snatch it.

I lunged, and rifle fire grazed past my hand.

I yanked the pin off.

"Fight fire with fire!"

I threw the grenade. T

he darkness outside made it hard for them to react; the explosion was followed by two or three pained screams.

That ambush was all I could manage for now.

The other grenade was too far, and the enemy was on alert.

I just needed to buy time.

"Finis, haec est consilio ad Deum Temporis!"

Lijedahl's voice rang out.

At the same moment, every rune in the chamber flared with searing light.

The sigils converged, funneling toward the magic circle where Lijedahl stood.

"Move! He's not firing anymore — go kill him!" the attackers roared. They were preparing a frontal assault.

"Quick! Will! The Chronomantic Clock is activated! Come to me now!!"

Lijedahl cried.

The clock's hands trembled.

The gears were about to drive the mechanism.

I sprinted forward.

Lijedahl stretched both hands out toward me.

I ran as fast as I could.

Time and passage.

Magic and mission.

The arrangement of fate.

Just before the clock's pointer would roll away from zero — on the eve of the rescue —

I grasped her hand.

...

A white flash flashed across.

Lijedahl held me tightly.

Her eyes — more dazzling than ever before — shone with iridescent color.