I and the Witch of Time Who Seeks the Past

The City of Fog and the Witch of Memories (Volume 2)

Chapter 1 — Return to the Past (1)

...It felt like I had just had an incredibly vivid dream.

...Could I have been unconscious? Why don't I feel anything?

As my mind slowly cleared, my sense of touch came back, too.

I realized I was resting my head on something soft.

When I opened my eyes, everything was blurry. I focused my gaze, and my sight gradually returned. Then I saw Lijedahl's worried face.

“Lijedahl?”

My thoughts were still foggy.

I could only call her name softly.

When she saw I was awake, she hugged me tightly with joy.

“Will! Will, you’re awake! This is great... this is so great.”

She was trembling with emotion, holding me tightly.

I patted her shoulder to tell her she was squeezing too hard.

“Ah! Sorry, Will.”

She let go and looked a little embarrassed.

“...So, did we succeed?”

“Yes! We succeeded.”

“That’s great.”

I relaxed a little and leaned back.

But... why was the thing I was resting on so soft?

I looked up at Lijedahl — right, she was looking down at me, which meant...

I quickly scrambled up, stood straight, and put my right hand on my chest. My face felt hot, and I quickly apologized.

“I'm sorry, Miss Lijedahl. How rude of me to be so disrespectful to a lady.”

“Ah...”

Lijedahl blushed too. She looked down at the floor, her bangs hiding her eyes.

“It’s fine. By the way, Will, don’t you feel unwell anywhere?”

Unwell? No.

“I... don’t feel anything wrong.”

“Temporal transfer has a huge effect on ordinary people. Performing such a large-scale spell without sufficient magic can damage the body’s organs. Are you sure you're okay?"

I checked my body by patting myself; there was no major problem. I gave a small hop in place — no strange sensations. I should be okay.

“Alright, it seems my guess was right — the magic residue I left inside you protected you. To be honest, until you woke up, I was... very afraid... afraid I’d killed you with my spell...”

I saw a faint flash of pale blue in her eyes, but it immediately returned to normal black.

I moved closer, took her hand, half-kneeling, and held it gently.

“You saved me. Think about it — how many times have you saved my life? In just two days, I already can’t repay you. You’re my lifesaver.”

I said the last words jokingly, and it made her laugh.

She smiled sweetly; she looked so adorable.

“Alright, alright.”

Her spirits lifted; the earlier gloom vanished.

I straightened and looked around.

It was still the underground chamber from before, though the runes and symbols still glowed faintly. The hands of the Chronomantic Clock had stopped, but I could vaguely hear gears turning.

“Did we... travel back in time along with this space?”

“Yes, Will. We returned to the past together with the Chronomantic Clock, but our location didn’t change — we’re still in the Woodland Manor.”

“What? Then... what about the you from the original timeline?”

“I replaced her.”

“Huh?”

“If you and your original self occupy the same timeline, then the current you will take the place of the original you. That’s the effect of the Chronomantic Clock.”

“So... does that mean we changed history?”

“...Not entirely. Once I leave this time, the original me will return and resume the role she was supposed to — to maintain the rules of the world.”

“Are we now outside the flow of time?”

“Yes. Because of the Chronomantic Clock, we’re outside the world’s usual order.”

I see. It seems the world has a way to accommodate people who violate its rules.

“But anything we do in this period will change history.”

I felt a little alarmed — in other words... we have to change history.

“Lijedahl, what year is it now?”

“...”

Lijedahl began to pace, chin propped on her hand in thought.

After a moment, she said without turning:

“When I performed the transfer, I ran out of magic. I couldn’t scan other periods, so in desperation, I chose the nearest era with the strongest magic fluctuation. But... that surge of magic was unbelievably large.”

She turned to look at me.

“And what I know of that kind of sudden, massive magic outburst... is that it came from my sister.”

I understood the situation instantly and asked hurriedly:

“So now, is it the era when that mage still exists?”

“Yes, but... such a huge burst of magic also means... she can’t hold on much longer...”

It was like a thunderclap from a clear sky. I already understood the purpose of this trip.

“We have to find a way to save her, right? Lijedahl.”

She nodded, her expression grave.

"Roughly... two months. Because I remember that before each of them died, they would release a large burst of magic for about two months. You understand, right, Will? I have to save her. Can I please ask for your... assistance?"

...It seems fate won’t give us a moment’s rest.

“Of course, Lijedahl. Since I traveled with you, I have no reason to refuse.”

I smoothed my clothes.

“So I agree, Lijedahl.”

We exchanged a knowing smile.

“So, what year is it?”

“1920.”