I and the Witch of Time Who Seeks the Past

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Chapter 1 — Return to the Past (6)

After some time, the door to the reception room opened.

"Mr. Ken, please come in."

It was Mr. William who opened the door. He gave a slight bow as he invited the man inside.

"William, there's no need for such formality."

A man stepped into the room. Lijedahl and I rose to our feet. That was when I got my first good look at Mr. Ken: Blond hair, blue eyes, dressed in an old-fashioned white suit from the early 20th century. He looked to be in his thirties, clean-cut, refined in bearing, every gesture measured and gentlemanly. On his face rested a warm and approachable smile.

I straightened my clothes and looked at the man.

"No need to stand, both of you. Please, sit down. There's no need to be so formal," he said, his smile utterly natural, without a hint of pretense.

But who could really know? People's hearts are unpredictable. My wariness did not ease.

"Very well. But allow me to introduce myself first—I am Lijedahl."

With a bright smile, she extended her hand. I didn't even have time to marvel at how quickly her mood had shifted before I, too, extended mine.

"I'm Will, assistant to Miss Lijedahl."

"You are both so courteous. My name is Ken, though you may also call me by my magical alias: Igell."

He shook hands with us, still smiling.

We then sat down.

Mr. William quietly brought in three cups of black tea, placed them before us without a word, and then left the room, closing the door behind him.

"Well then, let's get straight to the point, Miss Lijedahl. You claim to wield time magic? Is that true?"

"Haha, sir, you're certainly direct."

She lifted her cup, took a sip, and answered with confidence.

"That's right. I can use time magic—and not only use it, but master it."

Crossing her legs, she leaned back with a smile of self-assurance.

I noticed Mr. Ken lean forward slightly, though his smile didn't falter.

"Master it... Miss Lijedahl, are you serious?"

"Yes. Would you like me to demonstrate?"

"I would be honored."

She removed her gloves, exposing her delicate hands, then pressed a hand against her wrist.

"Watch closely."

At her words, her hand began to change.

In an instant, wounds appeared, blood flowed, then vanished—each lasting only a few milliseconds. Before my very eyes, her hand shrank, reverting until it became the tiny hand of an infant.

Moments later, the sequence reversed. Her hand rapidly rewound through time, shifting back and forth until finally returning to its original form.

Calmly, she slipped her gloves back on, crossed her legs once more, and rested her chin on her hand, tilting her head slightly as she looked at Mr. Ken.

"Do you believe me now?"

Mr. Ken's face was etched with astonishment. In his eyes burned the fire of curiosity, though he quickly reined it in with reason.

"I believe you."

Then his gaze shifted to me.

"However, Mr. Will, you don't seem surprised."

Clever. Using my lack of reaction to her magic as an opening to test me.

"That's right. I don't understand magic."

"Oh?"

He looked to Lijedahl.

"Then why? Why would you serve as her assistant?"

"You can ask Miss Lijedahl that. I'm not entirely sure why she chose me."

Ken turned to her. She leisurely took another sip of tea before replying.

"No special reason. It's simply that he doesn't interfere with my magical research by spouting unwanted opinions."

She said it so lightly, so naturally, that even I almost believed it.

"Hahaha, what a truly unique outlook."

She smiled politely.

"Thank you for the compliment."

Mr. Ken took a sip of tea, set his cup down, and then continued.

"I also heard from William that you are proficient in air magic."

I could feel the intensity in his gaze. The subject of air magic clearly gripped him deeply.

The moment he spoke, my teacup floated into the air.

It hovered steadily, the surface of the tea perfectly still, as if suspended in place.

With a small gesture from Lijedahl, the cup gently lowered back onto the table.

"My goodness... the stability of that magic..."

He couldn't help his astonishment. Lijedahl, however, remained as calm as ever.

"Will that do?"

"More than enough, Miss Lijedahl."

He composed himself again, then addressed us.

"Though I'd love to ask much more, let us return to business. How much do you want in exchange for teaching me the knowledge of air and time magic?"

"No."

Lijedahl cut him off immediately.

"What we need is not money. What we need is for you to provide and assist us with certain matters."

"And what would those be?"

"First, secure a residence for us—a place to live far from the city. As for what assistance we'll require... We'll tell you when the time comes."

"... That sounds fair. Though I suspect it won't be as simple as you make it sound."

He chuckled, and Lijedahl returned his smile.

"So then... your answer?"

"Why not?"

They shook hands. The deal was struck.

"However!"

Ken added, "I must add one condition of my own."

"And what would that be?"

"You must record your time magic—in written form or in a magic circle—so that it remains."

"Of course."

…

I hadn't spoken a word the entire time, simply watching everything unfold.

When we finally stood, the conversation was over.

"Well then, I still have other matters to attend to. Please, feel free to move around the Morory Manor as you wish."

"Alright."

"Oh! And, Miss Lijedahl."

"What is it?"

"You are very clever and full of surprises."

"Thank you."

With that, he left the room, and once again, only the two of us remained.

"Well... I'll be going now."

I spoke to Lijedahl.

Seeing that she gave no response, I decided not to linger.

"Will..."

I turned back. The composure she'd shown earlier was gone, replaced instead by a sorrow I couldn't understand.

"I thought you were already fine now."

"..."

I didn't really understand her — I knew that. But I vaguely sensed that she wanted someone to understand her.

"So... what do you want to do?"

She slowly lifted her head. Her pale green eyes hooked onto mine.

"You... you don't want to avoid me anymore?"

She had noticed my attempt to keep my distance.

"Uh... let's go. Let me hear what's on your mind."

I pushed the door open, waiting for her response.

"Mhm."

We walked through the corridors of the manor. The halls were vast and quiet.

Through the classical windows along the passage, I saw that the snow outside had stopped. A few servants were sweeping it away not far off.

"Lijedahl, let's go for a walk outside."

"Alright."

So we went downstairs, heading for the main door.

As we came down the staircase, someone crossed the hall toward us.

"Eh? Where are you two going?"

It was Jona.

She was holding a biscuit in her hand, with crumbs still clinging to her lips.

"Nothing, just taking a walk. Look — the snow has stopped."

"Really?"

Jona peeked out the window.

"Wow! It really has."

She turned, excited, and shouted back toward the hall.

"Anna! The snow stopped. Let's go have a snowball fight!"

The reply came almost instantly from within.

"Don't even think about it! You haven't finished Teacher Ken's assignment yet!"

"Aw, come on..."

Her enthusiasm vanished.

"Alright, alright, I'll do it right away..."

She turned to us with a sulky face.

"Guess you'll have to play without me. I'll go first."

"Oh... okay."

She ran off, and we stepped outside.

The moment we opened the door, the cold air rushed in.

I shut the door behind us. Lijedahl walked at my side, and we moved on in silence.

The atmosphere felt awkward — just like that time before, when her eyes had turned blood-red.

I had no idea what she was thinking. When I glanced at her, I noticed she was also looking at me.

I quickly turned my gaze away, and she did the same.

"Uh, Lijedahl, say something."

It felt like someone had to break the silence, so I did.

"... I don't know what to say."

"... Then why did we come out here?"

"Weren't you the one who asked me to?"

I had no way to argue with that.

"Uh... then let me ask you something."

"Fine..."

"Why do your emotions shift so much?"

I turned to look at her. She also turned to look at me.

"What?"

"Isn't it true? Just earlier, you were so... quiet. But with Mr. Ken, you spoke with ease—confident and composed.”

Her cheeks flushed slightly, though her eye color hadn't changed.

"That's because... I was negotiating terms with him. Should I really show him the same side I show to you?"

"... No, that's not what I meant. It's just that your emotional shifts are so extreme. Most people couldn't pull that off."

"..."

She fell silent again.

But if I stayed silent too, nothing would be resolved.

"Lijedahl, I don't understand you. Honestly, we haven't known each other long, and I don't know what you're thinking."

She turned her face aside. I could tell it wasn't dismissal — she was trying to hide something.

"... Will, I don't understand you either."

"Yeah, I know."

I paused, then lightly tapped her arm.

She instinctively turned to look at me.

"So we should try to understand each other — not hide in silence."

In her eyes, I caught faint traces of yellow and a hint of blue.

"'Silence is golden' only applies to strangers, not to friends. Lijedahl, even though we haven't known each other long, we've fled together, we've crossed time together. Whether or not we were close before, we're already friends."

I leaned down a little, closer to her.

"So there's no need to hold back. Our bond is solid."

"Will..."

Her expression grew complicated — a mixture of relief and a faint touch of emotion. A subtle yellow tint colored her eyes.

At last, she smiled faintly. We both let out a short laugh.

"Haha... haha. Will, how can you say things like that? I always thought you were so serious."

"Really? Maybe it's because we're friends."

"You mean we weren't before?"

"Before, I didn't know if you considered me a friend."

"And now?"

"Now I know. Do I really need to say more?"

"Thank you... Oh, how many times have I thanked you already?"

"I lost count. Maybe there'll be more in the future."

Her cheerfulness returned, and I was glad to see it.

Though I still knew so little about her, perhaps, in time, I'd fill in those gaps.

December 17, 1920.