I and the Witch of Time Who Seeks the Past

Chapter 4 – Magical Fluctuations (2)

December 26, 1920 – 3:00

I woke up earlier than usual.

I didn't know why—there was no warning at all, I just woke up.

And yet, my mind was unusually clear, thoughts racing one after another.

But then I suddenly realized—this wasn't normal.

... It wasn't just the absence of fatigue or drowsiness. That alone would be fine.

But... I couldn't even feel the clothes on my body.

Aside from my mind being awake, I couldn't feel anything at all.

... What's going on? Why is this happening?

I tried to open my eyes, but no matter how I struggled, they wouldn't open.

This... what in the world is this...

Wait—this sensation, I've felt it before.

Calm down! Think carefully... why is this happening?

"Time Slow Down."

The realization struck me. This was the ability of my Tarot card!

Then... why did it activate?

"Ah!"

I jolted upright in bed, cold sweat pouring down my body.

No doubt about it—the Tarot's ability had been triggered.

But why? Why would it activate on its own?

I quickly grabbed my watch. Three o'clock in the morning.

Three o'clock?

"Magical fluctuations are released twice between three a.m. and seven a.m. There's no precise pattern—only the timeframe can be confirmed."

I remembered those words from a document I'd read during the meeting.

Magical fluctuations...?

I didn't know if they could trigger magic. Not only could I not sense anything clearly, but I also had no way of confirming if this was really caused by a magical fluctuation.

This had to be something important. I glanced across the room at Lijedahl, still asleep. I couldn't afford to care about disturbing her—I had to wake her up.

But just as I swung out of bed and moved to shake her awake, I noticed... her face was twisted in unbearable pain.

Damn it—is she trapped by her own magic too?

"Lijedahl! Lijedahl!"

Panicked, I reached out to shake her. But the instant my fingertips touched her, her eyes suddenly flew open.

"Ugh!"

She gasped sharply, almost leaping upright from the bed.

"Lijedahl! Are you alright?!"

"Cough... cough..."

She broke into a violent fit of coughing, but held a hand out in front of me, signaling that she was okay.

"Cough! I'm fine—oh, heavens..."

She took a deep breath, blinking away the tears that had welled from near suffocation.

"Will, it's a good thing you touched me. Otherwise, with my current magic, I wouldn't have been able to dispel my own spell."

With a bitter smile, she gripped my shirt for support and slowly stood up.

"Lijedahl, what exactly is happening? Could the others be in danger too?"

She steadied herself, then answered me calmly.

"This is localized magic disruption caused by the fluctuations. I've only experienced it twice before—this makes the third time. And believe me, this was already a mild case."

She was still dressed in her nightgown, but the drowsiness of someone just out of bed had completely vanished from her demeanor.

"Then... the others won't be harmed?"

"Generally, no. Those without magic won't feel a thing. Those with weak magical ability won't be affected much either. Stronger mages might experience problems, but usually their magic is robust enough to deal with it. Unless someone happens to be caught very close, they'll be fine."

She quickly reasoned it all out—and then, the corners of her lips lifted ever so slightly.

"Mm... now that you say it, the two of us really are exceptions among exceptions."

She looked at me and smiled mischievously.

If she could still joke, I knew she had confidence she could handle it.

But as her assistant, it was still my duty to remind and help.

"Right. But Lijedahl, do you remember that file from the meeting? It said the fluctuations are released twice between three and seven a.m., so this is the first one."

"And the last time we felt it was the second release during that window."

She paused, propping her chin in thought.

"But why were the two releases so different in intensity? And this time... the magical fluctuation keeps releasing continuously..."

I'm not a mage, so I can hardly sense things, but if it's being emitted continuously, then now is the best chance to locate its source.

Still, why were the two releases so different in intensity?

"..."

For a moment, I was stuck; I couldn't reason it out.

"Lijedahl, don't dwell on that right now. More importantly, did you notice where this magical fluctuation is coming from?"

But who could be expected to pay attention in such a critical situation?

"I did. I went to sense its direction immediately. It's roughly where the meeting file said—slightly off, but definitely within that triangular sector."

I felt a flicker of surprise, but calmed quickly and asked.

"Shall we go check it out?"

This was a decisive choice: if we went, a lot could go wrong; if we didn't, we might lose the lead on that Miss Frisse.

"..."

Lijedahl kept her arms crossed and her chin propped, thinking as calmly as ever. Then she said without a ripple in her voice.

"Will, remember? Mr. Helles has a task force that records magical fluctuations."

I almost forgot about that.

I started pacing, thinking of other countermeasures.

"Ah... right. So maybe we can't go over there."

"No—this actually makes it easier for us."

Lijedahl cut me off.

I was a little taken aback. When I turned to ask her what she meant, I met her dark-gray, determined gaze.

I swallowed my question.

"Will, I know this sounds odd, but we can try it. We can just walk across London Bridge. It's the direct route to the other side—we might run into that task force, but it's okay. I have a plan."

I felt astonished—what plan could she possibly have?

"Lijedahl, I can't think of how that would help. Mr. Helles is from the War Party and opposed to our Revivalist—that alone makes this risky."

"No, Will, you're wrong."

She shook her head, then turned to the luggage and took out a change of clothes.

Seeing that, I knew we were going out no matter what, so I moved to the coat rack by the door and began packing the things I'd need.

"So what are you thinking, Lijedahl?"

"I'll use my status as a member of the Table of Truth to explain my actions to them."

I stood with my back to her while she changed quickly and with practised ease.

"But we're still opposed to Mr. Helles."

I tucked a small knife into my coat and checked the bullets in my pistol as I spoke.

"Will."

We finished preparing at almost the same time and turned to face each other; our eyes met.

"We already hold the initiative from the meeting. That's enough."

Her eyes showed urgency about the investigation, calm about how events might unfold, and an undeniable command toward me.

"Heh—after all this, you still wondered why I'd help you."

I let out a small smile and closed my eyes briefly as I holstered my gun.

"Your look just now left me no reason to refuse."

She understood and mimicked me by closing her eyes lightly.

"Shall I close mine too?"

"You can—see if you'll fall asleep standing up."

"Ha, enough joking. Let's go, Will. Don't wait until the fluctuation disappears completely."