Turning Chapter 1163

"It has been a considerable duration since I last sat to commit my thoughts to paper; much has transpired. There were periods when creating another record seemed utterly out of the question. Yet, I find myself picking up my pen once more and seeking out some parchment, for if my conviction holds true, this record might serve someone, someday. No... perhaps it would be more accurate to express it as a fervent hope that it will."

The peculiar sensation Yuder experienced upon reading the initial sentence dissipated in a fleeting moment. He continued to absorb the remainder of the written account.

"There is a particular matter I wish to set down first. It is entirely possible that future readers might dismiss this as mere fantasy or the ramblings of a troubled mind. And perhaps... they might not be entirely mistaken. However, the crucial point is that when I first encountered this narrative, I embraced it with my entire being, without the slightest trace of doubt."

A peculiar premonition began to stir within Yuder, as if he already grasped the unfolding events. The subsequent words on the page confirmed this burgeoning certainty.

"From an infant discovered abandoned beneath a lemon tree, to the awakening of a power unlike any other, bestowing upon it the name of magic, and subsequently ascending to become the magician standing as the right hand of a new emperor—this journey spanned a vast expanse of time. It was by no means a facile path, yet I never perceived it as insurmountable, for a steadfast companion was always present by my side."

"Indeed. The solitary friend who acknowledged and guided me. The very first individual who assured me that my innate abilities were nothing to be ashamed of. A presence unwavering in the face of adversity, a mysterious entity who bolstered the aspirations of myself and fellow magicians. My lord, who bestowed upon me children bonded by soul, though I myself was incapable of bearing heirs."

"I once held the belief that his imperturbable demeanor, indicative of universal knowledge, that gentle and sorrowful smile he invariably bestowed upon me, and indeed, his extraordinary capabilities were all inherent virtues. This conviction persisted until the very day his mortality loomed, at which point he confessed the truth."

Yes. As anticipated, the account pertained to the final testament of the founding emperor.

How divergent must that day have appeared from Luma’s perspective when contrasted with that of his son, Oblik van Ta-in, the inaugural Duke of Ta-in? Yuder's heart quickened with the prospect of finally uncovering something tangible and conclusive.

"He spoke of the profound recklessness and folly that had characterized his actions. He referenced numerous occasions that we had navigated with relative ease, only to describe them as calamitous failures. He even recounted events he had never personally experienced as if they were vivid memories. According to his narration, he had once been naught but a destitute swordsman, stripped of all he held dear, incapable even of effectively wielding the blade he once prided himself upon. Initially, I attributed these accounts to the delirium of a man nearing his end."

"When I informed him that these occurrences had never transpired—or had long since been resolved favorably—he simply smiled."

"‘Nay, my confidant. Those events did indeed transpire. It is merely that, in the present, they have ceased to be. This is because I actively prevented the recurrence of identical errors. That is the entirety of it.’"

"He then expounded further on the calamitous final event that had befallen the Empire. What remained for me as the ultimate triumph we achieved together, was for him a stark recollection of a pathetic demise. The majority of those currently alive were not present during that time, and he asserted that you employed some form of arcane manipulation upon him when he sustained fatal injuries on that climactic battlefield."

"‘It was a form of magic I had never encountered, neither before nor since. You, bearing the same visage as you do now, made a final plea to me. To ensure that such an event would never be repeated...’"

"And thus, my companion stated that he traversed back. Back into the past, preceding our initial encounter. To a period of resplendence where all possibilities remained open. To a miraculous juncture where those presumed lost were, in fact, still among the living."

He had exerted such pressure that the page nearly yielded. A chill, yet searing tremor coursed down Yuder's spine.

Finally.

He had directly confronted it.

Someone who had endured the exact same ordeal as he had!

While he had harbored suspicions previously, the profound realization of certainty far surpassed mere conjecture.

"It truly... was not a fabrication."

"Yuder?"

Perhaps detecting the sudden surge in his breathing, Kishiar turned from his reading. Meeting Kishiar’s gaze, Yuder endeavored to speak with composure, despite the warmth that suffused his face.

"I believe we have at last unearthed the critical information we sought."

"...Could it truly be?"

"The text here explicitly states that the founding emperor did, in fact, journey back to the past, much like myself, utilizing the magical prowess of Archmage Luma."

"As surmised... so it is accurate. May I see the passage?"

Yuder turned to the pertinent section and presented it for Kishiar’s perusal. Naturally, Kishiar could not immediately comprehend the segment encoded in Luma's unique cipher, yet he still offered a nod, his eyes alight with recognition.

"So, have you uncovered anything regarding the ‘choice’ that Oblik van Ta-in documented?"

"Not yet. Nothing concrete has surfaced."

"Continue your perusal. If any new information surfaces that you deem worth sharing, inform me immediately. I am most eager to hear it."

"Understood."

He understood the necessity of continuing his reading, yet finding a semblance of calm proved challenging. Yuder rested Luma’s journal upon his lap, his head leaning against Kishiar’s back. Emotions and thoughts, previously suppressed due to the lack of definitive certainty, now surged within him like an unstoppable torrent.

The founder of the empire, a figure universally revered as godlike, had in reality been someone who, much like himself, had journeyed back through time. This emperor had spoken of a catastrophic failure, confessing that he hadn't even held the imperial title initially—that everything had been drastically altered.

Had his attempt at a second chance resulted in failure and a complete end, what would have become of their world? The Orr Empire, in all likelihood, would not exist. Mages would not command the respect they currently held. Furthermore, his lineage would not have been able to persist as they had.

Implying... that a person named Kishiar la Orr might never have come into being.

The profound impact of a single individual’s return to the past, reshaping the future so monumentally, struck Yuder with a visceral force, amplified by the warmth radiating from his back.

Yuder reached out, placing his hand upon the limb of the man sitting upright with the posture of a steadfast pillar. The sensation of skin beneath that crimson-stained, bare hand felt incredibly real, yet… in an alternate sequence of events, it might have been entirely absent.

"...I find myself suddenly feeling a sense of gratitude toward Archmage Luma and the founding emperor."

"Because... by their success in seizing a second chance, I was brought into existence?"

"Precisely."

A soft chuckle escaped Kishiar, his shoulders vibrating subtly at Yuder’s earnest affirmation. Yuder frowned, his grip on the man’s hand tightening instinctively.

"I am quite serious."

"I am aware. I was not jesting. My smile arose from the sheer peculiarity and profound wonder of it all."

As Yuder remained silent, contemplating the veracity of the statement, Kishiar’s smile faded. He gently pressed their foreheads together, offering an explanation.

"Consider this: how many times, do you estimate, have I been told that people are glad I was born?"

"I cannot ascertain the exact number... but I suspect it is a considerable amount."

"Indeed. From the very instant of my birth, I was heralded as the Empire’s blessed fortune. However, this was solely attributed to my appearance."

He spoke without a hint of self-consciousness, pressing his head more firmly in a playful manner.

"In essence, this is the inaugural instance I have ever encountered someone expressing gladness for my birth based on such a rationale."

"......"

"There were periods when I questioned the significance of being born at all. Was it not sufficient to simply offer thanks to my mother and conclude the matter? But... it appears that following my birthday this year, my perspective on this matter may begin to shift."