Time Healer Ceres - Chapter 54

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Herion must be far more formidable than Seres had initially thought. The way she was already ordering him around so naturally proved it.
“Hmm.”
Seres’s brow furrowed as she unfolded the letter and read through its contents.
It was a very long message spanning several pages, yet it could be summarized in a single line.
“Please help me!”
Apparently there were plenty of people who wouldn’t listen to her, and among them, the knights were the worst offenders.
They weren’t obeying the commands of their newly appointed countess at all.
“But why is she asking me for help?”
Though she did feel some sense of responsibility, receiving such a letter was bewildering.
‘We did see each other fairly often for a while.’
Running tests together and meeting face to face repeatedly had built what you might call the thinnest veneer of acquaintance.
The problem was that she hadn’t asked for help with Healing Magic or anything of that nature.
Wasn’t it strange to ask an outsider to help resolve the affairs of Elhisia County?
What did she trust me with? Who does she think I am?
[I told her to.]
“What?”
[I told her that if she ever faced difficulties, she should entrust everything to you. I vouched for you.]
“…….”
Seres fixed a steady gaze on Juvelios, who was wearing a pleased expression as if he’d done something quite admirable.
Had this fool really stuck with her all this time without understanding what kind of person she was?
That she had a vile temperament—the sort to grow irritable whenever someone told her to do something, even if she’d been on the verge of doing it anyway?
“Chaien.”
“Yes?”
“Let’s roast this bird.”
[I, I’m too busy, I’m out!]
Watching Juvelios disappear in a hasty retreat, Seres clicked her tongue lightly.
At least he knew well enough that she wasn’t the type to talk nonsense.
* * *
Late at night, when everyone else was asleep.
Yet the Arcane Tower burned bright through the darkness. Rooms everywhere kept their lights burning through the night as mages stayed awake in their research.
“Quiet night.”
Seres herself remained awake as well.
Having finished her work as a temporary secretary for the day and preparing to return home tomorrow, Seres found her eyes drawn repeatedly to one place.
A small, snow-white building.
A Magical Space left behind by Artia, who had been the Arcane Tower Master long ago.
The space that usually bustled with people seemed remarkably quiet today—likely because of the Advancement Exam coming in a few days.
The Arcane Tower held one advancement exam per year for those seeking to acquire personal research facilities. Those who failed to score well enough would even lose their existing Personal Research Facilities.
Consequently, everyone currently affiliated with the Arcane Tower was throwing themselves into individual practice and study. In short, they had no time to spare for the building Artia had left behind.
“…….”
After a final, light survey of her surroundings, Seres made her way slowly toward it.
Before she left the Arcane Tower, she felt she should visit this place at least once.
Even the smallest trace would do.
She simply wanted to meet that person again.
Soft-whoosh.
As Seres approached, the door that had been firmly sealed—befitting a space created by magic—smoothly opened of its own accord.
She stepped into the bright room and the door closed again behind her, creating a perfect solitude.
If she remembered correctly, once someone entered the building, no one else could get in until that person gave up their challenge, right?
Hum-mm-
A gentle vibration of air resonated, and a faint figure appeared before Seres.
A small boy who looked to be around six years old.
[Welcome to the first room.]
“…Alti.”
Young Artia.
He looked exactly as he had when she first met him—full of mischief.
At the sight of her young friend, a smile spread naturally across Seres’s lips.
[First question. You did come in with the basics, didn’t you? What’s my full name, and when is my birthday?]
“…Artia Lucallos. June 14th, 1185.”
[Correct.]
As he said, the first question was quite straightforward.
A screech!
A door materialized in the empty space, accompanied by a flash of brilliant light.
Upon opening it and stepping through, another similar space appeared, and a figure revealed itself once more.
It was Artia, slightly older now.
[Second question.]
From then on, she had to solve another puzzle to advance to each new room.
True to Chaien’s word, there wasn’t a single question about Magic. They consisted entirely of personal matters concerning Artia, so Seres moved forward without hesitation.
His favorite flowers, colors, foods—
As she watched Artia pose these small, intimate questions, Seres found herself solving them with unexpected joy.
Most of all, she treasured seeing how Artia aged gradually with each room she passed through.
From his familiar childhood self to the youthful appearance she’d last seen, and then through the years of aging that came after her departure.
Able to witness every stage of his growth, Seres opened each door with a bittersweet heart, waiting to see him emerge from the next room.
[Already the twenty-fifth room. Congratulations on making it this far.]
She had passed through the door Chaien had ultimately unlocked.
Upon opening the twenty-fifth door, Seres caught sight of Artia, now well into middle age, and found herself overwhelmed with emotion.
She hadn’t touched any of the magical formulas or magical artifacts that appeared as she passed through the rooms. After all, she hadn’t come here to obtain such things.
[Welcome.]
Before her now stood Artia in his elderly years, his face lined with age.
Seeing the mischief still dancing in his eyes, Seres felt an inexplicable tightness in her chest.
Our Alti… you’ve aged so much.
[This is the final question.]
So they’d finally reached the end.
Seres felt a pang of regret. She’d wanted to see Artia’s face for longer.
As if reading her heart, Artia smiled gently, his eyes meeting hers with a tender gaze, and he spoke.
It was certainly a phantom created by Magic, yet she found herself believing he was truly seeing her.
[April 3rd, 1213.]
…April 3rd?
[What was the last thing I said to Grace on that day?]
“…”
Seres couldn’t speak for a long moment.
She simply gazed silently at Artia, who smiled softly at her.
April 3rd, 1213.
She remembered that day with perfect clarity even now.
‘Alti…’
The day he learned of his illness for the first time.
The illness she’d hidden all along was exposed that day when Artia came to find her.
He’d witnessed her collapse while coughing up blood.
Artia’s eyes had widened in disbelief at first, and then he’d wept in silence.
After crying for so long, the last thing he’d said as he left was—
‘Wait for me.’
“…I’ll save you.”
At those quiet words, spoken almost to herself, Artia’s smile deepened.
His gaze toward her seemed to grow even softer—or was it merely her imagination?
[Grace.]
“…!”
[I kept my promise.]
“…What?”
A screech!
Before Seres could fully comprehend his words, brilliant light poured down.
A light distinctly different from before.
“…Another door?”
Was it not finished?
Seres moved slowly toward the newly appeared door.
She filled her eyes one last time with the image of Artia, still smiling and watching over her.
But as his figure faded into blur, Seres turned away with a pang of longing.
Click.
“…”
Upon opening the door and stepping through, Seres came to an abrupt halt.
A garden abundant with blooming flowers.
Countless flowers stretched as far as the eye could see.
A flower white as snow.
“Lunaria…”
‘Grace, what do you think of this flower?’
‘It’s lovely. What kind is it?’
‘Lunaria. It only grows in the western regions. You can’t use it as a medicinal herb.’
‘Of course not. I’ve never heard of it.’
‘Do you know what the flower language of Lunaria is?’
‘There’s a flower language for everything?’
‘The flower language of Lunaria is…’
“…I have waited for you.”
In that instant, a breeze swept through, and white petals scattered and swirled around Seres.
I have waited for you.
Waited for you all this long while.
Missed you terribly.
The entire space seemed to cry out in unison.
After standing there in silence for some time, Seres slowly resumed walking.
She had noticed something hovering in the middle of the flower field, emitting a faint glow.
“…A letter?”
What floated in the air was indeed a letter.
As Seres drew near, the faint light that enveloped it vanished, and it fluttered gently down to rest in her hands.
“To Grace.”
How could she not recognize that handwriting?
He who had been hailed a prodigy while blessed by the Blessing of Mana—the one thing he had never mastered was his own penmanship.
Crooked and clumsy, all the practice in the world had made no difference.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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