This Strange Feeling (Part 1)

This Strange Feeling (Part 1)

"I hate this job…"

I should probably report to the principals what I found out but I feel so lazy!!!

It's boring when I know who the evil people are…

Why did I even choose to be a professor this time around? Should I quit and live as a mercenary again? That was fun too.

Or maybe like the fourth life I'll join the information guild? Hmmm maybe not. I still know the current data leaking here and there.

I'll probably go back when there are useful information since a lot has changed from the previous rounds.

The difference is uncanny. It scares me but at the same time it excites me by how large the margin could blossom before the time repeats itself again.

"Ahhh! I'm so bored!" I want to talk to the other 'Clockworkers' too, but if I approached the kid, that I only know, then it will alert the others. It's no fun if they found out who I am right now.

By the looks of things, since I haven't regressed randomly, it means that none of us had died yet.

It's good that none of us died yet but it's boring not having anyone to talk about the timeline's information properly! Ugh!

There's only that kid who found out about me but since she was adopted by a big family, I can't get close to her as easy as I want.

"Ah! I heard she was a student here, wasn't he?" I saw her fake name on the list too.

"Is talking to yourself a new hobby you developed, Monk?" The boyish voice caught my attention. Speak of the devil.

"Is crossdressing your hobby too, Miss?"

She clicked her tongue, "You know I'm only doing this because I need to keep my identity low. Stop teasing me, you're annoying." Such a cute child.

"Maaaan! I was waiting for a talk buddy! So? How's it like to be in school? This is your first time after fourteen initial lives right? Did girls confess to you because you look like a boy?! You're good looking, you know." I jest.

Pffft. Her golden eyes stared down at me even though I was taller.

Right.

The 'Clockworkers' were hand-picked minions of the Sacred Guardian. By the name of 'Clockworkers' and the power of the Sacred Guardian that manipulates time, we are humans that need to found the right path that leads us to the right future.

There are only five of us. Two are regressors such as me and this kid, two reincarnators, and one prophet.

The child in front of me who didn't stop glaring was older than her peers by soul age. In her first life, she probably died young that's why when she regresses her body was of a child and never grew beyond that.

It was the same for me.

Sometimes I found those two reincarnators and prophet who experience their childhood again. While we, regressors, get stuck as adults or children with no home as soon as the time flows back.

"What are you being silent for?"

"I envy the reincarnators…"

"Pft! I don't know which reincarnators you're thinking but our Sue and Maine is definitely not the ones you should be envious of."

She was right. Sue and Maine were fraternal twins born in a ridiculously venomous and dangerous household but…

"I'm talking about having a roof over your head when you wake up! Having to be fed! You know?! Don't act like you don't understand me Gin!"

Ah. A slip of the tongue. Well whatever.

It was a casual conversation and a truthful confession. She can't berate me about those things. This girl… Ginger Kalil, who is currently posing as a boy named Gringer Kalil, was someone who had never experienced being taken care of before.

She was abandoned as someone who held a cursed blood and name.

Damn. The Kalils are very harsh for their own.

Not that it matter since Gin and I have countlessly made them fall into ruin as soon as we get back.

"Your words are true. It's nice to wake up with a roof over your head and delicious foods on the table. Too bad for you, but it's good for me now." She grinned at me with those indifferent tired eyes.

I couldn't help but sigh. Although knowing full well that she was over a hundred years old, she was still a kid compared to me.

"…But Psyfi, I don't think we'll regress anymore though…"

Huh? Did I hear her properl–

"Ah! There's someone…"

The door opened. Weirdly so, I didn't hear any footsteps nor sensed anyone coming closer. As the culprit revealed themselves, I marveled at the thought that Gin had just said.

'I don't think we'll regress anymore.'

****

Aaaaahhhhh!

It's stressing me out! Ever since I passed out Nessa and Khiel never left my side so I had to fake me being out cold.

Even that tiny guardian stayed with me the whole time.

I had silently message Lady Lilith about wanting to get fresh air from them so she summoned the two heirs but the guardian was left.

I had to message Instructor Lyka for help and she complied without much thought. Guess they're curious about the guardian too though?

To prevent being environmentally stressed out too, I searched high and low for a place suitable for a breath of fresh air.

What better place than the rooftop, right?

Since I'm at the clinic/hospital here in the Office Hall, there should be the rooftop with the academy flag above it.

"Haa. It's the first taste of freedom after everything that's happened. Finally, some alone time." I opened the door and heard voices.

"Ah! There's someone…" I exclaimed before stepping outside. Hmmm. Gringer Kalil is here. "Good evening young master Gringer. And…" The older guy who looks to be in his mid-20s or something was handsome.

He had light brown hair and his eyes were a bright, sharp, and intense yellow. He looks like the sun in the middle of a good day.

The mister walked up to me with a warm smile and his hand extended, "Good evening. Student Tabitha, right?" I nodded and shook his hand quickly. "My name is Psyfier Voughn. I'm a professor from the Magic Department."

"I see. It's my first time seeing Instructor Voughn so I wasn't sure if you were…"

He chuckled and his honey hair shuffled from side to side, "That's right. I just recently got back from a mission the principal sent me."

"Actually, he's also a magic tower master in the Loyola Empire so he's been quite busy." It was Gringer Kalil who explained.

"Oh, but what are you doing here? You should still be recovering." Instructor Voughn asked.

I don't know if I should tell them the whole truth thus I told them half of it. "I needed some fresh air. But if Instructor Voughn feels uncomfortable then…"

"Oh! Nonsense. Although I do have questions for you too. I was going to ask about it once you've replenished your mana until 100 but, it's a lucky thing you're here. Please sit down."

He led me to a bench outside the freezing air. I had to cover myself with mana. Instructor Voughn remained standing and leaned back on the rooftop railing.

"I'll excuse myself then…" Eventually Gringer Kalil left us alone.

"If it's not too much I'd like to ask you about the incident you were involved in before the actual dungeon. The students told me that you inverted a high-level spell in the middle of the stressful situation."

"Yes, sir. I did."

"Then I would like to ask first of all, if you have a sample of the mana… They said you checked the body of the injured Clerifa F'yoras that day too. Did you find something similar to the one that attacked you?"

Oh. He's surprisingly sharp.

It feels like he could see through me. What the hell.

"Ah yes sir. I do have some mana samples from Clerifa and Yes, it's similar to the mana that attacked me."

He stayed quiet. A silent surprised look was on his face, though it faded in a second. "That's… You're an amazing mage student Tabitha. Did anyone tell you that?"

Excuse me. What the hell. "No sir…?"

"Pfft! They really should! You might not know this since you're new here but it's not easy to invert a spell. Much more if the circle is already built or if you don't use the system. By the way you talk, it seems to that you're used to inverting spells too… Forgive me if I'm wrong but it's only been a few months since you've learned the system, right?"

"Yes. Three months and a few weeks."

"You're a genius, I tell you that. Inverting magic spells require skill, talent and experience. If one doesn't have all then a large amount of either is needed. You seem to have all and a high level of those too…"

"Well you may not know our methods but Inverting magic spells does not only revert the formulas. The invertor needs to have a high-level understanding of mana to be able to track down which mana particles were part of the spell and trace it back to the castor before you can redo the formula. Instead of requiring mana, it needed a high-level knowledge… Wow! Explaining it in detail makes me feel awesome for you student Tabitha!" Instructor Voughn giggled.

Damn it. I didn't know inverting magic spells was difficult.

Of course it made me feel like a main character that I was able to pull it off without the system but… doesn't this blow my cover?

If I get too much known here then it would be difficult to just disappear one day… disappear, huh.

"Is that so, professor? I didn't really think much of it… But would you like to see the sample already?" It wasn't like I trusted him but I also needed an expert's eyes too.

"Oh! Yes! If you may… You don't have to worry about the noise interference barrier nor the visuals, the whole Office Hall has them."

[Inventory]

[Sensory: <Acquired Black Mana>]

I took out a capsule I just made to trap the black mana. It was as dirty-looking as before.

"This is… demon magic." Instructor Voughn mumbled as he moved forward. As I thought…

It was the same murky-like soul or mana that came out of Sulli- no, the guardian Timothy after the purification or whatever they called it.

Black mana wasn't evil in general but the normal ones where actual black magic is not practiced, has a clear and bright look to it. Like a shimmering black dress.

But those with traces of black magic or demon magic has a muddy and disgusting feel to them.

"I'd like to make a duplicate of this." Instructor Voughn announced before touching the large capsule in my hand. "[Sensory: Copy Magic: <Acquired Black Mana>]"

As I watched him do it, it gave a familiar feeling.

There it goes again. There were few people that I've encountered who gave off this feeling. I didn't know why but a corner of my silent heart, there was peace and longing that even I didn't know I had.

Lilith. Timothy. There was also a tiny portion of feeling from Gringer Kalil. The fake Erazubeth gave off that feeling too. The Cromwell Lady at the start. Now with Instructor Voughn and the other headmasters.

Then there was Khalique too. That peculiar guy from the Sacred Temple. It's been a long time since I've seen him.

Hmmm. There was always a slight ache that's why I could enumerate who those few people were.

One thing in common was that aside from the familiarity, they acted casual towards me. I couldn't remove the suspicions that they knew I was a time-traveler sent by the Sacred Guardian but…

It didn't seem so. I didn't understand why they acted casual or how some of them told me they knew me.

Was this a sign they're good people and the very few people I could trust without a doubt? Or were they brainwashing me?

"Lady Tabitha? I've finished."

"Ah! Okay!" I took the capsule and put it inside the inventory.

Hmmm. Now that I think about it, I haven't organized my inventories before. There were potions inside that I wanted to gift Uncle, some story books for him and Regan too. There was a necklace for Mother and a bracelet for Father.

Tsk. Let's stop thinking about family.

"Are you alright? Maybe you should head back inside." Instructor Voughn smiled with a brow raised.

I just realized I was sweating.

"Uhm no… I apologize if it seems rude but could you let me stay here for a moment?" I forced a smile and fiddled at my ankles.

"Sure. I'll be on my way then." He said then a magic circle formed at his feet and carried him away from the rooftop. Fusion magic really looks cool.

"Shit. Shit. Shit." Just as I thought, I lost my anklet. The anklet was the same as before but I modified it a few weeks ago.

Just like how I did with the crimson gem for Khiel, I also made an artificial crimson gem for myself to not go into the havoc phase while I'm wearing it.

Damn it. Where did it go?

No wonder my mana replenishing was slow as hell. Tsk.

Okay think! Nope. Can't think of any memory that I removed it. Shit did it snap during the dungeon…

"Trying to find this?" That familiar voice made me turn as soon as I heard the first two words he said.

Shit.

"Yeah… Thank you, Kha-Khalique." Ugh. I'm still not used to his name.

Wait! That's totally understandable! We've only seen each other like what…? Two times? Psh! Being awkward is definitely understandable!

"You're still not used to calling me by my name." He pointed out before chuckling to himself. Are you serious? He just chuckled and I'm already tense.

"Ah yeah haha… What are you doing here? Were you a student?"

"I'm visiting someone here and running an errand? And no, I'm not a student here. Do you want me to?" He walked over and sat down next to me. It's not like I mind not being asked but he's close. Not that close like before but still close.

Does he not realize that people melt at his feet?

He chuckled again. Fuck. Can he read minds like that Cromwell Lady? I can't let him know I'm thinking about how good-looking he was.

'Ummm think about something else… Tomato. Potato. Food. Guacamole. Dungeon. Sullivan.. Timothy. Oh! Timothy!'

"Ah hahaha… Timothy!" I ended up ignoring his intense question.

"What about… Timothy?" There he goes again with that melancholic expression. When his face turns like this I couldn't look away.

There's this strange feeling that well up inside me and I just want to caress his cheeks and comfort him…

Did I seriously think that? Fuck.

That's… For some reason my sixteen-years of romance-less life pass by and it made sense why.

"Speaking of Timothy, yeah, uhmm wait. Have you heard about Timothy yet?" Now that I think of it, it's weird that he knows Timothy. Is the Timothy I was thinking about the same Timothy he was thinking about?

"You're talking about Timmy. The… guardian."

"You know him?"

"I do…"

"Like personally?"

I couldn't stop asking for some reason. I didn't even thought that I'd be comfortable enough to bury him with questions.

He didn't look into my eyes though.

"Khalique?"

He sighed and replied "Yeah. I know him personally…"

"Why?"

"Because…"

"Because?"

"Because I'm the Sacred Guardian…?"