Back He Goes

Again, what is Trace?

Whenever a child is born into the world, they become a recognized being of the world.

This status allows them to subconsciously form a trace unique to that world alone, or in simple terms, a branding that proves their existence in that world.

When an individual visits another world and stays for a certain amount of time that allows the world to recognize them, another trace will end up attaching itself to them, overtaking the position of the previous one.

To say only one can exist at a time isn't wrong, but it is lacking extra context.

Technically speaking, other traces don't get completely deleted. They're still there in the form of residues which can be use to track back to other worlds.

Of course, with the exception of one's original world, the residue will fade into oblivion with time.

Only the dominant one can be considered a complete trace and will stay permanent as long as it's still dominant.

To remove one's trace in its entirety is to completely remove one's proof of existence.

In this case, no matter if it's another world or one's origin world, they'll most definitely be considered a foreign object, subjected to exile under every circumstance.

Up until then, this was only a hypothesis as none of those who are capable of performing world transmigration magic could really test it out.

Why?

The reason was simple: The collective unconscious of humanity actively prevents it from happening.

To threaten one with the death of existence was to threaten the collectives itself as humanity possessed a primal fear toward this regard.

It was why Jun felt rather impressed at the individual who did this to him, being so fearless as to face the collective unconscious head-on in such a bold way.

***

"So you're still going back there, Sir?"

Lain, now back on Jun's shoulder, chirped while he drew a conspicuous, complex layers of magic circles called the Crossover Formation.

The Crossover Formation consisted of three main circles, all utilizing the Rune Language.

The 1st layer, or the innermost circle, is dubbed the "Connection" circle.

Using his trace as a medium, Jun connects to both mankind's collective subconscious and the Akashic Record to negotiate for a record of him.

The 2nd layer, or the middle circle, acts as both a stabiliser for the formation and a function link.

Complex formations, especially when made from pure Rune Language, is extremely unstable due to the nature of this magic as well as the overwhelming amount of variables born from every second of its activation.

Just an instance of "glitching" could change the entire structure, which is what this thing aims to prevent.

Last but not least, the 3rd circle is a teleportation circle.

In normal circumstances, one'd dare not create this circle without the complete Ether coordinate on hand since the circle wouldn't work without one.

Nonetheless, with the function link established on the second circle, the incomplete circle can still work.

"Yeah. I have school to attend after all."

With a nonchalant tone, Jun's expression remained idle. His steadfast eyes constantly darted around as his fingers made strokes in rhymth just like a machine maximizing efficiency.

It was a level of concentration and mastery unfitting his outward youthful appearance.

"Done. Now what's left is..."

Manifesting a small blue transparent dagger from Ether, he slashed his wrist with no hesitation much to Lain's frowning.

DRIP! DRIP! DRIP!

Aiming his slashed wrist just right above the inner center circle, blood dripping from his arm began to fill up the circle, replacing blue lines drawn by pure Ether into blood red.

"[O distant KI, this humble one was soon swept in an elaborate scheme and lost themselves a way home.

Stranded among the unfamiliarities while carrying only a scent unknown, this humble one only have nowhere to go but one.

There is only one thing this humble one desires, and that is to hope for one's benevolence to spare a seat among others of his kind as he try to figure out the meaning of his being here.

This humble one offers his soul as Jun Kether.]"

Jun's situation was rather interesting, to say the least.

Thanks to the binding between his and Lain's soul (in other words, their Existence), even if all his traces was removed, Lain would still remember him no matter what.

Conveniently, this allowed him to regain a trace since Lain served as a testament to the being Jun Kether.

However, by some sort of miracle, he didn't only recover the trace to his world, but also to the world he was previously stranded in.

It'd have been understandable if it was Estella - his home world, but instead, it was the same world that chased him away.

Jun didn't have any hard feelings though. Unlike Kartosh's Rondo, this was something that should occur naturally.

FWWWSSSHHHHH

"…."

The crimson circle started glowing ever brighter, its red lines slowly flickered between golden and black as seconds passed.

*[E**or! Er**r! *rr**!.....-!]

(*No one saw it)

'…So it's a no...!?'

Suddenly, just when the deep murky black was to be the assumed rejection, golden started consuming the whole circle inside out.

It was a sign of confirmation as the golden color persisted.

"Curious…."

Out of nowhere, letters began to write itself in the air, glittering brightly.

[The world hath bore witness to thy wish, Humble One.

Time may be fleeting, but some things shall remain for eternity to come.

Take your much-needed rest, *****]

"!"

Even though it looked gibberish to pretty much everyone present, Jun instinctively knew what it meant.

It was a name he hadn't heard since long.

"Sir?"

"….I see."

A reminiscent smile sprouted on Jun's face as he relaxed his hand.

His memory may never be up-to-date, but his soul remember well a far-gone past.

He was once again reminded why he wanted to attend the academy again.

"…Youth, hmm?"

"Sir Jun???"

It was a rare sight for Lain, seeing Jun sentimental and all. Young as they were, the name didn't register in their head, leaving them in the dark the entire time.

What they was most worried of, nevertheless, was the fact that Jun lost concentration for no reason. It might have been them, but he appeared to be growing more and more distracted as time passed.

"Ah, right." Snapped out of his partially emotional state, Jun focused and directed his Ether at the formation, making the outer layers glowed in a hue of brilliant blue.

"I guess it's time I go then. See ya, Lain."

"Y-Yes, sir!"

It seemed Lain wasn't over with the moment that just went by, but Jun wasn't one to notice that. In a composed manner, he began chanting.

"[Light me a torch, Estella. Light me a path to another adventure.]"

In actuality, there was no need to chant, but surprisingly, another voice popped up in his head as his body slowly dissolved.

[I bless you a safe journe-]

***

[Adaptation: 100%]

[Archive Updating…..New Profile: Jun Kether…..Status Changed: Foreign Object - - -> Resident (####).....Scanning Soul...…Evaluating Initial Details….]

[...….Match Found!?….Profile: June Normaris...Match Percentage: 99.9%???...Overwrite?]

[.....Overwrite Rejected...Creating Separate Profile...]

[No, no. This won't do, will it?]

An invisible hand reached out slowly, ripping off the blank new page on a never-ending book.

[Abnormalities Detected! Abnormalities Detected! Ab-]

[Lousy, aren't you?]

A pen manifested within the invisible hand's palm. With a strong grip, it started to scribble down on another blank page.

[No Abnormalities Detected! Returning…..]

[Hmmmm….It's probably best I overwrite them, hm?]

SCRIBBLE SCRIBBLE

[Profile Changed: Jun Kether - - -> June Normaris. Completing Process...…..]

[O old friend, your life has not grown too stale, has it?]

With its objective complete, the mysterious being dissolved without a hitch.

***

"..."

Opening his eyes, Jun found himself standing in the center of an empty carriage.

The interior had a rather simple design. There were sets of four seats facing each other separated by a spacious wooden table alongside a window view.

RUMBLE!

"Hmm…"

Surprisingly, the impact he felt on the floor was not the train bumping of anything, but something else. However, it appeared his Ether sense has been obstructed by a certain material built onto the train, as there was no presence of Ether concentration within his vicinity.

It was also odd that no one inhabited the carriage he was in either.

In any case, it wasn't that he's interested in finding out anything. He was a bit exhausted from being forcibly dragged here and there.

'I should just sit down.'

Just as he was about to take a step, a sound came from behind him. It was an automated door being opened.

More than that, a faint sinister aura crept in as well.

"Tch, what a drag. Why the hell is that bastard telling me to go check when we've done most of the work in place of hi-"

"…"

Whoever the man came in was, it seems like bad news has came after Jun instead.