Chapter 6

I could hear a soft humming. It was soothing, almost like a lullaby meant to calm a restless child. My mind, still groggy from sleep, relaxed instantly. I opened my eyes, drawn by the gentle voice, and found myself staring at a beautiful woman. Her creamy white skin seemed to glow softly, her elegant white hair flowed like silk, and her lavender eyes sparkled with warmth. Her voice was calm, a tone so serene that it felt like everything in the world was right.

Noticing I was awake, she smiled at me—motherly, warm, and caring. "Had a good rest, dear?" she asked, her tone light but affectionate.

I blinked, slightly confused, but her presence put me at ease. "Yes, but... may I know who you are and where we are right now?" I asked, my voice calm despite the whirlwind of questions in my mind. The last thing I remembered was standing with Art as we activated the magic circle, aiming to go back to the past. But now, everything was different. Where was I? And where was Art?

She smiled again. "Ah, forgive my late introduction. My name is Sylvia. Surely little Art must have told you about me, right, Caera? And if you're wondering where he is, just look to your left."

Her name struck me like lightning—Sylvia? The asura dragon Art revered as his grandmother, the one who had protected him and gave her life for him in the past? I had heard so much about her, and yet, seeing her here with my own eyes... so many questions crowded my mind. I turned to my left as she instructed, and there, fast asleep, was a young boy, no older than five. Beside him lay Regis, small and curled up.

The boy's features were unmistakable. It was Art, only much younger. What had happened to him? And then it hit me—I felt odd too. Glancing down at myself, I realized that my body had also reverted to when I was a small child, perhaps no older than five.

Sylvia watched me, a soft chuckle escaping her lips as she read my bewildered expression. "You must have a lot of questions, right, dear?" she asked kindly.

I nodded, still processing everything.

She leaned back, her lavender eyes reflecting a strange calm as she began to explain. "You and Art succeeded in activating the spell, but the process is still incomplete. We're currently in a unique space, created by a combination of my beast will and Art's reforming mana core. This realm exists outside of time, which is why both of your bodies have reverted. We have about three months here before you and Art are fully transported back to the past."

Her words sunk in, and I couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness. Sylvia, someone Art cherished deeply, only had three months left to stay with us. I knew how much she meant to him, and after just a short time with her, I was starting to understand why. There was an unmistakable kindness, wisdom, and warmth about her.

Seeing my downcast expression, Sylvia gently patted my head. "Don't be sad, dear. This is just the way of things. Life is full of fleeting moments, and while we may not have forever, I want you and Art to be happy with the chance you've been given. I'll help train you both in the time we have left. Together, we'll prepare for what's to come."

Her words were both a comfort and a challenge. The idea of training with her was thrilling, especially when she mentioned something I had only dreamt about.

"I can teach you how to use mana like the mages in Dicathen," she said, her smile widening as she saw the spark of excitement in my eyes.

"Is that really possible... Lady Sylvia?" I asked, still uncertain.

She nodded, her tone gentle but sure. "It wouldn't have been possible if your body was older. But now that you've reverted to your younger self, when both your mana core and body haven't matured, it is possible to learn Dicathen's mana control techniques."

I was stunned. To use mana like the mages of Dicathen... it was an exciting prospect, but one I had always thought was out of reach. Before I could fully process the possibilities, Sylvia gave me a warm smile and added, "And dear, could you call me Grandma, just like Art does?"

Her request caught me off guard, but it filled me with warmth. "Of course... Grandma!" I said, and without thinking, I leaned in to hug her. She returned the hug, one arm wrapping around me while her other hand gently caressed my head.

As we embraced, Sylvia's tone shifted to something more serious. "Caera, I know this might be an odd request, but after I'm gone, could you take care of little Art? He's been through so much, and fate has been cruel to him. But during those dark times, it was you who became his light. Slowly, but surely, he walked toward that light."

My heart swelled at her words. "He seems truly happy when he's with you. I've seen it in his memories. Since he locked away his emotions, it's been you who he's opened up to again. Can you promise me you'll help keep him from falling back into the darkness?"

Tears welled in my eyes, but I smiled through them. "You don't have to ask, Grandma. I will never let Art fall into that pit again, no matter what happens."

Sylvia smiled warmly, teasingly. "I guess I was worried for nothing. After all, you're going to be my granddaughter-in-law, right?"

I felt my face heat up, my cheeks burning with embarrassment. Sylvia chuckled softly at my reaction. "Teasing you both has become one of my greatest joys," she said with a playful glint in her eye.

Once the teasing subsided, Sylvia's expression grew more serious again. "Now, let's begin your training. I'll teach you how to rotate mana like a Dicathen mage. Let's make the most of these three months."

Arthur:

I awoke slowly, my eyes fluttering open to see Regis snoring softly beside me. His small form was peaceful, but I knew he would have questions the moment he woke up. I nudged him gently, waking him. "Where the heck are we, princess? And what happened to your body?"

"Better to just look through my memories," I replied, knowing it would be faster than explaining. As Regis dove into my recent memories, I glanced up to see Caera in a meditative pose. Sylvia sat behind her, her hand resting on Caera's back. I could sense mana flowing around them—Caera was learning mana rotation. The nostalgic sensation of mana in the air stirred something deep within me, and I smiled. It had been a long time since I'd felt it.

Not wanting to disturb them, I let Regis finish going through my memories. "So, what do you think?" I asked him.

"Interesting, princess. I think your grandma will be able to teach you a lot more about aether than any other asura. She's impressive."

I nodded in agreement. Regis retreated into my core, planning to meditate and gather as much aether as possible. He explained that my body, being too young, wouldn't handle aether properly until it matured again. That would leave us in a tough spot, so conserving aether made sense.

Hours passed before Caera finished her session with Sylvia, and I could sense that she had learned mana rotation.

"Congrats on learning mana rotation," I said, startling her.

She smiled warmly at me. "Thanks, Art."

Her smile was so genuine, so full of warmth, that I felt my chest tighten. She looked adorable, and her smile was... beautiful.

Sylvia clapped her hands, bringing us back to focus. "Now, if both of you are ready, we'll begin the real training."

The mention of training made my heart heavy again. No matter how much time we spent together, the thought of losing Sylvia weighed on me.

Before we could start, Sylvia asked, "Have either of you noticed anything strange about your bodies? Other than, of course, being five years old again?"

Caera and I exchanged puzzled glances, shaking our heads.

Sylvia smiled knowingly. "I didn't expect you to. It's a little surprise, and you'll understand soon enough once the time travel is complete."

Curious but trusting, we let the matter rest. Sylvia continued, explaining our training plan. First, we would focus on getting used to our new, younger bodies. Then, we'd work on purifying our mana cores. Caera would continue learning Dicathen's magic techniques, while I would receive tips from Sylvia on how the Indrath clan used aether.

"And what about Regis?" Sylvia asked.

"He went to hibernate, collecting and storing aether for emergency situations," I replied.

Sylvia smiled approvingly. "Good. Now, you two, grab your swords. Augment yourselves and come at me. No spells, no magic, just swords."

Caera handed me a sword from her dimensional ring, and we both readied ourselves. Augmenting with mana felt odd at first—our bodies were still small and awkward. The sword felt too large and heavy for my tiny frame, and I could see Caera was also struggling. But we didn't have time to waste. We steadied ourselves, and with renewed focus, we both charged at Sylvia.