Chapter Text
Just like the first time, one day she went to sleep, and woke up the morning she was teaching illusions to some kids in the gardens of Mystacor.
The morning Micah interrupted her lesson with his little illusion of a ram…
As she recovered her senses, Micah’s ram destroyed her phoenix and it took Light Spinner a moment to realize what was happening. But of course, and mostly feeling it like an impulse, she quickly recast her illusion and destroyed the ram as her phoenix rose, proud and triumphant.
What a show-off, that kid.
Just like herself.
She could hardly remember it, but she praised him and corrected him originally.
Time to take a different direction.
—What is a third year doing here instead of being in class?
—I’m bored, Light Spinner! I've been doing light illusions since before I can even remember. Can’t you teach me the cool stuff!?
—The cool stuff?— she asked, raising a brow. —You want to levitate, and travel through mirrors, and shapeshift, don’t you?— she laughed.
—Exactly!
—That’s good. You will! In due time— she replied, while correcting her students’ casting.
—Aww, what!? No!
—Micah…
—Please! I'll prove it to you that I'm worthy!— he promised, overexcited.
—I believe I just told you “in due time”— she insisted, turning to give him a severe look.
—But…
—No more buts. Return to your tutors.
—What if I want you to be my tutor?
—I only train the truly gifted— she began, looking away. —And while you might be among them, I believe it’s too early for you to begin training with me.
—Then when!?
Light Spinner took a deep breath, joined her hands behind her back, and slowly exhaled as she turned towards him.
—I’ll tell you what: Being as prodigious as you are, it probably won’t take you long to graduate. And once that happens, you will have to make your graduation investigation— she explained.
—Yeah, I… don’t look forwards to it— he admitted.
—What if I told you to look for me when you’re ready for it? I’ll guide your investigation— she offered.
—You would!?
—Yes.
—Really!?
—Of course— she nodded.
—Awesome! I’ll be the fastest graduate ever!
—I’m sure you will— she chuckled.
Light Spinner retired to her room as soon as the class ended.
Alright, one thing done: Micah wouldn’t be raised by her.
But then… what to do about the war against The Horde?
And there was also her promise to Norwyn.
Well, two birds with one stone, she’d solve it the next day.
How exactly?
She wasn’t sure.
For starters, she considered, she’d have to tell the Head Sorcerer about the time-traveling thing…
Maybe, with her investigation about it, they would finally manage to understand that erratic magic and use it!
But until then, she’d have to come up with an alternative to her original plan to fight The Horde.
And she had an idea…
As she went to sleep and got into bed, she repeated to herself over and over again that she had made the right choice.
She had… made the right choice.
—Well, that’s quite the story— Norwyn finally said, after carefully listening to Light Spinner.
—Everything is true. Time-travel, the many attempts, the failed Spell, what I did now… Everything— she insisted.
—And I believe you— he nodded. —The most unbelievable part is actually that you’re here telling me all of this.
—It’s what you asked me to do…
—Precisely. I’m still wondering why you’re finally listening to me— he argued.
—Because, for some reason, you started to listen to me…— she replied.
—So, since in some iteration of your many re-livings I decided to hear you out, now you also… hear me out?
—You could say so.
—Ah… Alright— he sighed. —In any case: since you’re not proposing we perform the Spell of Obtainment, what is it that you suggest?
—We should stop hiding. Or, at the very least, offer our help to the Princesses. We can’t leave everything to them and just “trust” they will handle things.
—You don’t trust their power…
—I know for a fact that they can’t do it alone— she remarked. —Micah will grow to become King of Bright Moon, he will join the army, fight in the battlefields. The first and only sorcerer to do so— she explained. —We can change that.
—We aren’t fighters, Light Spinner.
—We aren’t, but we can be. In fact, we don’t really need to be. We can offer support from the sidelines, from the back. And those who want to fight like Micah will, can become fighters.
—Hmm… I see— Norwyn hummed. —I’ll consider it. If you want to take the lead and make preparations for a first attempt at supporting the army, go ahead— he decided. —However, do not do anything drastic. Don’t act without my authorization.
—Of course, I understand.
—And thank you, Light Spinner.
—For?
—Putting all this effort into fixing things.
—And there’s plenty more to fix yet…— she smirked.
As the years started to pass by, the sorceress’ suggestion became a whole program.
Mystacor developed a series of teams dedicated to providing support, both in the battlefield and back in the safety of the kingdoms, and then had a whole squad of magicians who trained with weapons to fight in the frontlines.
With their help, the war against The Horde became far easier.
They managed to keep their forces at bay, hindered their advance, reduced their influence over conquered land, and even… managed to rescue a whole group of orphans taken by The Horde forces over the years.
Light Spinner made a point of staying away from said orphans…
Then one day, after around a decade, Micah finally went to look for Light Spinner.
He was something around twenty-four or twenty-five years old already, so she couldn’t help but wonder what had taken him so long.
He went to find her one day and invited her to have some tea with him and his sister so they could discuss his investigation thing.
Obviously, she accepted and soon the three were sitting in the library, with their teas and some books.
—Alright, shall we begin?— he asked, cheerful.
—So, Micah and Castaspella— she began. —Nice to meet you, by the way.
—Likewise— the young sorceress replied.
—The idea is to discuss your investigation project, right?
—Correct.
—Then I must ask…
—My graduation, right— he guessed. —I graduated like… four years ago, almost five, actually, but I’ve been postponing the investigation— he explained.
—Because someone had you distracted, huh?— his sister mocked him.
—That’s recent!
—What did I miss?
—Well, my dear brother here may have caught the eye of the Queen of Bright Moon— Castaspella giggled. —So, yeah, I had to remind him he would lose his title if he didn’t actually prepare his investigation soon— she explained. —Which is also why I’m here. I haven’t graduated yet, I’m… not good with practical stuff, but I excel in the theoretical field, or so I’ve been told…
—Yes, yes— Micah nodded, clearing his throat. —I’m a bit impatient, and I didn’t really have any good ideas for the investigation. But my sis came up with a few!
—Alright, I’m all ears.
—Well, I’ve been thinking an interesting investigation field is everything related to magical energy manipulation and sharing. As in, being able to share magical energy between different magicians, making it possible to cast better, more powerful spells.
—Hmm… I see. What else?
—There’s also the idea of magically enhancing weaponry. It’s been done, but there are no proper studies on the matter and it may have unexplored potential— Castaspella went on. —Oh, but my favourite idea, and the one I really think he should work with, is time-travel!
—And I insist that’s stupid— Micah immediately commented, rolling his eyes.
—Wait, wait— Light Spinner stopped them, before they could start bickering. Eyes wide open, she asked the sorceress —Why exactly are you interested in the matter?
—I’ve been having… weird dreams about it. And I may or may not have heard the Head Sorcerer mention the subject.
—He’s an idiot— Light Spinner muttered, deadpan. —Alright. I’ll admit that’s actually a field with a lot of potential— she decided to tell them. —It’s far from stupid, Micah.
—But…
—No buts! I won!
—There is a but— the woman decided to interrupt. —If you do go with that subject, I will need you both to keep everything strictly theoretical— she requested.
—That’s my specialty— Castaspella sighed.
—Are you really… endorsing this?
—Of course— she nodded, serious.
—Alright, whatever. Let’s do it, then— Micah accepted. —Let’s research time-travel.