Time Cursed Mage - Chapter 8: Teach me

[Initiating Curse]

[Restarting Day]

[Toxicity Resistance Increased]

Kaspar awoke once more with the pain of his death. His heart pounded against his ribs like a caged bird desperate for flight. Beads of cold sweat clung to his face. He could almost feel the agony of the wyvern's acidic blood corroding his arms.

"Damn it," he muttered under his breath, rubbing his forearms as if to soothe the phantom pain. "Can't anything come easy?"

He sighed. Despite the frustration, a flicker of excitement stirred within him. He had finally struck a real blow against a wyvern. A small victory in the endless cycle in which he was trapped.

Shaking off the sleep, Kaspar reached for one of the books beside his makeshift bed. The tome's leather cover was cracked and aged. Its pages were filled with notes and symbols; he hoped to find clues to help him get out of the loop. Tucking it under his arm, he stepped out of his tent.

The camp was still asleep. Except for the guards; everyone else was still resting.

His first stop was at the noble's tent. As usual, he went in and came out with the sword. He had already gotten used to the process, so it was quick and straightforward. He paused as he adjusted the sheath on his belt, contemplating his next move.

"Right," he mused to himself. "Making noise in the hopes that Iris would find me didn't work." He recalled his previous attempt. "It's time I seek her out instead."

Kaspar set his sights on the upper reaches of the camp, where only nobles and officers had access. He walked through tents and supply carts, leaving the central grounds behind. The landscape became sparser. The upper area wasn’t much different, except for better tents and more space between each one. Additionally, there were several unpopulated areas because of too many spiky rocks.

Ahead, a lone soldier patrolled an isolated stretch near the perimeter. Wearing the same armor Iris used, the guard was carefree, his focus lax. To Kaspar, it was a perfect opportunity.

Kaspar took a moment to compose himself. He smoothed back his hair, straightened his posture, and lifted his chin. Everything to adopt an air of authority. With the sword at his hip and confidence in his stride, he hoped to look like a noble.

Before the soldier could see him approaching, Kaspar said, "Soldier!"

The guard spun around, eyes widening as he snapped to attention. "Sir!" he responded, a note of surprise in his voice. Kaspar could feel the soldier's gaze sweeping over him, trying to figure out who he was.

'Let's hope this is enough,' Kaspar thought.

"I need information," Kaspar stated, his tone measured and authoritative. "Where can I find the soldier named Iris?"

The guard hesitated for a moment, taken aback by the directness of the question. "I—I don't know for certain, sir," he stammered. "But she usually patrols near the mess tent."

Kaspar felt a surge of satisfaction, resisting the urge to smile outright. 'Finally, a lead. Now I know where she is.'

But as he turned to leave, a thought made him pause. 'Is this how a noble would act? Rushing off might undermine the façade. They need to continue believing this deception.' He decided on a different approach.

He looked at the soldier with a steady gaze. "Inform her that I will be waiting at the edge of the camp, near the stone pillars," Kaspar instructed. His voice carried the expectation of obedience, leaving little room for questions.

The guard straightened, eyes flickering with a mix of respect and uncertainty. "Y-yes, sir," he replied.

Kaspar mustered his most authoritative tone, channeling Officer Blut's irritation. "This is urgent! What are you standing around for? Get lost!" he barked at the soldier. Without waiting to see if the soldier obeyed, he spun on his heel and strode away.

He returned to his hideout, nestled between towering rock formations at the edge of the camp.

Once inside, Kaspar unsheathed his sword. He began his training anew, each swing of the weapon slicing through the air with a crisp whoosh. His muscles strained. Sweat beaded on his forehead and trickled down his temples.

"Again... still not good enough," he muttered, frustration seeping into his voice. "I've managed to fight better, but my skills are still pathetic."

Minutes later, as he was settling into a rhythm, he heard footsteps approaching. He paused, turning to see a young woman entering his hideout. She carried her helmet tucked under her right arm. Meanwhile, her left hand tried to fix the hair stuck to her forehead from the sweat.

Her gaze searched for the one who had called her; her nervousness was evident on her face.

"Sir! Soldier Iris, Second Circle Mage, reporting as ordered, sir!" she announced. She stood at attention, heels clicked together, her gaze fixed straight ahead.

"Hello, Iris!" Kaspar responded cheerfully, forgetting she didn't know him in this loop. At least, not this version of him. His familiarity seemed to catch her off guard.

"Sir?" she questioned, a flicker of confusion crossing her face. Her eyes shifted to meet his, searching for recognition.

He gestured toward a flat stone jutting out from the wall. "Please, have a seat," he offered.

Hesitating for a moment, Iris moved toward the makeshift seat. She set her helmet down beside her and sat, her posture rigid, hands resting on her knees. Her armor clinked with the movement.

Kaspar sheathed his sword and leaned against the opposite wall. "I heard from someone that you once lived in my territory," he began. "Oh, and I should introduce myself; I'm Kaspar von Hexenzeit."

At the mention of his name, Iris's eyes widened in shock. She shot to her feet, her expression shifting from surprise to indignation. "Damn it!" she exclaimed. "I thought you were some officer or noble!" Frustration laced her voice, and a flush crept up her neck.

Kaspar raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement playing at the corners of his mouth. "Well, technically, I am a noble," he remarked. "Though not in the way you were thinking."

She crossed her arms, her gaze narrowing. "So, what is this? Some kind of joke?" she challenged.

"Not at all," he replied. "I simply thought we might have a mutually beneficial conversation."

"Mutually beneficial?" Iris echoed. "And what could you offer me?"

He smiled. "How would you like to avoid patrol duty for a while?" he suggested. "No more endless rounds through the camp perimeter."

She eyed him, suspicion evident in her gaze. "And in return?"

"All I ask is that you answer a few questions and teach me a thing or two," Kaspar explained. "Simple enough, don't you think?"

Iris studied him for a long moment, weighing the proposal. "Teach you?" she repeated. "What could I teach that the Academy's know-it-all doesn't already know?"

"It's a long story," Kaspar began, striving to sound as genuine as possible. He sat perched on the edge of a stone within the confines of the hideout. "But a few days ago, I struck my head against a rock." He paused, gauging her reaction. "I spoke with the professors, but there's nothing they can do. I've lost some memories." He hesitated before correcting himself. "Actually, I've lost a good part of them."

Iris crossed her arms over her chest, her armor creaking with the movement. Her eyes narrowed as she regarded him. "And what does that have to do with me?" she asked.

"You? Nothing," Kaspar replied with a nonchalant shrug. Rising to his feet, he made a show of turning away. "I can call a soldier, and you can return to your patrol."

"Wait. No, hold on," Iris called out, her tone shifting from indifference to urgency. As Kaspar paused, she exhaled and slipped off one of her boots, wiggling her toes against the cold stone floor. A sigh of relief escaped her lips, betraying the discomfort of long hours spent on her feet. "Let's start with the basics. What do you want to ask?"

Kaspar returned to her, settling on a rock across from her.

"What are we doing here? Where exactly are we?" he inquired, leaning forward slightly. His eyes searched hers, a genuine confusion evident in his gaze.

She raised an eyebrow, a hint of disbelief creeping into her expression. "That must have been some hit to the head," Iris remarked, shaking her head. "You don't remember anything?"

"Not a thing. Zero. Nada," Kaspar confirmed, spreading his hands.

Iris studied him for a moment before uncrossing her arms. "We're on an expedition organized by the Hohenheim Magic Academy," she explained.

He furrowed his brow. "Alright, you've said several things I'm not familiar with. What's this expedition about? What are we searching for? And what is the Magic Academy?" Kaspar admitted, revealing the extent of his ignorance.

A flicker of concern passed over her features. "An expedition is a group that explores ruins, caverns, forests, lost cities. You name it, all in search of artifacts," she began. "In this particular expedition, we're searching for a mana vein. Which should contain an absurd amount of Mana Crystals." She paused before continuing. "As for the Academy, it's the foremost center of magical learning in the empire."

Kaspar nodded, scratching his chin as he considered her words. 'Should I mention the time loop?' he pondered. 'No, it's better to get more information first. She might think I'm crazy.'

'In that case, it's best to steer the conversation back to the real issue,' Kaspar concluded.

"What about that door?" he asked, tilting his head toward the direction from which he knew the colossal gate stood.

Iris glanced in the direction he indicated, though the door itself was out of sight from their spot.

"From what we heard, it's some kind of mechanism built by an ancient civilization," she explained. "It requires a massive amount of mana to open."

"If it's sealed shut, doesn't that suggest there could be dangers inside?" Kaspar pressed, his tone cautious.

She shrugged, slipping off her other boot and flexing her feet. "It may, but we have a Seven Circle mage with us. He'll handle any threats that might arise with ease," Iris replied. "Remember, this is only a school trip for most of you."

"Could he protect us, even if there were wyverns?" Kaspar asked, watching her reaction.

Iris's eyes widened slightly, a hint of surprise flashing across her face. "Wyverns? Those have been extinct for a long time," she remarked. "But even if they weren't, I imagine he would have no problem."

'Then why can't he deal with them?' Kaspar thought, recalling his countless deaths. Aloud, he asked, "Do you know the name of this mage or what he looks like?"

She shook her head. "I don't have any idea. All I know is that he's leading the ritual to open the gate," Iris confirmed.

"Got it. Thanks," Kaspar said.

She studied him. "So, about learning. What is it that you want?" Iris inquired, leaning back on her hands. The tension in her posture had eased, and she appeared more relaxed.

"Ah!" Kaspar exclaimed, reaching into his satchel. He pulled out a worn book, its leather cover scuffed and edges frayed from use, and handed it to her.

Iris took the book, examining the symbol on the cover. "Do you want to learn magic?" she asked, lifting her gaze to meet his.

He shook his head. "No. How to read."