Mother of Learning. Arc 3 Incomplete

«I’m not sure of anything, Taiven,» Zorian said. And he really wasn’t — even after a whole year of being trapped inside the time loop he still felt the entire situation was all kinds of crazy. «And the few things I do know are so insane you wouldn’t believe a word of it.»

«Oh, now I just have to hear them,» said Taiven, crossing her arms in front of her chest defiantly. «Go on, just try me.»

«Tell, tell!» agreed Kirielle. Kael didn’t say anything, but Zorian could tell he was curious as well.

Hm. He could tell them about the time loop, but even if they believed him, what would that accomplish? They were no more qualified to solve this mystery than he was, and if they went around telling that story to people they could blow his cover to Zach or possible third parties. Then again, he already told Haslush about the invasion, so he was already playing with fire in this restart…

Oh to hell with it, as if they’d ever believe him anyway.

«If I told you that Zach and I are time travelers perpetually reliving this first month of school, and that a giant army of monsters and hostile mages invades the city during the summer festival, what would you say?»

Taiven raised her eyebrow at him.

«Well, go on,» Zorian prompted.

«You’re right,» Taiven sighed. «I don’t believe a word of it. So you’re saying the things you know are that insane?»

«At the very least,» Zorian confirmed.

«Huh,» Taiven said speculatively. «Sounds interesting, but you’ll have to tell me those stories some other time. I kept you long enough, I think. See you around, Roach!»

Zorian watched as Taiven left before turning back to Kael and Kirielle. «So. Shall we continue where we left off?»

They both remained silent, staring at him.

«Um,» he said. «Why are you staring at me like that?»

«Is it true?» Kirielle asked fearfully. «Are you really a time traveler?»

Zorian opened his mouth and closed it again. What?

«Your friend may be too oblivious to recognize an answer couched as a hypothetical, but we’re not,» Kael elaborated. «You really do believe that, don’t you? That you’re a time traveler?»

«I… yes. If it’s a delusion, it’s a very convincing one,» Zorian said carefully. «The magics I learn in each iteration of this month transfer over into the next one. Insanity doesn’t give the victim spells and shaping skills.»

«I don’t understand,» Kirielle complained.

«You and me both, Kiri,» Zorian sighed. «You and me both.»

«Perhaps you should explain from the start?» Kael suggested patiently. «Tell us what you do understand.»

«I lived through this month before,» Zorian said after taking a moment to collect his thoughts. «The first time, before I knew about the time loop, I did not bring Kirielle with me to Cyoria.»

«What!?» protested Kirielle. «Zorian, you jerk!»

«I lived in one of the academy-provided apartments and I went to classes like normal,» said Zorian, ignoring her. He glanced at Kael. «You did too, but I didn’t know you then. However, we had an extra classmate.»

«Zach?» Kael guessed.

«Yes,» Zorian confirmed. «Unlike the previous two years I shared a class with him, this time he was amazing. He solved every test perfectly, he had mastered hundreds of spells and he was good enough at alchemy to impress you, of all people.»

Kael raised his eyebrow at him.

«Yes,» Zorian assured. «It was like he was completely transformed during the summer break. At the time I didn’t care very much — I was curious as to how he accomplished it, but it was not my business to pry. And then the summer festival came, and everything went to hell. Artillery spells descended from the sky on the city, and an army of monsters followed in their wake. As I was running through the burning city, I witnessed Zach fighting the invaders. He was throwing high-level spells as if they were candy, fighting with a skill that no third year student could possibly possess. He fared pretty well at first, but then a lich arrived at the scene and demolished him.»

He paused for a moment to consider his next words, but Kirielle evidently didn’t want to wait that long.

«And then what?» Kirielle asked. «What happened next?»

«What else?» Zorian scoffed. «We died. The lich cast some kind of weird spell at us — a necromantic spell, I am told — and we were instantly killed.»

«So how did you go back in time then?» asked Kirielle suspiciously.

«I have no idea. All I know is that I was suddenly back in my bed in Cyoria, with you wishing me a good morning in that uniquely charming Kirielle way. At first I thought this was something the lich did, but I would soon find out this was not an isolated occurrence. Every time I die, or at the end of the Summer festival if I don’t, my soul is transported back to that morning in Cirin before I take a train to Cyoria.»

They stared at him for a few seconds, and Zorian was already becoming certain they would suddenly start laughing and mocking him when Kirielle decided to speak again.