Chapter 20 - Would you like to be my desciple ? (1)

Luca dragged himself through the hallway, steps sluggish and eyes half-closed.

Tomorrow morning... I still have to train. Or maybe review what I know about dual sabers... or at least stretch?

Then he groaned aloud.

Ugh. No. No thinking. Just sleep. These two days have been enough.

First, the whole phenomenon reveal. Then Aurelia’s marriage talk, then the first conversation with Lilliane, then Seraphina’s talk. And now, apparently someone was going to come meet him?

Yeah. That’s a tomorrow problem.

He reached the door to his dorm and pushed it open with a sigh.

And then promptly

jumped three feet back

like a startled cat.

White hair.

Amethyst eyes.

And a veil that somehow

enhanced

her allure instead of hiding it.

She was sitting there. On

his

windowsill. Legs crossed. Posture elegant. The moonlight painting her figure in silver light.

Even with the veil, she looked like a dream carved from stardust.

If someone else walked in right now—any other hormonal, sixteen-year-old boy—they’d have one of three reactions:

Nosebleed.

Panic confession.

Instant unconsciousness from sheer beauty overload.

But Luca?

Nope.

Because

he knew who this was

.

And if even

a flicker

of a weird thought escaped his brain?

Forget dying.

He’d

wish

he could die.

Because the woman in front of him was none other than:

Lady Weiss Everhart

Mage Tower Lord

Ruler of the Arcanum Spire

Master of the Thirteenth Fold

Top Ten List of "Do Not Mess With Under Any Circumstance"

Basically, a walking nuke in a dress.

Luca stood frozen at the door.

His thoughts spun rapidly.

I JUST SAID I WOULDN’T GET INVOLVED WITH MAIN CHARACTERS.

What is this world’s problem?!

Is just wanting to live peacefully... really that offensive?!

And then the comedic horror dawned.

Wait.

Wait a minute.

Was this... what Professor Seraphina meant?

"Someone will be coming to meet you soon..."

Lady Weiss?!

That was the someone?!

WHY WOULDN’T SHE MENTION THAT?!

Luca looked at the woman again.

No movement. No words. Just... watching.

He slowly backed up against the wall beside the door, face pale.

Okay. Cool. Great. Love this for me.

Lady Weiss watched his reaction with a gaze that carried both authority and mischief—the sort of amused curiosity a queen might show a kitten trying to roar.

There was a regal calm to her—a composure earned not just through power, but through decades of wielding it with precision. Her very presence commanded attention, and yet... there was something playful beneath it all. A spark. A tease.

Then, slowly, her lips curled into a smile.

"From your reaction, I assume you know me," she said, voice smooth as silk with a hint of amusement.

Luca gulped. "H-how could I not recognize the Mage Tower Lord? And you look so similar to Ms. Selena... so I thought... maybe..."

Her eyes sparkled behind the veil, twin gems glinting with mischief. "Are you calling me old, little one?"

Panic.

Instant, full-body panic.

"HOW DARE I!" Luca blurted, waving his hands frantically like he was under arrest. "In fact, if you stood side by side, people would probably think you’re sisters! Hehe..."

Lady Weiss let out a light, musical laugh—the kind of laugh that felt both lovely and dangerous. The kind of laugh you hear before something explodes.

With effortless grace, she rose from the windowsill, every movement deliberate, fluid. Her boots made no sound as they touched the floor, her veil catching the breeze just enough to make her look like she belonged in a painting.

"Let me introduce myself properly," she said, tone still playful but now imbued with the full weight of her station. "I am Charlotte Weiss, the Mage Tower Lord. It’s nice to finally meet you... Luca Valentina, holder of Time and Space."

Luca slowly calmed himself down, straightened his back, and placed his hand over his chest, bowing at a precise forty-five degrees.

"Greetings, Your Grace," he said formally. "Luca Valentina. First-year, Class A, Arcadia Academy. How may I be of assistance, my lady?"

He silently thanked original Luca for once. Say what you will about the original owner of this body—his noble manners were impeccable. Even lower nobles could handle themselves with dignity in front of someone this important.

Lady Weiss tilted her head slightly, amused. "Nothing much. I simply came to look at you."

Luca blinked. "Pardon?"

"We mages," she said with a small smile, "are curious creatures. And you, dear Luca, awakened to elements

beyond

. Time and Space are not just rare—they are forbidden to most. And I was curious."

"Oh," Luca nodded. "I see."

Then she added casually, "Although now that I’ve seen you... I’m wondering if I should just kidnap you. Dissect you. Study how your magic flows. Perhaps see what your organs look like with Time magic carved through them?"

All the calm Luca had been mustering? Gone.

His face paled. Mind blanked. His thoughts spiraled.

HUH?! Is this it?! I survived dragons and devils only to die for science?!

She’s joking, right? Wait, is she? I can’t even tell!

She’s Lady Weiss! Of course I can’t fight her! Who am I compared to her? I can’t even hide!

Maybe... maybe it’s a good death? Dying at the hands of a beautiful genius sorceress? Could be worse...

Her soft, melodic laugh shattered his panic.

"Fufufu... you really are adorable," she said.

Then, almost fondly: "Relax. I have no such intentions."

Luca let out a long, shaky breath.

"Oh thank the stars..."

Lady Weiss let the moment settle before speaking again, her tone softer but lined with purpose.

"Let’s get to the point," she said. "Tell me, Luca. What do you know about your elements—Time and Space? Have you used them before? Experienced anything strange? Anything at all?"

Luca hesitated. Her voice was calm, but something in her words felt... weighty. Deliberate.

Should I tell her?

he thought.

She’s the Tower Lord. If anyone could help me figure this out, it’d be her. And it’s not like I have any leads otherwise. This could be a win-win...

He took a breath. Then he began.

"I’ve had strange experiences since childhood," Luca said slowly. "Even before all of this started. There were times when things felt... off. Time slowing. Space distorting."

Lady Weiss tilted her head, interest flickering in her eyes.

"I sometimes saw visions," he continued. "Memories that didn’t belong to me. Lives of others. Battles. Regrets. And no one believed me when I tried to explain—not even my parents."

His voice softened.

"Then, about a week ago... in the old clocktower... I had another vision. I was someone else. A spirit knight. I could feel everything—his love for his son, his duty, his heartbreak. His death. It was all so vivid it felt more like remembering than dreaming."

His hands trembled slightly.

Words flowed from his mouth as if a dam had burst open.

"And then... the weapon selection ceremony. I didn’t want to die. I was terrified. Desperate. I clung to life with everything I had. And in that moment... something inside me responded. Something ancient. Something powerful. It was like... time itself answered me."

The room fell quiet.

And then—without a word—Luca felt something soft against his head.

Lady Weiss stepped forward and gently embraced him.

Her hand rested softly on the back of his head, the other patting his back in quiet, soothing motions.

She patted his back,her voice soft. "It’s Ok. You’ve endured so much. And you had no one to tell. But you’re not alone anymore.It’s Alright."

Luca’s throat clenched.

Yes, most of what he had shared came from the memories of the original Luca.

But what about him?

He had died.

He had woken up in a strange world, in someone else’s body. With knowledge no one would believe, and a fate no one else could carry. He knew the characters, but couldn’t interact with them honestly. Couldn’t share his truth with anyone—not without risking a butterfly effect.

He had been alone.

Truly, achingly alone.

He wasn’t some heroic reincarnator with a grand plan. He was just a twenty-year-old shut-in who’d spent most of his life in his room, clinging to video games.

He had no great experience. No deep wisdom.

He was, at the core, just a teenager caught in something far beyond him.

And those words—

It’s okay. It’s alright

.—were the very ones he hadn’t even known he needed to hear.

His eyes welled with tears.

His voice trembled.

"...Thank you," he whispered. "Thank you..."

Time passed, though neither knew how long.

Luca remained in the warmth of her embrace, his breathing slowly returning to normal.

Finally, Lady Weiss gently pulled away, letting her hands fall to her sides with quiet grace.

She stood, her face calm once more, the commanding aura returning as if it had never left.

And then she asked—voice firm:

"Luca Valentina... what will you do with this power now? What are your intentions?"

Luca looked up, startled by the weight of the question.

After hearing his answer.

Lady Weiss’s expression softened into a smile. Her voice followed, gentle and inviting:

"Would you like to be my disciple?"

[To be Continued]