Chapter 52 - What is Time & Space ?

The evening sun cast a warm amber glow across Luca’s dorm room. He lay back on his bed, legs tangled in the sheets, an open book resting over his chest—

Advanced Saber Theory: The Flow of the Blade

. His crimson eyes scanned the diagrams for the umpteenth time, trying to make sense of the complex stances and energy flows.

Why isn’t this working...?

His brows furrowed. He had been practicing for days, and yet, nothing felt natural. The movements were stiff. Forced. No flow.

In the game... it was so simple. I just selected the skill, slotted it into the character sheet, and the rest played out in combat. Growth came naturally with EXP. But here...

His thoughts halted.

Suddenly, his eyes widened. A jolt of understanding struck him like lightning. "Ah—!" he grunted softly, smacking his forehead with his palm.

How did I not realize it before? In the game, battle triggered growth. Then... real combat should be the key here too. Not just drills or theory. I need real pressure—real stakes.

Just as that thought settled, a calm, serene voice flowed into the room like a breeze.

"What are you thinking so hard of?"

Luca’s head snapped toward the window.

There, poised against the soft orange backdrop of twilight, stood an elegant woman with flowing white hair, a faint veil concealing the lower half of her face. Her presence was quiet, yet dignified—impossible to overlook.

Luca scrambled upright and bowed with deep respect. "Greetings, Master. How are you?"

Seeing Luca scramble up in a hurry, the Tower Master chuckled softly beneath her veil and stepped into the room with the grace of falling snow.

"I should be the one asking that," she said gently, folding her hands before her. "How are you, after that battle?"

Luca met her eyes, forcing a smile onto his face. "I’m fine, Master. What could possibly happen to me?"

She let out a quiet sigh, eyes narrowing behind the veil, though her tone remained soft. "My subordinates have told me bits and pieces... but that’s never the full story, is it?" She paused, gaze steady. "Tell me. What

really

happened?"

His smile faltered.

Just a flicker—but it was enough.

Luca lowered his eyes. And then, slowly, he began to speak. Words fell from his mouth like water breaking through a dam.

He spoke of Emeron, of the moment Eric was used as a hostage. Of the blood crystal—the grotesque fusion—and the price he paid to keep everyone safe. Of how Emeron transformed into something monstrous. Of the desperate battle, the crushing fear, and then...

...then he told her about the vision.

The life he saw through Emeron’s eyes. The pain. The injustice. Mirelle’s laughter. Her screams.

He told her how he tried to reach Emeron’s heart. How, for a moment, he saw the man’s humanity flicker once more.

And then, how it ended.

How corrupted mana surged one last time, and instinct alone drove him to raise both sabers in a single, fateful strike.

When the story reached that final note, Luca’s strength seemed to drain from him all at once. His knees gave in, and he slumped to the floor, hands trembling as they braced against the wooden boards.

He hadn’t realized just how heavy it still was.

The Tower Master didn’t speak at first.

She simply stepped forward and knelt beside him, her long white sleeves trailing against the floor. One hand gently rested against his back.

"It’s okay," she said softly, her voice a balm. "You did more than anyone could’ve expected. You endured."

She didn’t ask him to get up. Didn’t tell him to be strong.

She just stayed there, quietly patting his back, letting the silence hold them.

Luca steadied his breathing, sitting up straight as he ran a hand through his tousled hair. "I’m fine now, Master," he said, offering a faint smile.

The Tower Master’s expression remained unreadable beneath her veil, but she gave a small nod. "What were you thinking about so intently before I arrived?"

At that, Luca reached for the open book beside him on the bed. He held it up for her to see. "This. I found it in a cave during one of our missions. It’s a saber technique manual, and since my weapons are twin sabers, I thought it would suit me... so I’ve been practicing."

She took the book from his hand and skimmed through it. Her fingers paused midway, lingering on a specific page. A brief flicker of thought crossed her eyes, and then she looked up at him.

"It’s a good one," she said. "Well-structured. Now... tell me clearly—what’s the exact problem you’re facing?"

Luca exhaled. "I’ve been following the aura circulation method it describes, step by step. But... I just can’t get it right. No matter how many times I try, something feels off. So I thought—maybe real combat would help me understand it better."

The Tower Master gave a soft hum, her voice calm but thoughtful. "Your logic isn’t wrong. Real-life experience does have its place." She paused, then added, "But I believe the problem lies elsewhere."

Luca tilted his head, confused. "What do you mean, Master?"

"Well," she said, her voice slipping into a gentle, teaching tone, "let’s say... oil and water. No matter how much you stir, they won’t mix, right?"

He nodded slowly.

"Everything in nature has its own fundamental properties. You, as a warrior, are no different. Your body and soul naturally align with certain elemental attributes. Some techniques will resonate with that alignment... and some won’t."

As she explained, something clicked in Luca’s mind.

That’s why... in the game, techniques of the same rank behaved differently with different characters...

His gaze dropped to the floor.

"So... does that mean this technique isn’t suitable for me after all?" he asked quietly.

The Tower Master sat beside him once more and gently placed a hand on his shoulder. "Not necessarily," she said kindly. "You may just need to adjust the way you circulate your aura—match it to your own elemental affinities."

Luca’s eyes lit up with hope—only to flicker dim again as doubt returned. "But... isn’t that too difficult?"

A soft chuckle escaped her lips. "It is. No point sugarcoating it—it’s hard. But it’s also a path only

you

can walk."

She rose to her feet with the grace of moonlight. "Let’s do this: I’ll tell you what I know of your elements. Then, over the next week, it’ll be your task to work out how to adapt this technique to suit them."

Luca thought for a moment, nodding slowly.

That makes sense... I barely know anything about my own elements. Before rushing into techniques, I should understand myself first. Too much on the plate only leads to indigestion.

He smiled faintly at the thought and looked up. "Alright, Master. I’ll do it."

The Tower Master folded her arms behind her back and turned toward the window, her gaze distant as if peering through the fabric of reality itself.

"Time and Space," she began slowly, "they’re not just elements... they are the very

pillars

upon which this entire cosmos stands."

Luca’s brows furrowed. He sat upright, drawn into the gravity of her tone.

"Space," she continued, "is the canvas. It is

dimension

,

distance

, and

structure

. Without it, nothing can exist. Every star, every atom, every plane of existence rests within Space."

She turned slightly, her veil fluttering with the soft evening breeze. "And Time... is motion. It is

change

,

progression

, the flow that turns stillness into life. Without Time, Space is nothing but a frozen void."

She stepped forward, drawing a circle mid-air with her finger, and a gentle ripple of aura followed her motion. "They say the universe began with a singularity—a point where Time and Space were one. The Big Bang, they call it. From that explosion, Space expanded and Time began to flow."

Luca’s eyes widened.

Wait... so you’re saying even in this world, Time and Space are...formed from the big bang?

She nodded. "Exactly. Time bends with gravity. Space stretches with energy. They are inseparable. In magical terms, they are the highest-order elements. Not because they’re flashy... but because they are

foundational

."

She turned to face him now, her eyes gleaming behind the veil.

"According to what I read in records, those who wield Time manipulate cause and effect, memory, even aging. Those who master Space can fold distance, warp dimensions, and escape the limitations of terrain. Of course not all of it can be true, cause the only person I have seen having these affinities is YOU. So most of it can be real as well as just rumours. Then there is your ability to see the visions, that’s because of time and space as well, you can travel to that time to a certain space or place.But..."

Her voice softened.

"...they are not easy to command. Why? Because you are not just using them—you are challenging the

rules of the world itself

."

Luca stared at her, stunned. Every word etched itself into his mind like sacred scripture.

"I never thought of it like that..." he murmured. "Time and Space are rare elements, but I just saw them as cool, exotic powers. Not... the building blocks of everything."

The Tower Master smiled. "Now you begin to understand. Knowing your affinity is only step one. Comprehending the

meaning

behind it... is step two."

Luca placed a hand on his chest, feeling the quiet pulse within.

So this is what I’ve inherited... elements that touch the very foundation of reality.

He nodded slowly. "I’ll take this seriously, Master."

"Good," she said simply. "Because from here on... your journey only gets more difficult."

"Can I ask you something, master?"

****

Sigh, I didn’t think their relationship was this bad.