[Tower Master's POV]

The air in the upper research hall shimmered faintly with magic—arcane circles floated midair, glowing scripts scrolled across crystalline panels, and apprentices scribbled notes furiously as they rushed to present their findings. The constant hum of mana engines beneath the marble floors resonated through the tower, like a heartbeat that never ceased.

One after another, voices called out to me.

"Tower Master, the results from the elemental convergence test—"

"Tower Master, the anomaly readings from the northern sky are stabilizing—"

"Tower Master, permission to advance to the next stage of analysis—"

I answered each report with a nod, a precise word, or a small motion of my hand. My tone was steady, my posture flawless. Yet, even as I spoke, my gaze drifted—inevitably—to the great clock of astral steel fixed on the wall.

Tick. Tick.

I must have looked at it too many times.

"Tower Master…" one of the senior researchers finally spoke, his voice hesitant. "Forgive my bluntness, but… are you waiting for something?"

I turned my head toward him, my lips curving in a faint smile. "Why do you think so?"

He fidgeted, rubbing the back of his neck. "You keep… glancing at the time. As though anticipating someone. Or something."

A soft laugh escaped me before I could stop it. "Am I, huh?" I murmured. Perhaps he was right. Perhaps even I hadn't noticed how restless I had become.

Before the silence could stretch, another voice interjected from the far side of the chamber.

"Ah, Tower Master… may I speak frankly?"

My eyes settled on him. "Hmm."

He straightened, took a breath, then said firmly, "You have been working without pause for the past two weeks. Reports, experiments, meetings with the royal court… You may be powerful, Tower Master, but even you require rest."

As though his words had unlocked a dam, more voices chimed in.

"Yes, Tower Master, please allow yourself a break."

"Leave the minor matters to us, we can handle them."

"Please, Tower Master, for your own health."

Their concern warmed me more than I expected. I let my gaze drift across their earnest faces, lips softening into a gentle smile. But in the depths of my heart, the truth weighed heavy.

Two weeks… has it truly been that long? And still, I cannot stop. The Devil Cultists are stirring. The shadow of the Devil Emperor grows bolder each day. After what Her Majesty confided to me… how could I possibly afford to rest?

Still, I could not let them worry further. So I inclined my head gracefully, allowing my smile to linger. "Do not trouble yourselves. I will take a rest. You have my word."

The tension in the room eased immediately, relief rippling through them like a calming spell. I did not correct them. A small lie was kinder.

Rising to my feet, I brushed the folds of my violet robes smooth, letting mana ripple faintly through the fabric. "Everyone, I have another appointment. I will be gone for some time. Continue your work and report everything once I return."

A chorus of "Yes, Tower Master" followed me as I turned away.

My stride quickened the moment I left their sight. Through hidden doors, narrow spiral staircases, and passages only I knew, I made my way down into the tower's secret heart. At last, I arrived in a chamber wholly unlike the rest—quiet, warm, with shelves of old tomes, a hearth unlit, and a desk strewn not with reports but with trinkets I had gathered over the years. My space. My sanctuary.

I lowered myself into the chair, my hands pressing against the desk's smooth surface. My body, finally released from its rigid poise, sagged forward. "Hmm? Why is he not here yet?" I murmured, resting my head on my folded arms. The exhaustion seeped out of me like water through a cracked jar, leaving me startlingly aware of how fragile I felt.

Unbidden, an image surfaced in my mind: a boy with dark violet hair and crimson eyes that seemed to hold far more than he ever spoke aloud. A child who never boasted, never once called himself my disciple in front of others, never leaned on the authority of my name. Always carrying himself with quiet dignity, even when weighed down by burdens I could see pressing against him.

If he has called for me this time… it must mean…

***

[Back to Present]

"I… didn't expect her to be this tired."

Luca's gaze lingered on the Tower Master, her form slumped over the desk, the veil still concealing her lower face. From the side, though, he could make out the faint outline of her lips, softened in sleep.

He stepped closer, his eyes narrowing slightly. I knew she would be busy… but for her to be this exhausted… just how much work did she take on herself?

Quietly, he muttered, "It's a miracle she even gave me some time."

His focus stayed on her—her peaceful features, the dark lashes casting delicate shadows on her pale skin. For a fleeting moment, he thought, Can I do something for her?

A spark flickered in his eyes. Maybe… I can try that.

Raising his hand, he let a faint temporal aura spiral out from his palm, wrapping her body in a gentle glow. His chest rose and fell as he thought, This power can slow time for enemies… maybe it can give her more time to rest as well.

He let out a soft breath, then turned his gaze away. "I shouldn't disturb her."

The room was quiet, filled only with the faint sound of her steady breathing. Books and papers lay scattered across the desk, spilling onto the floor. Luca crouched and gathered a few of them, his eyes wandering over the pages absentmindedly—until something caught his attention.

"…Hmm? What's this?"

He pulled out a worn photograph tucked between the pages of an old tome. It was faded, its edges frayed with age, but the image remained clear enough.

A white-haired woman stood there, veil covering her face, her figure unchanged from the one sitting before him now.

Luca's lips curved faintly. "…She hasn't aged a day, it seems."

But what drew his attention wasn't her—it was the small figure by her side. A little girl, her wide grin exposing every tooth, eyes alight with unrestrained joy.

"Is that… Selena?" he murmured in disbelief. "She actually knew how to smile like that?"

A soft chuckle escaped him, but then his expression shifted. The photo had been torn—deliberately. The edges jagged, as though someone had wanted to erase whoever once stood on the other side.

"What was here…?" he whispered, puzzled.

A sudden rustle broke the silence.

Luca froze, quickly sliding the photograph back into the book and setting it aside. When he turned, the Tower Master was stirring.

Her eyelashes fluttered as she lifted her head, a small yawn escaping her lips, a tear glistening in the corner of one eye.

When her gaze landed on Luca watching her, her eyes widened slightly.

"…What…. happened?" she asked softly, her voice still heavy with drowsiness.

She quickly averted her gaze, almost flustered—an expression Luca never thought he'd see from her. He tilted his head slightly, amused. That's… something new.

"I am sorry," she murmured, her voice quicker than usual. "I must've slept for too long. So much work still needs to be done, and I even kept you waiting."

"Calm down, Master," Luca said calmly, his tone steady, almost soothing. "You didn't sleep for that long—just half an hour, maybe."

Her eyes widened slightly at that. "Half an hour? Impossible. It felt as if I had slept for a few hours at least." She paused, her expression sharpening as her voice grew firm. "Was anyone else here?"

Luca shook his head without hesitation.

"Then why…" her gaze narrowed slightly, scanning the faint glow still lingering in the air, "why do I sense traces of aura around me?"

"Oh," Luca scratched his cheek, almost sheepishly. "That was me."

Her brows furrowed. "Hm?"

"You seemed so exhausted," Luca explained, his voice softening. "I thought I could give you a little more time to rest. So, I used my ability to slow down the time around you."

For a moment, silence lingered. Her stern expression eased, replaced by something quieter—embarrassed, almost vulnerable. She lowered her gaze and said softly, "I apologize. You shouldn't have had to see me in such a state."

"Don't apologize, Master," Luca replied quickly, shaking his head. His tone grew firmer, more heartfelt. "If anything, I should be the one saying that. Even though I'm your disciple, I still can't share your burden."

Her lips curved faintly under the veil, her eyes softening as though touched by his sincerity. "You are still a child. What are you worrying about?" She tilted her head gently. "So… this ability. Is this the one you mentioned before?"

Luca's expression immediately hardened, the warmth in his gaze sharpening into seriousness. "Ah, no. This is… a different one."

Her eyes narrowed with curiosity, a hint of playfulness glimmering beneath her composed demeanor. "This one alone is already so heaven-defying… what else could there be?"