Chapter 150 - 2-32 Louis's Perspective
"Louis! Louis! Hey, wake up!"
Theodore’s sudden appearance left me stumbling over my words. Until a moment ago, Rachel had been right in front of me. Yes, right there. But now, the world had shifted. I looked around in confusion, finding myself back in the arena of Torsova Academy of Magic.
"How was it? Did you manage to see Lady Rachel?"
"Yes... I saw her. I really saw her."
My fist, clenched tight against my chest, still felt the phantom sensation of pressing against a hard, glass-like wall. Now, my hand only grasped at empty air. I hadn't been able to touch a single finger to her, nor could I wipe away her tears. Even so, I had truly met her, and I had made a promise. I would reach her side, no matter what.
Theodore placed a gentle hand on my shoulder, noticing the way my face contorted with the pain of the separation. "It was exactly five minutes. That’s how long you were gone from my sight."
"What do you mean?"
"The Dark Spirit King appeared and told you he’d let you see Lady Rachel, remember? Immediately after that, you vanished."
"Then... you and the others couldn't see her?"
"No. To my eyes, you simply disappeared with the Dark Spirit King and reappeared in the same spot five minutes later. I imagine it was the same for Cyril and Miss Carroll."
I turned to see Cyril and Miss Carroll watching with bated breath, their expressions tense. They nodded hesitantly.
I see. So I was the only one transported to that strange, mystical space.
The Dark Spirit King. His appearance had been entirely sudden. We had been here at the Torsova Academy arena, conducting a Spirit Summoning Ceremony with the help of Theodore and Miss Carroll. Our goal, of course, had been to summon the Spirit King of Light. Since we had no way to reach the Dark Spirit King directly, we hoped the Spirit King of Light might respond to us instead.
In the Kingdom of Dutoit, where dark spirits were thought to be non-existent, finding a path to their King was a daunting task. However, we believed the Spirit King of Light—the Dark Spirit King’s counterpart—might provide a clue. Of course, this required the cooperation of the Saint of Light, Anna Carroll.
"Your Highness... are you alright?"
Miss Carroll spoke up timidly as I stood lost in thought. She didn't have a friendly relationship with the Rachel of this world, so I had expected her cooperation to be difficult to obtain. Yet, after Cyril and I visited the Great Church multiple times to explain my situation and the existence of the other world, something seemed to move her. She eventually agreed to help.
"Thank you for your help, Miss Carroll."
"No, I did very little. Besides, even with my help, we failed to call upon the Spirit King of Light."
She looked down apologetically, but Theodore immediately interjected. "That’s not true. Your presence likely acted as a catalyst that helped summon the Dark Spirit King instead."
"If that’s the case, then I’m glad."
"Summoning the Spirit King of Light was always a long shot. Louis and I will look into that further. More importantly, thank you for your persistent prayers."
"Yes. Without you and Theodore, I might have given up. You have my deepest gratitude."
Theodore had drawn a complex magic circle alone—a task usually requiring multiple mages—and maintained difficult incantations, while Miss Carroll had prayed fervently within the circle. Without them, this ceremony would have been impossible. Yet, despite their best efforts, the Spirit King of Light never appeared. Just as the word give up began to flicker in the back of my mind, a violent gale and a thunderous roar heralded the arrival of the one we least expected: the Dark Spirit King himself.
"Did you speak with him afterward?"
"No... after he appeared..."
I began to recount the events that followed for Theodore and the others.
♢
The Dark Spirit King appeared floating in the air, riding a whirlwind centered on the magic circle.
"For a prince who struggles so admirably, I shall grant a special audience with Rachel Marcel. However, your time lasts only until the final grain of sand falls from this glass."
Ignoring our stunned silence, he tossed an hourglass toward me. As I stared at the glittering sand, a wall of light suddenly encased me. I was trapped in a box with no escape. Before I could ask for an explanation, all light vanished, plunging me into absolute darkness.
"I wonder if you’ll reach me the next time we meet? Or will the door to space-time close, resulting in a game over? Come, enjoy your brief tryst."
The Spirit King’s voice echoed through the void, and a brilliant light erupted from the hourglass. I squinted, my eyes widening as a scene gradually materialized before me.
Thump. Thump.
My heart hammered against my ribs with painful intensity, and a heat rose behind my eyes. I reached out toward the blurry silhouette.
"...Rachel."
There she stood—the person I had yearned for, the one whose image I had burned into my mind through countless lonely nights.