The year 2015.
The outskirts of London, England.
Clock Tower, Department of Botany.
Under the afternoon sun, Aoko walked down a street that felt both familiar and foreign after so many years.
"It hasn't changed much since the last time I came"—This thought crossed her mind.
Mineralogy was a department with a long history at the Clock Tower. Its origins could be traced back to a Magician who still lived today. Therefore, this deep-rooted history brought an environment resistant to change. The accumulation of thousands of years meant the Department of Botany wouldn't undergo noticeable changes in just a few years.
Moreover, Aoko returned only once every two or three years. Within such a short interval, it was highly unlikely the Department of Botany would have changed in any way she'd notice.
Besides, if anything, her own appearance hadn't changed much either, just like the Department of Botany.
A simple shirt and worn-out jeans, long black hair loosely flowing down her back, no makeup to emphasize femininity, nor any sense of adornment. Yet, she looked strikingly beautiful—perhaps due to her cool aura and flawless figure.
On the streets of the academic city, many magi living there glanced at her. After an initial surprise, they all wore expressions of "Oh, her again."
The Fifth Magician, Aozaki Aoko, was a well-known figure at the Clock Tower. Not only because she had caused numerous incidents during her studies, but also because in recent years, besides traveling the world and doing various things that made the Clock Tower nervous, she frequently visited the Department of Botany.
Why did this Magician keep coming to the Department of Botany?
Over the years, many speculations had circulated throughout the Clock Tower. Some believed the Lord of the Department of Botany had reached an agreement with her. Others thought the Department had offended this Magician—some even speculated that Aoko had joined the Department of Botany and was preparing to help them seize power.
Of course, these speculations eventually faded on their own. Aoko never explained or interfered. She simply acted as she always did, following her own thoughts. Additionally, the Department of Botany itself never commented on her actions. Over time, the rumors about her behavior were no longer mentioned. Even now, although magi in the Department of Botany were still slightly surprised by Aoko's arrival, to a certain extent, they had come to regard her as part of daily life.
As usual, after passing through the slightly averted gazes of the magi around her, Aoko arrived at her sole destination in this academic city.
Like returning to her own home, Aoko pulled a key from her pocket, smoothly unlocked the door, and stepped inside—
"You've arrived, the last and the slowest."
The moment she entered, such a voice rang into her ears.
It was the voice of a woman she once deeply hated, though now she didn't hate her quite as much.
"Think about where I came from. I bought a plane ticket straight from Nevada as soon as I got the message."
Aoko looked toward the red-haired woman sitting on the sofa—her older sister by status. "Sister, when did you arrive?"
Touko extinguished the cigarette butt in her hand. "Yesterday. I was already in Italy, so the flight was quick. Since it's a rare occasion where he asked us to come, we should be proactive."
"So you came too… Then, where's my husband?"
After tossing her suitcase onto the sofa, Aoko looked around for the figure of someone she hadn't seen in a long time.
Hearing how she referred to him, Touko frowned. "You say that so naturally. You two aren't even engaged, let alone married. How dare you call him that."
"Why not? And where is he?"
"Your husband isn't here."
The one who answered Aoko wasn't Touko, but another acquaintance descending from the stairs.
Holding the railing as she came down, Riddell smiled at Aoko. "He wasn't here a year ago. Now he's at Chaldea in Antarctica. Gray and Rei are with him."
"He ran off there, huh. By the way, Riddell, why do you look younger?"
Aoko and Riddell were the same age, both forty-one years old. Aoko herself hadn't aged due to her magic, but Riddell looked remarkably youthful.
"Did the youth elixir the Department of Mineralogy researched a few years ago finally get completed?"
"Almost. But I only made one dose for myself. Besides, you two don't need it. Making more would be a waste."
Sometimes, Riddell felt deeply envious of the people around her. They all remained unchanged for various reasons, while she, relatively normal, could only grow older day by day.
To avoid becoming an old hag unworthy of her husband, Riddell had tried every method. Fortunately, the youth elixir had finally succeeded.
After a brief moment of surprise, Aoko continued asking, "So it's just the three of us? Where are the others? I thought they'd all arrived."
"They've already left. We stayed behind just to wait for you. Who told you to be the last to arrive?"
"Hmm—sorry. But… left? Where to?"
"According to Merry, to the Reverse Side of the World."
Riddell explained. Right after she finished, the entire room was instantly filled with countless flower petals. Fortunately, the three of them were already used to such sudden changes. They simply stood in place, waiting for the petals to disappear.
About a minute later—
When the petals vanished, Aoko and the others looked around carefully. They realized they were now standing on another platform, filled with fantastical colors. It resembled an observation deck atop a massive building.
And not far from there, several people they knew were already seated nearby.
Seeing the three of them arrive, Merry, who was closest, also stood up and waved at them. "Long time no see, Touko, Aoko. Welcome to the Reverse Side of the World, the Eternally Secluded Utopia, the Garden of Avalon. We've been waiting for you."
"Avalon…"
Aoko looked around. "The tower where Merlin sealed himself in myth?"
"Yes, more or less. But my tower isn't here. I borrowed this one."
"Borrowed? Then who's the original owner?"
In response to Touko's question, Merry pointed toward the ceiling. At the top of the observation deck, something resembling a white human figure was hanging there.
"What is that?"
"Don't worry about it. For now, that's not an important person."