The journey back from the Grand Temple to Duke Larvin's residence felt like a march to the gallows. Every rattle of the carriage wheels was a clock tick bringing him closer to judgment. Calian sat still, hugging his knees inside the luxurious cabin.
"What happened at the temple, Sebastian?" Calian asked, his voice low and subdued, moments after the carriage entered the Duke's residence gate. He was asking the butler, who had just stepped down from the coachman's seat and was now opening the door for him.
Sebastian, who always possessed the composure of a calm morning lake, now showed a faint wrinkle of anxiety at the corner of his eyes. "Young Master, rumors travel fast. The servants are already whispering. I heard the Grand Crystal did not respond."
Calian nodded bitterly. "Worse than that. The crystal died in my hands, and the Chief Priest declared me... a zero. A complete failure."
Sebastian closed his eyes for a moment. "I understand. The Duke is back from his meeting. He is waiting in his study."
Calian felt his blood freeze. His father already knew. Already waiting.
"Wait, Sebastian," Calian took a deep breath, forcing courage. "Before I face Father, I need one hour. Take me to the library. And... don't tell anyone. Say I'm resting in my room."
Sebastian looked at Calian with a skeptical expression. "The Duke does not like to be kept waiting, Young Master. Especially for matters concerning the Larvin honor."
"I know," Calian replied, his amethyst-purple eyes staring straight. "But I cannot face him without knowing why. I saw something, Sebastian. Something hidden. Ancient writing that only appeared in the crystal, and I could read it."
Sebastian noticed a cold determination in Calian's eyes. It was no longer a plea but a request based on an urgent need.
"Very well, Young Master," Sebastian bowed, his tone becoming more serious. "I will stall for as long as possible. The Underground Library, the secret path. I will wait for you at the entrance after one hour."
"Thank you, Sebastian," Calian said sincerely.
Calian sneaked into the Underground Library, a labyrinth of books guarded by high-level magic, his safest sanctuary in the house. The thousands of ancient books smelling of paper and old ink calmed him for a moment.
Calian immediately headed to the forbidden section. He lit an oil lamp, letting the soft yellow light illuminate the towering bookshelves.
Time Loop. The Circle of Time.
He searched the catalog for temporal magic, curses, and ancient languages. After several tries, he found a small book with a worn silver cover, hidden in the dustiest corner. The title, written in the Imperial language: Notes on Time Fragments: A Treatise on Chronos and Unique Temporal Phenomena.
Calian's eyes widened. Chronos. The Chief Priest had mentioned that ancient script as Chronos.
He opened the book carefully. The paper was extremely fragile. Calian began to read, ignoring his racing heartbeat.
The book contained complex notes from an ancient scholar who studied time. Calian found a chapter titled 'The Miracle of Swapped Time'.
He brought the oil lamp closer and started reading intently.
"Unique Temporal Phenomena are not bound by the usual laws of the Mana Core magic. It is a direct intervention of the concept of time itself. This miracle does not grant a Mana Core or an Aura Heart, but instead swaps the subject's conventional strength potential for the ability of Local Time Flow Manipulation."
Calian frowned. "Local Time Flow Manipulation?"
He continued reading.
"This phenomenon, which in ancient script is called the Time Loop, grants the user five main abilities, focusing on the reversal and inhibition of time:
1. Immunity to Aging: Halts the cellular aging process, rendering the user biologically immortal.
2. Age Manipulation: The ability to rejuvenate or age oneself or others within touch range.
3. Reversion of State (Reversion): Reverts the condition of an object or living being to a desired previous state (e.g., instantly healing fatal wounds by reverting the body's state before the injury).
4. Temporal Stasis: Halts the flow of time entirely on a specific object or area for a short duration.
5. Time Limitation: However, this phenomenon cannot be used to travel back into the past. The past that has occurred is absolute and unchangeable; only the present state and flow of time can be manipulated."
Calian held his breath. His hand holding the book was trembling.
Immortal? Revert state? Stop time?
He remembered how the crystal went blank. He reread the section explaining the detection of this magic.
"The only way to detect 'Time Loop' in a living subject is through the Grand Resonance Artifact. However, the artifact will not emit light; instead, it will display the ancient Chronos script inside it, which can only be read by the soul bound to the ability itself."
"And most importantly: The Crystal will become blank (dead) because the Time energy from this ability will absorb any Mana Core and Aura Heart the subject might possess, exchanging them for the potential of Time Manipulation. In the eyes of the world, this subject is a 'blessing zero'."
All the puzzle pieces fell into place.
"I... I received the 'Time Loop' blessing," Calian whispered, his eyes wide. Not the traumatic Time Reset, but extraordinary Time Manipulation. "I exchanged all conventional power for magic that... that transcends the concept of mana?"
He stared at his palm. This hand that killed the crystal, which was scorned by everyone as 'empty'.
"In Father's eyes, I am trash. In the world's eyes, I am a disgrace," he muttered bitterly. "But in truth, I hold control over longevity and state. I... I am immortal, even without mana."
His head started spinning, processing information too vast for a twelve-year-old. He had boundless magic, but to use it, he must live life as a 'blessing zero'.
Father. He will punish me. He will ignore me. He will treat me as nonexistent.
Calian clenched his fist, an unexpected strength beginning to grow in his heart. It wasn't magical power, but the power of determination.
"Fine. If I cannot change the past that has passed, I will change the present and the future by taking advantage of their ignorance."
He smiled faintly. The smile was cold, cynical, and calculating.
"They want to see me as zero? So be it. I will remain zero. They will ignore me. And beneath that shadow, I will hone this Time Loop magic. I will learn how to be immortal and control time without anyone knowing."