[58] Gauge Symmetry (4)
Armin recalled that time.
"Being unable to see is like space itself disappearing. When space vanishes, time disappears too. Then, in the darkness, I realized that my existence had already stepped outside of time. That's how Stop Magic was completed."
Shirone's heart raced. He felt as if he'd been told the essence of Stop Magic—the thing countless time mages had failed to conquer.
"There's nothing to be so impressed about. It's not some transcendent power. It only works within the radius of a Spirit Zone and has plenty of constraints."
Armin looked back at Siina, frozen in time.
"She's a good little sister. For someone who acts tough, she's as soft-hearted as they come. Don't you think so, Shirone?"
"Ha! Well… I can't vouch for her being delicate, but she's definitely a good person."
"What do you think of her looks now? Is my sister beautiful?"
"Uh, of course. She's popular at school, too."
"Then what would you say about this: if time is stopped, could we—do something strange?"
Shirone blushed when he understood what Armin was implying.
"What are you saying now? Surely you don't mean—Armin…"
"Don't worry. It's impossible. Right now we're in a state where our mass converges toward zero. If we truly had no mass, we'd disintegrate, but the point is acceleration. That's why Stop Magic is called the domain of light-speed."
"So that's why Neid felt so hard when I touched him. With no mass, even a coat's fabric couldn't crumple."
"Exactly. You become infinitely fragile. But it's also true that no one can touch us. That's the true intent of Stop Magic. You asked how I guessed you'd notice? Simple. I reached the same insight as you did."
"If it's the same insight… you mean?"
"Yes. The Immortal Function."
Shirone's heart thudded. Standing before him was someone who'd actually experienced the Immortal Function—something no one had given an answer about. And this person was one of the highest-ranking mages in the time discipline.
"The Immortal Function is an insight into essence. Essence is singular, so your frequency and mine resonate. We sometimes call it a portrait-like feeling."
"What is this Immortal Function exactly?"
"You could call it a gateway to Infinity. Shirone, you opened it. In the magic community we call people like that unlockers."
Armin paused, then asked, "When you opened the Immortal Function, did you feel like your self was dissolving?"
"That's right! I really thought I was disappearing."
"If it had persisted, you would have. When the mind transcends the limits of measurement, the Spirit Zone expands to infinity. But humans are finite. Unlockers accept Infinity through their own native Spirit Zone."
Shirone frowned as he listened.
"Then what will happen to me? Even top mages are careful around it, but I knew nothing back then. Maybe that's why I get nightmares every night, and when I'm alone I feel that portrait-like sensation."
Armin smiled gently and reassured him.
"That's the natural progression. If you could control it from the start, you wouldn't truly have opened the Immortal Function. That portrait-like feeling is directed inward—what you feel toward yourself. It's because you don't yet know what that vast expansion actually revealed."
"How can I find out?"
"You'll realize it by yourself. It's just that what you've obtained can't yet be named."
"But—"
Seeing Shirone's lingering anxiety, Armin remembered his former self. Telling someone they'll figure it out later does little to soothe immediate fear.
"All right. Then I'll tell you. The name of what you realized is gauge symmetry."
"Gauge… symmetry?"
"This world must be perfectly balanced. In reality, that symmetry is broken. That gap is what you experienced. It's probably the cause of that portrait-like feeling."
Shirone kept whispering the words gauge symmetry like a charm, but nothing suddenly sprang to mind.
Armin stroked Shirone's head. "You have nothing to worry about. I don't mean you should do nothing, but in the end you will reach it. When that time comes, you'll understand what I mean."
Shirone took a deep breath and nodded. His mind wasn't yet clear, but he understood that today's meeting would be a major turning point in his future.
"Thank you so much. If I hadn't met you, Armin, I might have fallen into overflow like Siina-sensei said."
"Unlockers tend to share deep bonds because they share the same resonance. Though that bond sometimes erupts into big fights. Anyway, I'm glad I could help."
Armin smiled kindly and looked toward Siina.
"I should head out of the Room of Time soon. I have to finish a painting before my wife gets back."
"Oh, you did say today was the last day, didn't you?"
"Yes. I've got a grand title, but painting is my real work. I'll pack up starting today and leave within a few days. I probably won't see Siina for a while."
"You should tell her yourself—"
Armin shook his head.
"Siina still suffers. Even if I hadn't given up magic, it wouldn't bring back her lost eyes. And she's already married. I want to help her live her life."
Shirone understood Armin's feelings. He didn't want to see the sister Armin cherished more than life itself trapped in the past.
"All right. I'll keep your secret. Thank you very much for today."
"It was my pleasure, Shirone."
Armin covered his eyes with a cloth again. As he sat back at the canvas, time began to flow. He could hear Neid and Iruki breathe, and life returned to Siina's smile.
Shirone felt as if he'd woken from a dream. He couldn't believe he'd just talked with Armin.
Time rushed on in that elated state. When Armin finished the painting, he turned the canvas toward Siina.
"How is it? Did it come out well?"
"Yes, it's pretty."
"You did well. It was an honor to paint you."
"You're— We're not strangers or anything…"
A wistful expression flickered across Siina's face, but footsteps came from downstairs before farewells could be exchanged, and she sprang up in surprise. Was it already time for Armin's wife to return? It was earlier than usual, but there was no time to dwell on it.
"Brother, I'll go now. You should come out, too."
Siina bolted for the door as if fleeing. The sight of her—normally so confident at school—becoming timid because the wife was coming made Shirone and the others feel bad inside.
"Honey, painting?"
Keira peeked her head in. Contrary to expectations that she'd be as calm as Armin, she was a lively woman in her early twenties. When her eyes met Siina's, she looked surprised.
"Oh my, Siina? Come to think of it, today was your day to visit."
"Hello, Keira. It's been a while."
"It has. Why are you so hard to see these days? Are you avoiding me on purpose? Hohoho!"
Siina steadied herself. "Ah, the work with my brother is finished. I should be going."
"Since you're here, what's the rush? Stay for dinner."
"Thanks, but I have plans—"
"Hmm. This is suspicious. Dear, were you up to something suspicious with Siina while I wasn't around?"
"Keira, watch your words."
Armin knitted his brows. Shirone thought such a thing was impossible—the teacher had been careful the whole time—yet Keira dared call it suspicious.
Siina's face reddened as she half slipped into her coat and left the room. Shirone and the others followed behind, sore at Keira. Keira, either oblivious or brazen, waved with a playful grin.
"Bye, kids. When you come next time, sis will cook you something tasty."
Unsurprisingly, no reply came. Their coldness made Keira frown and murmur to herself.
"Oh? Did I do something wrong? Why such faces? Don't tell me he really did something weird here?"
"Cut the jokes and come down. I want proper goodbyes."
"Tch. Sisters are hopeless when it comes to their siblings."
Armin hurried down the stairs. Siina, unwilling to leave on such an odd note, waited just outside.
"Sorry, Siina. My wife's a handful."
"It's fine. Anyway, we don't know when we'll see each other again. Take care of yourself."
"You too. Do your best. Seeing you get along with your students makes me relieved. I honestly worried whether you could do it. Hahaha!"
Siina let out a small laugh. The only person in the world who could treat her like a child was Armin—the only one who shared memories of their reckless youth.
Shirone felt a pang in his chest. He was beginning to understand why a genius recognized by the kingdom would choose to be a teacher, why Armin had been so obsessed with overflow, and why Siina had kept men at a distance even while earning the nickname "Siina of Frost."
"All right, I'll go. If you have time, write me."
"Sure. I'll let you know once I settle. And Shirone, Neid, Iruki—do your best. I'll be hearing your names from afar when you become great mages."
"Yes. Sorry for today."
Shirone and the others expressed sincere gratitude. Without Armin's consideration, the matter might not have ended so smoothly.
Armin stayed until Siina's figure vanished. Keira, leaning against the doorframe with her arms crossed, said coldly, "Armin, snap out of it. You don't know what could happen if the higher-ups find you dwelling on this."
Armin turned to Keira with an annoyed look. They'd lived as a fake married couple for three years, but she was truly not someone he felt close to.
"My feelings are my own. Report your mission status. Is the investigation finished?"
"Perfect. There's nothing more to do in Creas. You'll need to go to Calvera within the next fifteen days. It's through a dangerous zone, but with Armin of Light there shouldn't be any problem, right?"
"Don't drone on. I'll keep my promise."
Armin's curt reply didn't reassure Keira. She'd been recruited for her keen insight and genius magic skills, but he was a free-spirited man who could leave the organization at any time.
"You didn't tell Siina about this, did you?"
Armin didn't answer.
"I don't want anything bad to happen to you. I know you can't be captured by any method—no one can hold an Eternal Reflector—but you're still human. The moment you betray the organization, everyone you love will experience hell. Siina included, and even the Olipher school."
It was a chilling threat—and a true one. Keira's organization had the power, authority, and cruelty to carry it out.
No matter what, Siina had to be protected. In that sense, meeting Shirone was luck. The unexpected variable today would someday tilt the situation in their favor.
"Don't worry."
Armin faced Keira with a smile. "She doesn't know anything."
Moonlight — Siina (1)
On the way back to the academy, Shirone and the others kept glancing at Siina as if they were uneasy.
While she'd been fine with Armin, her mind could change at any moment.