Chapter 58

Chapter 58

Armin reflected on his past experiences. “In darkness, space becomes undefined. When space vanished, so did time. That was when I realized that I—an existence, a being in this world—had transcended time. This was the key to understanding the immense capabilities of stop magic.”

Sirone’s heart raced as he absorbed the essence of stop magic, a feat countless mages had failed to achieve.

“But is it really okay to share such crucial information with me?” he asked.

“It’s okay. What I’ve told you is to aid your understanding, but the reality of it is much more complex and profound.”

Sirone had anticipated as much.

“Moreover, stop magic isn’t something otherworldly. It operates solely within the confines of the Spirit Zone. Its most significant limitation is that it can not affect the external world.” Armin glanced at Sienna with a fond look. “She’s like a little sister to me. And she’s so kind-hearted. Don’t you agree?”

Sirone chuckled, albeit a bit awkwardly. “Well, ‘kind-hearted’ might be overstating it... But as a certified level-six mage, she’s certainly strong.”

“Yes, but think about this... If time stops, can any harm befall her?”

“Ah...” Sirone paused, looking back at his friends.

They were in a state that transcended physical force.

“If time stops, energy can’t move. It becomes a state where the exchange of force is impossible,” Sirone replied.

“Exactly. Time itself ceases to flow. Imagine a sequence of an explosion drawn on paper. What if there is no next page? The explosion remains static, captured in the last frame.”

“It’s almost like you’re discussing space.”

Armin smiled at Sirone’s remark. “That’s the essence of stop magic. Time and space are inseparable, much like acceleration and gravity. Within the Spirit Zone of stop magic, a mage perceives things at the speed of light. Though our conversation seems lengthy, in reality, not even a tenth of a second has passed in the real world. Relatively speaking, we’re conversing at the speed of light.”

“The speed of light,” Sirone echoed, looking back at Nade again. “That’s why I can’t interact with Nade at the moment. Our mass is essentially zero, and a substance with mass cannot reach the speed of light.”

“Yes, that’s the fundamental principle. Of course, this is magic, so an element of all-encompassing power is always involved. It can be described as the mystery of time and space unfolding within the Spirit Zone.”

Sirone suddenly looked contemplative. “But why tell me all this? I only questioned whether you could truly see or not.”

“It’s precisely because of your doubt,” Armin said, readjusting the cloth over his eyes. “You asked how I knew you would eventually notice. It’s simple. I’ve been through what you have. We recognize each other.”

“Do you mean...”

“That’s right. Immortal Function.”

Sirone’s heart raced wildly.

Before him stood someone who had firsthand experience with the elusive Immortal Function, a phenomenon shrouded in mystery. And he was a master of time magic, sharing this profound knowledge.

“Immortal Function is an enlightenment about the entirety. Since everything is interconnected, our wavelengths resonate. It’s also called an extrasensory perception. Just as you sensed it in me, I sensed it in you.”

“What exactly is Immortal Function?” Sirone asked.

“It’s a gateway to the infinite. You’ve opened that gateway. In the magical community, individuals who achieve this are known as unlockers.”

After pondering for a moment, Sirone looked up at him with a hint of apprehension in his eyes. “What will happen to me now?”

“As long as you remain anchored to this world, you will be fine. But tell me... When you unlocked Immortal Function, did you feel as if your ego was dissipating?”

“Yes, I did! I felt like I was vanishing.”

“If you had chosen to let that happen, it would have. The Spirit Zone expands infinitely, leading to the dissolution of the mind. It’s crucial for an unlocker to grasp that point. As your consciousness expands, your power grows, but exceeding your control point means losing yourself in a state of uncontrollable liberation. Remember that there would be no turning back then.”

Sirone swallowed hard, absorbing the gravity of Armin’s words.

“Therefore, an unlocker must always be mindful of the extent of their Spirit Zone, their operational boundary. Never assume it doesn’t exist. The limit is, in essence, dissolution itself.”

He carefully avoided using the term Nirvana, mindful of Sirone’s future.

Pondering deeply, Sirone brought up another concern. “There’s something else. I see the universe in my dreams every night. It’s like when I met you, Mr. Armin. This extrasensory perception appears unexpectedly, even when there are no other unlockers nearby.”

Armin smiled reassuringly. “That’s part of the natural progression. When you accessed Immortal Function, for a fleeting moment, you connected with the entirety of the universe, the realm of the infinite. You sensed something beyond mere sensation, cognition, or intellect. However, because you can’t yet fully grasp it, your consciousness is left in a state of shock. Once you understand what you’ve realized, it will disappear naturally.”

“How will I know what it is?”

“It will come to you in time. It could happen soon, or it might take a lifetime. But don’t worry. The answer is already within you. It’s just unnamed for now.”

“But...” Sirone’s expression betrayed his unease at the thought of waiting a lifetime for answers.

Armin, reflecting on his own past, understood that such uncertainty might not be comforting. “All I can tell you is that the key might lie in gauge symmetry.”

“Gauge... symmetry?”

“Humans perceive their world as symmetrically perfect,” Armin elaborated. “It’s a natural inclination. Would anyone consider having two arms abnormal or three arms normal? It doesn’t imply absolute normalcy but rather an existential direction. Yet, in truth, the universe we live in appears to exhibit a broken symmetry, which is the unknown. We may never fully understand it with our human senses...”

“And I have touched this unknown, something indescribable, beyond any known senses,” Sirone realized.

Armin gently patted his head, recognizing the latent talent in Sienna’s student. “Don’t worry. It doesn’t mean you should stop searching. Your existence, Sirone, will eventually reveal the true nature of this extrasensory perception. Everything will become clear in time, and when it does, you’ll understand exactly what I mean.”

Sirone nodded vigorously, his mind still racing with thoughts. He sensed that this encounter with Armin would be a turning point in his journey.

“Thank you, truly. If I hadn’t met you, I might have succumbed to overflow, just as Professor Sienna warned. We’ve had our disagreements lately, and now I feel awful about it,” he confessed.

Armin nodded, showing a deep understanding. “Try to see things from her perspective. She’s likely worried about you because of her own past experiences. She’s not as stubborn or cold as she appears. You’ll see that soon enough.”

“I know. She’s always been a great support. She’s a good person.”

Armin nodded, a smile of relief crossing his face. He then turned back to his canvas. “It’s time to leave my domain. Maintaining the time field too long can affect my focus, and I need to finish this painting before my wife returns. I really want to complete it today.”

“That’s right! You did mention today is the last day,” Sirone remembered.

“Yes, despite the grand titles I’m known by, painting is genuinely my primary passion. I’m preparing to pack up tonight and leave as early as I can. It’s likely going to be quite some time before I see Sienna again.”

“Wouldn’t it be better to tell her all of this...?”

Armin shook his head. “Sienna still feels guilty about that day. Even if I hadn’t given up magic, it wouldn’t have restored my sight. Besides, I’m married now. I want to help Sienna live her own life as well, free from the past.”

He wanted his beloved little sister, whom he cherished more than life itself, to let go of their shared history.

“I understand. I’ll keep it a secret too. Thank you for everything today.”

“I enjoyed our conversation as well,” Armin replied, returning to his canvas.

As Sirone returned to his spot, time resumed its flow. The sounds of Nade and Iruki’s breathing filled the room, and life returned to Sienna’s smile. It all felt like waking from a dream. The reality of having conversed with Armin while time had been stopped felt surreal.

As the minutes pressed on, Armin finished the painting and presented it to Sienna. “How is it? Do you like it?”

“Yes, it’s beautiful.”

“Thank you for everything. It was an honor to paint you.”

“Oh, please. It’s the least I could do...” Sienna trailed off as a hint of regret shimmered in her eyes.

However, the sudden sound of footsteps from downstairs interrupted her thoughts. Startled, she quickly rose, not having the opportunity to say her goodbyes properly.

Her mind was racing with the assumption that it was time for Armin’s wife to return. The visit had ended sooner than expected, leaving no room for deep contemplation.

“I should go now. You guys need to head out too,” she hurriedly said.

Watching Sienna’s abrupt departure, Sirone and his friends sensed a melancholic undertone to her haste. Her nervousness at the arrival of Armin’s wife seemed to expose her inner vulnerabilities.

Just as she reached for the doorknob, the door swung open, revealing Armin’s wife.

“Darling, are you painting?”

Contrary to expectations of her mirroring Armin’s calm demeanor, she turned out to be a lively woman in her early twenties.

Her eyes widened in surprise upon seeing Sienna. “Oh my! Sienna? Oh, of course! Today was your visit, wasn’t it?”

“Hello, Keira. It’s been a while.”

“Indeed. We’ve hardly seen each other. You weren’t avoiding me, were you?” Keira joked.

Struggling to maintain her composure, Sienna responded, “Armin’s painting is finished. I was just leaving.”

“Why the rush? Stay for dinner.”

“Thanks, but I have other plans...”

“Hmm, suspicious... Darling, you didn’t do anything strange with Sienna while I was away, did you?” Keira teased.

“Mind your words,” Armin interjected sternly, but Keira only shrugged.

Flustered, Sienna donned her coat and exited, followed by Sirone and his friends, who cast cold glances at Keira for her insensitivity.

Keira, either oblivious or simply kind-hearted, waved cheerfully. “Bye, kids!” Receiving no response, she looked puzzled. “Oh? Did I say something wrong? They looked so unhappy. Darling, you didn’t really do anything odd, did you?”

“Stop joking around and come downstairs. At least let me give her a proper farewell.”

“Hmph! Always so soft for your little sister...”

Armin quickly headed downstairs, his steps hurried.

Sienna lingered outside with the boys, seemingly reluctant to leave things unresolved.

“I’m sorry about Keira. She can be a bit much at times,” Armin said.

“It’s okay. After today, who knows when we’ll have the chance to meet again? Stay in touch, okay?”

“You too. Stay diligent. Seeing how well you connect with your students, I feel reassured. To be honest, I had my reservations about you becoming a teacher,” he laughed.

Sienna responded with a soft chuckle, her face breaking into a warm, gentle smile.

Perhaps Armin was the only person who could still see her and treat her as the young, carefree individual she once was, given that they shared memories of their naive days together.

Sirone’s heart was full of emotions as he began to understand the layers of Sienna’s life: her choice to become a professor, her obsession with preventing overflow, her formidable reputation as “Sienna of the Frost,” and even her guarded stance with men.

“Well... It’s really time for me to go. Take care,” she said.

“You too. I’ll let you know once I’m settled elsewhere. Sirone, Nade, and Iruki. Make sure you study hard. I look forward to hearing about your achievements as great mages, even from a distance.”

“Yes. And we apologize for the trouble today,” Sirone added, the sincerity in his voice reflecting the group’s gratitude.

They knew that the resolution of today’s events was owed to Armin’s understanding and guidance.

Armin silently watched as Sienna and her students disappeared from view.

Once they were out of sight, Keira, who had been leaning casually against the doorframe with her arms crossed, broke the silence with a cold demeanor. “Armin, snap out of it. If the higher-ups see you indulging in sentimentality, who knows what consequences it might bring.”

Armin turned to face her, his expression tinged with annoyance. Despite the three years they had spent maintaining the façade of a couple, he harbored no genuine affection for her.

“My emotions are my own concern. Just deliver your report. Is the investigation complete?”

“It’s all wrapped up. There’s no further business for us in Creyas. We need to move to Calvera within fifteen days. We’ll be passing through dangerous territory, but with your vision, it shouldn’t pose a problem, right?”

“There’s no need for such comments. I’ll fulfill my obligations, so don’t worry.”

Despite his assurance, Keira remained unconvinced. His abilities were exceptional, which made him a valuable but equally dangerous individual—one she couldn’t afford to take lightly.

“You didn’t reveal anything to Sienna, did you?”

Her voice held a note of natural suspicion. It made sense to harbor concerns when dealing with someone capable of stopping time.

Armin, however, chose to remain silent, so Keira issued a stern warning.

“I don’t want to harm you. Of course, I’m aware that even with all our methods, capturing the Eternal Contemplator is out of our reach. But remember that you’re human too. Betray the organization, and everyone you love will suffer unimaginable consequences. That includes Sienna to the School of Olypher.”

Her words carried a chilling, palpable threat backed by the might and ruthlessness of her organization.

Armin was unwavering in his determination to protect Sienna at all costs. Fortuitously, his encounter with Sirone had brought him a semblance of relief. While he couldn’t always be by her side, having a capable unlocker like him nearby was a source of comfort.

“You have nothing to worry about,” he assured her, his mind reflecting on Sirone’s potential and a faint smile gracing his lips. “Sienna knows nothing of this.”