Chapter 38: A Strange Encounter

Evrys was surprised that Amelia hadn’t bothered her since they arrived in the capital.

Judging by the princess’s defense of Evrys after the incident.

It didn’t seem like Amelia had changed her mind about whatever her plan was.

Frankly, Evrys would be happy if Amelia just left her alone.

But that was unlikely.

The silence was more unsettling than constant harassment.

But there was nothing Evrys could do about it for now.

She stretched, trying to ease the stiffness in her body.

“Hmm—”

A soft moan escaped her lips as she raised her arms above her head.

The mages from the tower were supposed to visit tomorrow.

So, she had nothing to do today.

As she settled back into her chair.

The memory of her outing with Iris surfaced.

More than the delicious desserts.

She remembered her awkward attempt to explain whipped cream to Iris.

Evrys still cringed at the memory.

‘Did she think I was strange?’

‘I hope whipped cream isn’t used for… that… in this world.’

She poked at her plate with her fork, feeling embarrassed.

The sounds of Iris training drifted in from outside.

The townhouse wasn’t as large as the mansion in the North.

So, the sounds were clear, even without Evrys straining to hear.

‘Am I… unnecessary?’

She had thought she could teach Iris more swordsmanship while they were in the capital.

But Iris hadn’t mentioned anything about training.

In fact, Evrys sensed that Iris would prefer she didn’t use a sword.

‘…Did she figure it out?’

Iris didn’t seem to know the specifics of Evrys’s condition.

But she must have sensed something was off about Evrys whenever she held a sword.

Evrys sighed.

She glanced at the sword resting on the chair opposite her.

‘Oblivious to its owner’s worries…’ she thought, looking at the pristine blade.

She chuckled wryly.

‘Talk about a change of heart.’

Evrys didn’t know what exactly Iris was worried about.

Iris was good at hiding her emotions and thoughts.

And Evrys was terrible at deciphering them.

Still, Iris’s current behavior was… reassuring.

Even if Iris wasn’t aware of the reason why.

The ‘Synchronization Rate’ bothered Evrys.

Looking at the red jewel on the sword hilt, she felt a nagging sense of familiarity.

She had a feeling using the sword, especially that sword.

Would increase the Synchronization Rate.

As would using the power she had unleashed in the ruins.

She had tried to access that power again.

But to no avail.

‘What’s the problem?’

‘But more importantly…’

‘What happens when the Synchronization Rate reaches 100%?’

“Status Window!”

Nothing happened.

She wished it would just give her some answers.

Frustrated, Evrys stamped her foot.

Thump, thump.

The sound echoed rhythmically.

‘This isn’t helping…’

She stopped fidgeting and leaned back in her chair.

‘I need to figure out what I am.’

The uncertainty was too much to bear.

‘What if I lose control of that power?’

‘What if I’m trapped here forever?’

A shiver ran down her spine at the thought.

She shook her head violently.

Her hair swirled around her, tickling her shoulders.

Knowing the truth might not change anything.

But it was better than living in ignorance.

She couldn’t ask the Duke.

And for the same reasons, she couldn’t ask Iris either.

Tap, tap.

Evrys realized she was tapping her fingers on the desk.

The same rhythm as her foot tapping earlier.

‘Did I always do this?’

She listened to the rhythmic tapping.

And delved into her memories from before the game.

They were becoming hazy.

‘No, I didn’t.’

She consciously stopped her fidgeting fingers.

“…This is it.”

Evrys stood up.

Ignoring the creaking chair.

She walked over to the mirror.

Golden eyes.

Long silver hair.

A petite yet well-proportioned body.

A simple one-piece dress.

She pointed at the silver-haired girl in the mirror.

And warned her.

“Stop changing me.”

The girl in the mirror snarled back.

Evrys narrowed her eyes.

The girl mimicked her.

Evrys groaned and covered her face with her hands.

“This is ridiculous…”

She opened the window, hoping the cool air would calm her down.

She stared blankly outside.

Then her eyes met Iris’s.

They were quite a distance apart.

But Evrys felt a connection.

As if confirming her feeling.

Iris gave a slight nod.

Evrys waved.

Iris nodded again.

Then returned to her training.

‘…Maybe I can indulge her a little.’

‘As long as it doesn’t affect the Synchronization Rate.’

Evrys shook her head.

‘So much for self-control.’

It hadn’t even been thirty minutes since she decided to be cautious.

Feeling calmer.

She quietly closed the window.

She didn’t want Iris to worry.

Evrys walked over to the bed and flopped down.

She closed her eyes, stretching out her limbs.

‘First, I need to figure out who I am.’

Lost in thought.

She drifted off to sleep.

Evrys hadn’t reached any conclusions when the mages from the tower arrived.

There were only two of them.

One was an old man with a long white beard.

The epitome of a wizard.

The other was…

A young girl with red hair.

Who smiled brightly at Evrys.

They were at eye level.

So, Evrys had a clear view of her face.

‘Why did they bring a child?’

As if echoing Evrys’s thoughts, Iris asked suspiciously.

“Who is this child?”

‘…Is she picking a fight?’

Evrys braced herself for a confrontation.

But the old man simply stroked his beard and coughed.

“…Despite her appearance, she’s a very capable mage from our tower.”

He seemed uncomfortable.

He kept glancing at the girl beside him.

Like a subordinate nervously watching his superior.

‘Something’s not right here.’

After a brief exchange of names.

They launched into a formal apology.

Expressing their regret over the incident.

And promising to investigate the cause.

Frankly, Evrys was bored.

She wasn’t particularly upset about the warp.

She was curious about what caused it.

But they clearly didn’t know either.

Evrys yawned, tears welling up in her eyes.

She wiped her eyes and blinked.

Noticing the three pairs of eyes staring at her.

“…Sorry.”

But she couldn’t help her boredom.

Listening to them recount the events.

Events that had been glossed over in the game.

Was pointless.

Especially since Evrys knew nothing about magic.

“I’ll take over from here. You can go.”

“Are… are you sure?”

Iris looked at the old man.

He seemed to understand that talking to Evrys was futile.

And readily agreed.

‘How did they introduce me, I wonder?’

‘As someone who was traveling with the princess?’

‘Or as someone Amelia recruited?’

‘I’ll ask Iris later.’

Having received permission.

Evrys excused herself and left the room.

She stepped outside, basking in the sunlight.

And pondered where to begin her investigation.

Then she sensed someone approaching.

They were trying to be stealthy.

But their attempt was utterly ineffective.

Evrys turned around.

It was the red-haired girl.

“How did you know?”

“I just knew. What do you want?”

The girl stared at her with a strange expression.

Clearly surprised.

“That’s impossible.”

She began to scrutinize Evrys.

Her gaze was intense.

As if determined not to miss a single detail.

But since she was about the same height as Evrys.

She just looked cute.

After observing Evrys for a moment.

The girl extended her hand.

“It’s fate that we met. How about a handshake?”

‘A mage, alright…’ Evrys thought, amused by the girl’s eccentricity.

“Are all mages like this?”

She took the girl’s hand and shook it.

A crackling sound filled the air.

The girl’s face paled.

Evrys probably looked just as shocked.

The girl’s hand, where they were shaking.

Had become abnormally thick.

As if it were a separate appendage attached to her arm.