The Author's Will

87 | Time Limit

Of course, all this time, Irene remained unable to harness the mana pulsating within her own being. The reason was clear: she had yet to experience her awakening.

In her world, the dormant mana that lay within every individual could only be tapped into once they had undergone this transformative process. Until then, even with Snow as her companion, she remained unable to unlock the vast wellspring of power hidden within her.

This knowledge weighed on Irene's mind, but still provided no explanation for what she was doing standing in the realm of spirits. Was her awakening that powerful, she ended up travelling between worlds by chance?

Theodore's smile held a bittersweet quality as he observed Irene's attempt to make sense of her situation. As Irene lifted her gaze to meet his, she noticed his expression, once warm and reassuring, now carried a tinge of sorrow that she couldn't quite comprehend.

Irene blinked, golden eyes reflecting her concern. "Your Majes- I mean... Uncle Theodore? What's the matter?"

Theodore's silence hung in the air, and Irene's heart raced with anticipation. His eyes averted, as if grappling with the gravity of his next words. Irene's curiosity mixed with a growing sense of unease, sensing that what Theodore was about to say would be significant.

Taking a deep breath, Theodore mustered the courage to share the truth. "Irene, I must apologise for the suddenness of this revelation, but it is essential that you know..."

"...The power within you is on par with that of the First Saintess."

Irene stared at him, unblinking. "...What?"

The magnitude of Theodore's statement echoed through her being, sending tremors of disbelief through her veins.

The First Saintess - Meira, was a figure steeped in legend and held in deep reverence. Her name echoed through the annals of time, depicting a being endowed with unmatched dominion over spirits and the esoteric arts of divine magic. Her prowess transcended mortal comprehension, wielding forces that surpassed the boundaries of ordinary understanding. Existing millennia ago, she stood as the sole beacon capable of subduing the perilous menace of dark magic.

In the era of her existence, the world found itself ensnared in a tapestry of calamity and turmoil. Demons roamed the once-vibrant lands, leaving naught but ruin and desolation in their wake. Hope, warmth, and light had been eclipsed from the hearts of humanity, replaced by a pervasive sense of despair, sorrow, and the specter of death.

A torrent of questions surged within Irene's mind, her voice barely a whisper as she managed to find her words. "...The Saintess existed thousands of years ago... How is it possible for me to possess her power?"

Theodore's smile graced his countenance, though a hint of nervousness tinged its edges. His lips curved upward, but his eyes flickered with uncertainty, caught in a momentary hesitation.

"It's because... Well the truth is... You and the First Saintess... Share the same soul."

"...Oh, I see..."

...

"—Wait- WHAT?!"

Startled, Irene involuntarily took a giant step backward, her balance teetering perilously as she nearly landed on her bottom.

"...The First Saintess and you have the same sou-"

"I-I heard you the first time—!"

Irene's knees buckled beneath her, her mind spinning with a mix of incredulity and astonishment upon absorbing those unexpected words.