Additional Chapter for Today thank Karfin2422, LordOzzy and Me!! for this additional Chapter. Enjoy!!
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What? There's something like that?
Klein's eyes widened, feeling the awe of high-end Beyonder powers for the first time.
Of course, Klein's limited understanding of such powers meant he was only mildly shocked. If he knew more, he'd probably be floored.
Azik was also taken aback. He seemed to recall something, rubbing his brow before saying uncertainly, "You mean historical projections? But… my memories tell me historical projections don't have self-awareness…"
"Not historical projections—Shadows of Time," Evah corrected, then scratched his head. "I don't know the specifics, though. It's something my teacher gave me for protection, and that's how it works."
Though puzzled, Azik, with his fragmented memories, assumed it might be an ability he wasn't aware of. He hesitated, looking at Evah. "If it's something your teacher gave you for protection, is it really okay to use it on me?"
While he desperately wanted to recover his memories, he didn't want to harm others in the process.
"No problem! I'll just write to my teacher and ask for another. We're close—he'll probably just scold me a bit," Evah said with a carefree grin, painting a picture of a doting teacher and filial student.
Your teacher didn't beat you to death? He must have the patience of a saint… Klein snarked inwardly, not doubting Jack's words much. He was starting to understand why Jack was so naive—clearly, he'd been spoiled.
Though I'm not one to talk… Klein fell silent, thinking of how he'd gone out of his way to secure Jack's Nighthawk informant status.
He admitted it was partly out of care for a fellow "hometown" transmigrator and partly due to their friendship. He instinctively looked out for the innocent Jack Jones, and Azik likely felt the same.
Maybe that Lucifer Zoroast felt that way too!
Hearing Jack's words, Azik stopped objecting.
But the Tingen's Riverbank was a public place with frequent passersby. If Azik recovered memories, who knew what kind of scene it might cause? To avoid being seen, the trio left Tingen University and took a trackless carriage to an abandoned factory.
"Mr. Azik, please give me your hand. I need you as the medium to use the Shadow of Time," Evah said, his expression unusually serious. "Two things to note first: One, the Shadow of Time can't choose who it summons, so I don't know who'll appear—only that they'll be someone very close to you. I've only ever summoned my teacher, so please prepare yourself."
"Two, the summon has a time limit—ten minutes at most. So if you have questions, ask them quickly."
These were, of course, lies, crafted to smooth over his later actions.
"Got it," Azik said, extending his right hand, visibly tense.
Klein watched the pair with a mix of curiosity and nervousness. Evah took Azik's hand with one of his own, pulling a translucent gem from somewhere with the other. The gem was etched with runes Klein had never seen.
The next moment, the gem glowed and shattered like an illusion.
A figure appeared beside Azik—a girl with soft black hair, her features three or four parts similar to Azik's, clearly a blood relative.
As the figure fully materialized, the girl opened her eyes. She looked around, confused, as if unsure of her surroundings, until her gaze landed on Azik. A smile broke out, and she called, "Dad!"
Mr. Azik's daughter?
Klein's mind raced with guesses. Then he saw Azik freeze, as if lost in memories. He stared at the girl, murmuring a name, then half-knelt in apparent pain.
"Dad, what's wrong?" The girl, clearly unprepared for this, hurried to his side, looking worriedly at Azik before turning to the others. "Sirs, are you Dad's friends? He seems sick—can you take him to a doctor…?"
"I'm fine, I'm fine!" Azik shook his head, gripping the girl's hand tightly yet carefully, his fingertips trembling.
"Mr. Azik…" Klein, concerned for Azik's state, felt his spiritual intuition warning that Azik was in a dangerous yet oddly safe condition.
"Dad, are you really okay? You're shaking—are you cold?" The girl, unconvinced by Azik's reassurance, remained visibly worried.
"I… I'm just overwhelmed," Azik said, lifting his gaze. His expression was pained and sorrowful. Memories flooded back—of his past, of the girl before him, of her death.
He'd lost her long, long ago.
The realization hit him hard. The pain was immense, but more than that, Azik refused to forget her existence, to erase the beauty of their past.
Calling her name again, Azik embraced her as she looked at him in confusion. He recalled a time long ago when she was only knee-high, when he'd lift her onto his shoulders, making her laugh like any goofy father would.
"I… missed you so much. I'm so sorry for forgetting you, so sorry…" Azik babbled, driven by the instincts of a father reunited with his lost child.
The girl fell quiet, listening to Azik's words. After a few minutes, she pulled free from his embrace, as if understanding something. Looking at Azik, she said, "Dad, I'm already dead, aren't I?"
Azik's body trembled. He turned his head, unable to answer.
Evah, silent until now, spoke up. "In this era, you are indeed gone. This is the future, and you're from the past."
"I see. That's amazing!" The girl's face lit up with wonder. Then, earnestly, she cupped Azik's face, leaning in to press her forehead against his. Softly, she said, "Don't be sad, Dad. I don't want to see you like this."
"Even though I'm gone, I want you to have a new life. Of course, it'd be great if you don't forget me." She smiled, rubbing her cheek against Azik's. "So no more crying, Dad. You're a dependable, mature adult—you can't be a crybaby."
Only then did Azik realize tears were streaming down his face.
The girl looked up at Klein and Jack Jones, smiling. "You two uncles are Dad's friends, right?"
(End of Chapter)