Professor Garcia really seemed to be lecturing at this moment. Shad thought to himself that he should perhaps turn up the gas lamp a little to make the room feel more like a classroom.
"The rules regarding Time Keys are mentioned in your 'Foundations of Time Travel Theory' course. Furthermore, there is no need to worry about any trouble caused by time travel; our world is not as fragile as you imagine, and mortals are not as powerful as they think they are. In a world where thoughts can influence matter, the world itself is the most powerful thing. Now, please retrieve the key from the basin."
He resolved all of Shad's doubts in a single paragraph; presumably, every student performing time travel for the first time would have similar questions.
"The basin?"
Shad looked at the basin, which was glowing with a soft, shimmering light. He crouched down and reached into the water, which was inexplicably warm, and truly pulled out a key.
It was a wooden key, so small it wasn't even as large as Shad's thumb. The flat key had a plain design, with teeth on one side and a very smooth surface on the other. The wood grain on the surface was exceptionally distinct, and upon closer inspection, he discovered a line of text carved into it, no larger than grains of rice.
Although he had learned his lesson from the incident with the [Box of Darkness] last time, this was clearly safe. Therefore, Shad once again utilized his talent for translation, interpreting it as
[The World Tree protects you in the flow of time.]
"The World Tree?"
Shad felt a sense of wonder, but he did not show much expression on his face.
"The Academy has various ways of transmitting [Relics], and poet manuscripts are the most basic. Although the method used now is costly, it is safer, and the grade of objects that can be transmitted is higher."
Professor Garcia continued as if he were still lecturing
"The grading of [Time Keys] ranges from Poet-level (Grade 5) to Unknowable-level (Grade 0), originating from the God of the Past, the [Father of the Infinite Tree]. Since this is just a classroom demonstration, what is provided this time is a Poet-level [Time Key]."
The professor did not use the term "Old God," but rather the vague "God of the Past," which caught Shad's attention.
"Do you know anything about this god?"
The pointed-eared professor asked.
"Only the name."
"The [Father of the Infinite Tree] is a very special deity. What makes Him special is that He Himself is also the World Tree."
If Professor Garcia had said this before Shad had deciphered the carvings on the key, Shad's surprise might have been more genuine.
"You don't need to know about the World Tree for now. As for using the key, aim it at the keyhole of any door, rotate it, and push the door open to travel to a point in the past. For every key, you can know the corresponding time before opening it; the trick is to place the key under your pillow while you sleep, and the information left by the [Father of the Infinite Tree] within the key will appear in your dreams. We look up major events related to the Old God corresponding to the era indicated by the information to determine the key's grade."
"Then, which period of the Fifth Epoch does this one correspond to?"
Shad's fingers traced the wood grain on the surface of the key.
The Fourth Epoch, the Era of Chaos, was too dangerous, and keys from the first three epochs were strictly forbidden for Ring-術士 below the 9th Ring, so this key could only be from the Fifth Epoch.
"Autumn, 1068 of the Fifth Epoch. Every time point corresponding to a key is inevitably related to an Old God. That is why the History Department is proficient in the [Profane] element, because only the History Department has the opportunity to safely obtain the silver [Profane] element without coming into contact with the existing evil gods themselves."
Shad did not think that traveling through time was a safe thing at all.
"We are time travelers, investigators. You cannot carry any items with extraordinary power when entering the past. Even if you want to bring them, they will fall away before you step into the 'door' that has been opened."
Professor Garcia looked at Shad, and Shad hurriedly shook his head to indicate he had nothing on him. Whether it was the vampire ring or the twenty-sided die of fate, they were all left in the study.
"When entering a point in the past, there will be a large amount of white mist in our field of vision. The 'other me' will also provide hints about the time point and events obtained from the relic key of the fallen god.
The white mist will not dissipate during the entire investigation; the investigator can only move to positions without mist to witness what is happening. During this time, as long as you do not actively make contact with the past, no one will notice you. We are investigators, witnessing and recording events of the past, and bringing these things back to supplement the missing history before the epochs."
"Are you saying that we are actually going to watch a realistic opera?"
Shad gave an example.
"A very good metaphor."
A smile finally appeared on Professor Garcia's face. Although this professor with slightly pointed ears looked stern, he was actually quite nice
"In extremely rare cases, the fallen [Father of the Infinite Tree] might issue you some tasks, but the probability is negligible. So, Mr. Hamilton, let's begin now."
"Now?"
Shad swallowed hard and looked at the bedroom door. Little Mia was probably tired, so the sound of claws scratching at the door hadn't been heard for a long time.
"Do you have anything else to prepare? Oh, don't worry, each opened period of time will allow you to stay for a maximum of 3 hours. And when you return to the correct time, you will only appear 3 seconds after you disappeared."
"I mean, isn't this too hasty? This kind of thing..."
Shad had expected the instructor to provide some systematic training; he hadn't expected such a simple introduction.
"A Ring-術士 must rely on themselves—of course, also on the 'other me'—but they cannot rely on others. There is no need to record with pen and paper; any matter you bring to the past will return to its original state when you return. Even if you truly have the ability to intervene in the past, it will only be a tiny ripple in the long river of time. Do not underestimate time and the world."
"Alright then, Professor Garcia."
He stood up and walked to the bedroom door, letting the light from the brass-colored gas lamp on the side wall spill over his head and shoulders.
He aimed the small key at the keyhole. To his surprise, it fit perfectly, even though the two were clearly mismatched.
"Remember, you must recite the incantation when turning it—you can recite it in any language—'The World Tree protects me in the flow of time.'
Mr. Hamilton, see you in three seconds. Please relax; the Academy has specifically investigated, and nothing dangerous happened in 1068 of the Fifth Epoch. It is very safe. Please cherish your first time-travel journey; it will be an interesting trip of great commemorative significance."
"Okay, see you in three seconds, Professor Garcia."
With a sense of trepidation, Shad gently turned the wooden key in his hand and recited
"May the World Tree protect me in the flow of time."
There was a click, even though it was impossible for his own bedroom door lock to make such a sound.
Shad took a deep breath and finally pulled the door open.
But behind the door was not the tired orange cat Mia or his bedroom; wispy white mist was slowly writhing behind the door frame, and behind the door was a fog-gate filled with hazy white mist.
He swallowed hard, heard Professor Garcia's encouragement once more, and thinking of his cat, he bravely stepped inside.
(End of chapter)