TPM 00

Prologue

On a dark night, I made my way to the room where my master was asleep.

Outside the room, the guards were strict and vigilant, yet no one noticed me, cloaked in darkness.

Now, no one could pierce through my darkness—not even Aria, the original story’s heroine who would later become a great mage.

“I don’t want to be disturbed by anyone. Will you help me?”

I whispered to the darkness I commanded.

“…Just for one hour.”

The darkness murmured with a sigh.

“Thank you.”

Once again, I forgave my unworthy master. If there were a next life, I prayed I wouldn’t meet a master like me again.

“You don’t need to pray for that. Why not just change your mind now? You don’t have to go this far.”

I scratched my head at the darkness’ words. Though sometimes capricious, darkness always thought of me first.

“I’m sorry.”

I felt even more guilty. I had never been the one to come first for the darkness.

“But I had no choice.”

My life was already filled with one person, leaving no space for anything else.

I approached the bedside and gazed at my master’s sleeping face.

It had been almost two weeks since my master collapsed.

There truly was no other way.

Except for one.

“I’ve come to see you one last time, Master.”

Knowing I might never see this face again made me linger, staring all the more.

I etched every feature of his beautiful face into my memory.

His radiant hair, shining like the sun.

His well-shaped nose and firmly closed, artfully formed lips—crafted as if by an artist—all of it, so I would never forget.

“Perhaps the reason I realized my past life was for this very moment?”

Now, there was no time to waste.

I gripped my staff tightly.

“Achilan Teikan.”

I finally spoke the name of the man I had always had to call “Master,” in this final moment.

“Achilan…”

Ah, the sound rolling off my tongue felt strange but satisfying.

I regretted not saying it more.

Achilan. You were my precious master and, at the same time, the first and only love of my life.

That was why, even knowing you did not love me back, I could not give up my feelings.

Even if time were reversed, I would still love you.

“I’m glad I can save you.”

I raised my staff high with both hands.

The long staff transformed into a small dagger, absorbing all the magical power within me.

A cough, and a vein on my lip burst, spilling blood.

I aimed the magic-infused dagger at his chest, opening my bloodied lips.

“I have no regrets in loving you.”

Without the slightest hesitation, I drove the dagger into his chest.

“…Ugh.”

Achilan Teikan opened his eyes, feeling a pain as if his head were splitting apart. Aside from the headache, his body felt light.

“How long was I out?”

His memories since losing consciousness were hazy. There was no reason his body should feel this bad—it was strange no matter how he thought about it.

“It was like this from the start of the treatment.”

The very treatment meant to heal him had instead brought his body to its worst state.

“Temis.”

Suddenly, he remembered Temis, who had been watching him as he collapsed.

As a disciple who always thought of her master, she had a worried expression.

“I need to tell her I’m okay.”

As he got up, something fell beside him.

Turning his head, Achilan saw Temis lying on the floor.

“…Temis?”

He rushed over and held her in his arms.

But something was wrong.

Her limp body felt completely powerless.

“Temis?”

She was cold.

Her complexion was pale, and her whole body was icy.

Most importantly, he could hear no breath.

Achilan’s heart sank.

“Temis.”

This is not a joke. Wake up. Call me ‘Master’ like always.

Achilan’s body shook uncontrollably.

His mind went completely blank.

He summoned his staff, but even he—the great mage who had conquered hundreds, thousands of dungeons—could not recall the spell he needed to cast at this moment.

“Temis? Please, wake up.”

His cold rationality delivered a verdict:

Temis was dead.

“Please…”

This can’t be. His one and only disciple… no, the person he had loved for the first time… couldn’t have died so meaningless a death.

“Someone… please…”

He whispered, holding Temis gently in his arms.

“Please, save Temis…”

For centuries, he had held the position of Archmage alone.

A man like a god, incapable of feeling emotions.

Even from Achilan Teikan’s eyes, endless tears streamed down.