Advent of the Three Calamities

Chapter 198 Third Leaf [4]

Color flashed before my eyes.

"Hey! What are you doing!? Get out of the way!"

I stood there, dazed and confused, unable to process what was happening. My mind was overwhelmed by the whirlpool of colorful dots ahead.

"...!"

I only regained my senses when someone tapped me on the shoulder, and that's when I realized I was standing in front of the Academy store.

Despite the confusion, I moved away from the store and leaned against its wall.

"Just what in the…"

There was so much I needed to process.

Wasn't I in a house just moments ago? How did I suddenly appear here?

"This..."

Taking a look at the time, I realized that not even a few seconds had passed since I had entered the store.

So…

Realization suddenly struck me.

"It can't be, right?"

No, it wasn't possible. I refused to believe it—yet, the more I thought about it, the more I came to understand what had happened.

"That was really, Delilah..."

My heart felt heavy at the thought. I had already had a hunch but refused to acknowledge it. Even now, I struggled to accept what I had seen.

Recalling what I'd witnessed back then made my heart ache even more.

I felt uncomfortable like something was trying to crawl up my body.

What exactly happened? Did I travel back in time, or was I recreating a personal memory of hers?

Thinking back, I did recall her saying something about her parents working.

Even now, she...

I pursed my lips.

My head throbbed.

I was more inclined to think that I had relived a personal trauma of hers. Was this what the third leaf did? Allowed me to interact with her personal trauma?

"What if..."

An idea sprang to mind. My hand rummaged through my bag, and I took something out.

It was a small chocolate bar.

One that I had grown accustomed to buying over the recent months.

'...Is what I saw the reason why she loves this candy so much? But how is it possible...?'

Was it really true that I didn't travel back in time...?

'No, there's no way.'

I didn't want to acknowledge it.

My heart was heavy, but considering the present circumstances, I understood that it wasn't the moment for me to dwell in gloom.

Whether what I saw was really the past or not, the present was different.

The current Delilah was someone who stood at the top of the world. Putting the bar back into the bag, I was just about to leave when I realized something.

"...Hm?"

Opening the bag and counting the goods, it suddenly struck me.

"..."

What the...

No matter how hard I looked, I couldn't find them.

I had bought three packs. Yet, there was only one left.

Then it finally dawned on me.

"...Heh."

A weird sound came out of my mouth.

I didn't understand the sudden surge of emotion, but it felt like something inside me had finally burst. My body trembled and for the first time in a very long while...

"Hahaha."

I laughed in public.

Be it past, present, illusion, or future.

She really was a gremlin-looking midget.

***

Curtain Call Collective.

Ever since the play [Enigma of the Midnight Manor] was released, Olga, the writer of the script, had been incredibly busy.

The demands on her time were relentless, a whirlwind of meetings, rehearsals, and promotional events.

The Jovinc Award was going to happen soon, and she needed to do a lot of things in preparation for that.

The prestigious award was the pinnacle of recognition in the arts community, and she was determined to make the most of this opportunity.

It was an important day for her, considering that she'd receive the official rating for her play.

There were many people who stated she had received the fifth star for it, but it had yet to be official.

The rumors had some basis to them, but she needed concrete affirmation.

It was only at the award ceremony that she'd receive the official rating, officially making her play one of the few within the Empire to receive such critical acclaim.

The recognition would cement her status as one of the leading playwrights of her generation.

To Tok—

The door to the room suddenly knocked, and Olga looked towards the door where a man waited for her.

He was dressed neatly, with his hair combed to the right and sporting a well-trimmed mustache.

His appearance was meticulous and well-groomed.

"How may I help you?"

He wasn't someone she was familiar with.

Nonetheless, staring at him and the letter in his hand, Olga felt her back straighten. The letter bore an ornate seal, and her eyes paused on the seal.

It looked familiar...

But where had she seen it before?

"Please don't be nervous, writer. I'm simply a delegate from the Megrail family."

"…!"

Olga's eyes widened, and she hastily stood up.

The Megrail family was one of the most influential in the Empire, how could she not be shocked?

"To have such esteemed—"

"Please, like I said, there's no need for such a greeting. I'm just here to hand over this letter. We've received many reports about your play, so I'm sure you will like what is in the contents."

"Yes, yes…"

Olga hastily reached out for the letter and carefully and politely received it.

Then, under the messenger's gaze, she carefully opened the letter and looked through the contents. Immediately, her eyes widened.

"This…!"

"It's as you can see."

The butler spoke in a graceful tone, his voice calm.

"There will soon be a summit between the four Empires, and we've accepted your play for the opening show."

"…!"

Olga didn't know how to reply.

She was at a total loss for words.

The summit was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, a stage that only the finest could hope to grace.

Besides being able to receive a five-star rating, this was one of the greatest honors she could receive as a scriptwriter.

Her work would be showcased before the leaders of the four Empires, an honor that not many could receive.

Especially since the Four Empire Summit was an extremely prestigious event that only happened every five years.

The fact that they were willing to have her play be the main event, Olga could feel herself trembling in excitement.

It felt like her efforts were being validated.

"Well, then..."

The messenger bowed politely, his mannerisms still impeccable.

With a graceful nod, he quietly left the room.

"The Emperor has high expectations for the play."

Such were the last words he spoke before leaving, plunging the room into silence.

The weight of his statement lingered in the air, adding a certain pressure to Olga who suddenly found herself growing quiet.

"…."

But that quietness was only brief as she hastily slapped the wooden table in excitement.

"I can't believe this is happening!"

For her to receive such an honor…!

The enormity of it all was overwhelming.

She was over the moon.

Olga was just about to reach her communication device to tell her group the news when she stopped.

A thought struck her, tempering her enthusiasm.

"…."

Suddenly she frowned.

There was a significant challenge that lay ahead.

"That's…"

Her excitement was quickly dampened, and she sat back down on her chair. The reality of the situation settled in, and she knew there was a crucial piece missing.

Thinking about it, while her script and play were certainly well-

acclaimed, a major reason for its success was because of the actor who played Azarias. The role had become iconic, largely due to his exceptional performance.

Julien Dacre Evenus.

Even now, Olga could recall his name. The young actor had a talent that was rare and extraordinary.

How could she not when he had put on such a performance?

His portrayal of Azarias had captivated audiences, bringing the character to life in a way that was unforgettable.

"What do I do?"

It wasn't impossible to have the play without the performance of the student. It had already happened several times.

Different actors had taken on the role of Azarias, bringing their own interpretations of the character.

But Olga felt like something was missing whenever he wasn't there.

Azarias…

He wasn't someone that just anyone could play.

The character demanded a depth and intensity that only Julien could deliver.

His portrayal had set a new standard, making it difficult for any other actor to measure up.

It was something that had been finely tuned and tailor-made to fit the monster actor the student was. His understanding of the character, his ability to convey complex emotions, and his stage presence were unmatched.

It was for that reason that she always felt like something was missing whenever she would watch the play.

Without him, Azarias felt incomplete, a shadow of the character he was meant to be.

"I have to get him."

The decision was clear.

Knowing just how important the event was, Olga had no choice but to get him.

The Four Empire Summit demanded the best, and she knew Julien was the best.

The only problem was how…?

How exactly was she going to talk him into performing?

"That's right…!"

That was when she suddenly recalled something.

The Jovinc Award.

He was going to participate.

How could he not when he was the most likely candidate to win the best supporting actor role?

The award was prestigious, and Julien's talent made him a prime contender.

'I'll get him then…!'

The opportunity was perfect.

At such a thought, Olga quickly grabbed her communication device and started making her preparations.

***

In the end, I went back to the market to purchase a few more bars before going back to Delilah's office and handing them to her.

It was funny.

For the first time in a very long time, I had seen a drastic change in her expression.

Seeing the bag filled with bars, it almost looked like her eyes could pop out at any second.

If only I could've taken a photo of her face…

'What a pity.'

It truly was.

Regardless, as I looked at her face, I was reminded of what I had seen and started my life faded. All of a sudden, the reason why she liked chocolate bars made a lot more sense.

Perhaps…

It wasn't that she was addicted to them.

But it was more like something that brought her back to her childhood when she had nothing.

I still didn't understand the third leaf, whether I had gone back in time or I was simply replaying her trauma and interacting with an illusion, but…

In the end, it didn't really change what I had seen.

"Haa..."

Taking a deep breath, I looked at the sky.

It was cloudless, and the rain had stopped falling.

Staring at it for a few good moments, I looked at the time and headed for class.

Today's class… I could look forward to it somewhat.

It was, after all, a class about Emotive Magic.

How could I not be a little excited?