The Mage of Primordial Chaos

(Time Rewinded)

- The Night Before the Summer Festival, The Infinite Realm -

"… Man, between the girls and you, I really can't get any sleep these days, can I?" I complained as I found myself in a familiar empty world with a beautiful blue sky and transparent ground that was made of water that was not wet. Somehow. Either way, this place was familiar. It was none other than the Infinite Realm, ruled by-

"Shut up. Your physical body is still resting, so you won't feel tired when you wake up."

-Her. Sylvoir, the Prime Elemental that oversees all other ones, Mei Gui excepted. She was snappy and can't take a joke, but cute when she gets flustered.

"Yo, Sylvie," I hollered, walking up to her. "Didn't we just speak a few days ago? What's with these summons? Or do you just want to see m- ow!"

That one earned me a punch in the face. It hurt, despite her small frame. And since I couldn't use my magic or vampiric/angelic healing powers here as this was a cognitive world, I was stuck accepting the pain and dealing with it.

"Enough with the witty jokes. I called you here for a reason. It's serious."

Faced with this cold voice, I shook the pain away from my cheek and stared at her seriously, just as she wanted. After confirming that I was actually paying attention, she closed her eyes and spoke.

"Your parents were murdered by the Midnight Syndicate, yes?"

Immediately, I froze, and my eyes narrowed slightly. I never was very cautious of Sylvoir, but now I was.

"… How did you find out about this?"

"I am the Prime existence of this planet. Every action, every word, and every emotion is stored, encoded in something known as the Terron Records. I simply have to browse it, and none can escape my eyes, so long as they remain in this world."

This girl… I underestimated her. She's even more powerful than I originally gave her credit for. But if I could get her to help me of her own free will…

"I know what you are thinking right now," Sylvoir said, interrupting my thoughts. "You are thinking of how to win me over so I can feed you information, correct?"

"What?! Information gets uploaded that quickly to the Terron Records?!" I cried in shock, surprised at her finding out.

Sylvoir sighed and shook her head. "… Sometimes, I really regret making you into a Founder. Your intentions were as clear as day, Xuan Kai. I didn't need to use the Terron Records to find out."

"Uh… I see. But anyway… what's this about my parents?" I asked, narrowing my eyes. "And the Midnight Syndicate…? I haven't seen them around for almost a year now."

"Because they are preparing," Sylvoir said urgently with an uncomfortable expression on her face.

I frowned and tilted my head. "Preparing…? For what?"

"… For the impending catastrophe about to occur."

"Impending catastrophe…" I echoed. "Uh, are you okay, Sylvie? Got a fever or something?"

"Ugh, I already said to stop with the jokes!" Sylvoir yelled, trying to punch me again, but I evaded this time and scratched the back of my head.

"Yeah, yeah… sorry. It's just… kind of unbelievable. What catastrophe?"

"The specifics, even I am uncertain of. The Terron Records are not as detailed as you might think. The only things I know right now is that a disaster will happen soon at the hands of the Midnight Syndicate, and the world will fall into grave danger. This might sound like some sort of joke or a cliched 'prophecy' in books, but I assure you… I too wish it were a mere fairy tale."

By this point, I was listening to her seriously, and contemplated her words.

"So… you don't know when this disaster's going to happen?"

"The exact date, no. But it is drawing closer, and will happen before the end of this year."

"By the end of this year… I see. And what, exactly, do you want me to do about it?"

"I'm… not sure," Sylvoir said at last. "The prophecy I received just tells me you, along with your companions, will be the only ones able to fight back against this mysterious power. But if I were to take a guess… I would say it relates somehow to the power of Chaos within your body, which was then somehow transferred onto those women by your side…"

That's true… the girls are affected by my Chaos power more and more through spending time with me and sleeping together. But if only the power of Chaos can stand against this mysterious force… just what is it…?

"In any case, just be mindful. When the disaster strikes, I, along with the other Founders, will do our best to support you and defend this world. However, it will ultimately be up to you to destroy this power. Do not let me down."

I nodded firmly. "I'll do my best… but what will my reward be?"

"Idiot! The world's at danger here, do you see-"

"Yeah, yeah, I know," I interrupted her, rolling my eyes. "But what use is there in worrying about it now? As a certain wise person once told me, worrying is just twice the suffering. Let the catastrophe come when it does. I am always prepared."

"…" Sylvie remained silent, as if unconvinced, so I gave a slight chuckle.

"Besides… if the guys doing this really are the Midnight Syndicate as you say… all the more reason for me to take them down. I haven't fully gotten my revenge yet… and I never will, until every last member of that organization is in Hell."

"I see… however, in your current state, I doubt you will be able to fight back against the catastrophe. As such… in the off-chance that the calamity occurs before you become strong enough, I want you to run."

"… Run?"

"Yes, run. Live, to fight another day, when you become strong enough. Is that understood?"

"… Yeah, I get it."

"Good. This may sound cheesy, but… you are this entire Realm's only hope. The prophecies of the Terron Records are absolute. It told me you are the only one who can stand against this power, but it did not say you will. Do you understand what this means?"

I nodded. "There's one of two possibilities. One, I die, either to this catastrophe, or two, I simply choose to let the world drown. The former is more likely to happen."

"You're not even denying the second as a possible option, only saying it is less likely…" Sylvoir gave a deep sigh and rubbed her forehead, half-covered by the kitsune mask tied around her head. "… Truly, why must you be the one with this power… but that aside, there is something else I'd like you to know."

"Oh?" I raised an eyebrow. "A love confession? I'm flattered."

This time, Sylvoir didn't even bother reacting to my bad joke, and instead carried on with as serious of a tone as ever.

"What happened all those years ago with your parents and all… it is not what it may seem."

I frowned. "… What?"

"I… I-I'm not sure," Sylvoir hurriedly corrected herself, even stuttering a bit—which I only ever saw her do when she got flustered. "It is just a conjecture I had. Think nothing of it—forget I said anything. As for the catastrophe… I wish you good luck. And if it comes down to it… prioritize your own life over anyone else's."

"Relax. I'm rational, and won't lash out even if I see my mother murdered right in front of my eyes. Yes, that actually happened, though I'm sure you know already."

Sylvoir wanted to ask 'but what about your father', but held herself in. If she asked that, the true intentions behind her so-called 'conjecture' earlier would be revealed. So, instead, she just said…

"… Good luck."

I nodded in return, and closed my eyes in preparation to return to sleep.

"Until next time."

And before I knew it, I was back in dreamland.

*****

- After Xuan Kai Left, the Infinite Realm -

(Sylvoir's Perspective)

"… There might not even be a next time," I muttered as the young man returned to his fleeting moments of rest. Glancing down at the hand I had hit him with, I gave a sigh.

"… I couldn't tell him the whole truth in the end."

But it was for the better, right…? I mean… if I told him, he might have second thoughts about fighting the Midnight Syndicate… and as far as I know, he isn't someone who cares about 'justice' or any of that righteous hero stuff.

It sounded like I was just convincing myself, but…

"… No, I'm in the right here. That was the right decision to make."

The Midnight Syndicate is threatening to destroy the Living Realm, therefore taking down the Infinite Realm with it. As a Founder of the Library of Infinite Beginnings, it is my utmost duty to protect the Living Realm—and he would help me.

That… was the right decision.

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