Chapter 239 - Two Things

Early morning sunlight poured through the open blinds of Sophie’s Diner.

The quiet hum of the city waking up outside was muted here, replaced by the comforting, domestic rhythm of a morning diner. It was a peaceful contrast to the high-stakes madness, deafening crowds, and earth-shattering explosions that had defined the academy arena just twenty-four hours prior.

Cindy, wearing her usual apron over her work dress, was wiping down a booth near the window when the bell above the front entrance chimed.

Ding-Ding

Glancing up, her face immediately lit up with a bright, welcoming smile.

"Kurt! Hi! What a nice surprise!"

"Morning, Cindy. This place is pretty empty as usual, huh?"

"Haha. Don’t let Sophie hear you say that."

He walked leaned over the counter to peer straight into the sizzling kitchen. "Morning, Sophie! Your one and only customer is here! As usual!"

"Wha–?! K-Kurt–"

"Keep your mouth shut, one-eye! Or I’ll make sure your bacon comes out as black as your soul! Also, good morning!"

Kurt chucked softly, stepping back as Cindy led him toward his regular spot.

"Here you go," Cindy said, sliding the morning menu onto the table in front of him. "Can I get you started with some coffee? Or tea?"

"Make it one black coffee and a large Drinksalot soda for now. I’m expecting someone to join me in a minute."

"Coming right up!" she chirped, heading back toward the counter.

Left to his own devices, Kurt leaned back against the plush cushion, letting out a long, quiet exhale. Resting on the center of the table was the morning edition of the Eldorian News.

He picked it up, unfolding the broadsheet paper to take a look.

The front page was dominated by a clear photograph of Izumi Ayako standing at the edge of the crated arena floor; bowing to the crowd amidst a gentle fall of pink sakura petals.

MYRIA’S CHAMPION: IZUMI AYAKO VICTORIOUS IN CONTINENTAL TOURNAMENT FINALS!

Amber Strongwill Pushes to the Absolute Limit in Legendary Supernova Battle.

’No more black and white photographs? Guess the new display tags are really putting in the work.’

Kurt idly flipped through the inner pages, skimming the detailed breakdown of the weekend event:

Eldoria’s initial dominance during Day One’s fatal four-way, the dramatic triple threat that ended in Myria’s victory, Emelie’s sweeping streak through Myria’s front line on Day Two before her unexpected self-elimination, and the final, brutal attrition match that had left both finalists thoroughly spent.

Ding-Ding

Kurt glanced over the top edge of his newspaper.

A figure wearing a dark hoodie stepped through the door, keeping their head tilted slightly down. After a quick greeting to Cindy, the figure walked to and slid smoothly into the seat opposite him.

She reached up and pulled her hood back. Silver hair with green streaks cascaded out, framing a striking face dominated by piercing emerald eyes.

Emelie Herst folded her hands on the table and looked across at him with a wink.

"Oh shit, is that a free Drinksalots?"

"Morning to you too, Emy." Kurt smiled while shaking his head. "And yeah. You can have it."

"Sweet. Thanks."

"Hey guys!" Cindy popped over. "Ready to order food, or do you need a minute?"

"I’ll have a small breakfast plate. You, Emy?"

"I’ll have that too. Thanks Cindy."

"Got it! Back in a jiffy," she said cheerfully and hurried off toward the kitchen.

Once the waitress vanished behind the swinging wooden door, Emelie wrapped her fingers around the large glass, taking a slow sip, then setting it down as she leaned forward slightly.

"Alright, Kurt. I’m here. What is it that you wanted to discuss?"

"There are two things," he said while holding up two fingers. "One is minor, and one is important. Which do you want first?"

"Start with the minor one."

"Ahh. The minor one, huh? Right. That would be my affinity for Time magic."

"Time magic... The more I think of it, the more I wonder just how you got the affinity for it. So? What about it?"

"I used it. Like, kind of properly. During my fight against Everett."

"You did? How? I was there and I never saw anything."

"Well, of course you didn’t. That’s because..."

Kurt began to summarize the brutal fight that had taken place a few days prior.

He detailed how the duel had spiraled completely out of control, how Everett’s desperate, unhinged drive had pushed both of them past their physical limits. Literally.

He explained how Everett had ultimately initiated a terrifying kamikaze technique, exploding himself while holding him in a bear hug, which resulted in both of them dying.

As Kurt spoke, Emelie listened in stunned silence.

"Wait... You died? Both of you?"

"We did. Everett freaking evaporated while I had my body blown in half. I even tragically died in Diana’s arms like I was in a movie."

"Then how are you sitting across from me sipping on coffee?" Emelie demanded with genuine disbelief. "Necromancy? Did Principal Valentine use spatial reconstruction?"

"Necromancy? Spatial what now? No. Neither. That’s where the turning point came. In that split second between life and death... I rewound time."

He detailed the mechanics of what had transpired: the sensation of reality shifting backward, his body adapting to the temporal strain, and the mana infusion he used upon returning – instantly beating Everett and ending the duel before their deaths could manifest.

He also mentioned the fleeting, mysterious female voice that had resonated inside his mind before landing the final move – a voice that felt vast, ancient, and detached from anything and everything.

"...."

Before Emelie could voice the barrage of questions, the kitchen door swung open. Cindy glided over, happily dropping off two warm plates of breakfast.

"Here you go, folks! Careful, the plates are hot." Cindy smiled brightly, blissfully unaware of the reality-bending conversation she had just stepped into. "Let me know if you need more coffee or soda!"

"Thank you, Cindy," Kurt replied.

Once she stepped away, Emelie stared down at her plate while her mind worked at a furious pace. She picked up her fork and started poking at her food.

"Rewinding time... Time as a concept..." she murmured, more to herself than to him.

"I know it’s part of the elemental tree of affinities. But even the Heroes of old only ever spoke of spatial manipulation and elemental mastery. To rewind time... how is that even possible?"

"I didn’t do it alone," Kurt admitted, taking a bite of his toast. "It was Kitty."

Emelie’s head snapped up. "Kitty? That white cat?"

"Yeah. I don’t know what he did, but he was the anchor that allowed the rewind process to happen in the first place. By the way, he can talk."

Resting her chin on her hand, Emelie’s eyes narrowed in deep, analytical contemplation.

"Kitty... a lingering mystery of who – or what – he truly is. Come to think of it, he always appears around you. An ancient spirit? A primordial concept given form? You said he helped you rewind time; is he a time magician perhaps?"

"No. He said he isn’t. And that only a "Time Magician" as you put it, can teach another magician how to master their affinity."

Emelie paused while looking at him skeptically. The logical, grounded veteran within her fought against the absurdity of his claim.

"Kurt, don’t take this the wrong way, but do you seriously expect me to digest the fact that you can manipulate the flow of time based solely on your word?"

"Oh? You calling me a liar, Herst?

"I am calling you an anomaly. Demonstrate it. Right now. Do some time manipulating shit."

"Alright, fine. I’m feeling recharged enough. Look at me and look carefully."

He looked her straight in the eyes and she looked at him.

From her perspective, Kurt hadn’t moved an inch. There was no surge of mana, no spatial pressure, no flash of light, and not even the sound of rustling clothes.

Yet suddenly... sitting proudly atop his head was a tall, white, chef’s hat.

"What the fuck?" Her eyes darted from his face to the hat, and back down to his face. Her mouth opened slightly in dumbfounded shock. "Isn’t that..."

"Yep. You guessed it. I froze time, walked into the kitchen, and took Sophie’s hat."

A split second later, a loud, infuriated scream echoed from behind the kitchen wall.

"WHERE THE HELL IS MY HAT?!"

"Pfft–" Emelie quickly pulled her glass up to her mouth, stifling a sudden laugh behind the rim.

Without a single motion, the white hat vanished from his head.

"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON BACK HERE?! I KNOW I’M NOT CRAZY!"

"Alright, Kurt. Point taken. You can freeze and rewind time. That is... terrifyingly broken. Let’s put a pin on that for now. If we want to know more, we need to find Kitty cause I sure as hell don’t know shit about this subject."

As they settled back down to eat, Emelie cut a piece of her sausage as her tone turned thoughtful. "Speaking of your duel with Everett... for some reason, he has been acting odd lately.

"He constantly asks me how you’re doing and whenever he does, he gets this strangely unsettled, haunted plus... yearning look in his eyes. It’s as if he’s scared of you and fascinated by you. Actually, I don’t know if fascinated is the right word. Infatuated maybe?"

Kurt visibly cringed as a shudder ran down his spine. "Ugh... don’t remind me. I just paid him a visit at the hospital to... give him a stern warning when.... Actually, I really don’t want to talk about it."

Emelie observed his rare discomfort with a faint, amused glint in her eyes, finishing off the rest of her soda in a single, smooth gulp.

"Alright, let’s drop that topic. If dying and rewinding time was the ’minor’ thing, what is the important one?"

The casual, lighthearted demeanor he had maintained throughout breakfast vanished completely as it was time to get into the real reason he called her here.

"Right. The important thing I wanted to discuss... is about Princess Faye Dorothy."

The moment he said her name, Emelie looked at him as if he said something taboo.