Chapter 56: Echoes of the Future

Klaus Eirenwald’s convoy sped toward Haneda Airport beneath a pale dawn sky.
The Archbishop sat quietly in the back seat, Misaki Noa beside him, scrolling through encrypted reports.

Then—
BOOM!

The lead vehicle exploded into flame.
Metal and glass rained across the highway.

“Ambush! Protect the Archbishop!”
Guards poured out, weapons raised, taking defensive positions.
From the smoke emerged men in black armor and skull-shaped masks. Their rifles flashed in rapid bursts.

Misaki rolled across the asphalt, drawing her sidearm.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Each shot precise. Three masked attackers fell before they could reload.

But a massive figure stepped forward—a brute wielding a roaring Gatling gun.
“Hail Caine!” he bellowed as bullets tore through the burning cars.

Klaus’s eyes widened. “Caine… they’re his followers!?”

Before the gunner could fire again, an arrow whistled through the air—
KA-BOOM!
An explosive shot hit the man squarely in the chest, sending him flying into the flames.

From the rising smoke descended another masked fighter, moving with inhuman grace.
He drew a katana that gleamed blue in the firelight and danced through the gunfire, cutting down the remaining soldiers with fluid precision.
When two survivors tried to shoot from behind—
BANG! BANG!
Two clean headshots dropped them instantly.

The shots came from an elf woman with long azure hair and golden eyes, cloaked in black.

Klaus lowered his pistol, breathing hard. “W-who are you…?”

The swordsman paused, sheathed his blade, and pulled off his mask.

Klaus froze. His face went pale.

“Y-you…? That’s impossible…”

Meanwhile, back in Tokyo, Kanata had finally been discharged from the hospital.
Though his wounds had healed, his mind remained clouded.

Expelled.
Cut off from the academy.
A curse still etched into his soul.

Obsidian’s deep voice echoed in his mind.

“Maybe you should take this as a blessing, boy. Rest while you can… before the next war begins.”

Kanata sighed. “Yeah, maybe.”
But the thought of his mother—her unknown fate—refused to leave him.

That evening, he jogged along the riverside until the sky turned indigo, hoping exhaustion might quiet his thoughts.

When he returned home near midnight, he noticed two unfamiliar pairs of shoes by the door.
“Guests? At this hour?”

He stepped inside—and found Reiga and Kobayashi sitting calmly at his table.

“You two? What are you doing here this late?”

Reiga smiled faintly. “Visiting an old friend—and checking on the newest patient.”

Kanata crossed his arms. “You’re hiding something, aren’t you?”

Kobayashi only sighed, sipping his tea.
Moments later, Naomi entered carrying a plate of cake.

“Ara—Kanata, you’re back. They didn’t tell you, did they?”

Reiga nodded grimly.
“The order to expel you came from one of the High Council’s elders—Igor. He’s always despised you. Even before Vlad’s incident, he tried to convince the others to arrest you. Klaus defended you, but after the battle, the Church decided to wash its hands clean. Igor’s plan worked.”

Kanata’s gaze dropped to the floor.
“So that’s it?”

“You’re not angry?” Reiga asked quietly.

Kanata shrugged. “I’m not angry. Just… restless. Part of me feels like they’ll still need me someday.”

He looked toward the window, imagining his classmates preparing for the upcoming island exam.

Reiga met Kobayashi’s eyes and gave a slight nod.

“Then why not join us?” he said.
“The High Elite Wizard Division. You’ll still be able to protect them—from the outside.”

Kanata blinked. “Join you?”

Kobayashi smiled. “You’ve already proven yourself. We’d be honored.”

Kanata thought of Astrellia’s words—the coming war, the Fountain, the prophecy.
Finally, he exhaled.

“Fine. But I have one condition.”

“Name it.”

Kanata’s eyes hardened. “When we reach the island, let me explore the ancient ruins alone.”

Naomi frowned. “Ruins? What are you talking about?”

Kanata told them everything—his dream, the fountain, the Silver Dragon’s warning.
The room fell silent.

“Then that means…” Kobayashi whispered, “the Fountain of Eternity is on that island.”

“I don’t know,” Kanata answered. “But I’ll find out.”

Reiga nodded. “Then it’s settled. Welcome to the High Elite Wizard.”

The next morning, Kanata jogged again along the riverside, the wind sharp and cool.
That was when he saw her—
an elf with blue hair, standing quietly by the water.

He slowed his pace, staring.
Something about her presence felt familiar, ancient.

Then the world exploded into motion.

SLASH!

Pain tore through him—his right arm was severed cleanly at the shoulder.
Blood sprayed the pavement as he collapsed, screaming.

“AAARGH—!”

A figure in a black mask stood before him, blade dripping crimson.
When the man lifted his head, Kanata’s breath caught.

The face beneath the mask—
was his own.

Older. Scarred. Eyes filled with regret.

“Forgive me,” said the future Kanata.
“But this is the only way to stop the war before it begins.”

And before the younger Kanata could respond, both he and the blue-haired elf vanished into thin air.

Moments later, Celestine and Itsuha arrived.
Seeing the blood, Celestine immediately froze the wound, halting the bleeding.

“Hang on, Kanata! Stay with me!”

He didn’t answer.

Elsewhere, in a private jet bound for Europe, Klaus sat staring at the clouds.
Across from him, the masked swordsman from the ambush—Kanata’s future self—sat in silence, the elf beside him.

“You said a great war is coming,” Klaus murmured. “And that its cause… is him?”

Future Kanata looked away. “The world will burn because of the choices I made in this timeline. I came back to make sure it doesn’t.”

Klaus tightened his grip on his rosary. “Then tell me—can the future really be changed?”

The only answer he received was silence.

Days later, Kanata awoke in the hospital again.
The familiar white ceiling blurred above him.

He lifted his right arm—only to freeze.
It was metal. Sleek, silver, and faintly humming with magic.

Naomi leaned against the wall, arms crossed. “Do you like it?”

Kanata stared in disbelief. “…A cybernetic arm?”

“Think of it as a replacement. Once you’re healed, Nagisa will train you how to use it.”

Nagisa entered, smiling with relief, and pulled him into a tight hug.
“Welcome back, idiot. Don’t scare us like that again.”

Reiga and Kobayashi watched from the doorway, exchanging faint smiles.
The boy had survived—again.

But miles away, under a dim twilight sky, another Kanata—the one from the future—stood on a cliff beside the blue-haired elf, watching the sun sink behind dark clouds.

He looked down at the blood-stained sword in his hand.
“It’s done. The right arm is gone. The war won’t happen now.”

The elf folded her arms. “Are you sure fate can be changed that easily?”

Future Kanata gave a tired smile.
“I don’t know. But this is just the beginning.”

He turned toward the horizon.

“Next, we find him—Igor. The man whose words ignite every war.”

The wind howled across the cliffs, carrying the faint scent of iron and storm.