Charles sat at his desk, thinking about his next course of action. There were too many places in the Empire that required mana or soul identification–including the library he was in. As such, if he left, he could not return.
He could go to the cafeteria and some buildings, but most classes also required identification. Labs and even Soul Linking in a Virtual Reality Cabin for his classes also needed identification.
If he left the university, he would also be restricted. Public transport did not require such strict identification, but that was before the war. Charles did not have a private vehicle since he was saving, and there was no need for it.
As for buying one now, that would also require proper identification. He could not leave the planet since most passenger spaceships were strictly controlled. And the Warp Portals were even more strict in who was allowed to use them.
'Do I really have to reveal my identity?' thought Charles for a few minutes before deciding otherwise. He went on to pick up many books on the Soul. His best option was to find a way to hide the mutation in his soul.
He spent the next two hours reading the book since he had to wait for his ability to cool down before he could use it again. Once it was time, Charles activated it and increased his mastery of the content.
However, he frowned: 'I will barely scratch the soul's surface with the available knowledge.'
He knew it would be impossible to hide his mutation unless he became an expert on the soul. He clenched his hands because of the frustration. Charles then took a deep breath to calm down, knowing his every action could lead to imprisonment.
'My best bet is to find a way to leave the Empire's territory. Although surviving in the current chaos is dangerous, it's better than being discovered. With my talent, as long as I have enough time.'
Knowledge is vital to any magic class. And typically, it would be difficult for Charles to get his hands on it. After all, he knew how the nobles controlled knowledge on the planet he was from.
However, in the chaotic situation of the galaxy, it was easier to acquire knowledge through crooked ways.
'I need to get access to the black market.'
Charles did not know whether a black market existed. However, there was no perfect utopia. The Empire had to have its dark side, its shadow. Maybe he could find a way to leave the planet from the black market.
'Before leaving, I need to study as much as possible.'
Charles wanted to take advantage of the situation and absorbed all the knowledge in the library possible. He was even prepared to ask some students from Bigu Pills from the Chinese Region.
Bigu Pill was a product of alchemy loved by many low-level Arcanists that still required food to function. Mainly Tier 4 and below since Tier 5 and above Arcanists did not need to eat as their mana could sustain them.
One pill could prevent two weeks without food. Although spending over a month in the library would bring him some attention, Charles decided to take the risk. He only needed to play his cards correctly and stop at an opportune moment before leaving the school.
As for his destination, it was the Low-Tech Area. He would hide there before searching for the black market.
Having made a plan, Charles sighed in relief before beginning his study. Regrettably, something suddenly changed. The library's room suddenly became darker, and the environment resembled mirrors.
Charles' face changed as he remembered seeing something similar. It was from the Doctor Strange Movie he watched back on Earth.
'The Mirror Dimension?'
Charles did not have time to think as he saw six individuals standing before him. They had black magic robes with a clock symbol. Furthermore, the person in the lead was a weird alien creature similar to ET.
Oddly, Charles felt the creature was familiar but could not currently remember where he saw it.
"Charles Wentworth?" asked the creature.
"That's me. Can I know who you are and what's your purpose? Kidnapping a citizen of the Empire is a severe crime," replied Charles with a slightly trembling tone, as if he was scared.
"We are the Time Auror, protectors of the Empire's timeline," replied the creature from the Novad race. "You are under arrest under the suspicions of tempering with time."
'Dammnit,' cursed Charles. 'Has this man even taken preventive measures against time travelers?'
He could not accept that he could not escape even by using his ability to travel back in time.
"I think you have the wrong person. I have nothing to do with time magic. No, how could a weak Arcanist like myself have anything to do with time magic."
"You don't have to deny it," replied the Novad. "Our equipment has already detected you. Plus, I can see the spatial-temporal aura emanating from your body. Now, whether you accomplish this feat with your power or use a magical treasure, we will decide this after your capture."
All the other Aurors took a battle position with their staff ready.
'Revert time, revert time, revert time,' screamed Charles inside his mind. Unfortunately, his cheat-ability could not work consecutively, and he needed a lot of time to recharge.
Ultimately, the Time Aurors took Charles to a unique prison that could prevent him from using his time powers. The moment Charles entered the cell, he could sense his ability could not work even on books.
So, he had to wait a few minutes before someone took him to another room full of machines and hooked him to them.
"What are you doing to me?" asked Charles. Then, an old Arcanist with white hair came to talk to him. "We are just reading the remnant time energy from your body to see the events that occurred before you returned to this period."
"You can do that?" asked Charles, scared and worried.
"Of course," the older man replied with a smile. "I love receiving people like you."
"What do you mean?"
"Changing past events should not be possible. If someone goes back in time to change events, they would only create a parallel universe where things have changed. After that person returned to their timeline, nothing would have changed. You understand?"
"I do. The newly created timeline is where things have changed," Charles replied.
"Exactly. But some unique time magic allows people to change the past without creating a new timeline; they can rewrite reality with their actions.
"We call these people Time Lords, and you are one of them. Since the creation of the Time Auror Department, we have captured 12 Time Lords, and you're the 13th."
Charles opened his mouth, shocked beyond words. For the first time, he felt the profound horror and background of this Empire that has not existed for a hundred years. And he felt jealous of the Arcane Emperor's achievements. He also felt regretful he was born in this place as he had no chance to survive, let alone rise.
"Everything is ready," said someone from the back, and the old man nodded to Charles before leaving. Then, the machines worked for a few minutes before showing Charles' life before he traveled back in time.
Everything looked normal until the library accident where he first transmigrated. Unlike the Intelligence Department, the Time Aurors could perfectly hear what Charles muttered after he first reincarnated:
"I'm not dead? Better yet, I've been reincarnated in a world of sword and magic?"
"Reincarnation? Now, things are getting interesting. I wonder where he is from?" said the older man.
"He could be from anywhere in our universe, from another dimension, plane, or parallel timeline," replied another researcher. "The possibilities are endless."
"That's true," replied the older man as he continued the event of Charles' capture and his subsequent arrest as a spy before he reverted time.
"This person's situation is more complicated than expected since he is not a normal Time Lord. Send the information to the royal family and let them decide what to do with him."
One of the researchers then sent the information gathered directly to Commander Olivier. Their Department was an unknown one to the public that directly served the royal family and could directly report to them.
Not even a minute after sending the information, they received the notification that one of the Empress would arrive immediately to deal with the situation.
