Chapter 50: The Mystery of Time

Professor Garcia was really like he was giving a lecture at this moment. Xia De thought to himself that perhaps he should turn up the gas lamp a little to make this place more like a classroom:

"Regarding the rules of the Time Key, this is mentioned in your 'Fundamentals of Time Travel Theory' course. In addition, do not worry about any trouble caused by time travel. Our world is not as fragile as you imagine, and mortals are not as powerful as they imagine themselves to be. In a world where thought can influence matter, the world itself is the most powerful. Now, please take the key out of the water basin."

He solved all of Xia De's questions with one paragraph; probably every student performing time travel for the first time would have similar questions.

"Water basin?"

Xia De looked at the water basin glowing with a shimmering light, squatted down, and reached his hand into the water that was somehow a bit warm, and then really took out a key.

It was a wooden key, the small appearance not even as big as Xia De's thumb. The flat key had a common shape, with teeth on one side and the other side being very smooth. The wood grain on the surface of the key was unusually obvious. Carefully stroking it, he discovered a line of characters carved down, not as big as a grain of rice.

Although he had learned a lesson from the 【Dark Box】 matter last time, this time it was clearly safe. Therefore, Xia De once again exerted his translation talent, interpreting it as:

【The World Tree protects you in time.】

"World Tree?"

Xia De was surprised in his heart, but did not reveal too much expression on the surface.

"The academy has various ways of transmitting 【Relics】. The Poet's manuscript is the most basic one. Although the method used now is expensive, it is safer, and the level of objects that can be transmitted is also higher."

Professor Garcia was still like he was giving a lecture:

"The grading of 【Time Keys】 ranges from Poet-level (Level 5) to Unknown-level (Level 0), coming from the God of the Past, the 【Father of the Infinite Tree】. Because this is only course teaching, what is provided this time is a Poet-level 【Time Key】."

The professor did not use the term "Old God" but the vague "God of the Past," which made Xia De pay attention.

"Do you have any understanding of this god?"

The professor with pointed ears asked.

"Only understand the name."

"The 【Father of the Infinite Tree】 is a very special god, and its specialty lies in the fact that it itself is also the World Tree."

If Professor Garcia could have said this before Xia De interpreted the carvings on the key, Xia De's surprise at this moment might have been more sincere.

"Regarding the World Tree, you do not need to understand for the time being. As for using the key, aim it at the keyhole of any door, rotate it, and push the door open, and you can go to a past time point. Every key can know the corresponding time before opening; the trick is to put the key under your pillow and fall asleep, and the information left by the 【Father of the Infinite Tree】 in the key will be displayed in your dream. We look up major events related to the Old God based on the era corresponding to the information, thereby determining the level of the key."

"Then which segment of time in the Fifth Era does this one correspond to?"

Xia De's fingers stroked the wood grain on the surface of the key.

The Fourth Era Chaos Era was too dangerous, and keys from the first three eras were strictly forbidden for Ring Warlocks below 9 rings to use, so this key could only be from the Fifth Era.

"Autumn of 1068, Fifth Era. Every time point corresponding to a key must be related to the Old God. Therefore, the Department of History is proficient in the 【Profanity】 element, because only the Department of History has the opportunity to safely obtain the silver 【Profanity】 element without coming into contact with the existing Evil God itself."

Xia De did not think time travel was a safe thing at all.

"We are time travelers, we are investigators. Entering past time, you cannot carry any items with supernatural power; even if you want to bring them, they will fall off before you step into the opened 'door'."

Professor Garcia looked at Xia De, and Xia De hurriedly shook his head to indicate he did not have any now. Whether it was the Vampire Ring or the 20-sided Fate Die, they were all placed in the study.

"Entering a past time point, there will be a large amount of white fog in our field of vision. The 'other me' will also give hints about the time point and event information obtained from the fallen god's relic key."

"During the entire investigation period, the white fog will not dissipate. Investigators can only move toward positions without white fog to witness the events that occurred. During this period, as long as you do not proactively make contact with the past, no one will notice you. We are investigators, witnessing and recording past events, and bringing these events back to supplement the missing history before the era."

"You mean, we are actually going to watch a realistic... opera?"

Xia De gave an example.

"A very good metaphor."

A smile finally appeared on Professor Garcia's face. Although this professor with slightly pointed ears looked strict, he was actually quite a good person:

"In extremely small probabilities, the fallen 【Father of the Infinite Tree】 will issue some tasks to you, but the probability can be ignored... Then Mr. Hamilton, let us begin now."

"Now?"

Xia De swallowed a mouthful of saliva and looked at the bedroom door. Little Mia was probably tired, so the sound of claws scratching at the door had not appeared for a long time.

"Do you have anything else to prepare? Oh, do not worry, each opened segment of time allows you to stay for at most 3 hours. And when you return to the correct time, you will only appear 3 seconds after you disappeared."

"My meaning is... is it too hasty, this kind of thing..."

Xia De thought the instructor would give some systematic training, but did not expect it to be such a simple introduction.

"Ring Warlocks must rely on themselves, of course, also on the 'other me', but cannot rely on others. Do not hold a pen and paper to record; any matter you bring to the past time will return to its original state when you return. Even if you really have the ability to interfere with past time, it will only be a small ripple in the long river of time; do not underestimate time and the world."

"Alright then, Professor Garcia."

He stood up and came to the bedroom door, letting the light of the brass-colored gas lamp on the side wall spill onto his head and shoulders.

He aimed the small key at the keyhole, not expecting it to fit perfectly, but the two were clearly mismatched.

"Remember, when rotating, you must chant the incantation; chanting in any language is fine—The World Tree protects me in time.

Mr. Hamilton, see you in three seconds. Please relax, the academy has specially investigated, in 1068 of the Fifth Era, nothing dangerous happened; it is very safe. Please cherish your first time journey; this will be an interesting journey of great commemorative significance."

"Good, see you in three seconds, Professor Garcia."

Xia De, feeling uneasy in his heart, gently rotated the wooden key in his hand, chanting in his mouth:

"May the World Tree protect me in time."

A click sound, but clearly there was no possibility of such a sound from his own bedroom door lock.

Xia De took a deep breath and finally pulled the door open.

But behind the door was not the tired orange cat Mia and the bedroom; silk-like white fog was slowly wriggling behind the door frame, and behind the door was a fog door filled with hazy white fog.

He swallowed a mouthful of saliva, heard Professor Garcia's encouragement again, and thinking of the cat in his heart, only then walked in bravely. ===== CHAPTER 51 =====