It was a certain country. A white-auld castle, constructed in a particular location.
A special barrier had been laid upon it, making it impossible for anyone without permission to so much as visit—or even perceive the place.
That location was the headquarters of the Council of Sages.
Taking its name from the land where the Fairy King resided, the castle was known as "Avalon Castle."
"............"
And within that castle, a man appeared.
His stern expression carved from stone, the one who materialized from the void was none other than the chairman of the Council of Sages.
The greatest magician of the modern age… Leonard Gascoigne.
"Oh my, were you heading out?"
An elderly man called out to Gascoigne, who had teleported in from somewhere.
He was a white-haired, white-bearded old man, dressed in a "kariginu"—a traditional garment of the Eastern Kingdom.
"How rare. For you to venture out alone. Was there some matter that required your attention?"
"Kanehira…"
Gascoigne spoke the old man's name.
The elderly man was Kanehira Ichijō.
A magician hailing from the Far East, and a veteran member of the Council of Sages.
"I've found a new reincarnated person… or rather, I believe they possess the Ring of Ouroboros."
"Oh my, is that so… the Ring of Ouroboros. Now that is a rather troublesome ability to have been given."
Kanehira stroked his beard with an expression of sympathy.
"I believe the previous owner died from an uncontrolled mana explosion… and the one before that was used as a power source for a magical weapon, with Lord Nuada delivering the final rites. Infinite mana… powers that the human will cannot truly handle—it would be better if they simply didn't exist."
"That spell, with its overwhelming power… he may—or rather, he alone—may be a child of destiny truly worthy of wielding the Ouroboros. Any power depends on the one who bears it… Could it be, after all these centuries, that I've finally encountered another?"
"Lord Gascoigne?"
"Yes, that's right… If he were to lose his way and fall into the depths of dark magic, I would have no choice but to eliminate him. That is the destiny of this guardian of the mortal realm. It is the very reason I was born into this world…"
"…………"
Muttering to himself under his breath, Gascoigne drew deeper furrows into Kanehira's brow.
"…Again?"
"It must be done… yes, that's right…"
"Really now… Lord Gascoigne. Lord Gascoigne!"
"Wh-what?!"
Kanehira shouted directly into Gascoigne's ear.
At that, Gascoigne's shoulders flinched upward with a start, and he finally responded.
"Oh, that startled me… What is it, Kanehira?"
"I should be the one asking! Your hearing isn't what it used to be—please don't let the sound-gathering spell lapse!"
"Oh… that's right. I'd let my attention wander."
When Gascoigne cast the spell, a faint glow settled around his ears.
"There. No problems now. I can hear perfectly well."
"I swear… You're not exactly young anymore, Lord Gascoigne."
Kanehira let out a weary sigh, his shoulders drooping in exasperation.
Kanehira was an ancient magician who had served on the Council of Sages for over a hundred years… but Gascoigne was even older than he was.
His body had degraded considerably over the years, and his hearing had grown so poor lately that he'd been letting the conversation drift right past him.
"Hmm… It may be time to change bodies soon."
"Are you thinking of switching?"
"Hmm… The international situation has been rather unsettled lately, you know. It might be wise to update my body before things escalate into a full-scale conflict."
Gascoigne stroked his ageless face with his palm, deep in thought.
"There's a succession crisis brewing in the Gaiselle Empire, the Kingdom of Aiwood has fallen into civil war, and over in Sindu to the east, a young prince supposedly killed his own father and seized the throne."
"In my homeland… Ashihara as well, there have been disturbing movements. If it's merely coincidence, that would be one thing — but it's possible they're the ones pulling the strings behind the scenes."
Gascoigne and Kanehira exchanged glances, their expressions growing troubled.
The Council of Sages had a sworn enemy.
For an incomprehensibly long time, they had been waging an unending battle against those who sought to plunge the world into chaos and bring about the end of humanity.
"Those people never learn, do they… If that boy were to side with them…"
"It's going to get busy, isn't it? Hard on these old bones."
Behind the veil of the world, the Sages suffered in silence, unknown to anyone.
The truth of the world. The writhing abyss.
Rest — young and still uninitiated — had not yet noticed any of what was happening there.