The next day;
Somewhere in the middle of the White Mountains, Leah, with her soul orb sealed by the Decarune seal, was hiding in one of the caves.
"Based on our deal, I'll be tagging with him to the alien worlds. But, to settle at any location, we have to establish a relationship between us in order to blend into society and live in the same house. I bet Azrael didn't take it into consideration. So, I have to think about it.
Friends ain't gonna cut it as it is the vaguest relationship.
Martial disciples? Nope... Not all worlds have martial arts.
Lovers or husband and wife? I like that but unfortunately, that too won't work. Our ages are too different. Even though I look young, I still look like I'm in my twenties and he looks like a high school kid. People might give me weird looks and who knows some might even report me to the police.
Wife and the brother-in-law? Nope, people will get judgmental about such a relationship if we stay under the same roof.
Elder sister and young brother? Hmm... that works but I don't want to be his family in such a way.
What about an elder sister and younger stepbrother? Nah... step brother is still a sibling. It's not some adult video. This is real life.
Mother and stepson? Ugh... that's worse and even more disgusting to even think about it.
What is left then?"
As something suddenly clicked in her head, her eyes lit up, "Yup, got it. I'll be the distant elder cousin, who is related to his stepmother.
His parents passed away and due to the lack of any guardians, it fell upon me to take responsibility to take care of him as his guardian, until he turns 18. That works, since we are related not by blood but mostly, any society with moderate social values wouldn't have any problem with us living together.
Yes, this is better than the rest. I can convince him of this. And who knows, by living together under the same roof, things could happen... hihihi..." She giggled to herself, imagining the scenario, and mumbled, "Now, all that's left is to convince him."
Suddenly, a voice disturbed her imagination and brought her to reality, "what is there to convince me?"
Leah was startled. Her whole body shivered in surprise and she jumped to the side, scanning her surroundings, "No one? Is it my imagination?"
Moving back and forth, she was looking at her watch from time to time. "Is it really that easy to accomplish this task? He has only gone since the morning."
The Excalibur's voice then echoed in her head, "If he comes before nightfall as he promised, it would only mean that he time traveled more than once, perhaps, several times."
"Eh?" Leah was taken aback by her Arcana's statement, "Why?" She asked.
The Excalibur explained, "Time travel might be a hidden skill of the Hourglass, but it is still the same as soul skill. In fact, it is even more complicated than other hidden skills. Going to the exact moment that he envisioned will need mastery over the skill, which could only occur by..."
"Practicing," Leah finished it in realization, not knowing about the time corridor or Azzy's meeting with his future self. "Even with his immense inborn talent, Azrael would have atleast taken half a dozen times to master the hidden skill. Or else, there is a high chance of getting lost in the timeline. Who knows, he could even go as back as hundreds of thousands... Hmm?"
*sssh*
Her senses suddenly picked up the presence that was moving at unprecedented speeds, several times faster than even sound.
In an instant, her facial expression changed, frown disappeared and replaced with a smile, "He is here."
Soon, the blurry figure climbed the stairs with enhanced gravitational force and reached the top before entering the gravity dome guarded by two gargoyle statues.
Stopping right in front of her, Azzy raised his hand as a way of casual greeting, "Hey Leah, it looks like I'm on time." He said.
Leah nodded with a smile, "it seems so, Azrael." After a brief pause, she asked, "By the way, what time period did you go to apply the sealing technique on Louis?"
"It's a couple of months to the semester, a weekend when Louis went on a date with a senior girl from another division," replied Azzy.
Leah's eyes widened, "you destroyed their date? Don't tell me your intervention is the reason he ended with Mia?"
Azzy calmly shook his head, "Not really. He dumped the girl for some unknown reason. I just knocked him down afterward and applied our skill card."
"Our skill card?" Leah raised one of her eyebrows and folded her hands to her chest, meaningfully staring at him.
Azzy scratched his cheek while looking away in embarrassment, "I mean, I helped with my attribute (Death) energy too."