Despite being December 7th, snow had yet to fall on Starlight Academy.
Of course, that didn't mean that it wasn't cold. Since it was early morning, the weather was still quite nippy.
But even so, Evelyn noticed that her daughter didn't mind it.
Being a responsible mother, Evelyn had draped Emma in her coat.
But she couldn't do anything about the chilly morning breeze.
And yet...
"It's nice and frosty, Mommy! Look!" Emma pointed to the window on a nearby building, covered with a thin layer of frost.
...There wasn't a single sign that the cold affected Emma.
Despite the strong breeze, Emma's face didn't have the telltale crimson marks that the chilly wind should have left. But considering the slight cloud that Emma's breath left as she exhaled, it was clear that it WAS cold.
"...Are you not cold, dear?" Evelyn looked at her daughter, concern clear on her face.
"Hm?" Emma smiled. "It's not cold, Mommy! It feels nice!"
"...Does it?"
'In that case... Does my daughter also possess it?'
Due to
For her, the cold was simply another form of energy that her body would adjust to receive and learn to emit.
That was why Evelyn was fine despite giving her coat to Emma.
But...
"Hm, hm, hm~" Emma happily hummed, swinging her hand that was interlaced with Evelyn's.
...It seemed like Emma was the same as her mother.
Realizing that, Evelyn's heart warmed. She instinctively pulled Emma closer and said, "You really are my daughter, aren't you, dear?"
"Mmhm!" Emma let out a bright smile. "I'm Mommy's baby!"
"A-Ah, perhaps we should rephrase it slightly..."
Evelyn quickly glanced around, nervous if anyone heard that.
Thankfully, it was still fairly early, so due to the cold, there weren't any other students out and about.
Emma tilted her head. "...But I'm Mommy's baby? A-Aren't I...?" Her eyes started to well up with tears.
Evelyn hugged Emma close and said, "Of course you are, dear. But you are a bit bigger than a baby, so that doesn't suit you."
Emma furrowed her brow. "...I don't get it. But... okay. Then..." She thought for a bit. Then her eyes lit up and she said, "I'm Mommy's baby girl!"
"...Yes, dear. That will work."
Evelyn would have preferred Emma to simply address herself as 'daughter...'
...But Evelyn was aware that her daughter, while clearly intelligent, was also slightly older than a toddler.
Five years old at best, realistically three or so.
Evelyn didn't remember much about herself at that age. But considering how Emma had struggled to say her own name, Evelyn didn't press the matter.
'Daughter' was a bit complicated to pronounce, after all.
Emma giggled and then wrapped her arms around Evelyn's waist, nuzzling her side as they walked.
Evelyn couldn't help but let out a warm smile at that.
'So this is what it is like to be a mother...'
Did her own mother feel this way towards her?
Evelyn didn't know much about her mother. She knew that her mother had died when Evelyn was young... but even that was uncertain.
Some said she died in childbirth.
Others said she died shortly after.
Evelyn could never get a clear answer. And neither her brother nor father would provide it either.
Uncle Elio as well, refused to give a clear answer, so...
"Oh!" Emma looked over and said, "Mommy, look! Those two have funny hair colors!"
"Hm?" Evelyn looked towards where her daughter was pointing. "That is not nice to say about people, dear-"
Evelyn's words immediately cut off when she saw who Emma was talking about.
The colors weren't 'funny' per se. From how Emma reacted, Evelyn thought it would be something ridiculous, like pink, purple, or sky blue. The same color that some of the students dyed their hair.
But it wasn't.
Instead, it was two people. One with red hair, and another with green hair. A matching couple. A couple she knew well.
Roland and Marisa.
And both were standing stock still, eyes flitting between Evelyn and Emma, progressively widening with every glance.
Emma waved. "Hi~! Are you friends?"
'...Oh heavens above, any deities that may be listening... grant me strength...'
===
Alex hadn't been in his room.
That was the first thing Roland had checked after Marisa had composed herself. Not only that, but messages and calls to Alex's phone weren't going through either.
It was concerning.
Although Roland was still upset, his worry for his friend was greater. Especially when he remembered what had unfolded at the Winter Solstice Ball.
Even so, Roland knew his friend was capable.
Right now, Marisa needed him more. And it turned out that she remembered that night as well.
Vividly.
So, to get her mind off the fact that she had suffered a VERY traumatic injury, Roland had decided to take her to get some breakfast.
Since it was December 7th, two weeks before the Winter Solstice Ball, it was also conveniently a Sunday.
That meant no classes, and an opportunity to recover and regroup.
And what better way than by having a good breakfast?
So, with that plan in mind, after both of them washed up, he held Marisa under his arm in a hug, letting her cling to him, and walked them both towards the business center of the campus, determined to treat her to breakfast at a fancy cafe.
But along the way...
"...Rolo." Marisa tilted her head and said, "...Isn't that Eve?"
"Hm?" Roland followed Marisa's gaze. And true to her words, there she was: the princess whose fate that whole night had revolved around.
But she wasn't alone.
There, at her side, there was a young girl. A toddler. One who looked every bit like a miniature Evelyn. But one with mismatched eyes.
The young girl's right eye was silver, the exact same hue as Evelyn's.
But the left...
It was a light green. Glittering like an emerald. But also, a hue that was as if Alex's green eyes and Evelyn's silver eyes had mixed.
Then there was the way the young girl tilted her head to look at them, just like Alex when he was thinking...
Marisa gasped, clearly catching onto that mannerism from the young girl as well.
Roland rapidly blinked, wracking his head for an explanation.
'...Did we ACTUALLY go back in the past? Or are we in the future?'
That was CLEARLY the daughter of Alex and Evelyn.
And she was also clearly a few years old.
And while Roland's phone said the date was December 7th, it didn't say the year.
And finally, knowing Alex, there was a high possibility that he saved them all, but needed time to do it.
'That would explain the lack of contact...'
If he was still in the middle of saving them-
'Wait. But everyone else is the same.'
Evelyn didn't look older. And Roland had seen their classmates as well.
Unless EVERYONE had died and this was a grand spell the likes the world had never seen...
Which Roland wouldn't put past his friend.
But-
The young girl pointed at Marisa and Roland, saying something to Evelyn.
Then, Evelyn sighed and put on a smile before walking over.
===
"Good morning, Roland. Marisa." Evelyn smiled. "...Emma, dear. Say hello to Mommy's friends."
Emma let out a bright smile and waved with her free hand. "Hi Mommy's friends!"
Marisa slowly blinked. The genius mage, the one who crossed the wall to Rank 7 before 20... she looked at Emma's bright smile like a mystery she couldn't unravel.
Roland, on the other hand, smiled back at Evelyn and said, "Good morning, Eve. This is... your daughter?"
Evelyn opened her mouth to respond.
But before she could, Emma nodded and said, "Yes! I'm Mommy's baby girl."
'Ah.'
Roland's smile froze.
Marisa blinked, the gears in her head clearly coming to a screeching halt as she tried to process that statement.
For a moment, neither of them moved. Not Roland or Marisa. Then, perfectly in sync, they looked to Evelyn for an answer.
Evelyn smiled. "It's quite chilly out here. Would you care to join us for breakfast?"
Emma jumped up and down and said, "Yes! Food first, then talk! I'm hungry!"
"...Of course, Eve." Roland slowly nodded. "Food would be nice."
Marisa blinked, looking like her mind had just restarted. "...Yes. Let's eat first. Then we can talk about... everything."
The 'everything' Marisa said was clearly loaded. Especially with how pointedly she was staring at Emma.
Evelyn sighed internally. But on the surface, she kept smiling and said, "Alright then. My dear Emma wanted pancakes, so we're going to a family diner. Is that fine with you?"
Roland nodded. "Yes. I could go for an omelet. And a lot of food."
Marisa nodded too. "Pancakes. Toast. Crepes... just anything sweet. My brain needs energy to process this..." She waved her hand between Emma and Evelyn. "...Situation."
"...Yes." Evelyn murmured. "You and me both."
"Pardon?"
"Nothing." Evelyn smiled. "Let's go. I'll guide the way."