In a certain land, there stood a chalk-white castle.
Warded by a specialized barrier, the structure remained invisible and inaccessible to all but the invited. This was the headquarters of the Council of Sages—a fortress known as Avalon Castle, named after the legendary realm of the Fairy King.
Inside those walls, a man appeared.
Emerging from the void with a grave expression was the Chairman of the Council of Sages and the greatest mage of the modern era: Leonardo Gascoigne.
"Oh, have you been out?"
An elderly man called out to Gascoigne as he materialized. The speaker had hair and a beard as white as snow and was clad in the traditional kariginu robes of the East.
"How rare for you to venture out alone. Was there some urgent business?"
"Kanehira..." Gascoigne acknowledged him.
The man was Kanehira Ichijo, a mage from the Far East and a veteran member of the Council.
"I have found a new reincarnated person. It is likely—though not yet certain—that he possesses the Ouroboros Circle."
"My, is that so? Ouroboros..." Kanehira stroked his beard, his expression turning sympathetic. "A troublesome gift indeed. If I recall, the predecessor died when their mana detonated, and the owner before that was reduced to a mere power source for a magic weapon until Lord Nuada was forced to grant them a merciful end. Infinite mana... such power cannot be mastered by human will. It would be better if it simply did not exist."
"A spell of that magnitude... He, no, perhaps he is truly the chosen child meant to wield Ouroboros. All power depends upon its master. Could I have finally encountered him after hundreds of years?"
"Lord Gascoigne?"
"Yes, indeed. If he should stray from the path and fall into evil magic, I must eliminate him. That is my destiny as the Guardian of the Human Realm—the very purpose for which I was born into this world..."
Kanehira’s brow furrowed as he watched Gascoigne descend into a series of quiet, repetitive murmurs.
"...Not again."
"It must be done... Yes, it must..."
"Good grief. Lord Gascoigne. Lord Gascoigne!"
"Gah!"
Kanehira shouted directly into Gascoigne’s ear. The Chairman’s shoulders jumped in a startle as he finally snapped back to reality.
"Y-You startled me. What is it, Kanehira?"
"I should be the one asking you that! Your hearing is failing, so please ensure you keep your sound-collection magic active!"
"Ah... that’s right. I was careless."
Gascoigne activated his spell, and a faint light took root around his ears.
"There, that’s better. I can hear you clearly now."
"Honestly. You aren't getting any younger, Lord Gascoigne," Kanehira said, his shoulders slumping in exasperation.
Kanehira was an ancient mage who had served on the Council for over a century, yet Gascoigne was older still. His physical form had withered significantly over the long centuries; lately, his hearing had faded to the point where he often missed half of what was said to him.
"Umu. Perhaps it is nearly time for me to renew my body."
"Are you planning a succession?"
"Umu. The international situation has grown suspicious of late. It would be wise to update my physical vessel before a full-scale war breaks out."
Gascoigne stroked his face—which looked to be of an unidentifiable age—and fell into thought.
"A succession struggle is brewing in the Geisel Empire, and a civil war has recently torn through the Aiwood Kingdom. In Sindhu to the east, word has reached me that a young prince murdered the king, his own father, to seize the throne."
"There are also unsavory movements in my homeland of Ashihara. If it is a coincidence, so be it, but I fear they may be moving behind the scenes."
Gascoigne and Kanehira exchanged looks, their expressions turning grim.
The Council of Sages had a nemesis—a group that sowed chaos and wished for the end of the human realm. The sages had been locked in a struggle against them for an unimaginable length of time.
"Those wretches never learn. If that boy should side with them..."
"It looks like things are going to get busy. It's quite hard on these old bones."
On the hidden side of the world, the sages agonized over secrets unknown to the public. They watched the truth of the world and the writhing abyss.
Far from these hidden depths, young and inexperienced Rest remained blissfully unaware of the shadow looming over the horizon.