Mythical Magic

Leopold nodded slowly, his expression growing more somber as he continued his explanation. "Yes. The synchronization process we'll perform between you and this world creates a deeper connection, but it also demands physical adaptation. It's not just your souls that must align with the essence of this world—your bodies will need to be altered as well. This transformation is essential to ensure you can coexist harmoniously with this new environment." He paused, as if carefully weighing his words before proceeding. "Furthermore, you'll need to adopt new identities. This is crucial to avoid drawing suspicion, both from neighboring nations and from internal factions within the kingdom."

A moment of silence followed as we absorbed the gravity of his words. The idea of having our identities completely changed felt surreal and unsettling, but Leopold showed no hesitation as he pressed on.

"Essentially, you will revert to the ages of nine or ten. You'll receive new identities, new families, and even new memories. And to be clear, this last point applies to everyone involved in the process," Leopold explained, his voice steady and deliberate, though there was an underlying intensity that left no doubt about the seriousness of the situation.

Augustus, who had been quiet up until now, finally spoke, his tone calm and reassuring. "This is all done with your utmost safety in mind. The reconfiguration of your identities is a precaution to ensure that no one can trace any connection to your past or to who you truly are."

The room was steeped in a heavy, tense silence, and that was when my thoughts began to spiral, consumed by questions I couldn't hold back any longer. I needed clarity—needed to understand what this truly meant. "But… how will you do that?" I asked, struggling to contain the flood of doubts. "Are we going to become completely different people?"

Leopold turned his gaze to me, his eyes reflecting a deep understanding of the question I was really asking. He offered a small, knowing smile, as though he had anticipated this very moment. "Yes and no," he began, speaking slowly and carefully to ensure we grasped his meaning.

"You will still be yourselves, at your core. Your essence, your thoughts, your feelings—they won't be erased. However, the age you'll assume will be that of a nine- or ten-year-old, and your new identities will be tied to those younger versions of you."

He paused, his voice gaining clarity as he continued. "You'll have new names, new families, new connections… new homes. And finally, new bodies and appearances. During the transformation and adaptation process, we'll incorporate specific genetic markers from the families you'll be assigned to, ensuring that you'll inherit abilities unique to those bloodlines. This will help solidify your new lives and prevent any suspicion from arising."

The faces around me were laden with bewilderment, yet there was something in the air that kept us all attentive. This process—of resetting our lives, of becoming new versions of ourselves—was impossible to fully grasp. But one thing was clear: it was the only way to ensure our safety in this new world.

"So, if we're going to become new people, how will we know who we really are?" Benjamin asked, his voice tinged with both worry and curiosity.

Leopold, once again, answered without hesitation, his voice steady and calm, as though the complexities of the situation were second nature to him. "You won't lose who you are. The memories you carry from your previous lives won't be erased. There will be a gradual blending of those memories with the new ones you'll be given. Your skills will also adapt, shaped by the new realities you'll inhabit. It might feel disorienting at first, but over time, it will become second nature. This transition is necessary to complete the physical, mental, and emotional adaptation."

I glanced around, taking in everyone's reactions. On each face was a mixture of trepidation and resignation, but also a growing acceptance. Despite the strangeness of what lay ahead, there was an unspoken understanding that there was no turning back. Leopold's words, though cryptic, seemed to guide us, pointing to a path that was difficult but unavoidable—a way to understand how we would live in this new world.

"But you still haven't answered the question," Benjamin pressed, his voice taut. "How?"

Leopold took a deep breath, his gaze serious. "It involves a combination of High-Level magic and something above what we call the pinnacle of magic—Archmage. The magic we'll use is of a Mythological Tier."

The room fell silent as everyone tried to process the enormity of his statement.

"Essentially," Leopold continued, "we will employ an ancient scroll imbued with a powerful spell of this caliber. Additionally, it will draw upon the residual mana of an Archmage of the same tier. This magic is a one-time use spell capable of altering the memories of everyone within the kingdom. As for the rest of the world, you might ask: how will they not notice your sudden inclusion in the fabric of history?"

The air grew heavy as we all pondered this revelation. I was beginning to understand the weight of the information, but there was still something that didn't add up. That was when Augustus, his calm demeanor unshaken, provided the missing piece.

"No," he said with precision, "that's because this plan has been twelve years in the making. We discovered a way to extend the reach of this magic to influence every sentient being in this world."

"How?" Leopold's question echoed through the room, strategic in its timing. He left the doubt hanging in the air, heightening the tension even further.

"Well," Leopold continued with a mischievous smile, "we'll be using a branch from the World Tree—one that has been safeguarded in the Royal Treasury." He paused, savoring the suspense in the room. "Although, you still don't fully understand what that means."

Augustus followed, his expression calm but with an undercurrent of gravity. "As a precaution, rumors have already begun circulating among noble families—stories of hidden children, confined to their homes due to illness, bastards kept in secrecy, or others shrouded in mystery. Don't be alarmed if you find yourselves linked to such tales or approached by royal agents. Simply tread carefully."

We exchanged uneasy glances, struggling to grasp the enormity of what was unfolding. We had been chosen—without our knowledge—to take the places of people who had never existed. Our pasts would be rewritten, our memories reshaped to fit into a narrative we couldn't yet fully comprehend.

"So," Elizabeth finally said, breaking the tense silence, "we're... being crafted to play a part in some elaborate lie?" Her voice wavered between skepticism and distrust, though curiosity lingered beneath her words.

Leopold met her gaze, his expression steady yet not unkind. "No, it's not a lie. It's a new reality, one that must be built to ensure the kingdom's peace and stability. You won't be pretending to belong to it—you will belong to it. Your lives, your stories, everything will be rewritten to align seamlessly with this new order."

"But…" I hesitated, the weight of the revelation sinking in. "What happens to those who are already here? To the lives and stories that already exist?"

Leopold gestured broadly, his tone fluid and matter-of-fact. "The kingdom has measures to ensure that no one notices any inconsistencies. Memories will be adjusted, recalibrated, so that what existed before your arrival becomes known only to those who must know. No memories will be lost—yours or anyone else's. They'll simply be reshaped, reformulated, so that every piece of this new reality fits perfectly. In your case, new memories will be seamlessly integrated into your lives."

Oswald cut in abruptly, his tone direct and pragmatic. "Enough talk. Let's proceed."

"Indeed, there's no time to waste," Leopold agreed, his voice firm.. "Any further questions can be addressed once the process is complete."

With that, the room fell silent once more, the enormity of our fates looming like a shadow over all of us.