I and the Witch of Time Who Seeks the Past

Chapter 5 – The London Triangle Operation (1)

December 26, 1920 – 17:30

The strategy meeting lasted barely two hours. There were no arguments during it. Mr. Helles roughly outlined our mission objectives and divided us into three groups: Miss Vianna’s unit would provide cover and emergency guerrilla support; Mr. Ken’s team would engage the enemy directly and control the situation; while Mr. Helles himself would lead the search and intelligence work.

As for Lijedahl and me, we weren’t considered combat power within the squads—we were more like tacticians and field coordinators. Thus, it was natural that we’d rotate between the three units.

It might sound like an easy job, but I knew how exhausting it would be. Wherever an emergency broke out, that’s where we’d have to go. So Lijedahl and I suggested to Mr. Helles that we remain with his main team as much as possible. The intelligence work required Lijedahl’s knowledge to fill in the gaps, and the search work relied on the reputation both of us held among the lower strata.

The operation would first take place around the Thames. The priority was to locate the missing mages. During that period, we were to closely monitor the movements around the Tower of London. Once all the mages were gathered, we’d organize a team to infiltrate the Tower. If the infiltration failed or the enemy attacked, Miss Vianna’s squad would launch the first wave of guerrilla strikes, followed by Mr. Ken’s main force engaging the enemy head-on. We would not withdraw until the secret behind the magic fluctuation was uncovered.

But that was for later. For now, since the teams still needed to be organized, today’s meeting was concluded. To conveniently record the operation, they named it “The London Triangle Operation.”

We returned to our room, unsure what to do next.

“Will, should we prepare something?”

“Yes… we’re the tacticians after all. Let’s spread out the map and take a look.”

Lijedahl unfolded the map across the table. We cut out the section showing the London Triangle and examined it carefully.

“Will, the surrounding area is full of important buildings. So, it’s safe to assume that the residents here have some wealth. That also means the mages we’re looking for are likely intermediate to high-level ones.”

“That can be confirmed. And since City Hall is nearby, the police will respond fast—probably within twelve seconds of an alert. But what really concerns me is this: Southwark Cathedral, St. George’s Cathedral, and St. Paul’s Cathedral are all close by, and there’s even a St. John’s Chapel inside the Tower of London.”

“You mean… the Church?”

“It’s possible. If they’ve learned of the mages’ presence, they definitely won’t sit idle.”

From this perspective, the Thames looks like a ring of encirclement—there’s no escape.

“Will, did you overlook the Academy of Sciences? The Church and the Academy are natural enemies.”

Ah! That’s true.

“So you mean…”

“The Church could very well be in conflict with the Academy, too.”

That’s another possibility. Thinking further...

“Lijedahl, there might actually be a way to infiltrate the Tower of London.”

“You thought the same as I did.”

“Exactly.”

We’d use the conflict between the clergy of St. John’s Chapel and the Academy of Sciences.

“It’s just that we haven’t figured out how to get inside yet.”

“Don’t rush. We’ll sort that out once we start our intelligence work.”

With that, our impromptu discussion came to an end.

“All right, Will, there’s actually something I wanted to ask you.”

“What is it?”

“How’s your tarot cards coming along?”

I took out my tarot cards and glanced at them.

“Not bad.”

“Oh, I forgot—you’re not a mage.”

She took the cards from me, studying their faces. Read full story at novelꞁire.net

“Hmm… she’s quite attuned to you.”

“Attuned? I’ve only used this magic three times.”

“You just haven’t learned to rely on her yet.”

Lijedahl handed the cards back. As I was about to put them away, she stopped me.

“Wait. Let me see if I can help you synchronize with her a little better.”

With that, Lijedahl clasped my right hand in her left. That familiar warm current surged through me again.

“Will, can you see the flow of magic on the tarot cards now?”

I looked down. On the card depicting the Hermit, the lantern was glowing gold.

“See? That’s my ability—the power to perceive magic flow. Now that our mana is connected, you can use a bit of my ability, too.”

“This… is fascinating.”

A faint white mist filled the room, swirling around me.

“Will, what you’re seeing are the magic fluctuations in the air. Beautiful, aren’t they?”

“Yes.”

“Sometimes, they shimmer like the night sky—far more breathtaking. But they only appear during magical disturbances or catastrophes. It’s a dangerous kind of beauty.”

Her words carried hidden meaning, and for the first time, I found myself captivated by what she said. I’d grown used to deciphering her hints, yet this time, I couldn’t quite grasp her metaphor.

“All right, now look at your tarot cards again.”

As usual, she saw straight through my thoughts and pulled me back from my musings.

I looked again—the golden glow hadn’t dimmed.

“Try letting your magic flow through them.”

“How do I… do that?”

“The warm current.”

Half understanding, I tried channeling my magic. Perhaps because of Lijedahl, when I focused on guiding the warm current lingering around my mind, it slowly flowed down to my left hand. When it touched the tarot’s faint magic at my fingertips, the connection began to form.

“Even borrowing my power, it takes you this long to connect with your tarot? Your magic aptitude really is poor.”

Her soft crimson smile carried playful mockery, her eyes glimmering faint yellow—contented. I accepted her teasing and replied in jest:

“You’re right, Miss Lijedahl, it’s all my fault for being weak.”

“Pfft.”

She couldn’t hold back a laugh.

“Now I won’t be able to hear that line without laughing.”

Bending over, she chuckled softly.

I felt the warm current stir uneasily, growing erratic.

“Lijedahl, your mana flow’s a little unstable.”

“Ahem—right, I’ll adjust.”

Straightening up, she composed herself, and the magic current eased again.

“Now look. How well are your tarot cards and magic synchronized?”

I looked—the golden light intertwined smoothly with the warmth inside me.

“Seems you’re still not fully attuned. Don’t worry, after a few more days and another adjustment, you’ll be able to use her powers with ease.”

Lijedahl released my hand, and I put away the deck.

“Heh, spending time with you is actually quite pleasant.”

“Heh, you really laughed from the heart just now.”

“I’ve been sealed for over four hundred years. I cherish these moments of laughter.”

She smiled gently, her pale red cheeks glowing—adorable, radiant.

Her beauty struck me like lightning. Truly a maiden of timeless grace… a Witch as beautiful as the heavens themselves.

“Hm…? What’s wrong?”

“Uh, nothing.”

I felt my face grow hot, but quickly regained composure.

“Maybe I was just… moved by you.”

“Oh? You actually care about things like that?”

“…I’m human.”

“Haha, just kidding.”

…

December 27, 1920 – 8:20

The task force was fully assembled. The following teams hadn’t yet reached their turn to act, so we accompanied the main unit toward the Thames Triangle.

Along the way, several plainclothed task force members saluted us. Once gathered behind the hotel in a concealed area, we finally saw Captain Sean.

“Miss Lijedahl, Mr. Will, I didn’t expect to see you again so soon.”

“Yes, but we’re mobile personnel now. Normally, we’ll be stationed here, though if something happens, we’ll move to other teams.”

“I understand. I truly admire your willingness to step onto the battlefield.”

“No need for such formality. Organizing the task force comes first.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

He turned toward the team and began his address.

We stepped aside, quietly listening as Captain Sean spoke.

“No one is to draw attention or engage civilians. The target area is around the Thames. Our goal is to gather intelligence on the mages who left the Magic Association, then recruit them back. Understood?”

“Understood!”

The members’ discipline was no less than that of soldiers. When Sean finished, we stepped forward.

After the briefing, the task force scattered immediately—vanishing in moments.

“What’s this about?”

Lijedahl didn’t seem to understand why they dispersed so quickly.

“Ah, don’t be alarmed. These are covert mages—they’ll act through their own means. In intelligence work, discretion is everything.”

Lijedahl nodded thoughtfully. I wasn’t surprised at all.

“Mr. Will, we should go as well. Miss Lijedahl, will you join us?”

“Of course.”

We followed Captain Sean outside, got into his car, and drove toward the Thames area.

…

On the way, we shared with him the reasoning Lijedahl and I had developed yesterday, warning him about the situation. To our surprise, he’d already taken everything into account—he even possessed maps of the Tower of London and detailed data on the surrounding zone. All of it was stored in an inconspicuous, decrepit house near the Thames.

The place was shabby, surrounded by old buildings. No one would suspect that the task force’s command post was hidden here.

To stay discreet, Sean parked the car near a busy street, and we walked the rest of the way.

Inside, the contrast was striking—the floorboards were solid, the walls sturdy and plain, the only window a small one by the door. Maps and intelligence charts covered the walls.

I couldn’t help but admire the level of disguise. The exterior and interior were worlds apart.

“Miss Lijedahl, Mr. Will, everything you just mentioned has already been recorded here.”

Sean pointed to a wall map, densely marked with notes and scouting points.

“We’ve stationed people at each location. If anything happens, they’ll contact us using pre-prepared magic.”

A knock sounded at the door. Without turning, Sean said, “Come in.”

Three or four task force members entered silently and began setting things up.

“They’re the sensory mages, capable of communicating with the scouts.”

Watching closely, I realized they were arranging magic circles.

“‘Perception Magic’? I’m not very familiar with the current state of British magic,” said Lijedahl, prompting him to explain.

“Ah, these days, nearly every mage can barely use Perception Magic. But true compatibility is rare. Our task force members are among those few who can fully adapt to it. So there’s no need to worry about errors.”

“It seems the spell has advanced well, far better than before. Unlike some other magics, which have somehow regressed compared to the old days.”

“...Miss Lijedahl, I was at the meeting myself, and I’ve been wondering—how is it you know magics even the elders of the Table of Truth don’t?”

“Because I’m well-versed in ancient knowledge. I didn’t reveal myself before, and only after completing my training did I realize how far modern magic had declined.”

She lied without blinking. Had I not known she was that kind of master herself, I might have believed her.

“I see…!”

Perhaps his curiosity as a mage was stirred. He asked again, “Then where did you learn all that knowledge? If you’d share it with the Magic Association, you could help revive modern magic!”

“That’s not possible. Don’t you think it’s rude to ask a mage about the source of their power?”

Her tone was calm, yet Captain Sean immediately changed expression.

“Oh! My apologies, I overstepped.”

He realized quickly, and Lijedahl didn’t seem offended.

“It’s fine—just a reminder. The day I reveal that knowledge’s origin…”

She turned to me, gently patting my shoulder.

“…will be the day Will becomes a mage.”

Looks like she’s never telling anyone.

“Will, what do you think?”

“Uh… your standards might be a little too high.”

“Haha, are they?”

Enough joking—it was time for business.

“Captain Sean, tell us how the operation will proceed.”

“Of course. Please, look at this map.”

We leaned closer. Sean pointed as he explained:

“We’ve divided the Thames area into east, south, and north sectors, assigning a team to each. They’re tracking magical fluctuations from nearby residences to locate mages. In addition to those listed by the Association as living near the Thames, we’ll also seek out those who have left the Magic Association and attempt to recruit them back. Once a mage is found, they must report it to me first. Mark the location and move on to the next. Do not attempt contact immediately—after gathering intelligence, we’ll proceed with recruitment.”

He cleared his throat.

“In case of emergencies, everyone should have magic ready. If we encounter troublesome or hostile mages, that’s when you two step in.”

“I’ve been wondering—what exactly can we do in such cases?”

Sean looked surprised.

“You don’t know? Your reputations precede you—even mages who never attend meetings have heard of you.”

Ah, right. I’d forgotten some apprentices and aides also knew the mages who’d left the Association.

“I didn’t know that.”

“Ah, you’re both quite famous in Britain’s magic community. I doubt there’s a mage with social connections who doesn’t know you.”

“Well, looks like we might actually be of some use then.”

I glanced at Lijedahl. Her brown eyes told me she was just as puzzled.

“For now, the task is only reconnaissance. It’s not yet time for you two to act.”

Meaning—we wait.

We nodded, then asked permission to step outside.

We didn’t go far. The area was desolate—no people, not even vagrants. Only crumbling houses, stray cats and dogs, and overgrown weeds.

“We’ve got nothing to do for now.”

“Mm. I wonder if Anna and Jona have kept up with the lessons I taught them.”

“Well, enjoy the calm while it lasts. Once things begin, we’ll be swamped.”

“Yeah…”

Our gazes drifted toward the Thames.

Countless ships sailed across her surface.

The waves rippled gently, stirred by the passing hulls.

Across the river, crowds bustled endlessly.

A whistle blew, and the water moved on.

When the waves faded, serenity returned.

The Tower Bridge spanned the Thames in majestic silence.

And yet, she smiled faintly—tolerant of all.

Even if the world had changed beyond recognition.

Even if the city she nurtured treated her unkindly.

She accepted it all, gracefully.

“No matter how many years pass, the Thames remains just as calm.”

“What are you thinking, Lijedahl?”

“Nothing. Let’s go back.”