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It's not an exaggeration to say that Research is the core of the country's development. Many scientists have developed technologies and inventions to improve people's lives, and the populace believes the country will continue to prosper once the little Princess reigns as Queen.
So, yes, most would agree that working as a researcher is generally worthwhile, an honorable position to work in, truly.
...except on the controversial departments willy-nilly created and invested by the King. It's no secret that the King spends a substantial amount of finance for anything he takes his fancy in, to the point where it's a mystery how their land stays as peaceful and thriving as it is what with their current monarch; and those areas- laced with whispers of bribery, fraudulence, or mere fun and games -tend to be looked at with critical and less than favorable judgements.
And yet, here he is.
Salt, a recently graduated student with an average degree, on his first day at the shoddy magic research department.
Yes, it's one of the least favored but still not the worst department there is. Not to mention that magic does exist, however millennia ago in the age of the Great Calamity Rchimedes. No one manages to rediscover magic, some say it ends with Rchimedes himself or simply believing it no longer exists. The King, out of personal desire, simply wants to see magic, so all research budget has been forwarded to fruitless spending.
Not that Salt cares.
He heard that the magic staff divisions are pretty lax, not much work. It's a dream job where you can even do nothing yet still get paid. Perfect for someone like him.
He's supposed to meet the royal researcher, Professor Frühling in his lab today. Introducing himself as an assistant and all that jigs. Salt, carrying a light box of his transfer and materials- he doubts he needs them, but it's procedure requirements -arrives just five minutes early. He needs to at least make a good impression on his first day.
He reaches the door to the professor's lab and knocks.
There's no response.
Salt raises an eyebrow then checks his cheap watch, he's on schedule. He knocks the door to the professor's lab again, "Excuse me, I'm here to meet with Professor Frühling."
He strains his ears and definitely hears something- or someone, shuffling inside.
"Come in!"
Salt opens the door- and halts in place, looking down at someone crouching on the floor, collecting documents that must have fallen over. The man's hair sticks out everywhere, and he hasn't turned towards Salt yet.
"Just put the ingredients in the usual desk." The brunette orders, his back against Salt. "Careful not to drop the containers again, please, and–"
"I'm sorry, what ingredients?" Salt asks, bewildered, something tells him this man is not talking about cooking ingredients, which… he also did not bring.
"The ones I commissioned la–" The man pauses, only now looking up. He blinks a few times, still on the floor. "...who are you?" Salt can now see the bags under his brown eyes, and the lack of recognition.
...was he in the wrong place?
"Are you… Professor Frühling?"
"That's me." The man- Professor, confirmed, picks himself up from the floor with documents gathered in his hand. "You… I've never seen you before," He tilts his head, eyes narrowed. "And I'm not expecting any guests either, but… wait, actually…"
"Salt, sir. It's my first day here." Salt bows, a bit sloppy, but the Professor doesn't seem to mind.
The Professor taps his palm with his fist, "Oooh, the new recruit! I remember now, they told me about you!" He beams, smiling enthusiastically. "I've seen your resumes, but wow! You're really early, I thought you're supposed to come on Monday."
Salt raises an eyebrow. "It... is Monday, sir." He carefully informs his, well, senior.
The man blinks, brows knitted together. "Huh...? Monday..." he repeats, then turns his head to an innocently hanging clock with a calendar displayed on it. "Oh, ahaha…" He chuckles sheepishly, scratching his cheek. "I must have lost track of time…"
There's an underlying 'again' that Salt catches from the unkempt researcher, likely working overnights… on weekends. The idea is so horrifying, Salt hopes he's not going to get forced to follow the same way. He settled on the magic department to work leisurely, lazily even. This Professor screams overtime and workaholic all over.
(Later on, as he works with the head researcher, Salt finds it far more common for the Professor to be so absorbed in his research that everything else seems inconsequential)
"Right, um, sorry…" the Professor runs a hand to tame his birdnest of hair, "I'm not usually like this- God, this is so unprofessional, this is the first time I got an assistant, you…" He trails on, then moves towards a desk with kits and test-tubes rack, placing the objects somewhere else, almost stumbling on his feet. "You… you can place your stuff here, and…" a funnel falls over, and the professor catches it up before it crashes to the floor. "Things are a bit messy right now… sorry."
An understatement, but Salt kept that to himself. He just arrived and has no intention of getting fired on his first day. He carefully maneuvered himself around the lab, careful not to step on anything or break something due to his fat.
He puts his box down then eyes the lab. Salt was sure that the magic research department was a joke with sloth-like people mostly doing nothing of serious importance, but here? Research notes haphazardly littered the floor, some pinned on the wall. Test tube containers and chemistry kits that are clearly well-used. Towers of books with plenty of bookmarks, how he mentioned ingredients clearly for experiments and... is that.. the book of the Great Calamity Rchimedes he saw? No way.
But, from all this short observation, Salt can conclude one simple fact. Professor Frühling is a genuine researcher in the magic field… a serious worker.
Well, he's screwed. There's no way he's not getting fired, is he?
"Now then!" His senior claps his hands. "I'll give you a tour of the lab and where everything is placed, but don't hesitate to ask if you have any questions." He eagerly states, and Salt feels a bead of sweat trails down his face. "Or maybe you want to organize your stuff first? Ah, is this table fine? Tell me if you prefer somewhere else, I'll… try to make more space."
"Uh, Professor Frühling, I'm–"
"Just call me Alba." Prof- Alba says with a wave of his hand, going back to his previous table. "I'll give you a run through on your tasks-" Salt shrinks, "-but I haven't thought much about it. It'll help if you tell me what you can do within your capabilities, or what you want."
"I'm not really–"
A loud grumble from his own stomach roars in the lab. Salt presses his lips together, face flushing at the timing.
Alba turns to his new assistant, glancing at his work papers then to the clock. "Right, it's close to lunch break..." He mumbles, contemplating. "Sorry, I probably spurred too many things at once, I probably freaked you out, huh." He scratches the back of his head.
"That's okay, I…" For some reason, Salt somewhat expects biting comments on him being chubby with how loud his stomach makes itself known.
"Let's just get ourselves comfortable first, talk over meals sounds good to you?" Alba smiles as he cleans himself up to look a bit more presentable, eyes carrying none of the mockery and disgust people hold on Salt's fat figure.
Salt nods his head a beat later as Alba flashes him a grin, stepping outside and holds the door open.
"Shall we have lunch?"
"You sure eat a lot." The professor says after seeing Salt's portion for lunch.
Alba asks about his appetite, but that's it, just inquires without any intentions of making fun of him for it- Salt can tell, learns it after experiencing ridicule after ridicule -before ordering himself a meal and asks the staff to send an unholy amount of canned coffee to his office.
During their lunch, even though Alba looks like he's spent days working on ends, he still seems to have enough energy to just get to know his new assistant. Salt is pretty sure he got nothing particularly interesting to share about himself, aside from his chubbiness. So he's content with just eating his meal while Alba talks about his interest with magic in length.
"I'm sure the reason no one has ever restored magic till now is because they give up." Alba says, sipping his drink. "But I won't give up, I'm sure there's many great things people can do with magic, imagine the endless possibilities!"
Salt tactfully holds back from voicing his doubt on it as Alba rambles on his idea of magic.
Perhaps it's the professor's enthusiasm, or the way he seems so starry-eyed of the prospect of rediscovering magic to revolutionize the world- to help people, that takes Salt in. Because Salt feels like he's gone crazy after that lunch. Salt, who decided to go to the magic department to slack off, who's initially repulsed at the idea of working himself ragged for something dubious like magic... he actually deems working with Alba doable.
Yeah, definitely going crazy.
Or maybe he's just too cozed up by the lunch set.
Alba does complains about his sloppiness and constant eating the longer they work together, but never kicks him out. Salt finds it a mystery how he's not fired yet. Alba is so used to working alone he more often than not forgot Salt is there, so yes, his work was never that hard. Salt himself thinks he uses all those free times not working, since he fills them by doing stuff out of personal interest rather than for the development of magic.
He reasons to himself that he needs to clean up the lab before it gathers dust so he can eat peacefully. Otherwise, his food might get dirty, it's not part of work. He reads almost all of Alba's notes, collects and organizes them because it's just lying everywhere carelessly. It's not work, he can't snack in peace if he has to worry over ruining any important papers. He makes separate documentaries of Alba's trials and errors, finding the failed experiments fairly humorous because Alba just never gives up even when his test blows up in his face. But that's not work either, just logs of their mundane and sometimes rowdy life.
On leisure days, Alba sends a barrage of retorts on what Salt is doing or not doing, or to things he finds ridiculous. How Alba never seems to be out of repertoire or gets tired from it almost makes Salt thinks it's a talent of its own. These types of days usually have Alba working moderately and eating his meals consistently. Salt honestly likes to count how long Alba will keep up the healthy lifestyle.
Other days, Alba throws his entire self to focus on research, everything else be damned. The senior researcher drowns himself in his work, forgetting to take account of himself and completely in his own world. Salt tries to remind him to take a break, calling him out, and even waves his favorite snack to distract Alba from those states. He even blatantly disturbs Alba from his work when he thinks Alba is about to keel over, the man having no sense of self-preservation once he's obsessed with his task.
Most of the time, his attempts to obstruct Alba hardly ever work. Salt never really wins against Alba's passionate desire to rediscover magic.
"But, Alba-san! There's steak per person for lunch! We don't get something so fancy often!" Salt whines, luring his senior with food, again.
Alba sighs, "You can go, I'll just finish on this test and see if I get any reaction..." He mumbles, swishing a test tube of something purple- Salt doesn't ask what those things are by now. "Besides, don't think I can finish that kind of meal."
"Exactly! That means an extra portion for me!" Salt announces without shame.
"That's your real intention?!" Alba splutters.
At some points, years after working by Alba's side, Salt actually got himself an offer to work with others.
"You've worked long enough as his assistant and been delivering reports to the higher-ups, right? They think you can transfer out of Professor Frühling lab and have your own laboratory now."
"That's…" just some summarization that Alba never bothered with after thousands of experiments conducted.
Salt considers the offer, it's pretty tempting. But then he thinks back to how Alba can go back and forth to a normal researcher with tendencies to throw retorts and a mad researcher who disregards everything to focus on his goal. Once he leaves, Alba will continue to work, practically married to it anyway. Then Salt won't be able to be there when- no, not if -Alba finally succeeds, too busy in his own project and to direct new researchers...
(Somewhere along the way, he forgot how he decided to go to the magic department precisely to mooch off the wasted budget like many other researchers of their division.)
Salt politely declines and chooses to work with his colleague, with Alba as the lead researcher. Salt doesn't think Alba's aware of the offer at all to be honest, and Salt keeps it that way.
"Salt. Can you pass me the flask next to you?" Alba asks with a beaker of red goo in one hand while there's a set that never fails to make Salt think he's working on some alchemy in front of the old professor.
"Sorry, my hands' full." Salt states with a mouthful of bacon flavored potato chips.
Alba shoots him an unimpressed look, but just rolls his eyes and grabs a dropper, then the researcher drips something into the beaker. The content changes into blue, curiously.
"I'll get you that new mushroom stew for lunch, so just help me out for now." Alba says.
Salt promptly gets on his feet, ready to support Alba grabbing things he needs.
Watching Alba's effort to rediscover magic is encouraging and frustrating. Despite being the only lab that bears any sign of progress, even if it's just a spark of magic energy, they're still under heavy scrutiny. Not to mention the increasing cynicism and judgements people send them, which unnerve and ticks Salt in the wrong way.
Alba's continuous hard work will bear fruit, Salt has no doubt about that. Royalty support or not, but Salt can't help the slump and resignation with people getting on their case. It's magic, who's to say they can actually recreate something used to cause a huge disaster into an energy source?
"Alba-san, let's go get some food." Salt yawns, slouching over the table.
"Didn't we have lunch just an hour ago?" Alba says, holding a test tube with green liquid in it.
"Just?" Salt jerks up, a tad offended. "Just you say?! An hour is a lot of time! You need to value it!"
"Then get to work!"
Salt huffs and slouches back on his table. "Even if you tell me to work, this is research about magic…" he grumbles, feeling more blue than most of his lazy days.
Years passed, and by now, Alba and Salt are the only two researchers who work in this field of trials and errors. The rest have been ruthlessly fired by the reigning Queen, and Salt's consistent and credible reports unknowingly saved them from such fate. Still, even the old King's interest has waned.
What if…
"Guess it's true that magic is something only Rchimedes can use…" Salt sighs. "The King also gave up on this. Even Alba-san and I are the only ones left here, see?" He continues, feeling hopeless and depressed.
"Geez–!" Alba looks over his shoulder, wrinkles on the head professor's face have made it evidence just how long they've been on this passion project. "Shut up already! Go and eat your pizza!"
Something flashes in the lab, grabbing their attention. The flask on the Bunsen burner changes into a glowing blue fire.
The two were silent until Alba half-screamed his achievement. "I've done it! I've successfully controlled magic!" The pure expression of joy spreads on Alba's face.
That day, royal researcher Alba Frühling, his dedication finally bears fruit to controlling magic. Salt almost wants to scream 'finally!' and shoves their victory to everyone who has doubted Alba or called their lab a nutcase.
He pats the head researcher- who looks near hyperventilating, on the shoulder. His glasses glinted as he gave Alba a thumbs up.
"This is the fruit of our efforts."
"You did nothing but eat!"
What came after Alba's discovery was a huge commotion. His research was finally acknowledged and an expansion of their field was implemented.
It also means more work.
For Salt.
Alba contributed the most to the development of magic, but delivering his mire of jumbled content and research to people with less knowledge on the field of magic was left to Salt. Salt groans, holding up a seminar to explain Alba's steps and process to the new mass of applicants. Alba's incredulous expression on Salt's clear-cut and easy to understand compilation didn't make him feel any better about the increasing workload.
"Hold on, you actually did work?!" Alba practically screams after the seminar is over.
"No, I just watched you work." Salt corrects.
"But, that presentation there… I didn't even remember half of them!" Alba points over his shoulder, eyes wide.
"They're all from your notes, Alba-san. I just sum them up in order." Salt assures, he's not about to spout false information to the masses and get himself in jail for it.
"You read my notes!?" Alba's jaw goes slack.
"I have a lot of free time." Salt nods sagely, not mentioning his bit of janitorial services.
"You- you…! Aaaargh!"
Decades passed ever since and the development of magic technology continues to grow. Alba never stopped just at discovering magic; with his newly achieved funds, Alba plans to build a university with scholarships, aids the orphanage, and ensures that magic is used to support people's lives- just as he always envisioned.
The people heralded Alba as a hero, and the monarch bestowed him the title of the First Great Mage.
Salt likes the fact that they're acknowledged, but the limelight feels more burdensome than glorious. Salt can explain contents of Profess- the Great Mage without a hitch, and directs groups of academically inclined students to understand the gist of magic. He can oversee the fresh batch of researchers and guide them through the magic development.
But things like interviews for personal information, live shows, and demands for the right for merchandise or using their name? Yeah, Salt honestly feels awkward and restless with those.
Salt has his own lab and office, separate from the Great Mage for years now. He rarely gets the chance to just chill and relax with his colleague, swamped with work and admiring eyes… Salt even loses weight from stress! The horror!
Seriously, he should convince Alba to retire already, that stubborn workaholic is older than him!
"Today, Alba-san is overseeing another project with… ugh, who was it again? Right… assistant Doe John..."
Salt rests his head on his private office desk, feeling the burden of age catching up to him.
He misses the old days where he could just eat and snacks, just leisurely observing Alba without pressure. The two of them got so busy with the array of people looking at them for guidance, but it's been decades now!
Salt can't wait for retirement.
"Alba-san sure is amazing…" He mumbles, cheek pressed on the desk.
Tackling his job as the head of magic development, his position as the dean of Frühling Academy, his title as the Great Mage… at least he learns to delegate and watch over his own health. A huge improvement since his days as the royal researcher. But Salt still thinks he's taking more work than necessary, not even Salt can follow up on them anymore- there's no need for him to, Alba has plenty of assistants at his beck and call.
Which reminds him, Alba promised to treat him for lunc–
BANG!
Salt jerks, almost falling over his chair, surprised at the sound of his private office slammed open so disrespectfully. His assistant, a young woman with short honey-brown hair, stands there, gasping for breath, her face pale and ashen as she looks up at him with dread.
"The… the Great Mage is—!"
Salt feels his heart drops like a smashed porcelain….
Lies...
"We… we found him… at the… stairwell…" One of the researchers says through choked sob. "He's… the Great Mage… was already..."
Salt clenches his fist, knuckles white as he holds his breath.
It HAS to be a lie...
"We were... too late…" Another one says, tears running in his eyes. "The… doctor said… it's…" the researcher sobs, awfully young as his shoulder continues to shake. "A… seizure…"
Red fills his eyes at that.
Alba was found lying on the 16th floor stairwell, de– collapsing from seizure?! He met Alba just yesterday, fit as a fiddle! No, no there has to be another explanation! It's Alba, he still have years to come, there's just no w–
"Professor…" His assistant cautiously reaches his hand. "Pl… please, sir. You… you're hurting yourself…"
Salt draws a sharp breath. He raises his hand, palm bleeding… Salt barely notices.
"I… I must go…"
He steps away from the team of tearful researchers, the sombre air suffocating him. Blood drips from his fist- he didn't realize he's clenching it again -as he strides to his office.
Alba, his colleague, his friend… Salt can't believe it.
He locks his office, back against the door. Aware the knob is stained by his blood, but he could care less about it. Salt's face was dark, he slid down the door having no strength in his legs.
It's a lie…
"You idiot…" Salt whispers with shaky breath as he buries his face in his hands.
It's a lie, he… there has to be another explanation… Alba isn't supposed to… end in such abrupt manner... the honorable great mage, his friend… he should have retire, live a long boring life... maybe adopt some children who adore him... then, while drinking tea and basking under the sun, peacefully…
Salt's entire body shakes, and bitter sobs filled the privacy of his office. He doesn't want to accept that the Great Mage suffers, and dies alone with no one by his side… he doesn't want to think a random seizure to cause Alba's end.
But that's how it is.
He checked personally...
There's no beat within the Great Mage, and his body is cold…
Alba Frühling, the First Great Mage, has, undoubtedly... passed away.
It's not a lie...
Despair fills him and Salt screams at the top of his lungs.
Salt calmed down after his burst. He had to. Some people needed him to be strong, to clean after the mess following the Great Mage's abrupt passing.
The higher-ups wanted to make it a large affair, making an extravagant tomb for the First Great Mage resting place- Salt stops them, abusing whatever rights he has before they try to make money out of his friend's death. The parlor continues under Salt's direction, and Salt decides to keep it humble as he works on delivering the news.
In the end, it more or less goes the way he expects it to be.
The funeral of the Great Mage Alba was quiet, gloomy, and depressive with a thick air of solemnity. As he gazes upon the flowers placed on and the rows of anguished citizens draped in mourning black, Salt feels a little numb.
Alba's gone… dead.
Salt feels himself bristles at the reminder.
He doesn't want his friend, that stubborn old man- much too kind for his own good -story to just end there.
"Great Mage…." His assistant gazes at the First's grave, her voice solemn. "Now that the Great Mage has passed away, what are we supposed to do….?"
"Alba-san hasn't died." Salt states, firm.
"Huh?"
"The technique of Magic which Alba-san made reality and spread across the world…" he continues, hand in his lab pocket. "Magic is the proof that Alba-san lived his life, and around the world, it will continue to exist."
"Salt-san…" Her brows creases, and Salt pointedly pretends he didn't see the pity in her eyes.
"Magic… will continue to enrich the world from here on forth." Salt stays strong, he has to stay strong. "These sparks that he left us…" He looks down to the grave with numerous flowers left on its bed. "It's our responsibility to pass them on to the next generation."
The shine in his assistant's eyes changed, whether it's from his speech or something else, Salt cared little.
"We're going back to the lab." Salt states, turning his back from the grave.
"Yes, Professor!"
Salt is determined to set Alba's legacy to live on for the next years…
Hundreds and even millennials to come.
Never to die.
Alba's legend will continue.
Things became hectic in the early weeks of Alba's passing.
The researchers under Alba's tutelage look like lost ducklings, as though Alba was their only sole guidance. Salt had to wrestle some senses into them, mostly with encouragement or cheesy motivational speech he was sure Alba would spout. Salt continues his work, expands his team and shares his knowledge of Magic both written and orally. He shares Alba's lifework and checks up on any project of Alba he hasn't finished, making sure to select the right people for the tasks.
So that the Great Mage's name continues to spread.
The university thrives, with official research papers Salt had written under Alba's name proudly displayed. Salt grabs all the notes he collected, organizes them to something that makes sense, and tells tales of Alba's persistent hard work. Nothing under Salt's own name, because Salt had no hand in finding magic itself, content to just watch Alba all those years.
Though he's busy, Salt makes sure to keep some of his tasks in moderation. It doesn't matter if some think he's a bit ditzy or less vigorous than Alba. Salt wants to live long. Yes, he still has much to do to ensure that Alba's memories will forever be etched for the next generation, Alba as a person, as a researcher, as the First Great Mage. He wants someone, in the future, to see Alba, and see him just as heroic as the Two Heroes from The Great Calamity Rchimedes' time.
Perhaps even admire his friend enough to make a change. Alba said it himself, there's endless possibilities one can do with magic. A different type of magic will be developed in the future, one Salt will never be able to see for himself.
"Then again, even without me doing all this…" Salt mumbles at the biography he's working on. "...seems like Alba-san will forever be famous if those plays and story books mean anything."
Years go by, Salt checks that everything Alba has written, proof of his continuous dedication to magic, is properly addressed; the populace continues to put Alba on a pedestal. Salt might reminisce about Alba, mentioning how dedicated he is to his lover (work and magic) every now and then, but to think some took it literally… well, not much Salt can do to stop that.
Decades passed. The era of magic spreads wide all over the world, an energy that can be accessed by the people to support their lives. Development of magic studies continues, and...
Wind rustles the tree leaves, an elderly gray man with a cane approaches.
"Hello, Alba-san." Salt, old and long retired, greets with a low chuckle. "I bought some drinks and snacks."
He's not alone, but the people accompanying him always give him space once he's here, and he appreciated that. He slowly settles down, lighting an incense, he sits before the perfectly clean and well-cared tombstone. Salt smiles, thin and wrinkled, as he pours himself a drink. An indulgence he allows for himself just for today, once a year…
"Your successor does well, you know, the one with the second Great Mage title." Salt begins his story, "Poor lad keeps getting compared to you, haha, but he's good, didn't get that title for nothing."
Salt never took the mantle of Great Mage. For all his deep understanding of the theory and process, Salt himself has little compatibility with magic- useless, some would whisper. Given the chance, he'd reject the offer anyway, the spotlight is a heavy burden he'd rather not bear.
He's fine even if he's only recorded as a fool.
"They make stories about you… lots of them, really." Salt sips his liquor, feeling the afternoon wind pass by. "Some are pretty hilarious, they think you're a harem king, hahaha…!" His laugh dies down, his eyes blurry, he reasons it's old age as he scrubs his eyes. "I haven't gone senile enough to know you got no lover but hey, you love your work…"
Salt looks skyward, red colored the view above him, reminiscing...
"Geez, Alba-san, can't you just take a break?! You're not young anymore, remember!" Salt had complained, reading through the new project and proposal. "You can just leave this to your admirers, they worship the ground you walk on, asking them for favor would be like divine blessings to them." He had grumbled, separating the less important matters away.
The Great Mage chuckled, old and wrinkled and yet still so sprightly. "You really work better as a secretary, Salt."
"Honorable Great Mage, sir, you have already burdened me with those fresh-faced ducklings to suffer. I'm not going to accept any extra work! I already lost weight because of them!" Salt said theatrically, slamming the organized proposals and simultaneously hissing at his senior.
"Shall we get lunch like old times then?" The Great Mage had offered, calm and soft. Wiser with age. "I should be free after I meet Doe-kun."
"...well, since you insist. I expect a grand luxurious lunch set!"
Salt had work that day, but it was nothing he couldn't schedule for another slot. Grabbing a meal with Alba sounds better than any of the workload he's dealing with.
...they never really did get that lunch, didn't they?
"Alba-san, you're missing out a lot… there's this restaurant specializing in fried rice, their omurice… sure you'll like them..." Salt says, face slowly flushing from the liquor. "And every… everyone praises your name… your work lives on…"
Their last conversation is still clear in his mind. It pulls other memories of the time when Salt would futilely try to bribe Alba with snacks, or Alba promising to buy a meal he wanted. Good old days where the two were just royal researchers under people's scrutiny.
"Life goes on even," he chokes. "without you there..."
Salt tells other tales, like a jaded old drunk. He speaks of his assistant, the young lady under Salt's tutelage, who has spread her wings and started her own project. He speaks of the research center, and how it's in safe hands. He continues on and on, until the sky begins to darken, twinkling with stars.
"Hope... you're not overworking... over there… afterlife is..." He lets out a hiccup, then chuckles. "...bah! It's you, Alba-san, you're probably out… on a new… mission…"
The old sombre Professor does everything he can to keep magic alive. Spreading Alba's name far and wide, tells stories, and… suspicions... over Alba's death.
He's still in denial, he heard someone says as such when he expressed his doubts.
Salt can't blame them, he asks for an investigation and comes empty. No one found any external injuries, or any proof there's an outside interference. But the mystery of the 16th floor accident continues even without Salt making any more comments on it, and it blows up into conspiracy theories.
Salt hates the official story. The widely accepted 'truth'. Alba suffering from seizure alone? A random heart attack out of old age? What, did he and everyone just collectively missed how overworked Alba was...?
That's just sad…
And he can't help but blame himself for it...
"...I should have done more."
Perhaps, if Salt had pressure him to rest more, Alba would still be here. Perhaps, if he had taken the offer for more work, and accompanied Alba, he could survive the seizure. Perhaps he should have been more insistent on Alba's retirement, to get him to relax. Salt had such thoughts more times than he can count. But it never mattered, because Alba is gone.
Regret always comes last after all…
"You don't look so well."
"I'm fine, Lake."
Lake narrows his eyes. "No, you've been frowning all this time!" the raven points, pressing between the other's eyebrows. "You're gonna get all wrinkly, Salt!" He beams, smiling cheerfully.
"No I won't." Salt huffs, nudge the raven's offending finger away.
Salt releases a weary sigh, lack of sleep he believes. He wakes up with a heavy feeling in his chest, and his head… it's throbbing and throwing him out of the loop. Glimpses of blurry…. something, pops out; memories he doubts to be his own, yet when he tries to recall them, he comes out blank… as if they're just phantom dreams.
Oh well. He's not going to miss work just because of a light migraine, it'll get better.
It's not getting better.
"Uuuurrggghh…" Salt lets out a miserable groan, the data he's supposed to work with left unattended. "This is the worst…" He grumbles as he drops his forehead on the desk with a loud thunk.
Salt is pretty sure he sleeps, yet it still feels like he's been up all night watching a horrible vintage movie, it's not even about his favorite Dododon-sama.
No, he's sure it's not, because he can't even remember the details of the dream; or even the reason why he conjured a vague image of an older Alba with white lab coat in his head. He's pretty sure the only other Alba Elf shown him with transformation magic was wearing a type of ceremonial robe. Speaking of Elf, he's getting this difficulty ever since he asks about the other version of him.
Some sort of resonance from the other universe, maybe?
"...nah, no way."
The two parallel universes aren't supposed to affect each other, right? And it's not like they figured out interdimensional travel yet.
Regret always comes last…
Salt winches, sits up and pinches the bridge of his nose.
What the heck was that?
"Hey, Salt."
Salt jumps, letting out a little yelp at the sudden call. He turns to see Alba, Hero Red Fox, with one hand raised looking at him apologetically.
"Sorry, didn't mean to surprise you." Alba says, scratching the back of his head.
Thump.
"No, no, it's okay, Alba-san." Salt fumbles, hand unconsciously clutching his chest. "Do you need something…?"
Thump.
Alba flashes him a grin, "I'm here to check on you, actually."
Thump.
Salt forces himself not to grimace, his own heartbeat unnecessarily loud.
"I'm… sorry?" Salt averts his eyes. "Ah… I'm still working on the spreadsheet, and…"
Salt's unsure why, but his chest sounds erratic, the heavy uncomfortable feeling intensifying with loud thumps… it's not excitement over Hero Alba, he feels too cold for it to–
–ple heralded □□□ as a hero… the □□□ of their era...
Salt flinches, the disembodied voice overlapping with his own thoughts. Something warm then rest on his temple, pushing his bangs away.
"I heard from Lake." Alba's palm begins to glow, healing magic, Salt notes. "He says you've got a major headache."
Lake, of course.
"It's... nothing major…" Salt mumbles, though even he's aware how unconvincing he sounds.
"Hmm..." Alba's face scrunches into a frown, "I can't find anything strange in your physique..." The hero removes his hand. "Something in your mind then? You can tell me anything, you know, I'm the Hero!" Alba declares proudly, clearly confident that there's no problem he cannot solve.
If Salt's anything like Alba's usual company, he'd probably make fun of that obnoxiousness. But he's not that witty, and considering the hero's overwhelming mana, Salt honestly thinks it's not much of an exaggeration to think Hero Alba can do anything.
"Thanks, Alba-san." Salt says instead, lifting the corner of his mouth into a half-smile. "I just have a…" nightmare? No that doesn't sound right. "...rough night, didn't get much sleep."
His head does feel a bit lighter now after Alba's quick treatment, but the sinking feeling is still there. Gnawing at his chest for attention. But his once-mentor already got his hands full with matters of Elf's universe, watching other worlds, and trying to get more employees for the research center; Salt doesn't want to be another burde–
...everything else seems inconsequential once □□□ drowns in...
"Salt?" Alba calls.
...forgetting to take account of himself, the □□□ just…
"You kinda…" Alba creases his brows, seeing the glazed look in the teen's steel blue eyes.
...if he had done more for □□□ then...
"Salt, SALT!" Alba shakes the other's shoulder, snapping Salt out of his trance.
"Uh…" Salt raises his hand to the side of his head. "Oh, huh…?"
Salt blinks, confused by the fragmented voice that sounds so far away yet so near at the same time. It sounds so... wistful? A dull sense of grief stabs his chest with every echoes, and...
...it never mattered, because □□□ is gone.
Salt draws a sharp breath, his body chilled. He feels his heart went still for a second, as though someone had splashed him with a bucket of freezing cold water.
"You should take a break, a leave of absence if you must." Alba says, thick with concern over the disoriented teen. "I'll tell your Aunt, don't worry about work and–"
"No!" Salt finds himself yell, surprising Alba. "Don't tell her," I don't want to be a burden, "–I'm okay, Alba-san! Just, I'll take a short break, so, don't worry please..."
"Salt. You're one of the few capable and normal employee around here, one of my own." Alba states firmly, giving Salt a pat on the head. "Of course I worry." He smiles helplessly. "Besides, it's good to take it easy when you're tired, gotta know your own limit."
Salt wills himself not to turn into a blushing mess of a fan with the freely given headpats. The gesture calms him down, but still, being treated as a kid constantly is embarrassing. Alba never takes proper breaks himself unless Lake's brother or Lym's sister prompt him by force, he should take his own advice.
...they never really did get that lunch…
"Lunch…" Salt whispers under his breath.
"Yeah?" Alba tilts his head.
Salt turns to the clock on his work desk, it's nearly time for lunch break. Alba usually keeps on working at this time, Salt assumes that the hero's abundance of mana sustain him enough that Alba just skips meals entirely- which, happens a lot except when Lake's brother is around.
But it's Monday, and Sion-san manages to make a deal to start work on Tuesday...
"Take proper breaks, okay? I'll be here if… Salt?"
"Huh?"
Alba looks downward, Salt follows his gaze. There, on Alba's signature red-orange shirt, was Salt's hand, grabbing a handful of it to prevent him leaving. Salt widens his eyes, flustered, and release Alba immediately.
"S-sorrry, Alba-san! I don't…!" Salt fumbles, face flushing. "I just wanted… if you don't mind, no, actually, I insist!"
Alba raises an eyebrow, "Salt, what are you..?"
"Lunch!" Salt yells. "Let's have lunch! It's… it's break time, and… and Alba-san, you don't really take breaks, or meals much…" He mumbles at the end.
"I'll be fine since–"
"Also!" Salt cuts in, "It's to set a good example, how can we, your employees, take breaks when... the head still continue on working? That just feels…"
Salt feels his mind swirl, spouting random excuses for Alba to join him. He really shouldn't. This isn't really his business, more his friends' siblings kind of things. He doubts it'll work, but he feels like he can't stay calm unless he convince his employer to grab a meal with him. His mouth runs on his own, emphasizing the importance of proper meals and its benefits to live a long life, while Alba listens with visible confusion. A tinge of desperation mixed in Salt's words but he can't stop.
"We can also invite Lake, Elf-san and Alf-san, and… I think Crea-san is also around today…!" Salt trails on, hesitant but stubborn.
Alba looks contemplatively, while Salt starts to feel increasingly nervous.
"Okay."
"O-okay..?"
"I do feel a little peckish, and…" Alba scratches his cheek. "It's been a while since I eat with everyone." He admits, truly unsure when the last time he even sat with the other researcher just for meals.
Salt brighten up, a strange feeling of relief floods over him.
"Yes!" The teen grabs his employer's hand. "Thank you, thank you so much Alba-san!" Salt finds himself shouts.
Alba chuckles, letting himself pulled by the younger bespectacled teen. "It's just lunch."
"Just?" Salt jerks, bristling as he stare down on the Hero. "Just you say?! Lunch time is important, three meals a day is necessary to keep oneself energized for the day! You need to value it more, Alba-san!"
Alba rarely steps out of his job to oversee the other worlds! For someone like Salt to get Alba out of his valuable hero hours is nothing short of an achievement! It's not like he's anyone special like Sion-san!
Salt huffs and continue to guide the older Hero, pulling his hand as though he fears the other will retract his agreement. Not realizing the astounded face on Alba.
Salt successfully invites the researcher team. Crea and Lake happily joining them with cheers, Lake actively hugging him with a weird "You're normal again!" Salt ignores the weird statement. Elf and Alf had given him glances, the former looked disappointed for some reason but still joined them anyway. Alba sits at the center, and Salt finds his chest feeling light as the hero enjoys his meal.
Alba notes that whatever had plagued Salt's mind disappeared after that lunch. Both boys from the hero academy looking more upbeat and worry-free, with Crea who often sleeps at the research center joining their conversation. Alba himself joins along with Lake's story about his big little brother.
"His mana's fluctuating before, but it seems fine now." Alf murmurs under his breath, stealing a glance at Salt with curious eyes of a researcher.
"But dere ain't no trace of it, yeah?" Elf answers boredly, munching on a tempura shrimp. "Shame, tis' was interestin'..."
The two time travelers turns to each other and shrug, leaving it be. Sure, someone's mana latch itself onto Salt, in a signature too similar to Salt's own that it's barely distinguishable. It's not dense enough to be harmful, nor high enough to be a form of tracker, but it was there; miniscule enough that only people with high mana sensitivity like the two of them, or the skill of the legendary Creasion, would pick it up.
And now it's gone.
As though it completed its purpose.
Salt slowly forgets the content of those echoes, and life in the academy and research center goes as usual.
Except, nowadays, Salt takes interest in preparing tea and healthy snacks for everyone. Especially within Alba's vicinity. Salt makes sure to take time to deliver a cup of relaxing tea and light meals during breaks for Alba. Looking up first-aid treatment in case of emergency, especially for older people, or to watch signs of seizure. Salt himself cannot pinpoint his curiosity and interest on the matter, but it's practical so he didn't think much of it.
He also pays attention when Alba gets overboard with his research, usually informing the former legendary hero about it. It usually results in a roundabout way of inviting Alba to hangout and get himself either beaten up or used as a wallet, but Salt thinks Alba doesn't actually mind when it's Sion, so he's not worried.
Lake gives weird glances when he finds out his interest in the hero's health.
"Salt, you're treating Alba-san like he's in his forties."
"No, I'm not."
All in all, life continues peacefully.
The reveal of the anti-Alba organization and the existence of Sleepiez were things Salt is not privy to. He just went there to prepare tea and snacks for their guests (Yes, Lake, they're guests even if they're just a taller Crea and another Alba), and plans to leave as soon as his task is done.
It's vaguely unnerving when the Great Mage openly stares at him, gaze never leaving until he removes himself from the room. Salt tried, and honestly failed, to not to let it bother him as he scurry away to work.
"You're so young!"
Salt jumps in his seat, once again not sensing the approaching figure. He turns around, surprised to see the Great Mage Alba, the very one Elf and Alf often gush about with deep reverence.
"Uh, Great Mage-san…?" Salt says cautiously, tilting his head.
The spitting image of his own employer chuckles.
"Just call me Alba." Salt raises an eyebrow, "At least when this world’s Alba isn’t around to make things confusing.”
Salt contemplates a bit, then nods, finding that reasonable. "Alba-san, then."
For someone who has the unfortunate fate of having a lackadaisical assistant, the Mage seems oddly pleased with his respond. Salt expects some biting comments about how 'boring' he is compared to the other version of himself, but none came. The Alba from Elf's universe just continue to study him, gentle brown eyes tinted with...
Salt feels his eye twitching, a sensation akind to a prick bothers him when he saw the hint of something... guilty, in those eyes.
Like he had done something wrong towards Salt.
"Can I... help you…?" Salt asks tentatively, the odd emotions in the Great Mage's eyes gone with a blink.
"Haha, sorry. You're just so youthful it makes me wonder how he's…" Alba stops himself, his smile stays calm, yet it's almost melancholic. Regretful dare Salt say. "So, Salt… -kun, you do any work?"
The teen bristles at the question, remembering how he's perceived in the other world. "Yes. I do work, what about it?"
"Do you have breaks… or free time after this…?"
"...time?" Salt feels his earlier annoyance snuffed out in an instant. "I think so?"
Salt briefly glances to his task, practically done by now before going back to face the distinguished mage. Observing the different version of Hero Red Fox.
Great Mage Alba scratches his cheek- a tick Salt was awfully familiar with -brows creased as though he's about to request something extremely difficult. Salt eyes him curiously, if not, vaguely worried, wondering what the hesitance is all about. But Salt is patient, something inside him telling him not to rush the Great Mage. So he waits, until the other Alba finally collects himself.
"Shall we have lunch?"