themainframe | First Day [video]

[Lillet's memory doesn't really make sense out of context. A conversation (up until 3:10 or so) with an older Lillet simply reveals something about Lillet repeating time, and that it's been going on for quite some time. Well, if anything, it might explain why Lillet's so secretive, or why she carried around all those grimoires when she arrived, but it explains nothing beyond that, and when the memory ends, Lillet simply looks a bit lost in thought, as she thinks about this.]

I've been here for a few months now, when I think about it- it's not exactly anything strange to most people, but when I first arrived, I wondered if time would repeat here as well. When it didn't, I began to wonder what that meant for me.

[She pauses.]

Even now, I'm not sure if I've finally broken free of the repeating time, but it's given me something to think about while I'm here. Actually... I've been wondering if anyone else knows anything about time loops, but I've never been able to bring myself to ask- it's kind of a long story to have to explain everything, after all.

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Well... I know the theory behind time loops, but I've never actually experienced one. If there's some kind of theory you're wondering about I definitely don't mind talking it out.

I kinda' live for this stuff. [Technically not true, but if he had a chance he would probably just spend all day being a huge nerd about magic.]

You... know the theory behind time loops? [Hold on, give her a second.] To be honest, a lot of what I wonder is what we talked about when we first met. I know now why time would repeat, but I guess if anything else, I wonder how it ended up that my room happened to be the one the Philosopher's Stone was in.

Yeah. I've read up on it once or twice while studying magic--all theory, though. Real accounts are rare. Oh... but... the rest...

That I don't know. One of my teachers always said that everything happens for a reason... but I'm not sure what the reason is, or why nobody else ever used that room before you.

I mean, you'd think someone else would have been stuck before, right?

Right. Margarita mentioned she had my room before... but she also said she asked to be moved to another room because of the floorboards. [Which, incidentally, happened to be where the hidden room was after making it past Calvaros' runes.]

...Hm...

Maybe you found your way into that room once and that's what started the loop? Or maybe the stone reacted to the powers of something else and that activated it...

Or, maybe there's something about you specifically that the stone liked. It could be a number of things.

Anything's possible, basically. I originally though the time loops started when Calvaros tried to kill me, on what I thought was the first time loop, but after talking with the other me, I know now that I only thought that was the first time.

[She sighs.]

It's all really confusing.

[Ed gives a small smile.]

Don't worry about it too much. Dimensional magic is already hard to grasp as a general rule, and bending the fourth dimension is hard even beyond that. Even the most powerful spellcaster I know, this really wise old dragon named Lucas who exists to keep balance in everything and watch over the Seal of Magic itself--he doesn't even mess with time magic because of how convoluted and dangerous and weird it gets.

I suppose you're right. Still, it would be nice to have answers, but I know that answers don't always come that easily.

Truuue that. [Sigh.]

Some things happen that just can't be explained. Hopefully this isn't on that list.

I've repeated the same five days countless times... and forgotten everything countless times as well, though I've always kept the grimoires I've gained, and the runes I learned. How many times did I know how to break free, only to run out of time? How many times did I have to watch someone sacrifice themselves to try stopping Calvaros for me?

[Oops, she got a little contemplative there, and forgotten her device is still on.]

...Once is too many.

You're really a strong person, if you've kept going despite it all... but if you're here, it's gotta be over now. [Oh sorry did you not want him to respond? UNFORTUNATELY I AM A SHONEN IDIOT.]

[It's her own fault tbh]

Oh! I didn't even realize it was still recording... but, you're right. Once really is too many. With any luck, when I can someday return, time will have finally stopped repeating for good.

Yeah.

After all, this time you finally saved everyone and nobody had to be sacrificed... right? Then this time has to be the one that sticks.

Time loops? Aren't those some kind of fabled video game mechanic or something?

[ Don't worry, she's got a point with this. ] Time looped back in my world, but it was a place much like this.

Video games? [Lillet makes a mental note to ask Coronamon about that later.]

I see... so your world is a 'Digital World' like this, then?

That's right. A digital simulation.

[ A shrug. ] Who knows where my real body is if I've been transported here. It feels real, but that's just the programming.

[Annnnd.... she's lost again.]

I'm sorry, could you, erm... could you explain that a little more? Are you saying that they brought over a, um- 'digital simulation' of you here? Is that right?

[ It happens too often when people speak with Rin. ]

It can be likely, but there's no way of knowing for sure. No one else seems to be from a world like my own, but they're being sustained here. So it's either an identical system or something even greater.

[All this technology talk just really goes over her head. She's a country girl from a world where devils are allowed to teach sorcery among other things.]

I... see. [No, no, she doesn't.] To be honest, we don't have anything like this back where I'm from. Even now, I don't entirely understand some of what you're talking about.

Huh, are you from the stone age?

[ She hasn't met anyone this "old" before other than her Servant (who to be fair is an ancient Irish myth legend) and even he was granted knowledge of technology. ]

First Day [video]

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