Schrödinger's Wizard

"How about we sacrifice her after she comes back?" the king suggests.

"I am afraid the gods will not accept an IOU," the chief wizard points out.

The King ponders some more. "Didn't you research a time travel spell once?"

"So I did. But I can only travel backwards, and if I bring back any kind of information, well basically the universe would cease to exist."

After some more pondering the chief wizard asks to speak to the King alone, and they retreat to his study.

"I have an idea that just may work," the wizard explains. It contains an element of risk, but should not endanger the whole universe."

"And what is this plan?"

"I am afraid I don't have the time to explain," the wizard says quickly. "I must leave at once. Whatever you do, do not follow me or send anyone after me!"

And with that he walks swiftly to the back door, opens it and steps through. As he turns back to close the door, the King hears another door open behind him, and sees the wizard's eyes widen in something akin to panic before the door slams shut.

The King turns around and sees... the wizard standing right inside the door, carrying a scroll and with a surprised expression on his face. "That was close!" he exclaims.

The King ponders. "You're from the future?"

"According to my plan, yes. And, it would seem, a bit early."

"Then don't speak to me! If I understand you correctly, another word from your mouth could be our doom!"

"No need to worry, Your Majesty. Sure, I have lived through part of our future, but I do not remember it."

"How is that now?"

"I was asleep. Let me explain. The me who just left, went back to my study to cast a sleep spell on himself that only I (or he) can break. I shall stay around until we know the outcome of Brunhilda's quest. Then one of two things will happen, the point being that right now I don't know which.
- If Brunhilda is successful, she will return triumphant. We will sacrifice her and cast the first part of the geas spell. I shall then write down the second part of the spell so that it may be finished in the past.
- If she fails, the dragon will kill her, and I shall write some nonsense on the scroll that looks like a spell to someone who has not studied magic.
In either case I shall then wake the younger me, give him the scroll and send him back to today without telling him anything of what has happened. At this point he will become me - back from the future (a bit early, I got to learn to time these things) with no other knowledge than the fact that this scroll (he paused to dramatically brandish the scroll he was holding) may contain a geas spell for Brunhilda. You must summon her and read the scroll in front of her without anyone else listening. Only that way you will know nothing of the future."

1. The King does as the wizard says.
2. The King opens the scroll and reads it in front of the wizard.
3. The King declares the plan stuff and nonsense and throws the scroll on the fire.
4. Hang on - the wizard just brought back the information that he is going to stay alive until the end of Brunhilda's quest! Now what?
5. The Chief of the Story Police gets a headache.

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