Valen stayed silent as the old elf continued. "Enora is an immature and spoiled elf, a few minutes ago you were in her good books. Now you're telling us she burned bridges without a second thought?" The other old elf stayed silent as they cast their indifferent glances on Valen. Valen raised his hand and said. "Ancestors, I believe the problem lies with a human named Akihito Reiki."
The old elf frowned, he said. "You mean that young brat who still smells like milk? Stop making excuses and get that throne, you're dismissed. Thanks to your unexpected failure we now have to make more plans to make up for it." Valen spoke through gritted teeth, he said. "Understood, Ancestor." As he vanished from the spot.
…
Valen was walking down an empty road in the village, he stopped and said. "Where's the boy?" An elf wearing a black cloak with the hood on appeared behind him, the elf said. "Library."
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First Floor Library
There were even more elves by the tables and chairs as most were sitting on the floor surrounded by books near the shelves while the tables were filled with piles of books. Reiki stood at the side, he thought. Time to make history. Reiki walked towards the crowded area as he easily avoided hitting a single elf. He stopped at every table as he scanned thoroughly at each book.
A few elves glanced at him from the corner of their eye as they let him be since he wasn't bothering anyone, after a few tables Reiki saw the book he needed, he thought. Advance Inscriptions... He pointed at that book and spoke in flawless elvish, Reiki said. "Can I borrow that book for a moment since no one in this table is using it?"
One of the elves who was sitting at the table looked up and took a good look at him. The male elf said. "Kid, I recommend starting with an easier book. It's called inscription for humans." He let out a chuckle as the entire table did the same as did a few tables, Reiki got more attention as more and more elves pried their eyes away from the books in their hands they glanced at him.
Reiki placed his hand back to his hand and said. "It'll only be a minute." The elf let out an amused chuckle, he said. "Fine, I'll amuse you." He picked up the book and passed it to him with both hands, Reiki immediately opened it and started speed reading. The sound of the pages of the book rapidly being turned caught more attention of the elves as they looked at him with displeasure in their eyes. Reiki quickly reached the end of the book and gave it back to the elf, he said. "Thank you."
And started walking around the tables while searching again. He stopped when he saw the other book below an elf's arms, Reiki looked up and saw it was another male that had a smile on his face. While rummaging through his pocket he said. "Write this inscription for me." As he took out an inscription on a square piece of parchment and another square parchment in the same size. And placed it on the table, Reiki picked up the inscription and stared at it for a moment, he said. "Talk about sloppy."
Some of the elves that were sitting on the table glanced at the elf who gave him the inscription. Reiki looked at the inscription on the table that had visible mistakes and a few minor flaws from using a brush when writing. He continued. "You tried to alter a single-use simplified fireball inscription and tried to adjust it so it could be used twice. You also tried to make it so it wouldn't need more mana and without the power of the spell degrading…"
The elf had a surprised look on his face as he gave him a small nod of approval. Reiki picked up a quill from the table and dipped it in an ink bottle that was left open. He started writing on the other parchment and with one fluid motion drew the entire inscription. The male elf picked it up and started examining it, a moment after a serious look appeared on his face. The elf said. "This can't be real…"
The elf started to pour some mana in the inscription to activate it just enough so it doesn't shoot a fireball. The inscription on the parchment started slowly glowing a few seconds after a visible line started to appear in the middle of the inscription. The elf stopped pouring mana into the inscription in his hands as he stared at the almost computerized writing on it inside a perfect circle, he moved his gaze onto Reiki who had already picked up the book and started skimming. Before the elf could say anything Reiki already closed the book back on the table, before he could take a step the elf said. "Wait, young man."
Reiki turned his sideways to look at the elf, he said. "What is it?" The elf said. "I never asked for your name." He said. "Reiki. Akihito Reiki." Before Reiki could walk to the next table the elf who was staring at the inscription at his hands was surrounded by elves he was sitting next to as they tried to take a look at it along with a few more tables. Reiki walked around the tables as everywhere he went elves would have their eyes on him or make way.
He stopped when he saw another book by a female elf who was scanning him from top to bottom, before he could say anything the elf passed the book to him on the table without saying anything. Reiki nodded at her and did a quick skim of the entire book, he placed the book on the table and looked at the female elf. Reiki said. "What about you, do you have anything you want me to improve?" The female elf let out a playful scoff, she said. "I have a little test for you." She pulled out a folded piece of parchment from her pocket and placed it on the table. The elf started moving around some books and unfolded the parchment as it took at least one-fourth of the table. With a smile on her face, she said. "Enjoy."
One of the female elves who was sitting beside eyes widened, she said. "What would-." The female elf glared at her which made her stop, Reiki looked at the parchment as he observed dozens of words in elven language. With the larger written words were adjust, aim, and combust. All of them were encircled with lines connecting three or four words making it look like a circuit due to how many words there were. Reiki thought. That's a big inscription…
He placed a hand on his chin and said. "Name?" The female elf who placed down the inscription said. "Vianola, but my friends call me Via." Vianola placed down another folded parchment and picked up her quill and dipped it in a bottle of ink. She placed it closer to him while Reiki still had his eyes glued to the inscription, he said. "Via-san in terms of power and stability there isn't much I can do about it."
Vianola had a smile of pride on her face before she could say anything Reiki continued, he said. "I can improve the interval between each use." Vianola's smile froze as she quickly said. "What did you just say?" Reiki took the quill and parchment off her hands and unfolded it. The quill in his hand started to glow and with fluid motion and machine-like precision, he started doing minor alterations to the inscription.
Vianola had an odd expression on her face as she took a couple of sniffs, she said. "Reiki… Was it?" He nodded as she continued. "You smell like wine…" Without stopping, Reiki said. "I met Valen." Vianola had an understanding look on her face and said. "He's… Special..." Without missing a beat Reiki said. "Not in a good way." A few elves let out a chuckle, Dozens of elves were behind him as they watched him work including Vianola herself.
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Private Garden
Melanor appeared and saw Elora sitting alone, she sat next to her and said. "Where's Nora?" Elora was holding a scone in her hands and was deciding whether to put some cream, jam, or marmalade. Elora said. "She went back to her room to clear her thoughts." She picked up a mini knife and sliced the scone in the middle but not all the way through, Elora picked up a small spoon and added some marmalade. She turned her head to look at Melanor and said. "Talk aside, how is your wrist? I was surprised how… Aggressive, Reiki was in that exchange of words."
Melanor let out a chuckle, she pulled up the right sleeve of her dress and revealed her wrist was fairly bruised and had visible signs of swelling. Melanor said. "The last time we saw a human at his age use internal force was-." Elora was about to take a bite of the scone in her hand but stopped, she had a visible frown on her face and said. "Don't say her name." Melanor rolled her eyes at Elora, Melanor said. "Was an indifferent little girl who turned into a fiery dragon."
Elora placed the scone she was holding on the plate in front of her, she crossed her arms pressing her large chest together. Elora said. "That little girl owes me so much money." Melanor placed her left hand on top of Elora's right, Melanor said. "Are you sure it isn't about the fact you practically raised her?" Elora let out a scoff, she said. "If I knew she would turn out like this I wouldn't have even taken her in." Melanor placed her head on Elora's shoulder, she said. "It's not all bad. The three of us all know Asami stealing wine is her way of subtly giving us resources and it also gives her an excuse to talk to you."
The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
Melanor moved her head on her shoulder and looked up, she continued. "What happened during your visit to the mainland? How did you get injured?" Elora pupils glowed as she looked at her heart, with a mocking smile she said. "Nothing much… Just another perverted man who wanted me to be his slave… Turns out he knew a few people and ambushed me… By some twist of fate, Asami was near and noticed the barrier." Melanor said. "How long until you've fully recovered?" Elora moved her gaze onto the ceiling, she said. "It should be around the same time the boy is ready to make his way to the mainland."
Melanor moved her head away from Elora's shoulder, she said. "Perfect. This time Enrel, Mora, and I will be by your side along with your daughter." Elora looked at Melanor, with a surprised look on her face she said. "What made you change your mind?"
Melanor let out a cruel chuckle, in her pupils, dozens of strings of lightning were going around in circles as they were visible to the naked eye. Melanor said. "With Asami by your side and combined with your strength I knew the two of you would be unrivaled. So I decided to protect our home, Enrel just wanted to continue her research but… Since they want to play the game of who has more allies then we'll play their little game."
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First Floor Library
Valen walked into the library as he saw the area that was filled with dozens of elves piled in a single spot and were softly whispering to each other. He looked at it oddly and walked towards it, Valen started pulling and pushing elves to the side. Without caring he started shouting and said. "Move it! I'm Valen Flanont! So make way! Before I force you!"
He pushed two more elves in front of him and saw Reiki who was passing the inscription he finished writing to Vianola who started examining it. A few elves immediately walked behind her to take a look, Valen immediately frowned and said. "Why is there a piece of trash here? This is a place for learning. It should be spotless."
Reiki used the inside of his pocket to clean the quill and placed it on the table, without turning around he said. "It was clean until you showed up and started polluting the air we breathe. How about you do everyone here a favor and spare us from breathing in fumes?" A few elves were surprised by his words and a few brave ones had a smile on their faces, one elf even chuckled.
Valen made his hands into a fist as he tightened it enough to make them a shade whiter, he said. "Do you even have-." Reiki let out a yawn, he lazily waved his hand and said. "You can ask Enora, she gave me the card in the first place." With a small quick shake of his hand, the white library card appeared between his index and middle finger. Reiki placed it on the table for all the elves to see, this gesture made Valen more infuriated, his gaze wandered to the parchment Vianola. Valen's right hand blurred as he tried to take the parchment off her hands, his hand went clean through the parchment.
With a demanding tone, he said. "Who dares refuse to acknowledge the Flanont name?!" Vianola appeared behind him as her eyes were glued onto the parchment, she said. "It's been altered…" Reiki lazily stretched on the chair, he said. "From once every two days I've reduced it to half, meaning once every twenty-four hours." He softly clapped his hands and said. "Congrats…"
Valen's eyes were filled with interest as his gaze homed in the parchment in her hands, he held his right hand out and said. "Hand that over." Vianola's pupils immediately glowed, with a hint of anger in her voice she said. "Why?" The elves around them sent judgemental glances at Valen, he said. "He's a human, you shouldn't trust this kind of animal. You never know that inscription might be even tampered with and could explode upon being used." Vianola let out a cold laugh, she said. "Is that supposed to scare me? Little valy it seems you underestimate what one of the royal households is capable of."
Valen placed his hand on his hips as he pushed out his chest to appear bigger, he said. "The Flanont name isn't scared of a single household." A female voice said. "What about two?" Valen turned his head and saw the female elf who spoke was wearing a long green cloak and had both her eyes closed and had a sweet smile on her face, Valen said. "Amisra household…" The female elf turned her head towards Reiki despite having her eyes closed, she gave him a polite wave and said. "Esta, nice to meet your acquaintance Reiki."
Esta moved her gaze back on Valen, she slowly opened her eyes as her pupils looked somewhat ethereal. Esta's pupils looked like it was constantly glowing, she said. "Your answer? Head of the Flanont bloodline." Valen's eyes narrowed, he said. "One or two are barely any different-." Reiki pointed at the empty ladders, he said. "Two and a half, that elf at the ladder has been watching since the start."
Vianola held the parchment with one hand as she took out a talisman from her pocket as it faintly glowed. Esta turned her head at the ladder, she opened her eyes as she saw a faint outline of an elf. Esta smiled and said. "This is a surprise, the famous Haemir household was caught… By a young human no less…" An elf wearing a simple green tunic and brown appeared at the top of the ladder, he let out a sigh and slid down the ladder. The male elf appeared in front of Esta and said. "That young human is by no means ordinary." The elf turned his head and nodded at Reiki who was still sitting on the chair, he said. "Revilor."
Valen slowly clapped which got all the attention of the elves, he said. "So three households are siding with a human? You have some explaining to do-." Revilor raised his hand to interrupt him and said. "That human prevented an elf from dying, albeit indirectly. Then there is the fact Reiki stayed the night at her majesty's place, so not only are you up against us you would be questioning her majesty's decision." Reiki rolled his eyes at Revilor, he thought. Leave it to the neutrals to have a silver tongue.
Revilor had a bright smile on his face, he said. "Head of the great Flanont household, answer my small question. Are you, or are you not going against her majesty's will?" All the elves near the area stopped as they glanced at Valen who was gritting his teeth, he took a deep breath and said. "Since you put it like that, how can I defy her majesty?" He walked towards the door as he aggressively smashed his shoulder onto Revilor who barely moved. Valen stormed out of the library and left the door completely open.
Vianola sat back in her seat while Esta appeared in the chair on Reiki's left, Revilor walked to the other side of the table. Revilor gestured at the chair and said. "May I?" The elf immediately stood up as the other elves took their chairs away leaving the four of them at the table surrounded by elves.
Reiki let out a yawn, Revilor had an odd look on his face and said. "How did you know where I was?" Reiki said. "Lucky guess." Esta rummaged through her pocket and took out a badly written talisman, she placed it on the table in front of Reiki. Esta said. "Can you-?" Before she could finish, Reiki immediately picked it up and started analyzing it. Reiki said. "This is interesting… A reusable dual inscription for creating a pocket of air inside of water and countering the pressure…"
Esta's eyes were glued onto him as her eyes were closed once again while having an indifferent expression, Vianola was holding a talisman in her hand that was faintly glowing while Revilor placed his pouch on the table and had his hand inside of it reaching to his shoulder looking for something. Reiki's eyes narrowed as he placed the inscription down on the table. Esta slightly opened her left eye, she said. "What's wrong?"
Reiki picked up the quill and dipped it in some ink, he said. "Nothing, I'm just not impressed by the inscription itself. With a depth of one hundred fifty and a duration of ten minutes, a submarine would be cheaper."
Esta opened both her eyes in bewilderment, she said. "How did you-." Reiki chose a random piece of parchment that was being used as a bookmark, the quill in his hands started glowing. Dozens of elves started squeezing themselves behind to watch along with the three on the table, Reiki said. "A quick fix should do the trick."
His right hand started moving in a single motion only being lifted when starting a new stroke. Instead of two words, he used four that were in the opposite direction of each other and started connecting the three so they would activate simultaneously. Reiki passed the inscription to Esta as she stared at it on the table, it looked nothing similar to the inscription she passed to him. Esta forgets where she was and placed a finger on the inscription as it glowed and activated.
There was a visible sphere of mana around the table that surrounded them along with a few elves, there were even some who were in between the sphere. Esta mumbled, "it works…" Saria and a couple of elves who were lining in front of the counter were staring at what was unfolding, she snapped herself back to reality and said. "N-No magic in the library!"
Esta immediately canceled the inscription and said. "Pardon me." Saria coughed, she said. "S-Since you were only curious and had no malicious intent I'll let you off with a verbal warning." Esta gave Saria a grateful nod, she immediately pocketed the inscription Reiki made and completely ignored the one in front of him. Revilor pulled out an inscription and some parchment from his pouch and quickly placed it on the table in front of him.
Reiki without saying anything dipped the quill in ink as it started glowing, he glanced at it and with almost inhuman speeds made a similar inscription that was slightly modified as he pushed it away from himself. Revilor calmly picked it up and as he barely analyzed it a visible frown appeared on his face, he said. "It seems you only slightly improved it." Reiki cleaned the quill with the inside of his pocket, he said. "Yep." Revilor slowly stood up and said. "Thank you." Reiki lazily nodded at him as he walked towards the door while elves made way for him.
Before he could place his hand on the door, the doorknob turned as he took a few steps back. Haruka walked into the library carrying a small pouch in her left hand, her eyes widened as she saw Revilor and made way as she looked around the library. Reiki raised his hand to which Haruka saw as she made her way towards him, she took the string off the pouch in her hand and placed it on the table. Haruka glanced at the two who were sitting with him and looked around the crowd of elves who made way for her, she said. "Here you go, empty refillable crystals."
Reiki pulled the pouch off as half a dozen small crystals of different sizes fell to the table, Haruka rummaged through her satchel as she placed down a large shard of empty crystal and placed it on the table. Haruka said. "And one decent size one." Vianola placed her talisman back into her pocket, she said. "Are you sure about immediately falling out with Revilor? He did-."
Reiki let out a chuckle, he picked up the large crystal and observed it. He said. "I made him stick his neck out for me. If I didn't expose him he would've been too busy with weighing the pros and cons, my thoughts. It doesn't matter and never bet on neutral forces."
Esta looked at the crystals on the table and said. "I can give you half a dozen medium-sized crystals that are filled." Reiki said. "Thank you, but I have no use for them."
[System: User has Activated Mana Flow.]
『 Mana Flow Has Been Activated. Mode: Release 100%』
The entire room of the library was enveloped by potent and was almost visible to the naked eye as the elves and Haruka herself were caught by surprise. He casted. God's eye. Information was sent to his brain.
『 Empty Crystal. 0000/1500.』 He thought. The spell has been altered... Reiki slowly started pouring mana into the crystal in his hands.
[System: User has poured 9 mana into the crystal.]
[System: User has poured 12 mana into the crystal.]
[System: User has poured 30 mana into the crystal.]
…
Revilor was outside the library as he stared at the large volumes of potent mana leaking out of it. He placed a hand on his chin and said. "It seems I failed two of his test's already… I need to speak with my father." He placed both his hands behind his back and vanished.
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Private Garden
Elora and Melanor were sitting on chairs leisurely drinking tea as a male elf appeared behind them. Before he could say anything Elora said. "I noticed… It's him again, isn't it?"