Chapter 25

Pleased To Meet You, Lady Elara

Despite Elara's surprise at the unexpected request, her expression remained neutral. After all, she had promised the boy Noah that she would consider his request, and she would do so.

But why this question? No, the question first, then the request. Who does he plan to communicate with?

The woman looked into Noah's eyes and asked curiously, "And who do you plan to communicate with?" She didn't openly admit to having any continental communication methods.

Noah's eyes gleamed slightly, and he answered quickly, leaning forward. "I want to communicate with someone, I wouldn't call him a friend, but he is someone I helped in the past to build something. And I want to reach out to him now, mainly due to my condition. Just to be sure."

Elara folded her hands together, a serious expression covering her beautiful face. "I told you I would try to help you if your request doesn't negatively impact my family. But I don't see that now. I have been warned that what happens in the castle, regarding your condition, must stay within it."

Noah smiled at Elara, mostly because she hadn't outright refused him. "I understand your concerns, but what I'll try to convey in the message, if you allow me, is just the nature of my situation. If I don't communicate again, something likely happened to me. That's all."

He doesn't seem afraid, just cautious.

Elara leaned back on the couch and stated matter-of-factly, "That makes it two requests, not just one."

Noah shook his head and said, "I have my own way of long-distance communication, it just needs some time. And I can't use it while the old knight is literally sleeping with me. Even if I did, the specialist would arrive before I succeeded in sending anything."

This is interesting for someone unawakened... Some kind of ritual, perhaps? But still, the risks are high.

The woman looked at Noah, she would have understood if she saw fear in the boy's eyes, but on the contrary, all she saw was a bundle of calm and serious caution.

He is making his own plans to ensure his safety, and I should do the same.

The woman shook her head and before announcing her final decision—refusal, Noah spoke. "Let's change my request for a moment. After thinking about it, I am selfish to consider it only from my perspective. I should consider your safety and the price I have to pay if you accept my new request."

Elara tilted her head to the side, curious. She gestured for Noah to continue speaking, her curiosity overcoming her calm. Noah smiled and continued, "I still want to send a message, but the content of the message, instead of defining and warning about my condition, I will set an appointment somewhere in the Empire. The reason for the appointment will be unknown, and I can always cancel it later."

Clever, very clever and slightly manipulative. This is also more feasible with fewer negatives. Should I accept it?

Before Elara finished her thoughts, Noah spoke again. "Of course, if you are capable of helping me. What I can offer in return is treating your spiritual fatigue so you can return to your training as soon as possible."

Oh, you are throwing in the bait now. This is effective, to be honest.

The woman looked at Noah with an unchanged expression. In her mind, she had already accepted the deal. One thing that kept nagging at the back of her mind was, is Noah honest about his abilities. Of course, Elara could detect truth from lies, but the boy in front of her, since she first saw him, had never lied once. When he didn't want to talk about something, he preferred silence and honesty over lying, one of the things the woman found attractive about him.

No harm in believing him. Not fully, but the benefits now outweigh the risks.

The woman stood from her chair and gestured for him to do the same. She extended her hand to him while a small smile crossed her expression. "We have a deal, we'll discuss the details later. I doubt you're planning to make the call now?"

Noah nodded quietly, saying nothing, but the gratitude in his expression said enough. The woman nodded to him as well, allowing a small smile to play on her lips. "I have a way to communicate, called Mana Resonance Communication, or MRC for short. I'll explain it to you so you have an idea."

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"Mana Resonance Communication, or MRC, is a magical technique that allows individual mages to talk to each other across vast distances without the need to send a physical message."

"Every magical living being has a unique mana signature, similar to a unique voice that no one else has. Using this signature, a mage can locate a person and create a temporary magical link to send thoughts or words directly." Elara paused her words and moved to her desk.

She took a glowing crystal ball from one of the desk drawers and placed it on its surface. She gestured for Noah to approach while continuing her explanation, her hand resting on the smooth surface of the ball. "This crystal is a mana location orb. It resonates with the mana signature of the recipient. Through it, I can locate this individual and send a message as preferred... So, I need this person's mana signature."

Noah tilted his head at the expected expression on the woman's face. "I don't have this person's mana signature. If it is similar to a soul voice, I can mimic it with zero error."

Soul voice?... What is that, I've never heard of it before.

"I've never heard of this soul voice," Elara admitted. "But I'll allow you to try. You should know that a mana signature is unique and cannot be mimicked, it's tied to an individual's life force. But there's no harm in trying."

The woman removed her hand from the orb and gestured for Noah to place his hand on it. "Just place your hand on the orb, it will read the mana signature. If it points to you, then I've done my best to help you. If it points to this individual you're trying to mimic their mana signature, then congratulations."

Noah nodded, and approached the orb. His expression was one of confidence and calm. He placed his hand on the orb, and nothing happened. More than a minute passed and still nothing.

Usually, it doesn't take this long. But no harm in waiting...

After exactly five minutes, the orb glowed with a faint blue-gray light, and surprisingly, it did not point to Noah. It didn't point to anyone because the mana signature it captured didn't belong to anyone close to the room.

And what am I supposed to make of this scene?... Strange!?

Elara had her doubts, so she expressed them. "I don't know how this is possible, but are you sure of the mana signature? It could be someone completely random."

Noah nodded confidently. "I'm sure, no mistake... So how does the device work, I've never seen anything like it before."

No doubt. I only found it by accident at the time. It's not like continental communication is common and simple.

Elara took Noah's hand and removed it from the crystal orb. "MRC works on three principles. First, identification, and we have that in the form of the mana signature of the person receiving the message. Second, location tracking, the orb covered that aspect as well. Third, communication, when the orb finds the owner of the mana signature, it creates a temporary link to send the message."

Noah's eyebrows furrowed slightly as he asked, "And how will this person receive the message? I've seen many communication devices, but they all connect to other devices, not people."

Elara nodded in understanding and continued her explanation. "Mana Resonance Communication is very fast and reliable, but it's not without flaws. It consumes a lot of magical energy, and the greater the distance, the harder it is to maintain the link. Additionally, magical interference, such as barriers or chaotic environments, can hinder this communication. As for your concern, this communication device, as I said, allows direct conversation with the mana signature holder or sends a long message to this individual. If this individual doesn't have the same device, they can't respond to it, only receive it. The way the message is received varies from person to person, generally based on this individual's strength. I won't explain much of this aspect as it varies. What matters is if the recipient is aware enough not to ignore it."

Noah nodded confidently and said, "No fear from that side. Any message will be accepted, no matter the source."

Elara nodded in return and asked the important question, "So, how do you want to structure your message? Is there something on your mind?"

The boy shook his head and said, "It doesn't really matter, you do it, just explain the message content in the simplest way. Of course, mention my name and choose a relatively good meeting place, preferably in the capital."

The woman agreed and announced she would start the transmission. Noah took a few steps back, watching curiously.

Under his gaze, Elara began to pour her mana into the device in a balanced and precise manner, not wanting to overload it. After a few minutes, the woman's reserve reached just over half. With it, the orb returned to its original state, completely white with engraved golden letters.

She took the orb in her hands and went back behind the desk, returning it to its place. "Your message has been sent," Elara announced calmly.

Noah raised an eyebrow at the announcement. "Just like that?... You certainly have an interesting piece. I suppose I should keep this to myself?"

Self-aware! I like that.

"Think of it like shouting across a wide valley, but your voice is carried by mana instead of air. It's powerful, but it requires precise control and respect for its limits," Elara commented indifferently, ignoring his last remark.

"Now that we've finished with your request, the remaining details can wait for another time," Elara began again. "Let's discuss your punishment."

Noah smiled and responded, "Isn't that the reason for this meeting after all?"

Very self-aware!

Elara smiled in satisfaction as she began her announcement. "Your punishment will be the same as Eyolian's, the one you recommended yourself. And you should stop smiling, this is a punishment."

Noah smiled a bit more and commented nonchalantly, "I'll frown when the situation calls for it, no worries there." He paused for a moment, his ice-blue eyes meeting Elara's fiery red ones. He bowed slightly and declared, "Pleased to meet you, Lady Elara."

That's a new way to welcome a punishment! And somehow, I like it.

As Elara was about to speak, she sensed a new presence entering through the main gate of the castle's outer wall. She didn't need to focus on the presence to know what it represented. She looked at Noah and calmly announced, "The specialist who will assess your condition has arrived. You might want to meet with your accompanying imperial knight."

Noah understood her meaning, bowed again, and left the room without another word.

Elara closed her eyes, clearing her mind for reasons she alone understood.

I shouldn't delve too deep. I don't want to feel disappointed in... this.