Mira stared at me silently for a moment, then lowered her eyes to her knees, pressing her index fingers together.
"…I'm sorry, Master. I can't use magic. It's just… not possible for me."
Is she trying to be cute?
"Ah, it's fine. Though I can't really read this if I don't learn how to do it…"
She placed a finger on her chin in thought, her voice softer now. "I've heard stuff though. They say something about picturing a line or thread from your 'core' to whatever object you want to pour your mana into."
I hummed thoughtfully. "I see, it kind of makes sense. I guess I have no choice but to try that."
Turning back to the book, I sat up straighter and closed my eyes, placing my hand on the sigil. I then took a deep breath, before visualizing what Mira had told me.
"W-what was it again? A thread from my…core, right?" I asked, my voice uncertain.
She nodded, gesturing from her chest toward the book.
"Yes. Imagine a line flowing from here to there. At least… that's how I think it's supposed to work."
So, I did. I pictured a golden thread unraveling from a bright orb in the center of my body, forming a path through my arms and into the book. As a result, I started to feel a faint yet warm feeling spreading through my nerves.
"Master, the sigil. It's glowing," Mira said, poking my arm repeatedly.
I forced myself to hold the image steady, not wanting to break my concentration until I was certain it was done correctly. In the end, I stopped feeling that warmth and opened my eyes to see the sigil glowing faintly.
"Oh, I did it. Let's see if it really works…" I muttered, mostly to myself, flipping back to where I left off. The pages that had once been blank were now filled with writing. I also made sure to flip through each page, and confirmed that I was successful.
Mira brought her hands together in a soft clap. A more genuine one this time.
"Congratulations, Master. I knew you could do it." Her voice was flat, but there was genuine warmth beneath it.
I rubbed the back of my head, smiling awkwardly at her praise.
"Well, it's thanks to you that I could figure it out, so thank you Mira."
Her eyes widened briefly before softening into a small smile. "I'm just glad I could help, even a little."
Now that I was able to read the contents, I began reading from where I left off.
From what I learned, the author created the book by combining his Skills, which is why it has such a complex system. Light Kagami clarified that while he is the original author, heroes who receive this book also have the ability to insert their own knowledge into it.
Depending on the quantity, it'll require a large amount of mana to do so, and the author advises the reader to use it wisely. Well, it's not like i'm Einstein, so I doubt anything I learn is useful…
It did raise questions though. How would I know if anything I've learnt is already written? And was there even room for additional information?
I'd have to read the whole thing and remember what is already there before I decide on what I need and don't need to add. It was a waste of time, precious time I could use to….uh…
The rest just was just information of this world's nations, along with a detailed map. Aetheria – that was the name of my new Earth. It had four continents instead of seven, but the world hadn't been fully explored yet.
Magic, while useful for exploration, wasn't nearly enough on its own. The book claimed it would take much more to unravel their world fully.
This continent was called Kremantin, named after some explorer from the past, Krema Vinti. On Earth's map, it would've been somewhere between Europe and Africa. It's supposedly the second largest continent in this world as well. The others were Menfor, Lintur, and Tantser.
I skimmed through until I reached the section about this kingdom – Elysandria.
'The Kingdom of Elysandria stands among the most prosperous nations of Aetheria. Founded in the year 40 of the Enlightenment Era by King Rymer Broch I, it rose from fractured city-states into a unified realm. Though young compared to its neighbors, its influence and stability are notable.'
'Elysandria's policies welcome most races, granting them rights of travel, trade, and settlement within its borders. Yet slavery, while regulated, remains lawful—a remnant of old practices that some argue undermines its otherwise progressive image.'
'The kingdom is ruled by King Omen Bernt Ravenshield, under whom the 29th and 30th heroes were summoned. His reign marked a golden era of reconstruction and expansion after the Great Rift Wars, though his later years were defined by tension between the Church of Light and the royal court.'
'Elysandria shares borders with several other nations, maintaining trade and wary diplomacy alike. To the east lies…'
I stopped reading there, already bored of the endless description of politics and borders. The page was dated about twenty years ago, give or take, meaning some of this stuff was probably incorrect now. The current ruler of Elysandria is Queen Elisabeth, not King Omen.
Still, at least I understood a little more about the world. Their calendar worked differently from the one I'm used to.
Having lost interest in the book, I set it down on the nightstand and sat up, stretching my arms. Mira perked up beside me like a cat, leaning in as if I'd suddenly become interesting again.
"Did you find it useful?" she asked curiously.
I shrugged. "Just a bit of geography."
Her head tilted, brows furrowing as she tried to repeat the word. "Jeo…grafi?"
I paused, considering how to explain. "Hmm… basically, I learned about your world."
She let out a soft "ah," nodding slowly. "I see… it must be quite different from the world you came from."
"It is," I admitted, turning to gaze out the window. "The technology, the conveniences… a lot of things are better than this place. But it was far from perfect."
"Do you miss it?"
I glanced over at her, rubbing the back of my head. "I wouldn't say I miss the world itself. More like the people. Family, friends. It's a bit of a bummer I won't get to see my youngest sister grow up since she's the only sibling with such a huge age gap."
I caught myself rambling again, but seeing her expectant, and somehow still mostly blank expression, made it easy to keep going.
"So, uh, yeah," I sighed with a small chuckle, scratching my stubble. "I guess it's a little sad. I'm not sure if I even want to go back, though."
"I see," she said quietly, voice thoughtful. "Is there a reason you don't want to go back?"
I'd half-expected that question. With a lazy wave of my hand, I said, "Not really. It's just… uneventful, y'know? This world has magic and abilities, and there's a chance that being a hero means I'll end up with an easy life. After the whole duty thing is over, I mean."
"But your duties will be much harder than you think." She tilted her head slightly, her voice calm, but her eyes held a faint seriousness.
She blinked slowly. "I'm not sure the latter is as easy as you think, Master Erdan." Her voice was calm, lips curving down just slightly. "There's no guarantee you'll be living an easy life after you deal with the Doomsday. The whole ordeal is troublesome, especially if a Lumenari is involved this time. That, and the fact that you're expected to deal with the source of it."
I shot her with an exasperated look. "Jeez, I know. But isn't that too much to expect of me?"
Mira's eyes flicked down to my chest and then to my arms. "I do agree with you on that. You're… well…" she trailed off, and even Mira, usually so composed, seemed to be searching for the right words.
"I know I'm a wimp already, no need to remind me," I cut in with a wry chuckle, letting myself fall back onto the bed. "I kind of hoped to get an ability that would make me stronger, or at least make it easier to get stronger."
She tilted her head a little, blinking at me. "What are you talking about? One of the blessings a Hero receives is the ability to raise your Skills and Spells more efficiently, along with your body's overall growth."
Her gaze swept over me, appraising. "It's like… training, but faster. Depending on the person, it can be three to twenty times quicker than the average human."
I raised a brow, intrigued. "Oh? No one told me about this. It's almost sounds like a cheat."
Mira leaned forward a little on the stool, her silver hair catching the fading sunlight. "Master… that's probably because yours hasn't activated yet."
I blinked. "Huh? Activated? Why? Can I do it right now?"
"No," Mira replied, calm as ever. "You'll need to fulfill a condition first. And to even see what that is, you'll need a special artifact, something only the churches keep."
"A church, huh?" I muttered, thoughtful. "So that's why the Queen told me to head there. Makes sense."
I winced slightly as I hopped off the bed, making my way toward the door. "Let's just go now. It only hurts a little, and sitting around doing nothing is boring."
I crouched to grab my shoes, only for her face to suddenly appear right in front of mine. Before I could react, our foreheads collided with a solid thunk.
"Ow! What the hell was that for?" I groaned, stumbling back and clutching my forehead.
"I apologize, Master Erdan. I will accept any punishment for my insolence, but I cannot allow you to leave this room until you've fully recovered. Your health takes priority." There was a quiet stubbornness in her gaze, making it clear talking her out of it wouldn't be easy.
"Ehh, what a pain," I muttered under my breath. "Also, your head's way too hard."
She straightened, planting her feet firmly as she blocked the doorway with both arms spread. "Please reconsider. If you leave now, your safety cannot be guaranteed."
What a pain. Sure, I'd rather not get attacked again, but the guy is already locked up. If he somehow breaks out, then that just means the palace's security sucks, and I'd be better off finding somewhere safer anyway.
I narrowed my eyes at her. "Even if I say it's an order?"
Her brow furrowed slightly. "Why are you so determined to leave? I don't understand the rush."
Deep down, I knew she was right. I was being stupid, and the worst part was realizing it mid-argument. I wasn't the type to cling to pride or throw a tantrum over nothing.
The moment she opened her mouth, I straightened up like I hadn't just tried to argue my way out. "Hah, I'm just joking!" I blurted out, forcing a laugh and scratching the back of my head like a fool. "I know it's stupid to go right now. I can always check it later, yeah?"
Her eyes widened just a little before her shoulders eased. "…Well, as long as you understand, then that's good. But please don't joke like that again."
"Yeah, sorry sorry."
Phew, she didn't seem to take it too badly. I'm such a dumbass though…
In order to keep things from getting even more awkward, I glanced around the room in hopes of finding anything to change the subject. My eyes landed on the thick, red book sitting on the bed, and an idea popped into my head.
I sat back down and blurted out, "Hey, you've served other heroes before, right? Or at least the previous one. What did you do before all that?"
The words had barely left my mouth before I winced. "Nevermind, sorry… that might've been a bit insensitive."
The last part slipped out barely above a mumble, as if saying it softer would somehow make the question less risky.
"…My past?" Her voice was quiet, but there was something in her tone that I couldn't quite identify.
"Y-yeah, your past," I repeated, already waving my hands defensively. "Only if you want, though! No rush!"
I started to regret asking as she lowered her gaze, her expression unreadable, before finally looking back up at me.
"I don't really remember much. I apologize, Master Erdan."
I stared at her for a moment longer, trying to figure out whether she was lying or not. My eyes flicked toward her broken horn, but the sincerity in her voice made me smile sheepishly. "A-ah, right, sorry. Of cour-"
"But," she cut in gently, "I don't mind it. I don't need to remember my past when I can make my future with you. As your servant, that's all I should think about. The past heroes are only previous masters, but my loyalty lies with you."
"…Yeah. Uhm, I guess so."
Isn't that just another way of saying her loyalty's temporary? I don't recall asking about the other heroes either…
An awkward silence stretched out between us, almost suffocating. Then—
"I lost it when I was younger." she said suddenly. Her tone was even, but her thumb rubbed absently against the stub of her horn, a tiny, unconscious movement that made the air heavier for just a moment. "I saw you staring at it, so I thought you were curious."
Her sudden words caught me off guard, but I pieced it together instantly as my gaze landed on her broken horn.
I rubbed my forearm, grinning awkwardly. "I-I guess I was slightly curious." I hesitated, then forced out. "So... what race are you?"
Shit, it came out too blunt.
However, the question didn't seem to bother her. She took a seat beside me, her gaze calm as always. "My race is called tenebrim. We're a rare race around these parts, and stronger than most."
"Tenebrim… right. That's what that guy back there was too." I muttered.
Tenebrim, huh? Gux did say that attacker from earlier was a tenebrim…
She leaned back just a little, folding her hands. "Our bodies are naturally more resilient to harsher environments since we originate from Menfor, basically a wasteland north of this continent."
"Sounds… fun." I said with clear sarcasm.
She simply returned a deadpan look. "Not quite."
I then pointed at her horns, deciding to be a bit bolder with my questioning. "What about those horns? In my world, they're sort of associated with demons and stuff…"
My words died in my throat, once again being too concerned off how my words may be perceived. But Mira remained the same, her hand subtly drifting to hover near her broken horn.
"It's not hard to recognize us. Unlike other races, we have dras." She tapped the stub of her horn. "These are like our pride and identity. There are many who also have markings on their body."
Wait, if they're the only race that has horns, what about devils? They usually have horns, don't they? Better yet, should I address the elephant in the room?
I hummed, biting my tongue before I'd pointing out the irony of her words, considering one of her horns was broken. "Do you have any of those markings then?"
Without a word, she turned her back to me and lifted her shirt. My head jerked away on instinct, though I couldn't resist stealing glances. Her skin was covered in faint, dark-red patterns, like tribal tattoos etched across her back. They didn't look inked, but rather as if they belonged to her, part of her very being.
A part of me wanted to reach out and touch it, but I had to remind myself that touching a girl so casually would be inappropriate and creepy. That and the fact that I lacked guts.
She glanced back at me, and I swore I saw her lips curve into a faint smile for a moment. "You can touch it if you want, Master."
"Oh, alright…"
Her words caught me off guard, but I managed to keep my voice even as I played it cool outwardly. It was then I realized just how often she guessed my thoughts with unsettling accuracy.
Could she actually read my mind?
The idea made me nervous, but I forced out a soft chuckle and reached out. My hand hovered before pressing lightly against her back.
A girl's back… it's warm. I want to hold her and bury my face in her boobs… Wait, no! I can't think of that if my theory is right. She'll read my mind otherwise!
She flinched slightly at the contact. "Your hands are cold."
"Oh, sorry, they tend to be a bit cold sometimes. Maybe because the window is open?"
As if on cue, a breeze swept into the room, sending a small shiver through me. "I'll go close it."
For a second, it looked like she was going to stop me, but she hesitated and let her hand fall back to her side.
I pushed myself to my feet before I could overthink it. It wasn't that far to the window, but each step away from her warmth made the cool air more noticeable. I reached for the handle, intending to shut it, then froze.
The view wasn't exactly perfect. The palace walls cut off most of the skyline. But between the stone arches, I could still see parts of the city sprawled below.
Rows of buildings stacked over one another, their roofs linked by faint, glowing veins of light tracing along the streets. Tall towers rose above everything else, their peaks humming faintly with whatever magic powered them.
Further out, past the outer wall, green hills rolled into a distant forest, its treetops swaying under the wind. And far, far off, almost hidden by the haze, I thought I could see a faint, translucent arc across the horizon. A barrier, maybe.
This was… the world outside.
Until now, everything since my summoning had been hallways, guards, and fancy furniture. Seeing the city, even from this half-blocked view, was… kind of exciting.
I took it in for a moment longer, then quietly closed the window.
"Your tattoo's pretty cool, Mira." I said casually as I returned to my seat, pretending I didn't just forget about our conversation. "When did you get it?"
"We tenebrim are born with these marks," she explained, smoothing down her shirt and turning to face me again.
"They differ by bloodline. Sometimes abilities come with them. We can't use magic, but we're all able to use Skills. Normally one has to acquire them, but most tenebrim are born with a skill unique to their lineage."
"Unique to your lineage, huh? That's pretty neat." I leaned back, mulling it over. "Though it's kind of a bummer you can't use magic. Is there a reason for that? And… what about your unique Skill?"
She gave a little shrug. "We tenebrim don't have a functional 'core.' Perhaps not even a core at all. I'm not sure about the details, so I could be wrong."
I'm guessing a 'core' is just like a spiritual heart in this world. I've seen too much isekai to even bother asking about it.
"So the 'core' is what lets people use magic, then?" I asked, tapping my chest absentmindedly. "That would mean your capacity and ability to channel mana depends on it too, right?"
She nodded once. "I think so, yes."
"And your special Skill…?" I pressed, hoping to coax something out of her.
"Secret." She answered immediately with no hesitation, like it was the most natural response in the world.
I slumped back in defeat, backing down. I wasn't in the mood to argue with someone who'd be stubborn. "Right, right. A secret it is, then."
She snapped her fingers, pulling my attention back. "We got a bit off-track. We were talking about the races…"
"Ah, right… you told me about the tenebrim. What about the narelith?" I asked, curious about one of the mysterious races she mentioned earlier.
"Narelith are probably the rarest race in this world. No one knows how they're born, but they start off extremely weak, often prey for larger animals or the environment. If they survive, though, they can take on a humanoid form and grow very powerful."
I nodded slowly. "But how do they get strong if they're so weak?"
She lifted a finger and gestured around the room. "It's simple. They absorb the surrounding mana. Their cores are much more powerful than ours, so they can hold a larger amount of mana. That's also what makes them one of the more dangerous types."
"That sounds pretty dangerous, and kind of awesome. They're not evil or something, right? Generally, I mean."
She shook her head slightly. "No, not inherently. Their nature isn't evil, but their strength and ability to manipulate mana can make them extremely dangerous if uncontrolled. However, since there isn't much information on them, coupled with so"
I gazed at the roof, contemplating her words. "So it's not about being bad… it's about how powerful they are, and what they choose to do with it. Makes sense."
"Exactly," she said, her gaze steady. "Power alone doesn't dictate morality. It's the decisions each individual makes that shape the outcome."
Corny.
I hummed softly, letting that sink in before another thought clicked. "Oh, I forgot to ask earlier. What about the tenebrim's lifespan? You mentioned serving past heroes, after all, and… well," I gestured vaguely at her, "you look way too young for someone with that kind of history."
She tilted her head slightly, her tone shifting just a little, "I should probably remind you that it's considered improper to ask a woman her age."
She fixed me with a deadpan look. "At least, that's what women in your world are said to be sensitive about. I personally don't care."
"Right…" I muttered, rubbing the back of my neck. "Good to know. Although that was a waste of words."
"Tenebrim are one of the longer-lived races," she went on, her tone composed. "We can live for a few centuries at most. Other long-lived races like elves and devils can live even longer, some living over a thousand."
Thousands of years, huh? This is definitely a fantasy world. Although I feel bad for those races. Imagine having to live in a world tainted by people for so long…
An awkward silence stretched out between us once again,
I opened my mouth to prod her further, but before I could, a dull thud echoed through the stone halls outside.