"I am Liraelith Umbravale, research skyfarer, by special appointment of the Meritous Adventurer's College of Magical Arts. And I would like to hire you as my new assistant."
Her beautiful face studied me intently before breaking into a genuine grin, one that made my chest tighten in ways I hadn't expected.
"We can work out the details later," she said, voice playful yet commanding. "But essentially, I want to offer you compensation and education in exchange for your… abundant mana. You would, in effect, become a temporary apprentice under me. Learn to control your skills, then use them to make a living. After that, you can choose to continue with me, or go your own way."
I blinked, unsure what to say. Considering what had happened with Van and his idiotic siblings today, there was no chance I'd ever safely return to Arcadia. I wasn't stupid, just uneducated, and this opportunity, a lifetime chance, was presented directly to me.
"I agree to your terms," I said finally, a mix of excitement and resolve in my voice. "Although I'll need to learn a lot before I can help with your research!"
"Good boy!" she exclaimed. "Your first task as my new assistant is to get us out of this chamber!"
I took a measured look around us. A circular stone room, simple and unadorned, with only a single door leading in or out. The runes carved into the walls bathed the chamber in soft, pale light, enough to see, but not enough to illuminate hidden dangers. I needed to examine the walls carefully, find the mechanism.
I pressed my ear against the nearest stone and began my usual method of seeking hidden triggers: tapping and knocking lightly, listening for hollow notes.
"What are you doing?" she asked, tilting her head in curiosity.
"Searching for some hidden trigger," I said without looking up.
"I understand that. I mean… why aren't you using search magic?"
"I don't know how," I admitted.
Lira froze for a moment, then placed her head in her hand and exhaled slowly. "That's on me. You found the trigger for that trapdoor in the ruins, so I assumed you could use search magic. Did you find it the same way?"
"Yes."
"Fair enough. Then from now on, I'll treat you as though you have zero spellcasting ability, despite that enormous mana pool of yours."
"I would appreciate that," I said with a nod.
"Perfect," she replied. "Anyway, I already used search magic when I first entered this room a week ago. I know where the mechanism is, but I can't seem to activate it."
She walked to the far side of the chamber, her lithe form moving with the effortless grace of someone accustomed to both stealth and strength. Her curvaceous backside shifted with each step, drawing my gaze against my will. Smooth, tanned skin gleaming under the rune-light. I swallowed hard, trying to focus.
"If you can get us out of this chamber, you can look at my backside all you like," she said with a playful smirk. "Unclaimed Dark elves aren't shy about their bodies. But first, concentrate. Come here and see if you can activate this mechanism."
I snapped my attention back to the task at hand. "Sorry, I was… captivated."
"Fufufu," she chuckled, eyes sparkling. "At least you're honest. If you pretended otherwise, I'd have immediately marked you as dishonest."
She pointed to a brick that seemed ordinary enough. But upon closer inspection, I could feel the subtle discrepancy, a hidden mechanism behind it.
I began tapping on the wall, listening for hollow echoes. I quickly realized the lever was likely concealed somewhere else, and this wall merely hid the actuation point.
"If I tell you what to search for, can you pinpoint it with your search magic?" she asked.
"I can," I replied. "But… you know what it is?"
"Yes," she said. "I've seen this mechanism before. After exploring enough ruins, I can usually estimate the layout just from the entrance corridor."
"How many ruins have you explored, Max?" she asked, her voice tinged with disbelief.
"One a month since I was ten. About 130 ruins, give or take," I said proudly.
"That many?!" Her expression was one of astonishment, eyes widening as she processed the number.
"The mechanism you're looking for is a T-handle lever, about the size of my thumb," I explained.
She blinked, lips parted in a mixture of awe and disbelief. Then she closed her eyes, placing her hands together as she focused.
"[Search]"
A pulse of magical energy radiated outward from her, sweeping through the chamber, and then vanished as quickly as it appeared. She opened her glowing golden eyes, pointing to a spot on the wall behind me.
"Beautiful!" I exclaimed. I could barely contain my excitement, but in doing so, I clearly embarrassed her.
"Quiet!" she said, a faint blush tinting her cheeks. "Just trigger the mechanism!"
I turned to the wall she indicated, and after a moment's inspection, felt the subtle outline of a T-shaped lever hidden behind an out-of-place stone.
Rumble. Rumble.
The chamber shivered slightly as part of the wall slid aside, revealing a door identical to the one that had led me here. I motioned to Lira to follow.
She approached the door, hand outstretched, ready to charge the orb at its center, when I grabbed her wrist and pulled her back sharply.
"What are you—"
I pressed a finger to her lips. "It's trapped. Never touch a door without checking with me first. You were about to kill yourself."
The poison dart embedded in the door had been aimed straight at chest level. When I placed my hand on the orb, giving it my mana, the trap fired harmlessly across the room.
"If we'd been standing there," I said, catching my breath, "that dart would've hit you. Even with your magic, you would have… well, you'd be dead in under two minutes."
She said nothing, but her puppy-dog eyes spoke volumes, silently imploring me not to scold her further. I felt an overwhelming urge to pat her head, which I did carefully.
"Please," I said softly, "don't make me lose my employer before we've even begun working together."
Her mischievous grin returned, acknowledging the warning. I could tell she was brilliant, but impulsive, always curious, always risking danger to learn something new.
The door now stood open, revealing a staggering sight beyond. A cascade of gold, silver, and glimmering artifacts sprawled across the chamber like the hoard of some long-forgotten sky dragon. Sunlight, or perhaps the faint glow from above the ruin, struck the treasures, scattering reflections across the walls.
I blinked, dumbstruck.
"Max," Lira said softly, awe touching her voice, "welcome to the heart of the ruin."