Chapter 194. The Awakened Elf (2)
The overall appearance may be similar, yet the inner structure of an Elf is different from that of a human.
A unique mana circuit possessed by this race.
A body that takes the very mana of nature itself as the means of sustaining life, was nothing short of unfamiliar. Even if he had gained information through Drevus's experiment logs, it was undeniable that such knowledge was limited.
Even so, Verden attempted the Elf's recovery.
It was an action without the slightest hesitation. The basis of that conviction was only one.
'Because the spirit said so.'
The golden-haired Elf before his eyes was a spiritist.
Quite literally, one who wields the power of spirits. How such a thing was possible, he did not know, but it was certain that the one who knew this Elf best was the spirit.
So, he asked Blue.
He explained the structure of the magic circle Verden had designed, and asked if it could restore the Elf's body through it. The emotion Blue revealed was an unmistakable affirmation.
A hypothesis now had a foundation.
That alone was enough to make the attempt worthwhile. Of course, in preparation for the slightest chance of failure, he had also laid down safeguards.
'There is no worst case.'
Fwoosh.
Verden manipulated mana.
The dispersed mana concentrated into the magic stones. The two magic circles, engraved personally by a craftsman, activated all at once.
The Alternation
The Link
Waves of mana flowing out from each magic stone intersected.
Where destructive interference occurred, empty space formed, and where constructive interference arose, countless points of mana appeared.
"Changing mana into the form of waves, then linking it using its properties… the composition of this magic circle is very elaborate and delicate. It would be fit to be shown as an educational piece at the Academy without any flaw."
Edmon, who had become a mere spectator, shone his eyes.
But it was still too early to be surprised.
This was, in the end, only the foundation, and the core was yet to come.
Verden lifted his head.
Blue, meeting his gaze, reacted immediately.
Blue slowly lowered its altitude.
The moment its body touched one of the mana points, an anomaly arose.
Lines of mana connecting point to point appeared, those lines meeting to form planes, and those planes intersecting to create a space.
'It's complete.'
Verden withdrew his mana.
Even so, the magic circle did not cease functioning. The space enveloping the Elf remained steady, without a single tremor.
Edmon could not take his eyes off the sight.
"Asher… my knowledge is lacking, so perhaps you could explain?"
"It is a space formed of mana, in short, a 'Sanctuary'."
The Elf's body was terribly weakened.
There was even a chance that, if excessive mana was injected, his body would not endure and collapse. To remove such danger, this Sanctuary was created.
"The effects of the Sanctuary are twofold, one is uniformity of mana."
The Sanctuary was separated from the outside.
Within that inner space, mana flowed in perfect uniformity. Since it was impossible to know where recovery should be focused, the design aimed for a more balanced restoration.
"I see, that would be safer, and on average the recovery time would be shorter. I understand. Then what is the other effect?"
"The other is control."
***
"Control?"
Maintaining the magic circle, adjusting the mana, checking the condition.
While restoring the Elf, all three of these had to be monitored in real time.
Of course, for a short period, it was possible.
But the more his attention was divided, the harder it was to maintain such minute control continuously, even for Verden.
He could not gamble with an element he could not be certain of.
"Ah, so that's why you brought that spirit?"
"Correct."
Blue was the source of mana supply.
As was plain to see, Blue was maintaining the Sanctuary in Verden's stead. That was the overall design of the Sanctuary, and one of the reasons Blue had been brought along.
"Huh…"
Edmon's mouth dropped open.
Magic circles were a branch of magic that contained boundless potential.
Simply being able to handle magic circles at a certain level meant gaining a wide variety of magical abilities.
Naturally, that path was not an easy one.
The study of magic circles was so abstruse that it was difficult to master. There was a reason Mages avoided them.
For a mediocre talent to study magic circles, ten, twenty years of dedication would likely be required.
Mages were also human.
Closer wealth held more allure than a distant future.
Yet in just over two weeks, he had designed such a complex magic circle. No, excluding the time to craft the magic stones, it was but around a week.
'Who in the world raised such a Mage?'
Edmon felt his mind go hazy for a moment.
Shaking his head to regain reason, he asked another question.
"Wait, wait, Asher. The mana comprising that Sanctuary is, without doubt, yours?"
"Yes."
"Elves, as I understand, take the mana of nature as the basis of life… does that mean your mana is that pure?"
Another's mana.
The degree of its purity was difficult to discern. Unless one's senses were developed to the extreme, it was impossible to judge precisely. At most, one could only make a rough guess.
Edmon, a Magus, also belonged to that category.
To this, Verden replied.
"Had it not been so, I would not be standing here."
Verden took a step forward.
He approached one of the magic stones forming the Sanctuary.
All six stones bore two circles engraved, The Alternation and The Link.
But only the stone before his eyes bore one more circle.
Activating his mana circuits, he placed his right hand upon the stone.
Light spilled from the dormant magic circle. Two blue rings rose, encircling Verden's hand-back and wrist.
The authority to control the mana of the Sanctuary came under Verden's dominion.
"I've already said this, but I'll say it once more. If you want the Elf to live, do not resist if possible."
Spark.
Blue released a light of affirmation.
Immediately after, Verden slowly twisted his hand.
The amount of mana supplied from Blue increased. The density of mana, evenly spread inside the Sanctuary, began to rise little by little.
His gaze lowered to observe the Elf.
Ever so slightly, his breathing grew stronger.
The direction was correct.
Now he only needed to continue forward.
Watching the Elf intently, Verden raised the density further.
Blue was a spirit imbued with none other than Verden's mana. At this level, there was no chance of mana depletion.
Time passed little by little.
In the hushed tension, Edmon even stifled his breathing. To see an Elf restored by a magic circle he had never once laid eyes on in his lifetime, was a sight one could not hope to witness even in a hundred years.
This was something he absolutely had to see.
At that moment.
Twitch.
The Elf's hand moved.
His breathing became steady, and his vitality was clearly felt. At this rate, if the mana density was merely maintained, recovery would soon follow.
'So the time was not wasted.'
Before long, the Elf's eyelids trembled and strength filled them.
Exposed outside, were green eyes reminiscent of the forest. Perhaps not yet in his right mind, his gaze drifted aimlessly, until it settled on Verden.
"You have awoken?"
"..."
The Elf stared vacantly.
As his focus gradually sharpened,
"A, human…?!"
The Elf's eyes flew wide open.
With a spring, the Elf suddenly leapt upright like a coil.
Had his bodily functions already returned to that degree?
It was a recovery beyond expectation. Verden had thought he might at most raise his hand, nothing more.
But then.
Thud!
"Guh?!"
The leaping Elf struck the metal ceiling.
The prison shook greatly as the Elf fell to the floor. His eyes rolled back as if he had lost consciousness, and blood trickled down heavily from the back of his head where he had struck.
"…Was the ceiling too low?"
"..."
"..."
Verden and Blue were left speechless.
***
After such effort to restore him, the Elf fainted again.
This time, from smashing his head against the metal ceiling hard enough to dent it. It was a rather absurd situation, but Verden soon regained composure.
He laid the Elf back on the bed, and together with Blue, reactivated the Sanctuary.
Fwoooosh.
Gradually the bleeding stopped, and the injury began to heal.
Soon the Elf regained consciousness once more, and at the same time, Edmon unfolded his mado. Mana, transformed with the property of wind, restrained the Elf's movements.
"Grhhh…!"
"Bear with it for a while, better than bursting your skull again… there, is it done?"
"It is done."
Edmon released his mana.
At the same moment, a magic stone flew forth. From the binding circle, chains of mana stretched out and ensnared the Elf. The Elf, eyes gleaming with murderous intent, thrashed violently.
"Human! Release me this instant! Before I tear your limbs apart!"
It was a coarse fury, unbefitting his graceful appearance.
Intimidating him by strength seemed useless.
There was no choice but to use something else.
"Blue, calm him."
Blue shimmered as he approached the Elf.
The Elf, who had been breaking apart the chains of mana, gradually stilled. Fixing his gaze squarely on Blue, the Elf let out a voice.
"…Foret?"
Foret?
Was that Blue's true name?
At the unfamiliar name, Blue flickered.
The mana flowing out carried a warmth of emotion. Perhaps from missing a long-lost friend, tears welled up in the Elf's eyes.
"He seems to have calmed somewhat… truly a moving sight. Sniff. Ah, forgive me, age has made my emotions far too tender."
Edmon rubbed his eyes lightly, wiping away tears.
Verden, expressionless, looked at the Elf and Blue. Indeed, it was a dramatic reunion, and he was willing to allow a brief pause.
But.
"Foret… you, your body, what has been carved into you?!"
The Elf recognized the change in Blue.
And the forced magic circle engraved within.
At that moment, the Elf and Verden locked eyes.
The Elf was certain.
"You…! It was you! The one who did this to Foret! To torment even my friend… heartless human! You, I will surely kill you!"
The Elf, swept by rage once again, went mad.
Blue tried to calm him, but it was no use. The Elf, nearly bereft of reason, was beyond words.
"Are Elves normally like this?"
Edmon said he had seen Elves before.
When Verden sought his advice, Edmon stroked his beard, recalling the past.
"In my youth, driven by curiosity, I once trespassed into the territory of the Elves. There, when I greeted one Elf, suddenly dozens came chasing after me. Firing arrows steeped in killing intent, at that. At that time I was only at lower Fourth-tier, I nearly met the end of my life there."
"…Have you no other experiences?"
"I did try to make contact a few times. And once, I even subdued one and attempted to converse, and indeed exchanged a few words."
And then.
"All I received were curses, and hundreds of Elves pursued me. Ha ha, arrows stuck in my legs, it was chaos. After that, I gave up on befriending Elves. I truly thought I would die the next time."
Edmon laughed heartily, calling it a fond memory.
"In any case. Elves do not like humans. Especially humans who trespass into their territory. And this fellow nearly died being experimented on by humans… it will take much time before that hatred subsides. Forcing him with strength will only backfire. I know well, for I have experienced it."
So, conversation was possible, at least.
Yet Verden had no intention of waiting idly for the Elf.
"Step aside."
Shimmer…?!
Blue, flustered, shook himself.
He tried to persuade, claiming he could calm the Elf himself. But when he met Verden's cold blue eyes, he trembled and had no choice but to step back.
"Foret!"
At this sight, the Elf burned with even greater hatred.
He spat every curse he could, hurling killing intent without restraint. As Verden stepped forward, his mana flared.
Fwaaaaah!
The oppressive weight of mana dominated the prison.
Crack, the bricks of the floor split and shattered.
"Kh…!"
Edmon faltered, swallowing his breath, while the spirit hurriedly hid under the bed. At the center of the pressure, the Elf's body froze stiff.
Cold sweat dripped down.
In an instant, Verden seized the atmosphere, and spoke in a low voice.
"Now, have you calmed?"
"..."
"If you understand, nod your head."
…Nod.
The Elf moved his head ever so slightly.
It was a complete reversal from his earlier state.
It seemed Verden's mana coercion had subdued his rage.
"So it does work?"
Edmon's knowledge had increased.