Chapter 175 – Three Discussions and One Listener
Chapter 175
Three Discussions and One Listener
Date : Day 17 of Lunaeve 1024 Aethellgard Concord Year.
Elise was still trembling.
Oria, meanwhile, laughed without restraint.
“Hahahaha! I've been waiting for someone else to react like that!”
Arianna still had both hands gripping Hyoren's jacket. There was no trace of the refined noble lady anymore. No graceful posture. No elegant smile. No carefully measured speech.
Only the magic-freak brat remained.
“Leader! EXPLAIN! NOW! RIGHT NOW!”
Hyoren instinctively raised both hands.
“Arianna! Please calm down first!”
She violently shook her head. Her carefully combed crimson hair became increasingly disheveled with every movement.
“NO! I won't calm down! NOT BEFORE YOU EXPLAIN HOW THIS IS EVEN POSSIBLE!”
She pointed a trembling finger toward the measuring orb still resting on the table.
“Even Saint Sophia only has ONE HUNDRED PERCENT Light Attunement!”
Her lips trembled.
“My teacher! Headmistress Thavenessia! She only has ONE HUNDRED PERCENT Dark Attunement!”
She spun back toward Hyoren.
Her light blue eyes burned with an almost frightening intensity.
“THEN HOW! How do you have one hundred and twenty five? THAT SHOULDN'T EXIST! Every book I know says so!”
Hyoren opened his mouth.
“I...”
But Arianna wasn't listening anymore. Her mind was racing far faster than anyone else could keep up.
She paced around the room. Then abruptly stopped. Her eyes slowly widened.
Something—finally connected. She slowly turned back toward Hyoren. Then pointed at him again.
Her finger trembled uncontrollably.
“Mom was right… You REALLY ARE Spirited Away! YOU REALLY CAME FROM ANOTHER WORLD!”
She burst into manic laughter.
“HAHAHA! Now it makes sense! I thought mom was just messing with me! But after seeing this?”
She couldn't hold back her laugh.
“HAHAHA! I’m convinced!”
Hyoren stood completely frozen. Elise was equally speechless.
Her emerald eyes remained fixed upon Arianna. She quietly shuddered. Old memories came rushing back all at once.
Oria had nearly fallen onto one of the sofas from laughing too hard.
“Hahaha! She hasn't changed at all!”
Only now, did Hyoren truly understand what Elise had been trying to tell him all this time.
The "brat." The magic-freak. The walking disaster for anyone involved in magical research. She had never disappeared.
She had simply been hidden. Beneath years of academy etiquette, noble education, and flawless composure.
The moment something impossible appeared before her eyes. That carefully crafted noble mask shattered completely.
Hyoren slowly raised both hands in surrender.
“Easy… Easy, Arianna.”
His gaze instinctively shifted around the room.
First, To Oria. The silver-haired elf had collapsed onto the sofa, one hand pressing against her stomach while the other covered her mouth. She was still desperately trying to suppress another burst of laughter.
Every few seconds, her shoulders shook again.
Then, his eyes moved toward Elise. The elf ranger remained completely frozen. Her emerald eyes were as wide as saucers.
It wasn't only because Arianna's old personality had resurfaced.
She was also trying to process the other thing Arianna had casually blurted out. His real origin they always tried to hide.
Finally, Hyoren looked back at Arianna. She was still breathing faster than usual.
He tried to deflect.
“Arianna… What do you mean….Spirited Away?”
Instead of answering immediately, Arianna marched back toward one of the sofas. She plopped down without the slightest concern for the mountain of books she herself had scattered there.
Several thick tomes slid onto the floor. She ignored them completely.
Crossing one leg over the other. She huffed.
“HUFT! Please don't try to fool me, Leader!”
Her light blue eyes burned with excitement.
“My mom suspected you were Spirited Away. At first… I thought she was just imagining things. She always says strange things from time to time.”
She leaned back. Then suddenly straightened her posture again. She lowered her voice.
Trying her best to imitate Fiona.
“Arianna. I still don't have proof. But that fucker Hyoren is definitely hiding where he came from. I think he's fucking from another world.”
Even the rough tone. And the profanity. Were startlingly accurate.
For a brief moment, it almost sounded as though Fiona herself were standing in the room.
Hyoren blinked. Elise blinked. Even Oria stopped laughing long enough to stare.
Arianna immediately dropped the imitation. She shook her head vigorously. Her crimson hair swayed wildly. No trace of graceful noble etiquette remained.
Then she jabbed a finger toward the measuring orb still resting on the table.
“But after seeing that?”
She grinned.
“No. Mom was right. HAHAHA! She was actually right! There is no other explanation!”
Hyoren tried to reason with her.
“But, Arianna… The Spirited Away from the past...”
He briefly glanced toward Oria.
“Didn't they all still have Attunement Levels that maxed out at one hundred percent? Oria told me that herself.”
Arianna brushed the crimson hair that had fallen across her face.
The grin never left.
“Yeah. That part is probably true.”
She leaned back against the sofa.
“But Spirited Away always has... weird things going on with them.”
She began counting on her fingers.
“Some possess knowledge no one in this world should have. Some possess powers that completely ignore common sense. And some receive Unique Skills unlike anything ever recorded.”
She spread her hands.
“So… If one of them happened to have a weird Attunement Level… I honestly wouldn't find that strange anymore. HAHAHA.”
She stood again and looked directly into Hyoren's eyes.
“And Mom already told me plenty of suspicious things about you.”
She counted once more.
“Your strength is completely abnormal. You came from a village that doesn't exist. And you possess bizarre powers nobody can explain.”
She gestured animatedly with both hands.
“Shimoda Village? In the southern mountain range?”
She laughed again.
“Hahaha! It doesn't exist, Leader! My father takes the territory census very seriously. Every settlement under House Akela is recorded. There are no villages in that region. Only monsters live there.”
She jabbed a finger toward Hyoren.
“And then there's the power you used to carry Mentor back after she nearly died.”
She didn't wait for him to answer.
“There isn't a single recorded skill that makes someone's muscles swell, their body become covered in crimson streaks, and lets them outrun a carriage.”
She folded her arms.
“That has to be a Unique Skill. And Unique Skills of that caliber… They usually belong only to the Blessed… Or the Spirited Away.”
The room fell silent.
Hyoren grimaced.
Piece by piece—Arianna had laid out every inconsistency surrounding him. Viewed individually, each could perhaps be dismissed. Together—They painted a very different picture.
He couldn't refute any of them.
He had already suspected for some time that Fiona wasn't entirely convinced by his fabricated background.
She had asked careful questions. Watched him closely. Made several odd remarks.
But he had never imagined—that she had already arrived at the correct conclusion.
I really can't underestimate the Guild Master… Or the nobles in general...
***
Elise was the first to recover. She quietly walked over and gently placed a hand on Hyoren's arm.
“It's no use, Hyoren...”
She slowly shook her head. Her silver hair swayed gently with the movement.
“If she becomes like this… There's nothing you can do.”
A weary smile appeared on her face.
“I learned that the hard way.”
Hyoren looked at Elise. Then at Arianna. He let out a resigned sigh.
“Fine…”
He smiled wryly.
“You're right. I am from another world, Arianna.”
The room fell silent. This time—it was Arianna who froze. She slowly lowered herself back onto the sofa.
Her eyes never left Hyoren.
“So… It was true...”
Hyoren nodded.
“I had planned to tell you eventually. You're part of the Freedom Party now. So you deserve to know.”
He scratched his cheek.
“I just… Didn't expect it to happen this early.”
He glanced around the room.
“Everyone in the party already knows. When I told Jackey… He just said, 'No wonder Big Bro is strong,' and accepted it.”
A faint chuckle escaped Hyoren.
“Lena and Vina accepted it as well. Oria already knew. Ina too. So… I never intended to hide it from my own party.”
Arianna remained silent.
She appeared to be carefully processing every word.
After a long moment, she quietly reached into her storage bag. Instead of another book she took out a comb.
Without saying anything, she began combing her slightly disheveled crimson hair. Slowly. Patiently. Strand by strand. As though organizing her thoughts alongside her appearance.
The frantic fire in her light blue eyes gradually faded. Her breathing steadied. The restless energy that had consumed her only moments earlier slowly disappeared.
One by one, she picked scattered books and put them into her storage bag while continued combing her hair.
The library became quiet once again.
It was almost as if—now that her curiosity had been satisfied—the magic-freak brat had willingly retreated.
Leaving behind the graceful noble lady once more.
After finishing her hair, Arianna neatly returned the comb to her storage bag.
She smoothed the folds of her robe. Put back her hat. Then looked toward Hyoren.
A gentle smile appeared on her face.
“So that is why… When I heard esteemed Mother's reports about you… Your accomplishments always felt... beyond reason.”
She folded her hands neatly upon her lap.
“But if you truly are one of the Spirited Away...”
She gave a small nod.
“Then many things suddenly make sense.”
Her noble composure had completely returned.
The transformation was so seamless that, had they not witnessed the outburst moments earlier. No one would have believed the composed young noble lady before them and the frantic "magic freak" from only minutes ago were the very same person.
***
Elise let out a long sigh of relief.
“Thank Sylvana...”
A faint smile finally returned to her face. The brat still existed. But—it was no longer Arianna's default state. Years of academy life, noble education, and discipline had reshaped her.
Unless something genuinely ignited her passion for magic or surprising knowledge suddenly appeared in front of her. The graceful noble lady would naturally be maintained.
Arianna rose from her seat. She gave everyone a proper, elegant bow.
“Please forgive my earlier outburst.”
She smiled apologetically.
“It would seem I still have much to learn.”
A soft, refined laugh escaped her lips.
“Ohoho. Professor Jane would certainly scold me… And likely assign me a rather dreadful punishment if she witnessed such unbecoming behavior.”
The noble lady had returned.
It was difficult to believe she was the same person who had been throwing books across the room only moments earlier.
Oria finally stopped laughing. She wiped the corner of one eye.
“Alright. I've had enough entertainment for one day. Haha.”
She looked toward Hyoren.
“So. I still have work to do. Let's get to the point. Show me your homework, Hyoren.”
Hyoren shook his head helplessly.
“Oria... you really are something..."
He paused briefly.
Oh well.”
He reached into his storage bag and retrieved a thick notebook.
Its pages were filled with sketches of runic arrays, annotations, and countless combinations he had thought with over the past few days.
He opened it upon the table. Immediately—both Oria and Arianna leaned forward.
Hyoren pointed at one of the pages.
“First, let's discuss Light Magic. If I'm creating a second-tier spell… It should consist of six runes.”
He tapped the first runic array.
“Light. Endow. Strength. Durability. Target. Object.”
He smiled.
“This is a reinforcement spell.”
“My idea is to strengthen an object by infusing it with Light Aethell. Primarily… My shield. If I can make it more durable, it should withstand considerably more punishment.”
He smiled.
“Plus, with a target rune, I could target other equipment too such as Jackey’s axes. Unlike my current Enchant Maledict spell.”
He shrugged.
“So I followed an already established spell. Buff Object: Strength. A simple spell that targets an object and temporarily enhances its durability.”
He flipped to the next page.
“Or… This one.”
He pointed to the second array.
“Light. Endow. Speed. Area. Self. Allies.”
A small grin appeared on his face.
“This one is my own idea. Instead of strengthening an object… I'll infuse an area with Light Aethell. As long as someone stands within that area… They receive a Speed enhancement.”
He recalled the last lesson—where exclusion or inclusion runes were sometimes needed, or he risked debuffing his own teammates or buffing his enemies.
“I added the Self and Allies runes so enemies won't benefit from the effect.”
Oria slowly nodded. A satisfied smile appeared on her face. Her sapphire eyes briefly shifted toward Arianna.
“So… Arianna. What do you think?”
Arianna studied both runic arrays in silence. Her light blue eyes gradually brightened.
A smile naturally formed on her lips. She covered the corner of her mouth with the back of her hand.
“Ohoho… This is genuinely quite interesting…”
She lowered her hand.
“No… this was definitely creative…”
She leaned forward ever so slightly.
“The first spell is already well established. It is frequently employed by support mages specializing in Light Magic.”
She nodded gracefully.
“There is nothing inherently wrong with it.”
Her gaze then moved to the second array. She paused for a heartbeat.
“Ohoho… This one, however...”
Her smile widened just a little.
“It is rather clever. Truly clever, Leader. Lady Oria.”
She looked back toward Hyoren.
“Not many practitioners consider area-of-effect enhancement spells. They are generally regarded as inefficient because the enhancement is usually more subtle than directly enchanting an individual.”
She lightly tapped the Area rune with one finger.
“Especially below the third or fourth tier, where additional runes were not available to reinforce the effect.”
She looked at the entire array once more.
A genuine look of admiration crossed her face.
“But… This one...”
She lightly tapped the Area rune.
“You are not buffing multiple people at once. You are endowing the area itself.”
She looked back at the entire runic array.
“The area becomes the target of the enchantment. It remains imbued with the enhancement until you deactivate the spell... or your Aethell can no longer sustain it.”
She smiled, genuine excitement creeping into her otherwise graceful demeanor.
“Anyone who steps within that area… They naturally receive the enhancement. Ohoho...”
She nodded to herself.
“You are the party's tank. You naturally fight close to Sir Jackey. So instead of repeatedly casting a strengthening spell upon individual allies… You simply maintain the area itself.”
She looked at Hyoren. Her light blue eyes met his dark ones.
“As long as both of you remain inside… The enhancement continues.”
She softly laughed.
“Ohoho.That is genuinely quite clever.”
She looked at Hyoren with obvious appreciation.
“I confess… I had never considered approaching the problem from this direction. It is simple. Practical. And remarkably suited to your fighting style.”
Her eyes sparkled with sincere admiration.
“Leader...You truly have an interesting way of thinking.”
Oria smiled with satisfaction.
“Good. It seems an Outstanding graduate of Aethellium Arcanum Academy isn't merely a title.”
She then turned toward Hyoren.
“And you. Your creativity always surprises me.”
She then tapped the Area rune in the second runic array.
“Arianna is right. Normally, if someone wants to buff multiple people, they use the Multiple and Target rune. The Area rune is usually reserved for area attacks or area-control spells.”
She shrugged.
“Things like Firestorm, Poison Mist, and similar spells.”
Arianna nodded gracefully.
“Lady Oria is correct. Some of my spells like Wind Barrier, Mist Fog, and Earth Spikes both employ the Area rune to define the affected space.”
She looked back at Hyoren's design.
“That is why I found your approach rather clever. You are not using the Area rune offensively… You are using it to create a persistent enhancement field.”
She used her back hand to cover her mouth.
“Ohoho. It is quite an elegant application.”
Oria leaned back into her chair.
“For your fighting style… The second spell is unquestionably the better choice, Hyoren.”
***
A satisfied smile spread across Hyoren's face.
Receiving praise from both a veteran alchemist and an Outstanding graduate of Aethellium Arcanum Academy, that meant far more than simple approval.
“Thank you.”
He looked at the completed runic array once more.
“Then I've decided. I'll name this spell… Accel Zone.”
Oria gave a small nod.
“A fitting name.”
Elise, who had remained silent throughout the discussion of runic theory, finally smiled.
“To be honest… I don't really understand what you three have been discussing. Fufufu.”
She tucked a strand of silver hair behind her pointed ear.
“But… If Hyoren managed to earn both of your approval… Then it must be a good spell.”
Arianna smiled softly.
“That is correct, Mentor. Most scholars and magicians today would simply choose one of the many established spells. They have already undergone extensive research. They are stable. Reliable. And their strengths and weaknesses are already well documented.”
She gestured over herself.
“Even all my basic spells were using the established ones, Mentor.”
She gently adjusted the brim of her wide hat.
“However… Precisely because they are established spells… They are designed as general-purpose magic. They perform well for most practitioners… But rarely become the perfect spell for any one individual.”
She looked toward Hyoren.
“Leader's approach is different. He is designing magic based on his situations. That is considerably more difficult… But if successful… The result is a spell uniquely suited to him.”
Elise nodded in understanding.
“I see… That actually makes sense.”
Oria then shifted her attention back to Hyoren.
“Alright. What about your second-tier Dark Magic spell?”
Hyoren scratched his cheek.
“That… Is actually the one giving me trouble.”
He smiled helplessly.
“That's why I wanted your opinion, Oria.”
Oria leaned forward with interest.
“Oh? Let's hear it.”
She briefly glanced toward Arianna.
“Maybe she can help too.”
Arianna nodded gracefully.
“I shall do my best.”
Hyoren flipped to another page of his notebook.
“For my second Dark Magic spell… I want an offensive area-of-effect spell.”
He tapped the notebook thoughtfully.
“When fighting elite enemies… Bosses… like Floor Guardians… I already have several ways to deal with them.”
He shook his head.
“But when facing large numbers of enemies… I don't really have an effective method.”
His expression turned thoughtful.
“The Goblin Ruler made me realize that. I'll eventually need something capable of handling groups rather than individuals.”
He looked at Arianna.
“I know that we now have Arianna. But if I also have some area-of-effect spell, then it would help her conserve mana or just make our battle quicker in general.”
He flipped another page.
“Anyway… I searched through the established Dark Magic spells… And even tried creating several new runic arrays myself.”
He let out a quiet sigh.
“But none of them felt right. Nothing seems to fit what I'm looking for.”
Oria rested her chin on one hand.
“Hmm… So you're looking for an area-of-effect spell… But you also want one that doesn't demand too much concentration?”
Hyoren nodded.
“Yeah. I'll often be fighting multiple opponents in close quarters. At the same time, I need to keep an eye on the entire battlefield. So I can coordinate everyone and give orders when needed.”
He smiled wryly.
“That's why, when I looked through the established spells… I couldn't find one that really suited me.”
He pointed toward several runic arrays sketched in his notebook.
“Poison Mist. Shadow Wave. Dark Ball. And several others… They're all powerful. But each one requires too much concentration…”
Arianna gently twirled a strand of her crimson hair as she thought. After a brief silence, she nodded.
“That is true. Area-of-effect spells are inherently more demanding than single-target magic.”
She leaned forward slightly.
“First, the caster must properly construct the spell itself. Then… One must determine the point of origin. The direction in which the spell is released. The size of the affected area. And, depending on the spell, maintain control as it unfolds.”
She smiled softly.
“For a backline magician, that burden is usually acceptable. They have the freedom to devote their full attention to casting.”
Her gaze shifted toward Hyoren.
“But for a frontline tank...”
She slowly shook her head.
“You cannot afford to focus solely on your magic.”
She covered her mouth with the back of her hand.
“I understand your dilemma, Leader. It is not that suitable spells do not exist… It is that they were never designed with someone in your role in mind. Ohoho.”
***
Oria picked up a pen and pulled Hyoren's notebook closer.
“Alright. Let's brainstorm.”
The three magicians immediately immersed themselves in discussion.
Across from them, Elise simply watched with an amused smile. She couldn't contribute much. Runic theory had never been her field of expertise.
Still–watching the three of them bounce ideas off one another was surprisingly entertaining.
Oria rested the pen against her lips for a moment before quickly sketching a new runic array.
“How about this?”
She tapped each rune as she read them aloud.
“Dark. Wave. Shoot. Forward. Curse. X.”
She looked toward Hyoren.
“The final Curse rune can be replaced with whichever debuff you wanted. Slow. Weaken. Blind.”
Before Hyoren could respond. Arianna gently shook her head.
“Lady Oria… Isn't this fundamentally still Dark Wave? It simply exchanges part of its range for an additional curse.”
Oria blinked.
Hyoren nodded as well.
“She has a point.”
He tapped the Shoot and Forward runes.
“These two still require me to decide the direction every time I cast. And because it projects forward… I'll still have to judge the area I want to cover.”
He shook his head.
“For a frontline fighter… That is exactly the concentration I'm trying to avoid.”
Oria nodded thoughtfully.
“I see… You're right.”
She crossed out the array.
“Next.”
Arianna quietly pulled the notebook toward herself. She twirled the pen between her fingers before beginning another design.
“How about this, Leader? You mentioned that widespread debuffs are not your priority.”
She wrote the six runes in neat handwriting.
“Dark. Ball. Shoot. Straight. Explode. Contact.”
After finishing, she placed the pen beside the notebook.
“The concept is straightforward. The Dark Ball always travels in a straight line. The moment it strikes the first target… It explodes.”
Hyoren rested his chin on one hand.
“Hmm… That actually sounds promising.”
Oria immediately leaned forward. She tapped the Shoot rune. Then the Explode rune.
“Yes. But these are still problems.”
She looked toward Hyoren.
“The Shoot rune still requires you to determine the direction. Even if the projectile flies perfectly straight… You still have to aim it.”
Her finger moved to the next rune.
“And this Explode rune. Without additional runes specifying the explosion's radius, force, and propagation… You'll still have to control those parameters through concentration.”
She leaned back.
“So the original issue hasn't really disappeared.”
Arianna nodded slowly.
“I see… Lady Oria is correct.”
She looked thoughtfully at her own proposal.
“So reducing the required concentration truly is quite a restrictive condition.”
The discussion continued. One proposal after another filled the notebook.
Time quietly slipped by. For the next hour, the three of them debated every possible approach.
Oria frequently proposed practical combinations. Arianna would carefully analyze them before politely pointing out that they still demanded too much concentration during actual combat.
Then Arianna would devise elegant theoretical solutions. Only for Hyoren to shake his head.
“They're not practical for someone constantly fighting on the frontline.”
Occasionally—Hyoren himself came up with unusual ideas. The moment he finished drawing them.
Both women immediately began scrutinizing every rune. One design made Oria quietly slide the notebook back toward him.
“If you activate this… There's a fair chance it'll explode in your own face.”
Arianna nodded in complete agreement.
“And this one...”
She pointed to another sketch.
“Without sufficient stabilizing runes… The Aethell flow may collapse. The backlash could injure the caster.”
Hyoren sighed before crossing out the page.
“So… This one's a failure too.”
Meanwhile, Elise had long since accepted that she couldn't follow the discussion anymore. The endless conversation about rune interactions, Aethell flow, and spell construction quickly exceeded her understanding.
She quietly excused herself and wandered into Oria's kitchen.
Not long afterward, she returned carrying a freshly brewed pot of tea.
She filled everyone's cups one by one before sitting back down with her own. Cradling the warm cup between both hands—she simply smiled and enjoyed watching the three magic enthusiasts continue their passionate discussion.
***
The discussion continued for several more minutes.
Runes were written. Crossed out. Rewritten again.
No matter how many combinations they tested. None truly satisfied all of Hyoren's requirements.
Then, Arianna's eyes suddenly widened. She lightly snapped her fingers.
“Wait… I just remembered something.”
Both Oria and Hyoren immediately looked toward her.
Arianna leaned forward.
“One of Headmistress Thavenessia's spells employed a rather unusual collection of runes.”
She slowly nodded to herself.
“I believe… The specific runes she used may solve this problem.”
Oria's pointed ears twitched.
“Hoo? Now you've caught my interest.”
Hyoren also nodded.
“A runic array created by the Truth Seeker… That definitely won't be ordinary.”
Arianna smiled.
“It was Headmistress Thavenessia's Fifth-Tier Basic Dark Magic spells.”
She spoke with unmistakable admiration.
“Divergence Nox.”
She folded her hands neatly upon her lap.
“At first, multiple rays of Dark Aethell are projected from the tip of her staff. They may either spread apart to engage numerous targets… Or converge upon a single enemy.”
She paused briefly.
“Each ray that strikes its target then triggers a localized gravitational collapse. The rays themselves primarily function as a targeting system.”
Hyoren slowly opened his mouth.
The spell was unlike anything he had heard before. It wasn't merely powerful. It was elegant. Each effect flowed naturally into the next.
Even Oria frowned thoughtfully.
“How...?”
She leaned forward.
“How could she fit all of that into Basic Magic? Those kinds of effects normally belong to Advanced Magic.”
She tapped the notebook.
“Even a Fifth-Tier Basic Spell is still limited. Twelve runes. No more. So how did she fit all of that into a twelve-rune limit?”
Arianna's smile grew brighter.
There was no loss of composure. No frantic excitement. Simply the unmistakable delight of a scholar speaking about someone she deeply respected.
“Ohoho. That is precisely why Headmistress is extraordinary. She employed several highly specialized runes that are almost unknown to modern magicians.”
She gently raised one finger.
“She selected runes capable of carrying multiple functions at once. That is how she overcame the limitation.”
She smiled fondly.
“I suspect… She discovered them through her Unique Skill. Akashic Record.”
Her gaze drifted toward the window as she recalled the memory. A look of sincere admiration appeared on her face.
“When she revealed that runic array to me in one of our private lessons… I could do nothing but watch in awe.”
She softly laughed.
“It was one of the moments that truly made me understand why she is THE Truth Seeker. Ohoho.”
Arianna's expression gradually turned serious.
The gentle smile remained. But the scholarly admiration faded, replaced by responsibility.
“I must not disclose the complete runic array of Divergence Nox. It is one of Headmistress Thavenessia's personal creations.”
She slowly shook her head.
“That would betray the trust she placed on me. Her pupil.”
After a brief pause, she smiled again.
“However… I believe I may reveal a single rune. One that should help solve Leader's problem.”
She gave a soft, almost guilty laugh.
“This rune is actually one of the key components that makes Divergence Nox possible. I only hope Headmistress will not be too upset with me. Ohoho.”
She picked up the pen. Without hesitation—she carefully drew a single unfamiliar rune onto the notebook.
Hyoren tilted his head. It wasn't rune he recognized. Then again—he had only recently begun studying runic theory.
It was only natural.
What surprised him more, was Oria's reaction. The elf frowned deeply. Her sapphire eyes remained fixed on the rune.
“What rune is this, Arianna?”
Arianna smiled.
“This is the rune for… Magical Conduit.”
Hyoren tilted his head even further.
“Magical Conduit? What's that?”
Arianna blinked in surprise. She had instinctively assumed the term was common knowledge.
Oria, however, immediately understood. She lightly shook her head.
“Right… Of course he wouldn't know. He is a fighter first before a magician. So magical conduits were never something he truly needed.”
Arianna nodded in understanding.
“I see.”
She looked toward Hyoren.
“Leader. A magical conduit is a tool used by magicians to improve the performance of their spells. The most common form is wand or staff. But ring or bracelet shape is existed too.”
She fixed her hat positions.
“It is not strictly necessary for casting. However… A good conduit allows spells to become stronger while simultaneously reducing Aethell consumption.”
Oria reached into her storage bag. Moments later—a short wand appeared in her hand. Its polished blue gemstone caught the light beautifully.
She casually held it up.
“This is my magical conduit. Azure Wand. It increases the power of all Water Magic and its branch magics by roughly fifty percent.”
She lowered the wand.
“And… It also improves my Water Aethell efficiency by around thirty percent.”
Hyoren slowly nodded.
“I see… So that's what a magical conduit is.”
Oria returned the wand to her storage bag. Then tapped the unfamiliar rune Arianna had written.
“But… A conduit having its own corresponding rune… That part is new to me.”
She looked at Arianna with growing curiosity.
“What happens if this rune is incorporated into a runic array?”
Arianna smiled.
She deliberately remained silent for a moment. Almost as though she wished to savor the realization before revealing it. Then she finally opened her mouth.
“If this rune is placed immediately after the elemental rune… The spell will always originate from the magical conduit itself.”
She traced the rune with one finger.
“And the direction of the spell will naturally follow the direction in which the conduit is pointing.”
Silence. The small library became completely still.
Elise glanced from one person to another. She frowned. She clearly understood none of it. Why had everyone suddenly stopped talking?
Meanwhile—Arianna offered no further explanation. She simply waited.
Hyoren stared at the rune. Oria did the same.
Slowly. Very slowly. Both of their eyes widened at the same time. Dark eyes. Sapphire eyes. Meeting across the table.
The implication struck them simultaneously. Neither needed Arianna to explain any further.
They had already realized—just how extraordinary that single rune truly was.