In an enclosed area, surrounded by tall, sturdy hazelnut-colored concrete walls, Elara raised her heavy, gleaming sword high, performing repetitive basic fencing movements.
Her shiny armor creaked. The movement of the sword generated a soft whistle, accompanied by a large wave of wind that spread across the floor and the surrounding area until it faded away.
The floor beneath her feet is made of clean, shiny brown wood, as if someone had just polished it with high-quality wax. The black ceiling with thick beams is very high, where dim lights rest like primitive chandeliers.
There are six large windows spread across the three main walls, letting daylight into the interior, so there was no need for those large lights to be on.
Elara threw another powerful sword strike into the air, generating another slight gust of wind.
A man appeared through the large door, delighted to witness such a feat of strength and discipline. He applauded genuinely with a smile on his bearded face. He walked relaxed as he did so.
"Amazing, sweetheart! You are very powerful!"
She lowered her sword and looked at the man with a cool smile.
"Dad? Weren't you working? What are you doing here?"
Carefully and slowly, with his worn hands, he removed the top hat he was wearing, revealing his shiny bald head, which reflected the light from the large windows.
The man, who was about fifty or older, wore a dark, deep purple suit that was clearly tailor-made. The buttons on the suit were gold and shiny, as were his black leather shoes.
"Does a man need a reason to spend time with his family?"
Elara shook her head. Her slight movement was in keeping with her fresh and cool personality.
"No. Of course not. You can show up out of the blue whenever you want."
"Your words bring me great joy. Give this old man a hug!"
She shook her head, resting the tip of her sword on the ground.
"Not now, Dad. I'm sweaty. And my armor will hurt you."
The man, who had his arms open, sighed sympathetically.
"It's okay. It's okay. Another time. I just wanted to see you early before my trip."
She frowned.
"Trip? Again? So you had a reason to see me."
Elara was noticeably dismayed, even worried, one might say. However, she was understanding.
She approached him and sat down on the floor, leaning the large silver sword beside her.
The old man imitated her, sitting down. Then he laughed sadly.
"That's right, my little one. My partners in Swan are having trouble managing some accounts. You know, complicated things involving old and foolish businessmen. I'll have to fly to New Europe tonight."
"New Europe? Don't you think that's a little dangerous? With all the disasters happening there, it's better to do those things from a distance."
The man nodded.
"Exactly. You're very smart. However, it's something I have to do in person. So I'm going to go pack my things to leave, and I need you to tell your mother this personally."
"Okay, but... what about Lily?"
"Your little sister will understand. Even though she's so young, she's very smart and independent, just like her amazing big sister."
"Yes. Of course. Lily is sixteen, Dad. She's not a little girl anymore."
The man laughed loudly. He stood up with difficulty and looked at his daughter with a cheerful smile.
"To me, Lily and you will always be my little girls. Dad will always be here for you. Even if I'm far away, no matter where."
He put on his hat, nodding to his daughter.
"I'll say goodbye for now, Elara."
As quickly as he had appeared walking across the wooden floor, he headed for the exit after saying goodbye to his daughter. Although the encounter was brief, Elara felt it was more than enough.
In turn, a maid waiting at the door with a pair of towels on a metal cart bowed as she opened the door. The man made the same gesture, finally leaving the establishment.
'Goodbye, Dad...'
She watched him leave with a complicated expression on her face.
When the maid closed the door, Elara sighed. Tired, she lay down on the floor. Her armor emitted a slight metallic creak next to the metal of the sword.
Nearby, where there was a large wooden bench, as clean and polished as the floor, the silver shield, elegant and heavy, rested waiting for its mistress.
She looked at that shield carefully, thinking deeply.
'Old and foolish businessmen, eh…'
More than just her father's words, the dialogue sounded more like a direct mockery of those who line their pockets at the expense of the poor people of New Europe. No wonder, as there is much of a crisis and inequality on the other side of the world.
'It must be difficult to deal with that trash.'
Thinking about it was stressful. She shook her head a couple of times to get rid of those heavy thoughts. Then she smiled contentedly. She understood that her father was a genius and there was nothing to worry about.
'For now, that doesn't matter.'
Trusting others is her strongest point, and it's something no one can take away from her. It's no coincidence that her Spectrum is Trust.
She reached out her hand before she forgot what she was doing. She looked up at the high ceiling and concentrated.
'Let's see if anything has changed today.'
The Personal Information skill manifested, displaying the ethereal window floating above her.
[
—Name: Elara Luzbel.
—Age: 26 chronological years.
—Rank: Seventh Level Empath.
—Spectrum: Trust.
—Spectrum Skill:
❖Self-Healing: Intricate ability to heal the body's wounds. Only works on the user.
—Calem Energy Control:
❖Low Calem Energy Control.
❖High resistance to physical damage.
❖High resistance to status effects.
❖Low manipulation of light photons.
❖Low increase in physical strength.
—Personal Skill:
❖Luzbel Fencing (Prologue)
❖Shield Maneuvers (Prologue)
❖Endure Pain (Prologue)
]
'It hasn't changed.'
Somewhat disappointed, she closed her eyes. She put her hands under her head to simulate a pillow and sighed even more tiredly. Her chest, squeezed inside the plates of her armor, rose and fell with her ragged breathing.
'I still don't understand why it says "Prologue". What does it mean?'
At first, Personal Information only shows things that the person already knows. However, what about the things we know but don't understand?
Imagine your lungs inflating and deflating with the oxygen that gives you life. You do it without thinking, right? In that case, imagine all the processes your body goes through just to breathe.
That's exactly it: what about the things we know we have, but can't fully understand?
It's a very curious paradox, isn't it? We don't discover our own potential just by "knowing." If we don't "understand," what are we then?
That's the question that has been on Elara's mind for several years now.
"Excuse me, Lady Elara. You have visitors," interrupted the maid.
She opened her eyes, confused. She found herself face to face with the pretty maid with black hair and silver eyes. The maid was holding a dry towel and smiling warmly at her. She offered the towel to Elara.
She accepted without hesitation and, taking into account what the maid had said, looked at the door and saw the easily recognizable trio waiting for her.
"Everyone..."
They are her friends, who for some reason are here. When she saw them, the information window vanished.
'They didn't tell me.'
She frowned. From where she sat on the floor, she could see Miyu waving a slight wave of her hand. Rober was there too. The boy looked like he wanted to leave, but he still gave a slight nod to say hello.
And Nova. The cheeky boy walked around the place as if he owned it. In just a few steps, he was already in front of her. His gaze, the expression on his face; everything about him was always so relaxing.
"Heya," he said.
Elara relaxed. With this guy, there was nothing to fear.
'Look at you. Always so calm.'
His confidence is always with him.
Nova offered her his hand. She gratefully accepted and got up from the floor.
"I wasn't expecting such a sudden visit. It seems things are getting a little hectic lately."
Nova nodded.
"I'm sorry to come unannounced, but we're in a bit of a hurry. Your father let us in while laughing happily, so I thought it would be a good idea to come and tell you in person."
"Are you sure?"
She looked over Nova's shoulder. The maid was escorting Miyu and Rober to another room. Neither of them complained, so they disappeared with the maid.
'Well done, Yuyu.'
"Yes. We're about to leave for Lightflower. Uncle is fighting in a big raid with other factions, and we're going to bother him for a while. I asked Miyu and Rober if they wanted to come. You can see they're both here now."
"Wow. So, you came to convince me to go with you?"
Nova nodded again but said nothing. Elara crossed her arms before responding.
"Hey, man. You could have talked to me on the communicator, and I would have gone to get them myself. You know you don't have to go to so much trouble with me."
Nova shook his head. In a calm but amused tone of voice, he said:
"I thought it would be fun. Is it fun?"
Elara let out a small laugh.
"Not really, to be honest."
"That's a shame."
The boy closed his eyes with feigned sadness.
Oh well. Elara put her hand on Nova's shoulder.
"Don't be sad, man. Someday you'll be able to say something funny."
"Sure. Someday."
"Well, if that's all, go with Yuyu and give me a moment. I'm going to put my armor away."
She picked up the sword from the floor and the shield from the bench. She walked away from Nova to leave the room, as Yuyu, the maid, was already back at the door. However, the boy tilted his head, confused. His relaxed and fresh voice echoed in the large empty hall.
"Are you coming with us? If you're busy—"
"I thought I was subtle enough about it," Elara said, turning to look at Nova.
The boy raised his eyebrows, waiting for an answer.
"Oh my God. I'll go with you! How can you be such a literal man?"
Nova was amused by that. He adjusted the collar of his trench coat slightly.
"Too literal? I don't think so. You'd be surprised at the metaphors I'm capable of using."
Of course. He was referring to his own thoughts. Nova is a guy with a lot of internal monologues. What he doesn't say directly, he always says in his mind. It's an excellent way to think before you speak. That way, you make sure you don't say anything stupid.
Elara seemed to like that comment, as she let out a small laugh as she walked to the exit.
"It seems you can say funny things from time to time."
***
A few minutes later, the group finds itself in a smaller room. There is elegant and expensive wooden furniture, perfectly upholstered for the guests. The large window at the front had a pair of wine-colored curtains, tied together so as not to obstruct the natural daylight.
There was a small table in the center, where various sweet snacks and drinks were displayed. There were also two glass-fronted cabinets containing numerous cups and small plates.
Nova took a cookie from the table while he waited.
'This place is still huge.'
They had to take the bus to reach this large mansion located in the middle of a large forest in the direction of the Calem mountain ranges. The view of the large building was always magnificent and overwhelming.
The large white walls, very rustic in style and full of pillars, rise up in the middle of a large garden with freshly mowed green grass. The roof was dark blue, blending perfectly with the sky and silver clouds.
There were lots of flower bushes shaped like adorable creatures from the city's folklore, and large trees surrounding the entire grounds.
It has always been a magnificent sight for visitors.
'Hmm... This stuff is delicious.'
He took another cookie from the coffee table and turned his gaze to Miyu.
The girl was sitting on the sofa on the right side of the room. She was eating and drinking tea with adorable eagerness. Her cat tail wiggled on the sofa cushion in response to the sweet emotions the snacks brought her.
"What? Why are you looking at me?" Miyu asked with her mouth full.
Nova smiled relaxed.
"Don't eat so fast. It's bad for your digestion."
Rober interrupted, laughing. Holding a cookie in each hand, he said:
"If you eat like an animal, you'll get fat. You'll look like one of those old fat cats!"
Miyu broke the cookie in her hand at that comment. She looked at Rober with defiant eyes and a sinister smile.
"You always do everything you can to make me angry."
"Ha! Look who's talking!"
Sighing wearily, accustomed to these sudden arguments, Nova stepped between them.
"Calm down, both of you. We're in someone else's house. At least be a little respectful."
Rober snorted, looking away. Miyu sighed in exasperation and continued eating.
Knowing he had managed to stop a fight between the two, Nova sat down next to Miyu and waited.
As the minutes passed, Elara finally appeared. The door opened to reveal the maid, and Elara followed behind her. Now the Luzbel girl was wearing a comfortable white summer dress and cute sandals.
"I'm ready. Let's go."
Nova nodded at Elara's words. He also nodded when he saw the girl's outfit. No matter what this girl wore, she would always look good.
On the other hand, Miyu looked at Nova's reaction and frowned. She unconsciously elbowed him in the ribs, causing Nova to choke on his cookie. Rober smiled amusedly, and Elara tilted her head in confusion.
Nova cleared his throat so he could swallow the cookie. Then he looked at Miyu, who pretended she hadn't done anything.
'I'm starting to think you're genuinely evil, Miyu. I didn't even understand why you hit me!'