“A resonance stone is a magic item you can only craft using a special type of gem. These gems are so rare that you don’t often see them sold in normal markets. When you manufacture one of these gems into a resonance stone, you let a drop of blood from a certain person fall onto it. You can then use it to track the safety of that person. A crack means that the person whose blood was used is wounded.”
A resonance stone could display other changes in health too. For example, had Gaien been poisoned, the gem would have appeared cloudy. As he got older, it would gradually lose its color, and if he died, it would shatter entirely.
Kagali had noticed that Gaien was in trouble thanks to this resonance stone and had come seeking help.
“Where did Gaien go?” Lekius asked.
“To a cave in the Sacred Mountain where the fire archspirit dwells.”
“The Sacred Mountain... I’m sorry, Kagali, but I can’t send soldiers there.”
“Why not?!”
“You know the reason. That area is overrun with dangerous monsters. Even if it’s for my brother-in-law, I can’t possibly ask this territory’s army to risk their lives for personal reasons.”
“But...!”
“Gaien is strong. He must have been fighting monsters to try out one of his new swords. He’ll get himself home somehow.”
“He’s gotten hurt, uncle! He needs help!”
“Does an archspirit really dwell in the Sacred Mountain?” I asked, interrupting their conversation.
The marquess turned to me and nodded slowly. “Yes. The Sacred Mountain is riddled with caves, and in the deepest of these caverns dwells Salamander, the archspirit who governs fire.”
“I never would have thought that an archspirit would manifest here.”
“Um, Miss Ellie, do spirits really exist?” Lunoa asked hesitantly.
“Well, they do and they don’t,” I said.
“What does that mean?” she replied, confused.
“It’s not easy to explain in front of believers of Spiritanism.”
“Don’t mind us,” the marquess said. “Hearing your opinion won’t sway us from our faith.”
I nodded and started my explanation. “‘Spirits’ is a general term people use to refer to mana clusters that form naturally. According to the latest findings from the Northern Continent’s research institutions, most mana clusters usually dissipate within a few hours to ten days. Sometimes, however, energy keeps accumulating, causing these clusters to develop self-awareness. That is what we call ‘spirits’ in a more specific sense.”
“Does that mean spirits are just mana?” Lunoa asked.
“Indeed. When they’ve accumulated enough energy, they depart for the spirit realm, which is ruled by the Spirit King. That’s why I found it so surprising to hear that the archspirit Marquess Hephaest just mentioned, Salamander, has remained in our world.”
“What about carbuncles, then? You once said they were closer to spirits than other monsters, didn’t you?”
“That’s because carbuncles, as well as some other monsters, are born with the ability to absorb mana.”
As I finished my explanation, Kagali slammed both of her palms on the table.
“Can we focus on the fact that my master is in danger?! If you won’t send soldiers, uncle, I’ll go looking for him myself!”
“That’s out of the question! It’s far too risky!”
“Is the Sacred Mountain that dangerous?” Lunoa asked.
“Yes,” Lekius replied. “With the archspirit dwelling at the heart of the mountain, the surrounding ore veins are exposed to powerful mana, which makes them some of the best possible smithing materials. However, monsters that like being in proximity to such mana also tend to gather there—flame lizards, for instance. Gaien is used to fighting, so he’ll be fine, but Kagali won’t.”
Kagali bit her lip in frustration. “Ellie!” she suddenly blurted out. “Please come with me! You’ll allow me to go if Ellie comes, won’t you, uncle?”
“I’m a proud dwarf,” Lekius said. “I, too, could tell at first glance that Miss Ellie is used to holding a sword—a thin, light yet sharp blade. A rapier, I assume. But that means nothing. She’s a merchant, not an adventurer. Asking her to go look for Gaien makes no sense.”
“That’s not all! I mean, she does seem like she’d be good with a sword, but she’s first and foremost a sorcerer! Ellie, you have a Divine Artifact, don’t you?” Kagali asked. I didn’t reply, so Kagali continued, “You barely let any mana escape, but that only proves your control is nearly perfect! Not to mention, the density of what little mana does escape is frightening. It’s quiet, but...sharp and cold... You must have water mana...and you specialize in ice spells.”
“You have the Mystic Eyes of Magic Perception,” I said.
“Yes, I can see mana.”
“The...mystic eyes?” Lunoa asked, puzzled.
“It’s a unique spell that’s rather similar to a skill. There are several types of mystic eyes, and the Mystic Eyes of Magic Perception are the most common among them. However, it’s very rare for someone with that spell to be able to tell the attribute of a person’s mana just by looking at it,” I explained.
“You’re a Divine Artifact user and a skilled swordswoman,” Kagali said. “You’re more than strong enough to fight the monsters of the Sacred Mountain. The archspirit must have put you on my path today—it’s fate! So please, Ellie, help me search for my master!”
“That’s enough, Kagali! Miss Ellie is my guest, and I won’t tole—”
“Ellie, please!”
Lekius was trying to stop Kagali because both courtesy and his role as marquess demanded it, but I could tell that deep down, he wanted to save Gaien too. His protests were weak.
Accepting Kagali’s request would benefit me as well. I could ingratiate myself with the best artisan in the empire, his daughter, and the Marquess of Hepheast in one go. However, there was a problem.
I avoided looking at Kagali directly, instead keeping her in the corner of my eye. I picked up my cup of tea, taking a slow, deliberate sip.
“I understand what you want, Kagali, but I have no reason to help.”
“If you want money, I’ll pay!” she exclaimed.
“That would require you to pay me the equivalent amount of the business income I would sacrifice by not working during the time I’d spend helping you. Unfortunately, I don’t believe you could cover that,” I replied.
“You said you wanted my master to forge you a sword! If you help me, your order will be his top priority!”
“You don’t have the authority to decide that, do you?” I asked.
Only Gaien could decide what to prioritize. Kagali had no cards to play in this negotiation. Lunoa’s eyes kept darting from my face to Kagali’s, and she looked bewildered.
I put my cup down on the table. “If you intend to pay, why not commission adventurers? You could surely find a party with fine abilities in magic and swordplay.”
“I wanted to do that at first,” she said, “but the adventurers of this city all know that the archspirit dwells within the Sacred Mountain. They’re scared of the monsters, and they refused to take on my request.”
“I see.”
“What do you want, Ellie? What can I give you in order for you to accept?” Kagali asked, looking me straight in the eyes.
There was one way we could find common ground, but I didn’t want to be the one to bring up the idea. Instead, I had to make Kagali suggest it.
“Money cannot move me,” I said. “And you have no right to dictate Mr. Gaien’s conduct.”
“You’re right... I can’t make any promises on his behalf... What about me, then?! I’m not as good as my master, but I’m a talented artisan too! I promise to work for you until I’ve repaid my debt!”
My prize would be Kagali herself. That was the only thing of value she could offer me right now. I’d seen the knives she’d made in Gaien’s store—she did very good work. I now realized that the impressive uniformity of the mana distribution within those knives was all thanks to her mystic eyes. Gaien still produced more powerful weapons, but I had a feeling that Kagali might surpass him in the future.
I nodded my head to hide my expression as a smirk threatened to curl my lips. “Fine. I accept your request.”