Chapter 474 106.1 - A small talk
Chapter 474 106.1 – A small talk
I sat on the edge of my bed, holding the Mana Infusion Elixir in my hand. The liquid inside the vial glowed faintly, a promise of the power it held. There was no need for complex rituals or precise timing; the elixir was already refined and ready for consumption.
I uncorked the vial and brought it to my lips, drinking the elixir in one smooth motion. The taste was surprisingly mild, almost sweet, with a hint of something I couldn’t quite place. As the elixir flowed down my throat, I felt a warmth spreading through my chest, radiating outward to the rest of my body.
I lay back on my bed, closing my eyes as I let the elixir do its work. The warmth intensified, and I felt my mana reserves expanding, accommodating more energy than ever before. But then, something unexpected happened.
In the darkness behind my closed eyes, a small crescent moon began to form. Its silver light was soft yet mesmerizing, and it seemed to pulse with an energy that called to me.
I tried to reach out to it, but my body refused to move. I realized then that I was in a dream state, caught between reality and something beyond.
I stared at the crescent moon, unable to look away.
“….st….k…th…nsw…i…..u….ho…..”
It felt as though it was communicating with me, but the words were incomprehensible, like whispers from a distant place that I couldn’t quite grasp. The moon’s light grew brighter, filling my vision entirely.
Then, just as suddenly as it had appeared, the moon began to crumble. The silver light fractured into countless pieces, each one dissolving into the darkness. I felt a pang of loss as I watched the moon disappear, its presence leaving an emptiness that was quickly replaced by reality.
I opened my eyes, finding myself back in my room. The warm sensation from the elixir had subsided, leaving behind a feeling of increased vitality and strength. My mana reserves felt fuller and more potent, but the memory of the dream lingered in my mind.
“What was that?” I muttered to myself, trying to make sense of the experience. It felt significant, as though the crescent moon was more than just a dream. There was a connection, something tied to the depths of my powers.
“Sigh…..”
Once again, what happened here was something that was similar to the Moonstone.
‘But in the end, I can’t find what it is.’
I recalled what those words were saying, trying to understand their meanings but not to avail.
RING!
As I was lost in thought, trying to decipher the meaning behind the crescent moon and the incomprehensible words I heard, my smartwatch suddenly rang, pulling me back to reality. I glanced down at the screen to see a message notification.
[Message: You are now permitted to use the communication centers to connect with the outside world. You have one hour to make any calls or send messages.]
I stared at the message for a moment, processing the information. It had been a while since I’d had any contact with the outside world, and the sudden opportunity to do so felt both unexpected and somewhat…..interesting.
‘One hour,’ I thought.
I stood up from the bed, feeling the lingering effects of the elixir coursing through me.
‘Right, before leaving, I should check my stats.’ With that thought, I opened the status panel.
——————-
Variable Attributes:
Strength: 4.85 — > 4.92
Dexterity: 5.13 –> 5.19
Agility: 5.20 –> 5.32
Constitution: 4.88 –> 4.98
Intuition: 5.26 –> 5.39
Magical Power: 5.61 –> 5.69
Mana Capacity: 4.88 –> 5.68
——————–
My eyes slightly twitched at the sight of the status panel. I hadn’t expected such a significant change just from one elixir. My mana capacity had jumped from 4.88 to 5.68, a staggering increase that I could already feel within me.
‘This… this is much more than I expected,’ I thought, staring at the numbers.
It wasn’t just a minor improvement; this was a leap in power that could make a real difference in my abilities. I quickly brought up the description of the Mana Infusion Elixir, scrolling through the details. There it was, a line that I’d almost overlooked before.
Elixir Description:
Note: Those with specialized mana types may experience a more significant enhancement in mana capacity.
‘Of course,’ I thought, piecing it together. My Lunar Mana was anything but ordinary. The elixir had likely interacted with my unique mana in ways that standard elixirs wouldn’t have, leading to a substantial increase in my mana reserves. But at the same time, this elixir would not benefit to the general hunters.
In any case, with how my other attributes were growing, I can easily see the improvements of Everchanging Glyph and the body training that I had been doing with Training Assistant AI.
‘As expected. It is paying off. I wonder how it will be at the end of the training.’
With that thought, I slowly left my room.
The communication center wasn’t far from my room, so it did not take too long for me to reach that place.
The door to the communication center slid shut behind me with a soft hiss, sealing me inside. The room was dimly lit, the glow from the control panels casting a faint blue hue over the walls. The hum of machinery filled the air, a reminder of the advanced technology at work.
As I stood there, the room began to adjust, the subtle vibrations in the floor indicating that space was being realigned for secure communication. A voice echoed through the chamber, calm and mechanical.
“User is advised to remain stationary during space-time realignment. Be mindful of any spatial disturbances.”
I kept my composure, standing still as the room’s technology did its work. The air seemed to shimmer around me as if reality itself was being tweaked. It was a strange sensation, like being on the edge of something vast and unknown.
A few moments later, the vibrations ceased, and the room’s voice returned.
“Space-time realignment complete. Outside communication now possible.”
The tension in the air eased, and the room felt stable again.
RING!
And the moment it did, the normal smartwatch that I had been using started ringing.
RING! RING! RING! RING! RING! RING! RING! RING! RING! RING! RING! RING! RING! RING!
And it was not one.
Countless different notifications started coming down.
‘What the?’ And it was surprising, as I had never been the type to get so many notifications. After all, not many had my contact number, and even if they had, they would not contact me.
But then, I remembered the possible reason why, as I saw the name on the screen.
********
“Sigh…..This is boring….I am really bored….”
A young woman mumbled to herself. She wore a stunning dress that perfectly complemented her features, accentuating her fiery red hair and amber eyes. The dress was a deep, rich crimson, its fabric flowing elegantly around her slender figure, hugging her curves in all the right places. The neckline was tasteful yet alluring, and the intricate embroidery along the hem shimmered in the soft lighting of the banquet hall.
Her fair skin glowed under the chandeliers, and the contrast between her vivid hair and the dark red of her dress was striking. She was undeniably beautiful, and many of the guests had already noticed her, though she hardly paid them any mind.
Irina stood by one of the large, ornate windows, gazing out into the garden beyond. The banquet hall was filled with the hum of conversation, the clinking of glasses, and the soft strains of classical music. Elegant figures in luxurious attire mingled, their laughter and polite chatter filling the air.
But to Irina, it was all just background noise. She felt disconnected from the event, her mind wandering elsewhere.
‘I hate these things,’ she thought, stifling a yawn. ‘Why do I have to be here? I’d rather be doing anything else.’
She absentmindedly twirled a lock of her hair around her finger, her amber eyes scanning the room. The other heirs and influential figures were deep in conversation, discussing politics, business, and alliances.
It was all so tedious, so predictable. While it was not like she did not like politics, most of the time, the topics were all redundant. Same topics, same people.
At some point, it would become a magazine report, and people would start talking about other people’s daily actions.
‘How can they find this interesting?’ she wondered, her boredom growing by the second. She did not have many common interests with the young ladies of her age either. And she was not in a good mood.
She glanced down at her glass of sparkling wine, swirling the liquid around with a sigh. ‘And why has that bastard not contacted me? And why is he always leaving me on read? It had been a week already!’
At that moment, she started worrying. Though the said person was him, and he was not someone who would put himself into danger easily, he was also not someone who would shy away when the opportunity represented itself.
In a way, he was both a planner and an action-taker.
Irina’s mind started to spiral into worry as she imagined different scenarios. What if Astron had gotten himself into something dangerous? He was known for taking calculated risks, but what if this time something went wrong?
‘He’s not the type to avoid danger if it presents an opportunity,’ she thought, her grip tightening on the stem of her glass. ‘He plans, but he also acts. What if he…’
Her thoughts drifted to a particular vision she had seen before, a memory from the past—an image of Astron in a state that was neither fully human nor fully demon. The twisted, demonic energy that surrounded him in that vision was still vivid in her mind, and she felt a shiver run down her spine.
‘No way, right? He wouldn’t let himself fall into that…’ she tried to reassure herself, but the worry gnawed at her, refusing to be silenced.
The possibility, however slim, haunted her. What if he was in danger right now, struggling against forces beyond his control? What if that vision was more than just a distant memory—what if it was a glimpse of a possible future?
She tried to shake the thought from her mind, but it clung to her like a shadow, darkening her mood further. She couldn’t reach him, and she had no idea where he was or what he was doing. The uncertainty was maddening.
At that moment, she was pulled from her thoughts by someone’s approach. A young man, dressed in an impeccably tailored suit, was making his way toward her.
Jeremy Hawkins.
His presence was commanding, and the air around him buzzed with confidence. Irina recognized him immediately—he was the heir to a prominent family known for their work in the [Awakened Weapon Industry].
“Lady Irina,” the young man greeted her with a polite nod, his tone smooth and practiced. “It’s a pleasure to see you here.”
Irina forced a smile, masking her inner turmoil. “Likewise,” she replied, though her mind was still partly consumed by thoughts of Astron.
“Would you mind dancing?” Jeremy Hawkins asked, extending a hand toward Irina with a charming smile. His offer was polite, but she could sense the underlying motive. With her family’s standing, it wasn’t unusual for someone like Jeremy to seek a connection, and for most nobles, the act of dancing was a casual way to establish rapport.
But Irina had no desire to dance, especially not with Jeremy Hawkins. She knew him from those visions—knew what kind of person he really was.
A man with a smooth exterior but with motives that were far from pure. Her instinct was to refuse immediately, to avoid any unnecessary interaction with him.
Just as she was about to politely decline, her smartwatch suddenly chimed, the sound breaking through the tense moment. She glanced down at the device, its surface adorned with elegant engravings that glinted in the soft light of the banquet hall. Her heart skipped a beat as she saw the name flashing on the screen.
Her face changed in an instant, the tension draining away as a genuine smile spread across her lips. “Maybe next time,” she said, her tone light and breezy as she smoothly excused herself. “I need to take this call.”
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