“Don’t you feel any jealousy at all?”

“I might have but Rino is quite adorable. At first I did want to deter her but after getting quite personal with her on that day, she’s kindred of mine and the reason we fell was the same.”

She quipped with delight likely recounting the experience when they spent an entire day together.

The reason they fell for me is the same reason? Bah, better not ask since that reason is probably something only women would understand.

After some thorough thinking, I had retained some peace of mind. Thinking about it, it only matter if the hearts are willing or unwilling. For Vefal, this seems quite natural to her but for me and Rino, it’s out of our norm. It’s cultural shock.

“A few years.”

Vefal looked at me with puzzlement when I muttered that.

“Give us a few years and we’ll see what happens. As of now, this is too… unexpected.”

“I understand but you don’t mind if I continue being close with Rino right?”

“It’s not up for me to decide but don’t make it a forced expectation though.”

I don’t know how to deal with this yet so I need time to think this thoroughly and also to confirm with Rino whether she’s fine with this. In time, I believe I can accept this arrangement since I do adore them both but I can’t force her to agree if she’s apprehensive of this.

We both stared at the sky for quite some times. If they are willing is it?

--

The six of us were seated in a large hall in seats reserved for the summoned in a large round table. There were about twenty nine people seating here beside us. Three of them were the representatives while the other twenty six was the captains.

Each of the captains had introduced themselves and I had taken a mental note to discern which is troublesome and which is useful.

The ones from the tribes was the one that I need to look out and the one from the Tchekaz was trustworthy to some degree.

“The meeting is concluded, we will give the best of our cooperation in these three months!”

Sarralus bowed towards us with the rest of the captains and representative. Everyone got up. Some of them promptly left while other took the time to chat with each other. Only us summoned was not approached by any of them. Just as we were wary of them, they were wary of us too.

“Gosh, that was boring. I didn’t even remember any of their names.”

Shakil languidly yawned after he said that. I am guilty of the same sentiment as I only decided to divide them into eight directions on which their tribes were located.

“If I may, I wish to make an expedition across the land and observed the tribes and record their proceedings and tribal rites.”

Erganisu stated his request. Prior to this, Erganisu had become a Recorder of the Grand Library. He had volunteered as such because it reminded of his former affiliation with the Warrior-Scholar order that he had once belonged.

For some reason, Erganisu was staring at me as though he was waiting for my confirmation. It seems that I am the de facto leader again.

I nodded.

“Do you need any assistants or items to assist you along the way?”

“If it’s possible, then I would a helper or two then, preferably, learned in Light Orange Eomancy or Light Grey Eomancy if possible. I need a copious amount of paper and inks too for permanent records.”

“Alright then, I’ll petition with the representative. What about the rest of you?”

I turned and looked at the rest of the summoned.

“I will stay here and be your bodyguard.”

Vefal said concisely.

“We may go out once in a while but we will mostly stay here.”

“I.. I will stay here too.”

Ghrukka and Ghiscra gave their answers. Ghiscra had quite a lovely voice that reminded me of my little niece.

“Hmmm? Alright, I’m only good at shooting people and sleeping, so I do nothing and stay here as well.”

Seeing that most of us were staying, Shakil nonchalantly said as such and got up from his seat to leave but I have something else for him in mind.

“Since you are staying her, I can assign a position of advisor for you.”

Shakil curved ears perked up when I got up from my seat and approached him. I only wanted for him to actually share my burden as I planned on being a mediocre administrator during this assignment.

“What?”

“Shakil, you were from a world that has various tribes so I need help in terms of managing the policies when we are here. It seems that our objective here is mostly to keep the balance of power in the tribes. In terms of the knowledge of the inner working, you have the most experience amongst us.”

Shakil upon hearing my request had a little incredulity in his face.

“Back then, I was only a tribe’s champion. Governing an entire tribe is something beyond me what more a freaking eighty three tribes is infinitely impossible task for me. As I said, there are two things I’m good at: Shooting people and sleep. Besides, you’re the ‘great commander’ I’m sure even without me, you can breezily sailed through this.”

“I admit I do have the capability to govern them but even with the ability to predict what is on their mind, I lack the capability to predict what’s in their heart. You had lived a life as a tribesman. I really wouldn’t believe you know nothing at all.”

He pouted but there was a flash of relent on his face. I pounced on this chance.

“All I ask is that you give advises on how to proceed. you become my advisor for these three months. It’s nothing much, if you want I can compensate you with some Quilens.”

Finally, he sighed.

“Fine but I won’t be bothered too much right?”

“Of course depending on the circumstances, I do need you around for an hour or two and we might have to pay a visit to tribes but not much.”

Shakil nodded and promptly left. Of course

Well, so begin our first day here.

--

On the next day, as I was on my way back to my room after requesting the petition from the representative for Erganisu’s expedition and some introduction to what seems to be my office, I stumbled upon a piece of note on the hallway of our dormitory.

I bend down and took it.

‘The compilation of creating a mobile long-communication device via Eomancy.’

Huh? This looks interesting. As I read the content, I heard a slight sound of door opening. I quickly look at the source of the sound which was at the end of the hall- the door on the left.

With the door slightly opened, a pair of purple eyes was peeking at me fearfully.

“Ghiscra, is it yours?”

Looking at the figure that was trying to appear as conspicuous as possible and slowly closing the gap of the opened door, I can see part of her head nodding.

Poor girl, if it were Vefal or Ghrukka, perhaps the gap of the door would have stayed constant.

I picked up the note and walked towards her. Seeing me approached, the speed of the door closing had slightly increased.

I sighed. I know she’s afraid but we had interacted with each other several time, at least don’t give me this treatment. I can’t help but frown.

I stuck out my left hand which was holding the note at her.

A slender, white right arm extended hesitatingly towards the note and took it.

I sighed and turned to walk back to my room but I stopped as I heard the creaking sound of a door opening behind me. The figure of a very nervous Ghiscra was coming out.

As I looked at her, she winced as though my eyes had pierced her soul. I should change the ‘indifferent’ mode to ‘approachable’ mode.

As I did that, Ghiscra was bowing her head slowly towards me showing that she was apologizing.

“I am sorry for my behaviour for these past months… I can’t help but be nervous around men but that’s not enough of a reason of being so discourteous to anyone. Again, I apologized.”

Her cracking voice was struggling to come out audibly.

“It’s alright, be at ease, I’ll be on my way then.”

“Umm… is it okay if I asked something from you.”

Unexpectedly, as I turned to leave, she stopped me. Curious, I turned back but like always, she avoided making eye contact with me.

“You had seen the research note right? This research was a collaboration between Tevalini and me. It was a technology from her world but I find out from Kimiko that this technology had also existed in your world. She called it ‘mobile phone’ or the likes and when she explained the functions like long distance verbal and written communication, it was roughly the same as what Tevalini had described. So is it possible to give your input in it?”

While looking at the floor, she was saying all of the words with fluid clarity like a newswoman.

I knew nothing of these but then again, I barely poked myself into other summoned personal affairs.

“Yes they do exist in our world but I only know the rough fundamental of how a mobile phone works. You see for the verbal communication, the mobile phone convert our voice into electric signal which is transmitted into radio waves then converted back into sound to the recipient who holds the other mobile phone. Unfortunately, that’s as far as I know about the process of how they work. I don’t really have an in-depth knowledge.”

“Hmm, yes, Tevalini did mention ‘Electric Signal’ and ‘Radio Waves’ but most of those aren’t feasible due to the lack of something called ‘hardwares’. Even if we manage to replicate the facilities that can create these ‘hardwares’, there is the problem of getting the resources called ‘Silicon’ or ‘Plastic’ which Tevalini had mentioned.”

I nodded as creating these technologies aren’t something that we are able to achieve but the fact that a research notes existed means-

“Even so, that research note indicates that you found an alternative?”

“Yes, oh, please wait for a while!”

Excited, Ghiscra ran back into her room and came back with a stack of notes. She gave those notes to me.

Perusing the notes one by one, I occasionally nodded in agreement as she stares at my expression. The research was heavily utilizing ‘Recorded Voice’, an advance Light Grey Eomancy spell for verbal communication and ‘Distance Message’ a Light Grey Eomancy spell for written communication.

The main purpose was to make these two spells more effective in terms of distance range, feasible and user-friendly, crammed into an enchanted device.

Even with the absent of technologies and resources this doesn’t hinder her attempt in making one as by trying to apply the same fundamentals of the processes on Eomancy, thus it is possible to bring out the same result.

Although greatly detailed, there’s still were various problems to be tinkered but the main, current problem she’s facing was the lack of fund to buy materials to be use for the prototype and experiments as she had no quilens left to buy.

She had to wait for the next allowance or perform some deeds to get them. Apparently Athryshiayl doesn’t provide research grant for unproven theories even if they are summoned.

After finished perusing the notes, we had a lively discussion regarding the methods in the research notes as well as exchanging our knowledges in Eomancy. The depth of her understanding in Eomancy was adequate to the standard of Eomancers adept and naturally, as someone who also had the same interest, I couldn’t help but also got excited and she was no different as she had excitement written on her face although we still avoided eye contact.

“Ruigne?”

The discussion stopped as we both turned to the sound of a very familiar voice.

Standing just in front of her room was Vefal with a smile as she looked at us.