Eira

Stretching with a satisfying sigh as I emerge from the tomb, look at the night sky... "Hmmm... It's nighttime already, huh." The transformation is subtle yet profound; I'm not stronger, but a sense of weakness has vanished. Hunger and fatigue linger, but overall, there's an undeniable improvement, thanks to the Cursed Sword of Umbra.

Sitting beside the fountain, I extend my arms leisurely, gazing upwards. The stars twinkle brilliantly, and a magnificent blue moon captures my attention. I'll need to visit that moon someday. But that won’t be anytime soon, I have to survive through all the shitty events.

It's high time to meet her, to earn some money. I start navigating through the slums, the night's veil aiding my discreet movements. The Cursed Sword of Umbra enhances my vision, allowing me to see clearly in the dark. After walking for over an hour, I finally leave the slums, coming upon a commoner's market, deserted at this late hour.

I wander among the stalls, searching for a specific, run-down hut. Spotting it, I use the Cursed Sword of Umbra to transform into a plain black shirt, a definite improvement over my tattered rag. Approaching the hut, there’s a dim red light inside. She must be awake. There’s no way that woman can sleep comfortably.

Knocking several times yields no response. Impatient, I enter. The hut's state is worse than I described it. Warped wooden beams and a patchy thatched roof open to the starlit sky. The door, rotting and creaky, groans as I push it open.

Inside, dim red lights flicker, casting eerie shadows. The air is heavy with the scent of must and damp earth. Each step I take causes the floorboards to protest. Cobwebs drape the walls, and a layer of dust coats everything. Scattered around are rusted tools, scrap metal, and half-finished mechanical contraptions, seemingly abandoned. In the corner, a cluttered workbench is laden with tools, papers, and odd gadgets.

Stepping forward, I'm suddenly pinned down, an expected yet startling move.

"Who the hell are you!? Who sent you!? Was it that bastard Steve!? Answer me, fucking moron!" she bellows furiously.

"Aughhh...seriously, is this your usual welcome?" I groan in pain. She pushes me harder into the ground, demanding, "What the hell are you doing here!?"

"Owww!... I thought this place was deserted, just wanted to crash for the night. Can you let go, please? Look at me, I'm hardly a threat. Why not share this old hut for tonight?" I plead, wincing. Fuck, it hurts. I know she was going to interrogate me, but this is painful.

"Tsk. Thought you were one of those jerks. Get out, this is my place," she retorts, releasing me and stepping back.

"Hey, come on. Just let me stay for the night. I won't be a bother," I implore.

Before she can respond, my eyes catch a glimpse of a blueprint on the table. "Are you working on a transmitter? Seems like you're having a tough time. I could lend a hand," I say, extending my hand with a smile, "I'm Kael, by the way."

"What do you know about transmitters? And for your information, I'm not struggling," she dismisses my hand, visibly irked.

"Looks to me like you're having trouble with a stable connection. That's the easiest part, you know," I tease, a hint of sarcasm in my voice.

"Get out before I--" she starts, but I cut her off.

"I know the frequency of the mana towers," I interject.

"Huh? You think I'll fall for that? Hardly anyone knows that frequency."

"True, but no harm in trying, right?" I lean against the wall, nonchalant.

"Fine, I'll play along. But if you're wrong, you're dead," she warns, her expression serious.

"Ouch, that's harsh. But I won't just give it away for nothing. This is business. I want 70% of the profit if you want the frequency," I negotiate.

"You're crazy to think I'd give you 70%. I've almost finished the TSI, just need the frequency, and I'll be rich," she retorts.

"Do you really think you'll find it yourself? How long have you been at it? Weeks? Months? Years? You'll be old and rich at this rate. I'm offering a quick solution. Take it, or should I go to Steve?" I challenge. No matter how smart she is, she sucks at making money.

"Tsk, fine, it's a deal. Now spill it," she concedes, walking over to a table.

"Hahaha, think I'm dumb? Make the oath first," I insist.

"No trust, huh? Alright," she acquiesces. She places two fingers near her heart, releasing a bit of mana. "I swear to give Kael 70% of the profits from the TSI project if he can help me connect to the mana towers. I swear not to harm him as long as he keeps his word. I invoke the god Lyx as my witness. If I break this oath, may I suffer eternal damnation in the pits of hell." As she finishes, her mana flares black for a moment before vanishing.

"Happy now?" she asks.

"Very," I reply, approaching her table. There, I see a small, cylindrical device, about 4 inches long, with a sleek metallic surface. It sports a red horizontal line, with tiny, glowing red runes etched into the metal. At one end is a button; when pressed, a red holographic screen springs to life.

Whistling appreciatively, I can't help but be impressed. "Phwwwwwhht, almost an exact replica of the MST," I remark while closely examining the device.

"Well, for your information, it's called TSI, and I've developed it further. It's not just limited to calls," she states proudly.

"Alright, cut the bragging. Let's get down to business. You, like many others trying to replicate MST, will never find the frequency because you're too focused on the obvious," I point out.

"What the hell are you talking about? Are you implying I lack skills?" she snaps back, clearly frustrated.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Seriously, what I'm trying to say is that you're barking up the wrong tree, you moron. Do you really think those greedy-ass nobles would make mana towers that just anyone can connect to?" I look at her, a mix of disappointment and disbelief in my gaze. She returns my look, confusion written all over her face.

"Seriously, you're too naive. You should know by now that only nobles use MST. To prevent commoners from connecting, they set up three different wavelengths. The first two are decoys, camouflaging the last one. They've designed it so no one can pinpoint the right frequency," I explain.

"And how the hell do you know that?" she asks impatiently.

"That, my friend, is a trade secret," I reply with a sly grin.

"Anyway, the frequency is 3 × 10*26 Hz," I reveal.

"That doesn't make sense. It couldn't reach other towers with that frequency. The math doesn't add up," she counters, lost in thought.

"For God's sake, stop overthinking and just try it. Trust me, it'll work. My information is always accurate," I urge, taking a seat at the table.

"By the way, what's your name?" I inquire casually.

"Tsk, why do you ask? You obviously know who I am. You came here with that knowledge. But just in case you're miraculously clueless, my name is Eira," she says, her hands busy with the device.

"You're right. I know a lot about you, including your lack of business acumen. So, how about we become business partners? You handle the production, and I'll take care of distribution. What do you say?" I propose, still grinning.

"As if. I'm not that gullible. If you want to partner up, you're going to have to make an oath," she demands.

"Alright, I'll do it," I agree, standing up. Eira seems surprised, probably expecting me to refuse. Though I don't possess mana of my own, I can use the mana stored in the Cursed Sword of Umbra. Creating an oath doesn't consume mana, so I don't worry about energy depletion.

All I need to do is circulate the mana through my body, surprisingly an easy feat. I can feel the energy coursing within me, a faint blue mana enveloping me. Placing two fingers near my heart, I declare:

"I swear that I will not betray Eira as long as she does not betray me. I swear that I will not harm her, use her, or expose her with ill intentions. I invoke the god Lyx as my witness. Should I break this oath, may I suffer eternal damnation in the pits of hell." As I finish, the mana around me briefly turns black before vanishing.

"Happy?" I ask, looking at her expectantly.