'Ethereal Resilience Deferred?'
Darius furrowed his brow, intrigued by my question, and after a brief pause, replied:
"No, that doesn't ring a bell, honestly."
'As expected,' I thought. 'Even though this phenomenon is documented by few respected scholars, it remains largely unknown to the general public.'
I leaned back and began to explain:
"Ethereal Resilience Deferred is a phenomenon, specifically a spontaneous defensive reaction that the mana core can trigger when it is confronted with energies too powerful to handle in a conventional way."
"This extremely rare phenomenon can occur, for example, when someone is exposed to an uncontrolled wave of mana or when someone absorbs much more mana than their core can handle."
Darius listened attentively, but a look of confusion remained on his face, still not understanding where I was going with this.
"When I simultaneously awakened affinities for space and chaos — two elements that should never coexist within the same person due to their incompatibility — it caused intense conflict within my mana core, threatening to make it implode. That's when Ethereal Resilience Deferred activated spontaneously, limiting the extent of the implosion and preventing a fatal outcome."
Darius's expression showed he was starting to understand how things had ended. A particular emotion crossed his eyes... Was it pity?
'If that's what it is, then keep it to yourself.'
After a brief silence, I continued.
"While this phenomenon protected me from total destruction, the effects were not without consequence. My mana core remained deeply damaged, marked by cracks that make manipulating mana much more difficult and slow. Now, casting spells or progressing in rank has become a much more challenging task for me than for others. It's now highly likely that I'll never exceed the Adept rank, even though my potential could have been much higher."
A heavy silence settled as Darius and I stared at each other. He eventually sighed.
"So? If you think you're going to stir up my pity to get what you want, think again. That kind of tactic doesn't work on me. The truth is, I don't even understand why you told me all this. It would have been much smarter to lie to me and manipulate me. Although, frankly, lying to me is pointless."
Darius couldn't understand why, since we met, I hadn't lied to him even once. It was strange. In everything I'd said, there hadn't been the slightest false note, no lies. Yet, in a situation like this, lying would be perfectly normal. This behavior totally escaped him.
Hearing this, I briefly smiled.
'That's exactly why I'm telling you the truth.'
"What if I told you that I know a way to repair my damaged core?" I said.
"…What?"
"You heard me right. I know a way to get out of this mess, to concoct a potion that could repair my core. Imagine this: a person with such potential could give you a lot of support, and more. In fact, the truth is, the real winner in this story is you, not me. Even without that mid-level martial art, I could survive the academy, although it would be difficult."
'After all, Noah managed it in the original story.'
Even if it was true — that a mid-level martial art was nothing compared to the help I could provide him — it was only partially true. In reality, Darius would be very useful to me in the future; investing in him is a good bet.
A nervous laugh escaped his lips.
"You're… you're not wrong, though I don't know how such a thing is possible. I admit it's a very tempting proposition. But only if you actually manage to get that potion. Knowing isn't the same as being able to, after all. What guarantee do I have that you'll actually be able to do it?"
'Well, it's true; there's no proof I'll be able to.'
I got up from my chair and walked over to him.
"You're right. So... bet on me. The risk is low compared to what you stand to gain, isn't it? The decision is in your hands."
'In any case, it's always been your choice.'
Darius hesitated. He didn't really know what to do. On one hand, the boy in front of him was remarkable: not only did he possess a unique gift, but he exuded something special. The way he came, the way he started the conversation... something about him was unusual. But on the other hand, he had a major flaw: he didn't really have value at the moment.
'And most of all... he's dangerous. Even if he didn't come with bad intentions, the fact that he knows where I get these arts is especially suspicious. And what if I accept, but he doesn't help me when the time comes or turns against me? Nothing guarantees that he'll keep his word.'
After a moment of waiting as I watched for his response, Darius sighed and locked his gaze on mine.
"All right. I accept."
"…"
'...Huh? What? Seriously? That easily? I was ready to propose a mana contract to earn more of his trust... Isn't he a bit reckless?'
"...Really?" I asked, a little surprised.
He rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, really. It breaks my heart to part with a mid-level martial art, but I've decided to believe you. Beyond what you've shown me, my intuition tells me it's the right decision…"
'Thank you, intuition!'
I smiled foolishly as he turned to leave. Then, suddenly, he turned back.
"Oh, I almost forgot: which martial art did you want again?"
"Oh, didn't I tell you? It's the [Silent Flow]."
"..."
"Hmm? Is something wrong?" I asked, intrigued by his silence.
Then an idea struck me, something I hadn't thought of.
"Wait... Don't tell me you don't have it?!"
In the original story, Noah ended up getting that art, so I assumed Darius already had it. But maybe at this precise moment, he still doesn't.
He looked at me, utterly dejected, before replying.
"I have it… just... why that one of all things?! I struggled so much to get that one!"
I raised an eyebrow.
'What?'
"You don't even know how much time it took me to get that thing! I almost considered learning it myself."
"Oh, yeah... I see," I replied, following him toward the martial art in question.
Darius was muttering under his breath, his footsteps echoing on the stone floor. When we reached one of the display cases, he unlocked the protection and took out a particular scroll.
He handed it to me, still looking as if he were surrendering an ancient treasure, and sighed as if he were abandoning a prized possession.
"Here it is, the famous [Silent Flow]. Just… make good use of it, all right?"
I took the scroll carefully, grateful for the trust he was granting me despite his disgruntled look.
"I promise. I'll honor your art… and your generosity."
I then channeled my mana into the infused scroll, focusing for a few moments. Gradually, precise knowledge imprinted itself in my mind. It tingled, but nothing compared to what I experienced when transmigrating into Noah's body.
The movements and techniques slowly took shape in my mind. I opened my eyes, curious to see if anything had changed.
I took a few steps back and executed a circular kick with surprising fluidity, creating a sharp sound in the air.
'It's... impressive, though still far from what I imagined.'
'Hmm, let's see.'
Suddenly, a holographic screen appeared in front of me.
—————•Status•—————
Name: Noah Arryn
Race: Human
Strength: 77
Defense: 55
Stamina: 63
Agility: 75
Charm: 180
Intelligence: 141
Perception: 320
Rank: Novice
Potential: Ethereal
Affinity: Ice | Chaos | Space
Constitution: [Locked]
Bond: -
Skills: -
Arts:
—> Silent Flow - Mid-Level - [0%]:
[Silent Flow is a martial art where movements are as smooth and quick as a flowing stream. It focuses on attacking and defending with flexibility and silence, like a quiet dance.]
Trait:
—> Shiva's Eyes:
[Shiva's Eyes reveal the vital points of adversaries and expose their deepest weaknesses while capturing a multitude of information. This power also allows one to perceive mana in its rawest form, unveiling elements invisible to the ordinary eye, and it can inflict devastating mental attacks. However, the use of this gift must be controlled to some extent. The more it is exploited, the harsher the consequences. Overusing this power is to risk losing oneself little by little.]
—————•Status•—————
Darius, still in his corner, watched me with a mix of resignation, as if he were already starting to regret his decision. I raised an eyebrow.
"What? You're jealous?" I teased, a bit provocatively.
He rubbed his head and couldn't help but smile.
"Not really... But congratulations, anyway. Now, if you don't mind, I have a shop to run."
I nodded in gratitude.
"Thanks, Darius. You'll see, you made the right choice."
Without another word, I took his contact, stored the scroll in my bag and headed for the door to leave.
"Wait!"
I turned, surprised.
"What? Regretting it already? Because if you are, know that—"
"Not yet," he interrupted. "But I realize I still don't know your name. Did you forget to mention it, by any chance?"
"..."
I paused before answering.
"It's Noah. Noah Arryn."
Darius remained silent for a moment, looking thoughtful, then slowly nodded.
"All right… Noah, then. Don't make me regret this."
I gave him a final look, accompanying my words with a casual wave of my hand.
"I promise, you won't be disappointed."
With that, I walked away without looking back.
'He must have figured out who I am upon hearing my last name,' I thought as I walked away.
'But no matter. I got what I wanted, and that's all that matters.'