[Sylvia POV]
"Bzz...bzz..." The gentle hum of the RuneCaller cut through the darkness like a faraway whisper from a different realm. My eyes fluttered open hesitantly, drawn to the tiny light emitted by the device positioned at the corner of my table, right beside my bed.
I looked out the window, where the moon's silver glow still controlled the sky. The lack of light indicated that it was truly late at night, an ungodly hour to be awakened by slumber.
"Creak..."
As I shifted my weight, the antique bedframe groaned quietly. I sighed and nudged Colser toward the table.
I reached out and took the RuneCaller, a marvel created by our realm's adept dwarves. It has the incredible capacity to summon someone from across continents with only a smidgeon of their unique mana signature.
"Sylvia here,"
I replied, my voice barely audible and my eyes half-closed. Few knew me well enough to use my RuneCaller, and even fewer would summon me at this awful hour. I knew who was on the other end of the phone line.
"Hello, my dear." The voice that welcomed me was silky and smooth, with just a tinge of mischief in its tones. Even though she couldn't see me, I couldn't help but roll my eyes.
Of all the people in the world, it was she who always managed to find the most inconvenient times to call. Yet, there was a certain charm in her audacity that made each call a peculiar delight.
"It's not even a fucking dawn yet, Essie. Can't you call me at a more reasonable time?"
I retorted, firmly resisting the enchanting allure that seemed to weave itself into every syllable of her voice.
She had that knack for drawing people in effortlessly. A born leader, she was "Celestia Blandina Lysandra." A.k.a. "Phoenix Princess".
"Come on, it's afternoon here," she replied, and I could practically picture her spinning around in her surroundings as if to prove her point.
I scoffed, my frustration bubbling beneath the surface. "There's a time difference between continents, Essie. How many times do I have to remind you? You only do this to irritate me."
Her remark was deceptive, a false innocence that had me second-guessing myself. "I don't know what you're talking about."
I couldn't help but smirk, knowing all too well her tricks. "All right, Essie. I've known you since we were little. You're not going to fool me."
I sat on the side of my bed, my lingerie squeezing my flesh and covering nearly nothing. It was an intriguing dance of annoyance and familiarity, a symphony of harmless banter that had become an essential aspect of our connection.
"So, why did you call, Mrs. Busybody?" I joked, my tone tinged with indignation. Her ever-increasing obligations seemed to have bound her to her duties, leaving us with less time for the unhurried discussions we previously enjoyed.
"Nothing much," she said, her voice bearing an unusual seriousness. When Essie got serious, you knew something major was about to happen. "I just got some very important news, and I thought I'd share it with you."
"What exactly happened?" I queried, my tone changing from casual to anxious. Life had been going quite well for the past few years, so any unexpected surprise had the potential to make me uneasy.
"Remember how the seal of the forgotten continent worked?" Essie prompted, recalling the numerous hours we'd spent together and her passionate explanations of the complexities of the world around us.
"I do," I confirmed, my interest tinged with apprehension. Anything associated with that seal has an ominous vibe about it. Nobody could predict what would happen if the seal was broken.
"Well," she continued, her voice solemn, "the fourth pillar has started to crack."
My thoughts raced as I tried to recall what I knew about the ancient seals.
When the human god sealed the forgotten continent, he set four pillars at its four corners, each representing a different era. It was predicted that the seal would weaken near the end of the fourth era, allowing whatever had been imprisoned within to emerge and confront the world.
"That's quite the predicament, isn't it?" I inquired, despite the fact that I already knew the answer. The thought of the seal breaking was enough to send shivers down anyone's spine.
"Well, there's always a silver lining to these things, isn't there?" Essie announced her lively attitude, returning like an old friend. Few people could persuade her inner kid to come out; with everyone else, she maintained an icy mask.
"And what might that be?"
I couldn't stop myself from raising an eyebrow.
"Well, we're going to be together again," she said with a cheeky grin.
"They're sending a formidable team of individuals from other races to explore the seal, and I've taken the liberty of volunteering both of us for the mission, which we'll leave for next year around this time once I accomplish my task."
"Essie, you should really consult with me before making such decisions."
I let out an annoyed groan, sensing where this was going.
"Oh, come on, you know you would've said yes anyway."
Her remark was painfully truthful.
I couldn't help but agree with her as I made a cup of tea in my kitchen to settle my tense nerves.
"So, have you found anyone suitable for that discipleship position?" Essie asked, leaning forward as I sat down with a steaming cup of tea in my hand. It had taken longer than planned to find a suitable apprentice.
I nodded, remembering the young lad who had piqued my interest that morning. "Actually, yes. There are several contenders, but one sticks out. He's been staying at my inn, and he's as talented with a spear as I was in my early days."
"Why not take him on as your disciple then?" Essie pressed, her impatience to see me mentor someone evident in her voice.
I paused before responding, "Well, I suspect he might be a noble." My reaction was skeptical; the boy's posture and style of speech suggested a wealthy upbringing that was difficult to dismiss.
Essie, not one to mince words, shot back, "You already took your revenge against the nobility decades ago. It's time to let go of that grudge. Stop being so pessimistic about them. Besides, you should know better, being the old hag you are now."
"We are the same age, you idiot. If I'm an old hag, then so are you."
I retorted with an exasperated eye roll.
"If the issue is his nobility, why not give him a task to prove himself? If he excels, then you can consider taking him as a disciple," Essie suggested, and I found myself nodding in agreement.
"That's exactly what I had in mind. I was thinking of teaching him mana sense, and if he can master it in one month, I'll consider him my disciple," I replied, finishing the last sip of tea in my cup.
She responded with a chuckle, her amusement obvious. "Do you realize it took you two and a half months to master mana sense? It's a tall order to expect him to master it in a month."
I shook my head, determined. "We only have a year before we leave for the forgotten continent. If he can't even understand mana sense in a month, I doubt he'll be able to perfect my spear art in that time."
With that, I undressed and went to the shower, letting the warm water wash away the traces of sleep and preparing for the day ahead.