The Language Born First
The secret art of the night elves, born in the shadow of the World Tree, is said to grow stronger at times close to night. Naturally, the ritual was scheduled for nighttime.
I trained my stamina alone as usual until the sun set, and Elenoir returned around the time the moon rose brightly.
"Perfect—it's a full moon tonight. Let's go."
The night elf's secret art strengthens at twilight hours, but it doesn't strictly require total darkness, she explained. A bright moon actually reinforces the concept of "night," amplifying the ritual's effect under a full moon.
Things like secret arts and spirit rites are old-school magic, where abstract conditions matter more than hard rules.
But where the hell are we headed? I hadn't heard anything about needing a specific location.
"To a land the fairies love. It's always brimming with mana, so it'll help you sense it."
She led me along, insisting we might as well do it under the best conditions possible.
We arrived at a wide lakeside, a short distance from the dark elf village.
It wasn't a dungeon, but the system treated it like a special spot.
Come to think of it, I'd seen community posts about this place. Not strategy guides, but a story from some server where a challenger fell head over heels for someone and confessed. Posting real names in that community meant it worked out, obviously.
And the confession spot? Right here.
Yeah, it had a nice vibe.
Chirrr... chirrr... Cricket chirps I'd only heard in the countryside started up, and the moonlit lake rippled with every breeze.
But was it worth the trek from higher floors? That couple was tackling 20th-floor content, so dropping down near Floor 7 must've been a hassle.
As I mulled that over, Elenoir laughed and rested a hand on my shoulder.
"Truth be told, it's not just the abundant mana. I wanted to show you this beautiful place."
I couldn't really relate. It didn't strike me as that stunning.
"Too soon for you, maybe. Shall we begin?"
Thud, thud. She tapped the ground with a staff-like tool from the village, then scattered a few pebbles.
"Strictly speaking, this secret art connects passages to each other's minds."
"It's not direct thought-sharing. You open doors for each other to peek beyond."
"I'll open the door to my thoughts for you—just follow it in. Easy."
With her brief explanation done and preparations set, Elenoir grabbed my face.
"Close your eyes. Find the door."
I shut my eyes and pressed my forehead to hers. A new world unfolded.
Even with eyes closed, I saw a dark passage. Far ahead, a golden door gleamed.
It swung open on its own without a touch. I stepped toward the light beyond.
The closer I got, the more faint resistance pushed back—like walking underwater.
It wasn't too strong, so I pressed on. The light slowly shifted form.
"Get lost!"
I spun at the sudden shout. A small cluster of light hurtled toward me, speaking in a voice both familiar and strange.
It took shape into a little girl—young Elenoir. She chased a white, rabbit-like beast, laughing, not hunting.
The scenery shifted to a familiar spot: the rest area where I'd talked with Rizmel recently. It looked like an elven playground mimicking an apartment complex one, but empty of kids back then.
Now I got it—this was Elenoir's childhood haunt.
"Where you off to, you little beastie?!"
She pursued the darting creature endlessly around the playground. It hopped a low fence.
"Ahh, not there."
She'd been warned not to go beyond. Desire clashed with caution—but curiosity won. What lay out there?
Mind made up, she vaulted the fence with gusto.
The night elf instinct for exploration beyond the forest, unbound by fear. As the dark elf princess, Elenoir embodied it strongest.
Suddenly, I merged with her past self. Her thoughts, feelings—all flowed into me.
She didn't stop after catching the rabbit. Eager to explore further, she dashed on—and reached Starlight Lake.
"Whoa, so pretty!"
Eyes sparkling, she stepped into the shallows. I felt the water's ripple too.
Time accelerated. Tiny Elenoir grew to adulthood; the lake transformed.
Flowers bloomed into glowing sparks like fireflies—true to its name, starlight grew here. They swirled around her.
Beautiful. Stars rained like silver, laughter rang, fairies danced—and Elenoir joined them.
Her joy flooded me; the fairies' rhythm synced with mine. Inhaling drew starlight—mana—into my body.
I realized: this was the mana I'd craved to sense.
Passive Skill: Mana Sensitivity Lv.1 acquired.
Elenoir's forehead pulled away from mine. I opened my eyes to mana lights surging around us.
"How's that? You see it now, right?"
Fairies of all shapes flitted about the lakeside; starlight—or mana like fireflies—trailed the wind with them.
No wonder 20th-floor challengers came down here.
Now I saw the lake's beauty.
"The fairies want to dance with you. Why not join?"
"Dance? What?"
"Nothing fancy—just spin around together."
They grabbed my hands; Elenoir pushed my back. I got dragged in.
"Surrender to the melody. Start by listening."
The fairies whirled chaotically with me—no pattern at all.
"You've learned to expand your senses, so you'll hear it too."
"Wind, water, grass, crickets."
"They blend into song."
A melody reached my ears; the chaos became dance. But matching it? Tough—I'd never danced.
Elenoir urged: don't overthink, you can do it.
"All life born of Mother Earth remembers. The melody etched deeper than any language—the first ever made."
I'm no child of this land—a human dragged in from outside the Tower.
Yet strangely, as she said—I could dance.
Led by fairy hands, my body followed the tune like a forgotten memory resurfacing.
Just spinning around, yet something filled me up.
Passive Skill: Mana Sensitivity Lv.2 acquired.