Chapter 146: The Mages and Eldoris

Two days had passed since Tanaka had returned from Varkesh. Eldoris was changing. Tanaka saw it as he passed the building where the human mages were staying that morning. He had expected them to be resting after the ordeal they had suffered, but the second he entered the courtyard, he heard a woman shouting.

"Don’t ram the mana down your hand! Slow it down. You have to know how it flows before you can try and shape it." Several Goblins knelt before her, intensely focused on their hands. One was able to create a small spark. The Goblin jumped to his feet. "I did it!" The spark vanished. "And you lost it," the woman said, sighing. The Goblin sat back down. Tanaka watched, amused. The mages had wasted no time. He shifted to his human form before entering the courtyard. His blue slime form was common knowledge to the monsters of Eldoris, but Tanaka had sensed that the human mages were more comfortable communicating with him this way.

A few of them were exceptions, though. Tanaka had barely taken three steps before a young girl ran up to him. "Lord Tanaka!" Tanaka stopped. Laira, the youngest of the mages, was sixteen years old. With her short brown hair and wide, bright eyes, she reminded him most of an intelligent child with an unbreakable spirit. Unlike the others, she seemed to have little fear of him. She skidded to a halt before him. "Good morning!" "Good morning, Laira. What are you doing out here instead of practicing?"

Laira looked offended. "I finished practicing!" "Already?" "I was the first to get my mana under control!" A Goblin behind her called out, "You made the whole table glow!" "Part of the exercise!" Laira snapped, turning back to face her companion. "It wasn’t!" Tanaka chuckled.

Laira turned to him, having decided that arguing the point was a waste of time. "Lord Tanaka, why are you in human form?" "Because it makes it easier for some of these others to talk to me." "Oh." Laira slumped. Tanaka frowned. "You prefer my other form? Elaria?" Laira nodded enthusiastically. "Your slime form is adorable!"

Tanaka stared at her, taken aback. Of all the reactions he had expected from Laira, that was not one of them. Elaria came up behind the girl and rubbed her temple. "Forgive her, Lord Tanaka. She has been asking when you would come by since yesterday." "I am right here," Laira muttered. "And I can hear you." Elaria shot the younger mage an exasperated look before she turned to Tanaka. "Lord Tanaka, I am glad that you came. There is something that we would like to show you." Tanaka’s interest was piqued. "What is it?" "Come inside."

---

The building had changed since he had last seen it. The large room had been modified into a classroom, complete with wooden tables, writing boards and shelves stacked with books and scrolls. A few of the Goblins were copying notes while two Orcs listened intently as a mage explained the flow of their mana. At the far end, a group of crystals, copper-like metal bits and several unfamiliar objects were arranged around a wooden frame. Tanaka walked up to them.

"What’s this?" Elaria smiled. "Our first attempt at a magical communication device." Tanaka turned to her. "You’ve already started building one?" "We had some spare time, and your people have been helping us with the materials. We thought it would be good to create something functional while we get settled in." One of the older mages stepped forward. "We’ve enchanted two of the crystals to relay sound to each other. The device is powered by mana to carry the message from one crystal to the other."

Tanaka studied the wooden frame. "So it’s like a telephone?" The mages exchanged confused looks. "A what?" Laira asked. "Never mind. It’s a device that lets people communicate without having to be in the same room." "That’s right, Lord Tanaka. This version isn’t very advanced, and it requires someone to power it, but we’ve managed to send voices to each other across a considerable distance in our tests."

Tanaka’s eyes lit up. "How long a distance?" "We don’t know the limit. We’ve tested it in two buildings and across the settlement, but the range seems stable." "Would it work over a greater distance?" "Not yet." Tanaka studied the device again.

This could solve a major problem. Messengers were the fastest way to send messages between Eldoris and Varkesh, but a Star Wolf could get from one kingdom to the other in the time it took for someone to cross the border. If an emergency occurred, there was no telling if a messenger would be available. A magical communication device could eliminate that problem. "Can you make another pair?" Elaria nodded. "Provided we get the materials, yes. We also intend to modify this one to consume less mana and not require a constant power source." "Go ahead and do that."

The mages were stunned. Tanaka smiled. "What? You’ve already shown me one thing that could make it easier to communicate between our territories. I’ll make sure that you have the materials you need." Elaria bowed her head. "Thank you, Lord Tanaka." Laira raised her hand. "Can we have more books, too?" Tanaka looked at her. "Books?" "We’ve been discussing the school that you want to build. There aren’t enough books to teach an entire generation." Tanaka paused. She had a point. He wanted the children of Eldoris to be able to learn to read, write and do mathematics, but the plan was still rather vague. 𝑓𝑟ℯℴ𝓂

The mages had already begun discussing what they would need to make it a reality. "Get me a list of the books and materials you need," he told Elaria. "We’ll see about getting them." Laira beamed. "Thank you!" Tanaka scanned the room one more time. In only two days, the mages were not only instructing Eldoris’s people, but organizing its future school and creating devices that would be of use to both kingdoms. They had more than just found a home. They were making one. That made Tanaka happy.

---

A few hours later, Tanaka received two messages from Varkesh. Razer’s note was short. The kingdom was stable, the remaining warring factions had formed an alliance and the ruined district was being rebuilt. Tharven had begun putting together the government for the new administration. Raveana’s note was far less polite. Varkesh is stable. The work is boring. When can we come home? Tanaka read the message, then laughed. Raveana had never been one for sitting around when there was a battle to be had. He dictated a reply.

"You’ve done enough there. Stay until the other matters are sorted out, and then you can come home." He hesitated, then added one more line. "And don’t pick a fight just because you’re bored." The Star Wolf messenger delivered the message and growled in what almost seemed like amusement. Tanaka sent it on its way. Then he went back to the mages. He had another task for them.

---

By afternoon, the first device was ready to be delivered. The mages had spent several hours testing the matched pair of crystals. After one final test confirmed that the device could transmit voices without much distortion, Tanaka arranged for one to be left in Eldoris. The other one was being sent to Tharven. A Star Wolf was summoned for the trip. Tanaka carefully packed the device in a padded case and handed it over. "Take this straight to Tharven. Tell him it’s a communication device that the human mages developed. He should keep it somewhere secure and have someone test it as soon as possible." The Star Wolf messenger dipped its head. "Good. Travel safely." It left. Elaria watched it disappear down the road. "If that device works at that range, it’ll be a significant breakthrough."

"It will," Tanaka said. "And when you refine it, we can make more." Laira came up beside them. "Does that mean we’ll be able to talk to Varkesh anytime we want?" "It depends on how well the next tests go." She smiled. "Then we’ll make sure they work!" Tanaka looked at the mages surrounding him. Though they were still recovering from their time as prisoners, some were still leery around the monsters of Eldoris and others were still adjusting to their new surroundings. But they were safe. They had work to do and a place to live, along with the freedom to choose their own fates. For the first time in a long while, they seemed excited about the future. Tanaka smiled.

"Keep up the good work. I’ll see about getting you the materials you asked for." He turned to go, but Laira called him back. "Lord Tanaka!" He stopped and turned. She pointed at him with an eager look on her face. "Could you come as a slime the next time you come by?" Tanaka stared at her. "I’m sorry," Elaria said, covering her mouth. Laira did not look the least bit apologetic. Tanaka sighed, then chuckled. "I’ll think about it." Her face lit up.

As Tanaka walked away from the building, he cast one last glance at the mages. They were already returning to work. Eliris had not only found a safe home for the human mages, but teachers, researchers and pioneers who would change the kingdom forever. Their device was only the beginning. Soon, knowledge would no longer be bound by distance between Eldoris and Varkesh.

The school would give the people of both kingdoms new opportunities, and the mages would be able to learn more about magic than anyone had ever dreamed. Tanaka had spent most of his life growing stronger so that he could protect his kingdom. Now, seeing people creating something that would outlive them all, he was starting to understand the value of another kind of power.