Turns out that Elira is kind of busy the day after her beach trip with us, so we ended up having to wait a bit. It took a while, but now we're with her, Dargo, and Ilina in Dargo's office. I requested the location – I think it's the best place for their MMC.
Elira flops down on the couch with an exhausted sigh, then looks at me with a miserable expression.
"So, is this present going to be telling us that you killed the king of Balzuth?" (Elira)
"Actually, it was Freden's king this time." (Mizuki)
Elira snorts like she knows it's a joke, but then she stares at me expectantly with a mildly nervous expression. Wow…she's really waiting for me to confirm that it's a joke.
I roll my eyes.
"Yes, Elira, I'm obviously joking. What I'm bringing you is an actual present – more like the train!" (Mizuki)
Elira's eyes widen eagerly, and she leans forward on the couch.
"Well, I like the sound of that! Let's hear it, Mizuki…what are we getting?" (Elira)
Ilina shakes her head in embarrassment, but Dargo seems to be suppressing a smile.
"With your permission, I'm going to install a magic item in Dargo's office that will let you send written messages directly to our house in Eden, and vice versa. Unlike a carrier pigeon, this item will send the messages between locations immediately. The magic power requirements should be very low." (Mizuki)
Elira and Dargo look shocked. Ilina just looks curious.
"Wait…so I'll be able to send as many messages as I want to any of you, including Alara, and possibly get an immediate reply? Also, this communication could all happen without your continued teleporting to us?" (Elira)
"When you say the power requirements are low…would I be able to use it regularly without exhausting myself? Even with my relatively low power level?" (Dargo)
I smile in amusement and nod.
"Fufufu…the answer to all of your questions is yes." (Mizuki)
Elira is uncharacteristically buzzing with excitement, and Dargo looks relieved.
"Yes, you have our permission. How soon will you be able to come back and install it?" (Elira)
"Well, actually, if you and Dargo don't mind leaving the room for a few minutes, I'll install it now. You could go to the library or something and I'll send you another thought message when it's done. Dargo, is the wall behind your desk an okay place to install the magic item? It needs to remain in a fixed position to function properly – it can never be moved." (Mizuki)
I'm expecting them to be offended that I'm kicking them out of Dargo's own office, just so that I can hide unique magic from them. To my surprise, however…
Elira immediately stands up from the couch, and grabs Dargo's hand as she pulls them towards the door.
"Splendid! We don't mind at all. We'll be waiting on your word that it's done!" (Elira)
As Dargo is practically dragged out the door by Elira, he hollers over his shoulder hurriedly.
"Behind my desk sounds fine, Mizuki! I trust you!" (Dargo)
They exit the room without another word, and I turn to Ilina with a dumbfounded expression. She just looks back at me with an amused grin.
"Ilina, what the hell was that about? They seemed way too accepting about everything. Also, since when is being able to send messages a little faster worth them being that excited? Elira was practically giddy." (Mizuki)
"Fufufu…well, for one, they probably assume that this will mean less of your spontaneous teleportation visits. Also, they'll now be able to ask you and Alto for things directly and discreetly. I'd say the biggest reason for Mother's excitement though…" (Ilina)
Ilina pauses for a moment, seeming to confirm something with herself before continuing.
"She's probably excited about getting to talk with Alara regularly. Currently, they send letters on the train. Compared to living and working together like they used to, I'm sure that seems like a painfully slow way to stay in touch. Regardless of what Alara has done, they're still mother and daughter, and I think that being separated from her first child has been harder on Mother than she'd like to admit." (Ilina)
Damn...that kind of makes me feel bad for splitting them up. I mean, Alara was a real pain in my ass early on, but still…I sympathize.
Also, I didn't know that they were already sending letters regularly by train. Alara mentioned something about some entrepreneurial elves acting as independent letter carriers on the train, but I'd forgotten until now.
I sigh deeply.
"I had no idea…thanks for letting me know, Ilina. In that case, I'll get right to work on installing the magic item. It's called a micro-messaging center, or MMC, and it uses the teleportation spell we know. Thanks to you mastering that spell, I learned that teleporting things as small as carrier pigeon messages requires drastically less magic power. Even normal people can do it." (Mizuki)
Ilina nods appreciatively for the explanation, and I get to work on my task. I build another MMC in the wall behind Dargo's desk. It's identical to the Eden MMC, with a few exceptions.
First, while I include five item slots, I only create one teleportation item – they're only sending messages to Eden for now. Next, I etch 'Eden' into the item, and into the wall behind the item's designated slot, so there's no confusion about placement. Finally, I actually enchant the item, such that it teleports the contents inside the bounds of the cylinder to the Eden mailbox once enough magic is supplied.
I quickly alchemize a small iron marble, then place it in the item slot. I cover it with the item, then channel magic into it until I feel the magic levels plateau and drop. I teleport back to our mansion briefly to check the MMC mailbox, and happily notice the iron marble where it should be. I retrieve it, then return to Dargo's office.
I face Ilina and Alto, and they're looking between the MMC and me curiously.
"Did it work?" (Alto)
"Yup, no issues! Here, now you try…we need to confirm that it's not too much of a drain on your magic." (Mizuki)
I hand Alto the iron marble, and she eagerly goes to replicate the process. After, she checks under the cylindrical item – the iron marble is gone. Alto squeals in excitement and turns to me enthusiastically.
"It worked, Mizuki, and I don't even notice any magic drain!" (Alto)
I give Alto an approving grin…I'm glad to see that my meta-math checked out. Satisfied with the final product, I lock onto Elira's magic signature.
[Alright, Elira, all done!] (Mizuki)
After a few minutes, Elira and Dargo barge through the door excitedly, and their eyes immediately settle on the MMC behind Dargo's desk. Dargo begins looking it over with a curious expression, but Elira just turns to me impatiently.
"Okay, Mizuki, so what do we need to know about using this thing?" (Elira)
I suppress a chuckle as I nod at her.
"I'm calling this a micro-messaging center, or MMC. Here, let me show you how to use it…" (Mizuki)
I give them a brief rundown of all the components and the operation procedure. I also include a few warnings.
"Finally, never try to use that cylindrical item outside of its placeholder there. You can store it in a desk drawer when it's not being used, if you want, but always put it back in that exact slot before using it. Failing to follow that rule could be dangerous. Otherwise, have fun!" (Mizuki)
Elira and Dargo nod appreciatively.
"So, messages from all of you will show up here then?" (Elira)
Elira points to their MMC mailbox, and I nod.
"Yes, and as soon as I return, I'll make sure to set up our MMC so that we can send you messages. By the way, Elira…" (Mizuki)
Elira looks at me inquisitively as I trail off, and I take a moment to decide what I want to say.
"For what it's worth, I'm sorry that you're now separated from your daughter. While I still think my response to her actions was more than fair, I also sympathize with the position it put you in as a mother." (Mizuki)
Elira wears a sad smile briefly, but then it warms, and she shakes her head at me.
"I appreciate the sentiment, Mizuki, but I don't resent you over this. While I miss Alara, I'm also grateful for how everything turned out. Alara has experienced a lot of personal growth since she started building that city with you, and Ilina has become so formidable as a future queen. Honestly, I couldn't be prouder. Besides, thanks to your train, Alara can visit in person with relative ease, and now we get to exchange messages freely!" (Elira)
I smile widely back at Elira.
"That's a huge relief, Elira, thank you. Still, I think I could do more. How about I teleport her straight to the palace once per week so you can spend the day together? That's assuming she agrees, of course. I can send her here first thing in the morning, then bring her back after sunset. It's no extra trouble for me." (Mizuki)
Elira's eyes go wide in surprise, then she smiles happily.
"That would be wonderful, Mizuki! You don't mind?" (Elira)
"Not at all. After today, you should be able to work out the details through these MMCs, then Alara can just let me know what days she wants to be sent here in the morning with Ilina." (Mizuki)
I see Dargo stare at me blankly, and I give him a puzzled look in return.
"Mizuki, what do you mean you'll send Alara 'with Ilina'?" (Dargo)
I look to Ilina, and she's deep red and looking at me apologetically. Oh, no…don't tell me. I look to Elira, but she doesn't look surprised. She just seems a little uncomfortable. Are you telling me that they didn't tell Dargo that Ilina has been visiting me every night!?
"Uhm…Mizuki…it seems that Ilina has some explaining to do to her father, so perhaps you and Alto should depart. Thank you for everything today." (Elira)
Whelp…that's a yes. Ilina immediately gives me pleading eyes, like she doesn't want to be left to do this alone.
[Sorry, Ilina, this one's all on you. Have fun!] (Mizuki)
Without even waiting for Ilina to react…
"Sounds great, bye everyone!" (Mizuki)
I immediately teleport Alto and myself back to the mansion. Seeing our change in surroundings, Alto turns back to me with a skeptical expression.
"Are you sure that was the wisest decision? I suspect that the Princess will be quite unhappy later." (Alto)
I sigh deeply…Alto's right, I'm going to pay for that one. Still…nothing to be done about it now!
I shrug at Alto and grin, and she just shakes her head in exasperation. Then, a thought occurs to me.
"So, this sparring match between Zara and Alara that's been going on…who do you think won?" (Mizuki)
Alto looks at me in surprise following the sudden topic change, then smiles thoughtfully.
"Hmm…it's difficult to say. They both have invisibility, lightning, and physical enhancement now. While Alara has probably twenty times more magic power, Zara has your fireball spell, superior weapon skills, and far better senses to track her opponent. For that last reason, I give the slight advantage to Zara, but I bet it's a close match either way." (Alto)
I nod agreeably.
"I like the assessment…I'm leaning a little more towards Alara, though. That's just too large of a power gap. She can funnel all that power into a superior physical enhancement, and she can use lightning to probe the environment and make up for her weaker senses. I agree it's probably close, though, so I'll go see how it went for myself. Want to come?" (Mizuki)
Alto smirks and shakes her head.
"No, it's been a while since I've checked in on Cera and Kara, so I'll do that instead. Let me know which of us is right later, though." (Alto)
"Will do. Want to make a bet on it? Winner gets a favor!" (Mizuki)
Alto gives me a genuinely puzzled expression.
"What would you even ask for if you won? I don't think there's anything I can do for you that you can't do for yourself." (Alto)
Huh…I guess I can't think of a genuine favor to ask of her. I'm just grateful for a friend to confide in and do research with – I've never been so pleased with a friendship before. The only thing left that I really want is for her be happy and fulfilled with the course of her life after meeting me. I don't want to be a source of regret.
"Uhm...I guess I don't know. That's got me thinking, though, is there anything I can do for you?" (Mizuki)