In Hindsight

Staring blankly at a stack of books in the library, I wondered how dependent I became on <Scan> as a method to obtain information. It was basically like a replacement for Google search for me, I suppose. Convenient and simple.

But I found an anti-cheat in that blond alfr and, since he was present during the conference, I was unable to get any information on the Eastern Contingent.

He didn't notice when I was using <Hover> nor when I enhanced my senses earlier.

'Thirty-Seven, can you explain to me about magic sensitivity and sight?' I was aware of the various methods to detect mana due to my readings but a majority of the archives were, unsurprisingly, not practical information. It was theory and knowledge I needed but it was up to me to utilize the data as I saw fit.

[As you can see when your vision is tuned to a spectrum that enables you to see mana, it is in everything. Catching mana flow peripherally is different from seeing and noticing something in the corner of one's vision, since natural mana is in constant motion.

[Magic sensitivity is usually through the senses other than Sight. Taste, Touch, Hearing, Smell, and Instinct are all expressed differently. Alfr as a race tend to be magically sensitive with a secondary sense other than sight, most commonly it is through sound.

[My hypothesis is that the Shaman is sensitive to change in mana flow like the school of magic he specializes are inclined to be. The execution of <Scan> requires contact with mana, like a needle prick, so information can be disseminated and interpreted. A surface <Scan> should be fine by my calculations as long as you are discreet about it.]

I hummed, wondering why 37's feelers and radar wasn't noticed.

[I operate on a different frequency that cannot be accessed by the alven race.]

… Something just occurred to me. 'Wait, so does this mean that my caution for using <Scan> around alves saved my hide?' That they could actually notice if I tried to get more information about them through the <Scan> function?

[Yes, Nor—]

"If you have nothing better to do, why are you here? I'm trying to work," came the annoyed tones of Elin.

Sitting up from sprawling my arms on the library table, I looked at the irritated girl in hidden amusement. She was fidgeting with her immaculate gloves and pushing up her glasses; a nervous tic I've come to recognize. Elin Auteberry looked nothing more like a cat who got brushed the wrong way.

"Am I distracting you, Miss Elin?" I smiled at her. "I know I'm gorgeous and—"

She sniffed. "Who would be distracted by a vagrant magician that can't even take care of themself?"

That was it! Elin reminded me of a less lethal and bratty Victoria but her job basically had me imagine her to be what a younger Minerva McGonagall might be like. The familiarity had been bothering me for weeks!

[… Nori, really.]

Ignoring my partner's exasperation, I leaned back in the chair I sat, putting a hand over my heart. "You injure me with your words, milady!"

She very pointedly rolled her eyes before she shook her head with a small smile as she returned to the book before her.

Returning to a more comfortable position across from the librarian, I glanced at her progress. "Anyway, you're just checking texts for damage. How about we talk while you work?"

Elin was only flipping through the pages to make sure there were no graffiti, tears, or food/water/etc damage to the books. A menial task that was routine for the local librarians to do.

I heard you can get excommunicated from the Library if you desecrated one too many books but I'm not actually sure if that were an actual policy or just a librarian joke.

"You're rather bored now that you've devoured the contents of the Magical Archives, I see," Elin remarked before sighing, "What do you want to talk about Nori?"

My eyes made to wander around for a topic even though I already had a subject in mind. "Hm, well… I guess we might as well talk about what everyone else is talking about."

"The Conference?"

"I'm sure you've had a fair amount of people come to you for help considering you specialize in Law and History so why don't we talk about something regarding the Conference you haven't discussed yet."

She gave me a quick glance before returning her attention to the turning pages. "Magic?"

"Specifically security and customs!" I placed my palms together but refrained from clapping considering our location. "I know this was an emergency conference that began with Shamaness Verk before she disappeared to address the patterns she was beginning to see in the region. There was an open invitation for alliance powers to join and it looks like the South has taken advantage of it."

"The Eastern Kingdoms too," Elin interrupted. "They arrived last evening."

I mentally noted the timing before continuing as if this was news to me. "Right. So, Westria has neutrality with the East and South. It does not make them true allies so I wonder at the security that is being put in place to ensure no 'accidents' or 'spying' might happen when it was originally just a meeting for the smartest minds in Westria?"

"Crown City has ways to protect itself, Nori. We, as a city, also espouse access to information no matter who it may be as long as they do not break the laws. This is a hub of learning and knowledge so we only restrict information as needed.

"As for security, well, you haven't really gone into <Warding> and <Seals> yet, have you?"

"Oh, so they do have security?" I pressed a finger to my lower-lip, genuinely wondering how I went under the radar.

"There are also guards, of course. And the patrol of the walls has been more stringent. It is not as easy to enter and leave the city now, though I'm sure you were unaware.

"There are no weapons allowed in the actual meeting hall and there is a <Dampening Seal> in place so spells cannot be cast within."

Did I avoid it initially by never touching the glowing floor?

[Yes.]

"Don't the alfr have an advantage then? There was also a newcomer, if I heard correctly."

One of my eyebrows hiked up when I saw the ever-prim Elin become a little flustered. Almost shy. The movement of her hands stuttered and she pushed her glasses up as she focused on the contents of the page as if it held the answer to everything.

Oh, was that her type? How amusing but, I suppose, it's not that odd for Elin to be attracted to his good looks and elegant demeanor.

"Yes, you're probably talking about Shaman Vesa. He's a foreign Shaman that's been dropping by the Library during the day."

Picturing the blond alfr again, I found he was rather familiar looking. Maybe he was Ing's uncle from whatever other alfr tribe Ing's mother was from.

Not that he really mattered other than as an obstacle that made things more difficult when spying.

No, I was more concerned with the newly arrived Eastern contingent. They arrived at Crown City last evening and 37 lost 42's signal around 10 PM.

The timing was awfully coincidental.