Elysia
Chapter 15: A New Name, A New World

The first morning as Elina von Silbernebel felt different. When Elina awoke on her cloud-like bed, the first thing she did was not feel the usual emptiness that accompanied her waking moments, but whisper a name into the cool air.

"Elina… von Silbernebel."

The name felt real on her tongue, solid and grand. It was an anchor, a claim. For the first time in her life, she felt she possessed something more than just a pebble—she had an identity. That feeling seeped into her, straightening her posture that was usually a little stooped, and igniting a spark of confidence in her eyes that had always been downcast. She was no longer just Elina the orphan. She was a part of this palace, a part of the magnificent woman who had given her a name.

When Elysia appeared in her room as silently as ever, Elina no longer flinched in surprise. She turned and offered a greeting with a small, genuine smile. "Good morning, Lady Elysia."

Elysia observed the change with the interest of a researcher. The child before her stood a little taller. Her gaze was more direct. The faint, underlying fear had been replaced by a quiet respect. Interesting, Elysia thought. Bestowing a name appears to be an efficient method for increasing the subject's stability and confidence. Her emotional parameters are now far more balanced. She still framed everything in practical terms, but she could not deny that the result of her action yesterday felt… pleasant.

Their breakfast that day felt different. The silence that usually enveloped them now felt more comfortable, no longer awkward. Spurred on by her newfound courage, Elina made a request after finishing her bowl of fruit porridge.

"Lady Elysia," she began, "may I learn more in the library today?"

"You may use the library whenever you wish. That is the rule," Elysia replied flatly.

"Not just fairy tales," Elina continued. "Can I learn about… the Alliance? And the real Heroes?"

The request captured Elysia’s attention. The child's curiosity had evolved from the world of fantasy to the real world. She wanted to understand the world beyond their isolated paradise. It was a logical development. And for Elysia, having an attendant who was well-informed about the 'noisy neighbors' politics' could prove useful someday.

"History books are written by the victors and are often inaccurate," Elysia said as she stood. "It is more efficient to observe directly. Follow me."

She led Elina not to the main library hall with its constellation of book-orbs, but to a smaller, more intimate chamber. In the center of the room was a circular basin made of black crystal, filled with a liquid that looked like a captured night sky, full of swirling stars.

"This is a Scrying Basin," Elysia explained. "A window to see distant places."

Elina stared at the basin in awe. Elysia simply waved her hand over the liquid's surface. "Show me the camp of the Alliance Heroes at the border of the Weeping Marshes," she commanded softly.

The surface of the pool rippled. The stars within it swirled and formed a clear, living image, complete with sound. The scene showed a bustling military camp. Soldiers were cleaning their weapons, healers were tending to minor wounds, and in the middle of it all, the four Heroes were in discussion in front of a large tent.

Elina leaned closer, her eyes glued to the scene. This was not a story hologram; these were real people. She saw Kenji, the leader, giving firm directions to his captains. She saw Aiko poring over a map and pointing out strategic locations. She saw the large Kaito boasting about the strength of his new shield to soldiers who listened in admiration, and she saw Yui gently channeling healing light onto an injured soldier's arm.

They looked tired, but their eyes shone with spirit and hope. They laughed together, argued, and shared meals. Elina saw camaraderie and fellowship among them, a concept she had only ever read about in books. Her heart felt a strange connection to them—the people who were fighting for the world that was now her home.

Elysia, on the other hand, observed the same scene with cold analysis. Their strategy is too aggressive, she thought. They rely too much on the raw power of their new weapons. Their formations have openings. Their emotions—the pride from their victory—are making them careless. They are strong for mortals, but they fight with such… wasteful desperation. They burn so brightly, and will burn out just as quickly.

Her merciless analysis was interrupted when she glanced at Elina. She saw the way the child smiled when she heard one of the Heroes laugh. She saw the pure admiration in her eyes. She saw hope. This was a new data point she had not factored in. This child—her child, Elina von Silbernebel—cared about the fate of these noisy, inefficient people.

Elysia’s perception of the war outside began to shift. It was no longer just an abstract annoyance. It was the subject of Elina's interest and concern. And Elina's well-being, she realized with a flicker of irritation, directly affected the tranquility within her palace.

Suddenly, the scene in the pool grew tense. A small pack of leftover corrupted beasts, having hidden in the swamps, launched a surprise ambush on the edge of the camp.

The Heroes reacted quickly. A brief, chaotic battle ensued. They had the upper hand, but in the confusion, one of the younger knights fell, his arm wounded by a monster’s claw.

"Aah!" Elina gasped, her hands flying to her mouth. Genuine anxiety was plain on her face.

Elysia saw Elina’s reaction. She did nothing to intervene in the fight within the vision. Of course not. But, without anyone noticing, she did something else. With a fleeting thought, she made a nearly imperceptible gesture with her finger.

Hundreds of kilometers away, on the chaotic battlefield, a healer rushed toward the injured knight. She took out a standard healing potion and was about to pour it on the wound. At that exact moment, an invisible mote of pure energy, having crossed the continent at an impossible speed from the Aurora Palace, infused itself with the liquid in the bottle.

When the potion was poured, the wound healed in an instant with a soft glow of light, far faster and more perfectly than it should have. The healer and the knight could only blink, attributing it to a miracle or the holy aura of the nearby Heroes.

In the Aurora Palace, Elysia watched the look of relief return to Elina's face as she saw the knight stand up again. She had acted, not to save a nameless soldier, but to erase the look of worry from Elina's face. Because the child's worry was a disturbance to her peace.

With another wave of her hand, Elysia dispersed the image in the pool, returning it to a calm surface of swirling night sky. "Today's lesson is over," she said. "Do not worry too much about the wars of others. It is exhausting."

Elina nodded, though her mind was still filled with images of the brave Heroes. She felt proud to share a name with the woman who could show her such wonders.

After Elina had left the room, Elysia remained alone by the Scrying Basin. She gazed into the swirling vortex of stars, her expression unreadable once again. For nine thousand years, the rise and fall of civilizations and kingdoms were less than dust to her. But now, she had just casually interfered in a minor skirmish across the continent merely to soothe a child's momentary anxiety.

She touched her chest, feeling the phantom ache of emotions she didn't understand. The walls she had so carefully constructed around her peace were not just being tested; they were being fundamentally redefined from within.