A soft melody could be heard coming from the Sahari home's garden, causing neighbors and passersby to stop and listen. What they heard impressed them so much that they wanted to hear more.
It wasn't singing, but rather the careful and passionate playing of a violin, which made the tune sound particularly good. If it had just been casual playing, it would not have attracted so much attention.
Who was playing the violin? Selene Sahari was sitting on a chair in front of her house with her eyes closed. She wore simple black sweatpants, a white T-shirt, and was barefoot.
She played a special violin because a small hologram appeared on its body with each chord she played. The instrument was transparent with metal edges painted various shades of blue.
Though not entirely Glyphwork like her motorcycle, it had several purple enchantment lines, giving it special qualities, a perfect combination of art, technology, and the extraordinary.
Selene's parents were watching her recital. They were hugging each other as they enjoyed the music produced by their only daughter. Although they had seen her perform many times, Tea always ended up with tears rolling down her cheeks.
When Selene finished playing, there was a silence that lasted several seconds, allowing the listeners to savor the final notes. Then, her parents and the neighbors who had listened applauded while she stood and bowed to them.
"How are you feeling, sweetie?" Tea approached her daughter and gave her a hug that Selene could barely return because she was still holding the violin.
"Much better after playing, thank you, Mom," Selene replied with a small smile, thanking her mother in her heart for insisting that she learn to play the violin.
Her mother was part of the city orchestra. When Selene showed some musical talent as a child, Tea insisted that, in addition to training her body with the Noeia and learning Glyphworks creation, she should also learn to make music.
This was especially important to her mother when she learned that Selene possessed a particular gift that changed how she viewed the world and interacted with others. Her mother guided Selene to use violin recitals as an outlet for her emotions.
This is what made her performances so beautiful; her emotions were truly channeled through the music! Perhaps not directly, but her feelings were genuine and vibrant, allowing others to experience some of what she felt.
Adding the influence of Noeia, a power derived from the mind, could allow for a much more direct approach. However, doing so would require significant energy expenditure for a casual recital that her mother had asked her to perform.
After all, Noeia lacks direct offensive or defensive characteristics. It has these abilities in a very indirect or subtle way. It is far from the supposed 'Psychic Power' of the previous era. However, in esoteric topics related to the mind and consciousness, this energy is special.
The Noetarchs were able to take advantage of things normal people could not, such as aura, murderous intent, bloodlust, impulse, and the desire for battle, generally illusory concepts that only they could feel and employ.
Still, even though Selene didn't use Noelle to express her emotions, her heart was calm. It wasn't the euphoria she felt when she returned from her date with Noelle, when she got revenge, or when she was in a somewhat complicated mood after visiting that grave in the frozen field. She didn't simply feel at peace after a good violin recital either.
She was grateful to her mother because music helped her moderate her mindset and deal with and express her emotions, both positive and negative, without letting them build up and explode in ways she might not have liked.
The essence of being a Noetarch was control of their bodies and their minds. Knowing how to regulate her emotions was vital, and what better way to do so than through music? For her, that was all that mattered.
"The neighbors must be wondering when you're going to give a concert. Even I am," said Hyperion, constantly throwing his communicator at her. As always, he had recorded his daughter.
"I don't want to do something like that. I'd rather go outside or do some Glyphwork," Selene said, grimacing at the thought of performing in front of a crowd. She felt it would just cause her stress for no reason.
"Besides, they can already listen to me from their homes. Why would they want to pay hundreds of Argentum for a ticket to see me? They can just watch the videos on my Vetrorum profile!" she said cheekily as she put her violin away.
"By the way, Morgana is coming in a little while. She's getting very bored during her recovery," said the purple-haired girl, remembering the first message she received from her friend that morning.
"Oh? Looks like I'll have to make three more servings for dinner," Hyperion muttered before sending the video he had recorded to his daughter. Then he dove into preparing dinner, even though it was only 2 p.m.
To ensure his daughter's gluttonous friend left satisfied, Hyperion knew he would need to prepare a large meal. Hyperion couldn't fathom how he, a strong man and Noetarch, could be outdone by a twenty-year-old girl when it came to eating.
She was a bottomless pit! On top of that, she had been injured, so her food intake would increase to speed up her recovery. Those three extra servings were only tentative.
"Oh, I went to visit her at the hospital while you were away. She arrived at the city gate, dragging the corpse of a huge monster!" Tea said in amazement. To her, that girl really was a savage. Perhaps that was why she got along so well with her daughter.
"Yes, she told me she encountered an Armored Lion and confronted it. She said the Glyphwork I made for her helped her a lot in the fight," Selene replied proudly, because her work resulted in her best friend's victory.
"This may bring you more clients. I hope you're prepared to put up with the strange demands of some of them," Hyperion commented, coming out of his thoughts. He had decided that he was going to cook later.
"I'm ready for that!" With her violin case in hand, Selene arched her back slightly and looked up at the city sky. She could vaguely see some debris from the ring surrounding the planet.
"While I wait for her, I'll work on my new gun. When she comes, send her to my workshop!" After saying that, Selene ran off and entered the house, heading straight for the basement, leaving her parents alone in the garden.
"Well, do you need help with the cooking?" Tea asked with a serious expression. Her husband nodded heavily in response.
He was going to need all the help he could get to feed this gluttonous visitor!
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Selene stood in front of her work table, which had several pieces spread out on it. This was her space, where she could freely create or modify Glyphworks as long as she had the necessary materials and resources.
Her father's workshop was in another room. There was also a vault downstairs where some household items were stored. It could also serve as a shelter if necessary.
Selene held the telescopic baton capable of generating electricity that she had kept after dealing with the four men two nights ago. Now, the purple-haired girl had partially disassembled it and was studying its structure.
"As I suspected, it's a circuit with standard enchantments. It even has the same errors as the others I've seen. Can a black-market Glyphwork only reach this level? At least the power is fine," said Selene, running her finger along the blue lines that ran across the weapon's body.
These enchantments were special because they used the supplied energy to unleash different effects, depending on the configuration and materials used.
Lines, patterns, and circuits, this is what an enchantment consists of. However, the deeper one delves into them, the more complex they become. This area is constantly being explored, with new things being discovered.
It was like trying to decipher a new language. One had to understand its rules and how it worked. Inevitably, though, one's methodology influenced the outcome, so it was possible to come across a powerful enchantment by accident and not be known for it due to an inability to capture it in Glyphwork.
Because of these peculiarities, each Glyphworker had their own style of enchanting, much like how we all have different ways of writing in the same language. Even the same spell can be interpreted in different ways, similar to how some words can be understood differently in languages spoken in different cities.
Following this line of thought, the lines can be considered letters or strokes when represented. The patterns are specific words with meaning, and the circuits are structured sentences with meaning.
The combination of different circuits is called a matrix, which, in this case, can be illustrated as text. What Selene saw in this Glyphwork was not just a simple enchantment. It revealed the knowledge, exploration, and worldview of the Glyphworker who made this particular object.
"A pragmatist who only wants money, right? That's why this weapon is pure power. It emits red mist, but without proper control, it's just electrical brutality."
Otherwise, that man could have been more dangerous to me. I should thank whoever made this work because it allowed me to escape unscathed," murmured the purple-haired girl, smiling mockingly and revealing her sharp teeth.
She proceeded to disassemble the staff and the crossbow. However, she didn't pay much attention to the crossbow because she considered its quality to be mediocre by her standards.
Her workbench became much more cluttered and crowded, but her pink eyes shone brighter as she looked at a set of parts she had taken from her father's workshop. These parts would become part of her future pistol.
"Great! I have the design in mind. Just a few minor adjustments and the complete circuit are needed to create a weapon to my liking." Selene held what appeared to be a silver pen in her hand with tiny black lines carved into the casing.
The purple-haired girl closed her eyes and mentally visualized what she wanted: the measurements of the weapon, the details of each piece, and where to carve each line to form the correct pattern.
At that moment, the Noeia appeared above her head in the form of a grayish mist before separating into hundreds of fine threads that flashed into reality and entered her body.
In order to execute her vision perfectly, she decided to control her body precisely, intending to replicate exactly what she had in her mind. When she opened her eyes, she was fully concentrated. With simple movements, she picked up the pieces and started carving lines with the pen in her hand.
Each of her strokes was firm and precise. Every part of her future weapon passed through her hands before she treated it. This was the most basic part of enchantment: drawing. Afterward, she began modifying certain parts that did not fit her vision.
Although beads of sweat fell from her forehead, she didn't bother to wipe them away. Her attention was fully focused on her work. After finishing these adjustments, she took a jar filled with silver powder, more specifically, ground vetro.
Using her gloved hands, she took small amounts of the material and filled in the lines she had carved earlier. When she was done, she cracked her neck, having finished the most tedious part of the process.
Now, only two steps remained: assembling the weapon and testing its functionality. This was the easiest part, so it didn't take her long to hold the finished product in her right hand.
It was a long-barreled pistol with two triggers corresponding to the two barrels of the weapon. Its structure seemed quite robust, and it was stylish. From the way it fit in her hand, it was clear that she had achieved her goal of making it perfect for her, even though it was considerably heavy.
Its metal was unpainted, yet it already displayed a certain beauty, a blend of technology and enchantment. Not only did she have to design a circuit, but she also had to assemble high-tech components, such as a pair of LED lights that would emit a blue glow when activated.
The characteristic lines of a Glyphwork were muted because the Vetro crystal that powered the weapon was contained within it. She only needed to enter her Noeia to activate her latest work.
"Aren't you going to try it?" A female voice came from behind Selene, interrupting her thoughts. She jumped and turned around, pointing her gun at the woman who spoke.
The brunette had mischievous brown eyes that were narrowed, and she wore an amused smile. Something interesting was under her left eyelid: three moles that formed a triangle.
The woman held a plate of steaming meat that Selene recognized as part of the rations she had brought yesterday. Now, the meat was entering the woman's stomach at high speed, staining her lips with oil and giving them a faint sheen.
Her long black hair formed an afro on her head instead of falling over her shoulders. Her body was much slimmer and more toned than Selene's. She far surpassed the purple-haired woman in the chest department because the brunette had plenty in that area.
However, her powerful physique was adorned with bandages covering almost every inch of her skin, leaving only her mouth, nose, eyes, and the top of her head exposed. She wore black pants and a partially buttoned red shirt, but the neckline that should have dazzled onlookers was now covered in bandages.
"You know I'll break your arm before you shoot, even if I'm wounded," said the visitor, approaching Selene and swaying her body like a snake in a mocking gesture.
"Morgana, why do you always surprise me like this?" asked the purple-haired girl with a hint of exasperation as she twirled her new gun in her hand.
"It's fun to see how surprised you always are! Again, aren't you going to try it? It looks like an interesting toy!" Morgana suggested, her cheeks puffed out from the meat she was chewing, muffling her voice.
"Uh, I don't know what to do with you." Selene rolled her eyes at her friend's words before looking at the gun in her hand. She transmitted strands of Noeia through her palm, connected to the gun, and activated it.
"You know where the targets are. Go set up a few, please," she asked Morgana.
Morgana stood still for a moment, staring at her plate of uneaten meat.
"Give me a second," the brunette replied before starting to eat faster and barely chewing the meat she put in her mouth.
In no time, she finished the container, leaving her cheeks puffed out like a rodent's. She didn't care how unsightly this might look. She approached a certain spot in the workshop, found the targets, and placed them in an organizer.
Selene held her new Glyphwork, fully activated, in her hand. The enchantment lines lit up with an intense purple light, and the previously off blue LEDs now glowed softly, giving her weapon a striking appearance.
"By the way, why does it have two triggers and two barrels?" asked Morgana, who had finally swallowed the meat in her mouth and was carelessly wiping the grease from her hands with a nearby rag.
"One is for energy shots; the other is for firing solid projectiles accelerated electromagnetically." It's a dual pistol. Look," Selene replied, aiming at the target and pressing the first trigger.
A lime green ball shot out of the barrel, squealing slightly as it traveled the distance between the gun and the target at high speed. Upon impact, it caused an explosion that burned part of the target.
"I can also fire a plasma shot," the purple-haired girl added, pressing the same trigger and holding it down. A green glow appeared in the upper barrel of the weapon and gradually built up until a buzzing sound indicated that the energy charge was complete.
When she released her finger, a large sphere of energy shot out of the gun. It traveled a little slower than the first shot. Upon impact, however, it destroyed and consumed the target, demonstrating the power of the accumulated energy.
"Hehehehe! But that must consume a lot of energy, right?" Morgana asked with a laugh, watching as the blue LEDs now glowed less brightly than before.
"Yes, I can fire several normal shots in a second, but a full charge means the gun has to recharge for about five seconds. Look! It's ready for action again." Selene placed her index finger on the second trigger. When she pulled it, a blue projectile almost immediately hit the new target, piercing it and crashing into the metal wall behind it. This prevented the basement from being damaged.
"If I were a gun enthusiast, I'd be interested in asking you for one. But I trust my chainsaw sword," Morgana commented, her tone devoid of interest. Yet, every hair on her body stood on end because her senses alerted her to the danger of this Glyphwork.
"Of course, no one would think you're a rose with such 'dangerous' monomolecular thorns," Selene replied with a mocking smile, leaving her weapon on the work table.
"Are you going to paint it?" Noticing her best friend's actions, the brunette bent down and picked up a small paintbrush. She waved it, eager to use it.
"Obviously! But it seems like you asked that question with an ulterior motive."
The purple-haired girl pointed to Morgana's hand, making her let out a small laugh.
"Come on! I'll make it perfect and in line with your style!" She declared before wrapping her arm around Selene's neck, exuding confidence.
"Well, I'll let you do it, but I'll be watching," Selene replied, sighing in resignation. She knew that if she continued to refuse, her friend would insist for quite some time while subtly squeezing her arm.
It's best to let her paint her weapon. She's not going to do a bad job. Sometimes, Selene would leave this kind of final touch-up task to Morgana because she had excellent artistic sense despite her wild attitude.
So, she prepared the paint and gun mount and let her work her magic with the Glyphwork. Meanwhile, the purple-haired girl took the silver box in her hand. It always caught her attention because of its provocative green mist.
But she didn't know what was inside! While Morgana painted the gun, she stepped aside with some tools and tried to open the box. Thanks to her previous violin recital, her patience was high this time, so she didn't get frustrated when her attempts didn't yield the desired results.
"This is really exasperating," Selene muttered before trying something new: using her Noeia.
There is a lot of information indicating that this power was known and used by humanity before the Cataclysm. The knowledge of how to harness it, however, was not as widely available as it is today. Now, every Noetarch could find a use for it.
Back then, users of this energy were much more reserved. They were not widely publicized among the population and were considered rumors. You could only learn about the existence of Noeia if you reached a certain social status.
Furthermore, Glyphworks and enchantments only appeared after the cataclysm. Before that, although the technology was advanced, it did not operate with Noeia in the same way as these special objects do today.
So her current test was like tempting fate! She had tried many of her less invasive tools and was clear about one thing: if she couldn't open the box easily, she would use a plasma cutter, a hydraulic press, or simply melt the metal to mold it into something more 'useful' for her.
When her Noeia threads touched the metal, it heated up a little, surprising her, since she hadn't expected a direct result, even though she was only testing it out of necessity.
At first, she thought the metal box was just heating up from the heat transferred from her body, but no, as her energy surrounded the object, it grew hotter and hotter. Even a normal person would drop it for fear of getting burned.
She resisted this impulse long enough to see a small click finally come from the box, which made her pupils shrink. What could be in the box? A memory card with technical information about an ancient machine?
Or would she find a Noeia technique buried in the past, as in those old stories? Perhaps it was one of those rare genetic solutions found in dangerous ruins.
The possibilities were endless! Excitement filled her as she opened the box, but her smile froze when she saw a golden disc inside. It resembled ancient coins found in the outside world, which were highly valuable.
Was this the reward the seductive green mist constantly gave away? A stupid gold coin? She wasn't short on money! Angrily, she threw the box aside, attracting the attention of Morgana, who was halfway through painting the gun.
Selene held the coin, which had only a few simple engravings. One side had an open eye and the other had a closed eye. The engravings weren't very detailed, but they gave the disc a peculiar feel.
The girl's breathing grew heavier as anger consumed her, releasing her killing intent and causing the basement temperature to drop.
"Can you calm down? You interrupted me!" Morgana complained. Selene took deep breaths, trying to regain her composure. Her eyes never left the coin resting in her hand, which transmitted a subtle warmth to her skin.
"Yes, I'm sorry," the purple-haired girl apologized, looking down at the box she had dropped. She found a piece of paper inside that she hadn't seen before because of her emotions.
She picked it up and began to read its contents. This time, her body began to tremble, and a huge smile appeared on her face, revealing her unusually sharp teeth.
[Thank you for purchasing your Dream Interface Core! Where dreams feel real. Your uncensored version is ready to be calibrated by following the instructions below!]
She didn't know what this technology was, but it was definitely high-end. The box seemed to be made of a special metal that reacted with Noeia.
Even though it was just warming up, it was a sign that they may not have been able to do Glyphworks in the past due to a lack of enchantments. However, humans clearly had their own special things related to this power in the past.
However, before she could delve further into the paper's contents, Morgana approached her with a paintbrush in hand and a slight smile on her lips.
"Hey, I can see you might get bored here at home. How about joining me tomorrow night at a special event I recently discovered? Sometimes, the things boredom leads you to find are incredible," the brunette said to Selene. Selene decided to put the gold coin and her manual in the silver box first, hearing that click again.
"Okay, what's this event about?" Selene asked casually, her mind completely occupied by the object she had obtained.
"Oh, the underground fights. The ones you've heard rumors about," Morgana blurted out. Selene looked her in the eyes, her pupils slightly dilated.
"Tell me more," Selene whispered, as if afraid her parents, especially her mother, would hear them.
She had been interested in those underground fights for a long time!