A satisfied smile lit up Lady Elyssa's face. "I named my first Awakened Art Echo 'Divine Eyes,'" she shared. She then explained that this ability granted her the capacity to discern extremely small and subtle details in her surroundings. With her Divine Eyes, she could see tiny objects from great distances, revealing an extraordinary gift for perceiving the world around her.
Cecilia exclaimed, "That's amazing!"
Johnny reflected to himself, "Well, perfect vision isn't bad, but it doesn't seem like something so stolen, enough to be worthy of Lord Kaloch's guard vice-captain!"
Then, Lady Elyssa pulled the bowstring, deftly fitting an arrow, while explaining that her second Awakened Echo was called "Probability Visualization." By employing this ability, she could, in some mysterious way, see the probabilities associated with various situations. By mentally adjusting relevant variables, she could increase the chances of success.
Johnny reflected that this did seem worthy of Lord Kaloch. The ability to Visualize Probabilities could prove to be an incredibly crucial factor during a conflict, capable of minimizing losses and paving the way for victory in a war.
She then released the arrow, watching it gracefully cut through the feud's skies, tracing a bold trajectory. The scenery featured rolling hills extending as far as the eye could see, punctuated by ancient towers and picturesque villages.
However, the arrow missed the target by mere inches, interrupting its journey just before reaching its intended destination.
"But you missed," Cecilia said, with a puzzled expression.
Lady Elyssa chuckled awkwardly as she prepared another arrow. She explained that, even with the second Echo active, there were no guarantees of a perfect hit, only the ability to calculate the best possible scenario. Then, her eyes began to glow with a golden rune, radiating energy signaling the activation of an extraordinary ability.
The arrow was shot once again, cutting through the skies toward the target. It breached the horizon, heading towards the hills, tracing a graceful curve under the influence of the wind, before plunging from the heavens towards the ground. Its trajectory was a symphony of graceful movements, drawing a perfect arc through the air.
Cecilia rubbed her eyes in disbelief!
Then, the arrow struck the target's head squarely.
Johnny whistled in admiration.
She took another arrow, repeating the feat of the previous one with mastery. In a fluid motion, she followed with another arrow, and then another, persisting in this skilled cadence. This process continued, an unstoppable succession, until more than twenty arrows accurately hit the target's head.
Cecilia gave an exuberant shout, her words resonating with enthusiasm, "That's amazing, Lady Elyssa!" Her eyes shone with a mix of surprise and admiration.
Lady Elyssa let out a soft sigh and said, "I've already told you that you can call me mother!" as she affectionately stroked Cecilia's head.
She then explained that, in fact, she had used her fourth Artistic Echo, a combination of her first three Echos, resulting in the power of "Absolute Precision." This made it impossible for her to miss a target, demonstrating the impressive magnitude of her enhanced abilities.
Johnny's interest was instantly captured by Lady Elyssa's revelation about the possibility of combining Echos.
"This is exactly what I wanted to understand! So, it's possible to combine Echos!" he thought, amazed at the possibilities. His excitement overflowed into a direct question to Cecilia, seeking details on how exactly this combination of Echos could be achieved and what secrets lay behind this intriguing process.
Lady Elyssa turned her gaze to the curious child. With patience, she began to explain that the combination of Echos was a process that required, at a minimum, three Echos. However, the complexity went beyond the simple number; these Echos needed to be compatible with each other. It was as if each Echo were a piece of an intricate puzzle, and the right choice of pieces, as well as the skill in harmoniously uniting them, determined the success of this unique fusion.
Johnny smiled in satisfaction, his face illuminated by the intriguing discovery. Then, with curiosity shining in his eyes, he asked, "What is a Gamma power?"
Lady Elyssa twirled her hair around her finger, a gesture denoting concentration as she mentally recapitulated the power levels that permeated the world. With unwavering calm and elegance, she began the explanation, carefully outlining the classifications that structured the hierarchy of beings:
"Zeta Level," she said contemplatively, "is the starting point, the base of the power scale. Those who reside at this level have not awakened an Echo throughout their lives. It's the domain of peasants, whose journey is marked by simplicity and the absence of extraordinary manifestations."
Lady Elyssa's expression suggested a mix of compassion and acceptance for the condition of individuals at the Zeta Level. She continued with the analysis of the subsequent levels:
"Next, we find the Delta Level. These are fundamental and basic talents, accessible to many. Those who have awakened at least one or two Echos, demonstrating an above-average ability but still in the early stages of their power journey, like soldiers!"
As she explored the realm of the Gamma Level, her expression took on a reverent shade. "In the stratum of the Gamma Level, we encounter notable individuals, truly above average. They are masters of skill, capable of skillfully blending Echos to conceive unique singularities. Moreover, they have the dexterity to intertwine mana with the Echo, unleashing extraordinary effects. One might think of them as the nobility, or even better, like me and Sir Aldric!"
Lady Elyssa's voice rose in tone, infused with respect, as she reached the Beta Level. "The Beta Level is truly extraordinary, the pinnacle of power in this world. They are titans who can evoke Battle Towers, powerful manifestations that become prominent instruments. These towers can be enhanced by the Echos of their subjects, a power reserved for beings like Lord Kaloch, whose achievements remain shrouded in mystery!"
And finally, she reached the zenith when mentioning the Alpha Level, her eyes evidencing a singular reverence. "At the pinnacle of the hierarchy, we find the Alpha Level. This is the domain of legends. There is likely not a single living human being endowed with this level of power, except, of course, our emperor, who protects us while resting on his dormant throne!"
"You're here, my love. The lord calls us!" echoed a male voice at the room's entrance. It was Sir Aldric, announcing his presence with a mix of respect and urgency in his voice.
Lady Elyssa lowered her head in mild surprise, her eyes reflecting regret for not remembering the knights' meeting. However, in a tender gesture, she stroked the children's cheeks before swiftly heading toward the door.
"Ah, I completely forgot about the knights' meeting," Lady Elyssa said with a sigh as she rushed toward the door.