Spatial Manipulation.
It's the trend of this age.
However, only those with more money than they know what to do with actually invest in it.
It's one of the latest discoveries from the magitech department—incorporating spatial magic into buildings to expand their interiors multiple times over.
That was the case for this very castle.
"Just how many floors are there?" I muttered, glancing around. The grand hall stretched before me, filled with nobles engaged in conversation. It was reminiscent of a lavish banquet, melodic tones drifting through the air, adding to the grandeur.
This was the nth floor I'd reached—sixth, to be precise.
With each level, an eerie sense of déjà vu crept over me. The halls all looked identical. I hadn't seen a single room yet, but given the sheer size of each floor, there were probably around ten per level.
"Why the mask?"
"Perhaps a royal?"
"No, I doubt it. But it can't be a lesser noble—or, goddess forbid, a commoner. No one of that status would be able to enter."
The whispers had followed me from floor to floor. At this point, I was this close to ripping off the damn mask.
"Just stop following me for a minute!"
A voice rang out, exasperated. I turned to see a young lady dressed in an elegant off-shoulder almond gown, paired with pristine white gloves. A delicate veil—likely enchanted—concealed her face, but her eyes, I could see her eyes, a striking crimson.
Her hair was white. Not the dull, aging kind of white, but a vibrant, almost luminous platinum.
"Come on, I know I can't leave you on your own." a young man said, his entire demeanor practically screaming 'I am an ass!'
That sneer. Ugh.
Well, whatever. For a moment, I thought the girl was Nora. But it couldn't be.
"Haah. You are really getting on my nerves."
I could sense it. She was trying—desperately—desperately—to hold herself back from doing something.
Something probably crazy.
And that was definitely not something I'd sense from Nora.
"I won't, no matter how much you beg me. I am quite sure your mother would appreciate that. Perhaps I would even be given your hand in marriage."
He grinned as he held her hand and kissed it. However, she yanked her hand away, her brows furrowed.
"Keep dreaming," she said.
He then turned around, scanning the area as if searching for someone. And just as one would expect, her eyes met mine—or rather, my mask.
She couldn't really see my eyes through all the lightning, right?
"You're here?"
Suddenly, her furrowed brows softened, and so did her voice.
Okay…
…What is happening here?
Without warning, she rushed forward and tried to hook her arm around mine. Tried—because I moved just a step too fast.
"What?"
"Heh?" She looked up at me, and I could tell she was grinning.
I…
…I think it would be best to stay away from this girl altogether.
I don't know how she did it, but my thoughts tangled for a split second. I wanted to move away from her, yet somehow, I found myself moving toward her instead. In fact, I was the one who let her hook arms.
"Let go, or I'll break your arm," I muttered quietly. If push comes to shove, I'll just revert my mana veins to their reversed form. It would hurt, but at least I'd regain my power.
I feel safer with that power.
"Shh. Just pretend. I promise to reward you after this," she whispered.
And in the next second—
"What is the meaning of this?!"
It was the bastard. His whole demeanor had taken a complete 180-degree turn from what I'd seen from afar.
"I think that's enough. You can leave now," she said.
I tried to pull away, but she actually reinforced her arm with mana, forcing me to stay put.
Tsk.
She's actually stronger than me when I'm in this form.
"S-So?! He's the boyfriend you keep talking about? His ma—I mean, your father must hear of this!" he stammered, his face red as hell.
"Don't bring my father into this. And get out of my face before I lose my patience with you," she said, her expression darkening.
However…
…I had enough of this.
BAM!
"Kyah!"
She gasped and collapsed, unconscious.
I might've infused a little too much mana in my hand when I punched her. She wasn't guarding herself well enough.
That punch took a lot out of me.
"D-Do you know what you just did?!" the guy screamed like a lunatic, dropping to his knees as he grabbed her before she hit the ground.
"No," I responded flatly.
"H-How dare y—?!"
BAM!
I kicked him straight in the face, mana-infused.
"Get out of my way, you sick fucks," I said, stepping past them and continuing on my way.
I don't have time for this stupidity.
Luckily, this floor housed only minor nobles, most of whom didn't even bat an eye at our squabble.
I feel like the higher the floor, the higher the class of nobles present.
Hmm.
I have a bad feeling.
I just hope I didn't set off a red flag.
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