Chapter 589: Distant Communications
The roar of heavy machinery echoed across the construction site. Workers bustled among the machines, building materials, and scaffolding. Thanks to the power of the machines, a vast open area had already been leveled, and elemental magic had been used to reinforce the foundation. An octagonal base frame was gradually taking shape. Inside the frame, Banner, an elven mage serving as technical advisor, was directing the workers on how to attach the prefabricated rune plates onto the alloy skeleton.
Cecil’s rune plate technology was a revelation to the mage. By harnessing the precision and strength of machines, the repetitive sections of complex rune arrays could be mass-produced and prepared in a short time. Coupled with the so-called “rune skeleton” connection framework, the speed at which the Cecilians constructed magical arrays was astonishing. What was usually the most time-consuming and labor-intensive part of building magical facilities had become the most efficient step in their process.
Most importantly, the “rune plates” themselves were highly versatile—elf runes could be used just as easily.
Being selected for the “Cecil Station Group” was truly a stroke of luck. It seemed this project would be completed here far earlier than anywhere else.
Nearby, on a raised platform overlooking the construction of the secondary tower, Sonia and Gawain stood side by side.
The elven messenger looked troubled. “You think the Followers of the End of All Things are exploiting a flaw in the Magnificent Wall to send signals into the Wasteland?”
“That’s our best guess,” Gawain nodded. “We have intelligence indicating that the End of All Things cult possesses a communication method called the ‘Dark Bridge.’ It’s very likely built upon a vulnerability in the Magnificent Wall. They’ve been hijacking your signal channels to establish contact somewhere. Since this dark cult operates mainly in the northern continent, it’s unlikely their signals are headed south. The most probable destination is the Wasteland.”
“If that’s true, even Her Majesty Belsethia, who is usually so patient, would be furious,” Sonia frowned, disbelief coloring her voice. “But those cultists are sending signals into the Wasteland… who could they possibly be contacting? Are there really still living beings in the ruins of Gondor?!”
Her gaze involuntarily drifted toward the Sentinel Tower, standing opposite the Pinnacle Base, and then to the patch of purplish-black land just south of the tower. Her eyes were filled with incredulity.
That land was utterly corrupted and twisted, devoid of life, a desolate wasteland of ruins and barren earth. Could something really be responding to those fallen druids? What were they plotting in that dead zone?
For a fleeting moment, even she felt the urge to cross the Magnificent Wall and investigate the truth in that land of death.
But she forced herself to suppress the reckless thought and spoke with renewed seriousness. “Whether or not they’re sending signals into the Wasteland, their ‘Dark Bridge’ must have been abandoned when the Magnificent Wall’s communication functions went offline. Our immediate priority is to restore contact with the southern continent.”
“On that front, our arcane network communication terminal has already arrived,” Gawain said. “Our mage technicians are currently calibrating it using the transmission keys you provided. If Kamail’s modifications and design work as intended, we should be able to send a message to the Silver Empire before sunset today.”
Sonia stared at him in astonishment. “That soon?!”
Gawain smiled faintly. “We have the finest archmages, and Cecil’s technology has always been ahead of traditional magical devices in flexibility and adaptability.”
He didn’t mention that the communication device had actually been under development even before he set out—back then, Sonia hadn’t yet realized the severity of the Sentinel Tower’s problems, but he was already scheming about the Magnificent Wall…
Fortunately, Sonia didn’t dwell on such details. To a high-ranking messenger like her, reestablishing contact with the homeland as soon as possible was clearly the priority.
As Gawain had said, the emergency communication system was finally ready before the great sun dipped below the horizon.
The arcane network communication device was installed in the command center at the heart of the Pinnacle Base. To accommodate it, technicians had cleared out an entire room.
When Sonia and Gawain arrived, the mage technicians had completed all installations and calibrations. In the center of the spacious room stood the brand-new communication device from Cecil City. It was a medium-sized apparatus with a triangular base about half a meter tall. A large projection crystal sat atop the base, surrounded by intricate magical runes that pulsed rhythmically on the metal components. In the four corners of the room stood four black rectangular pillars, each about a meter tall and half a meter wide.
These four pillars were Kamail’s special design. Their purpose was to “translate” the arcane network’s signals into a form the Magnificent Wall could transmit. The device had been completed days ago, but only recently, when the elves provided the Magnificent Wall’s communication keys, could it finally be put to use.
“No matter how many times I see it, your mage technology never ceases to impress,” Sonia said, stepping closer to the device and curiously watching the runes flickering around the crystal. “It can really replace the Sentinel Tower’s transmission matrix and send signals south?”
“In theory, yes,” Gawain nodded slightly. “And this room’s device isn’t the whole setup. To connect the signal to the Magnificent Wall’s energy flow, we’ve also installed a high-powered arcane obelisk next to the Sentinel Tower’s base. The obelisk is already online—we can start anytime.”
…
Far to the south, above the vast Silver Forest, the Starry Sanctuary cruised slowly along its predetermined patrol route.
This flying sanctuary, gleaming with silver and pale gold metallic hues, resembled a floating temple. Its base was shrouded in countless streams of light and runes. It glided past the northern border of the Silver Empire, tracing a subtle arc. The upper chambers faced the Magnificent Wall, where sixteen antenna arrays atop the sanctuary gently swayed, listening intently for even the faintest signals from the Wasteland.
Inside the sanctuary, a silver-hued metal hall housed rows of alloy pillars inscribed with mysterious runes. Around these pillars were a dozen or so listening stations. The “Wind Listeners,” dressed uniformly, sat at their posts, eyes fixed on the holographic displays before them.
The Wind Listeners were senior to the “Wind Whisperers,” whose job was to handle routine communication requests from the Magnificent Wall. The Listeners monitored all channels and dealt with any abnormal signals. Since the Magnificent Wall’s communication system had failed from overload, the Whisperers had been idle for a long time, but the Listeners remained steadfast at their posts.
Though they received no signals, they had to stay vigilant—once the Sentinel Tower’s self-repair finished and communications resumed, they would be the first to report to the queen.
And then call the Whisperers back to work (no doubt about it).
Today’s monitoring channels were quiet, with only meaningless white noise coming through the antennas.
A blond male elf sighed softly. “Looks like the Sentinel Tower won’t be back online anytime soon… I wonder how the messenger teams heading north are faring.”
A long-haired male elf beside him turned his head. “The latest reports say the human kingdoms have begun repairing the barrier. They should be underway by now.”
“Hopefully they can get the basic secondary tower facilities running soon. That might speed up the Sentinel Tower’s self-repair,” the blond elf said. “It’s tough with no northern communications.”
“I heard your daughter is up north?” a female elf nearby overheard and couldn’t help but ask.
As the shift change approached, even elves allowed themselves some relaxation.
“Yeah, she fell in love with a human and never came back,” the blond elf said helplessly. “I tried to talk her out of it, but no use.”
“I thought that was two hundred years ago?” the female elf asked curiously. “Wasn’t she supposed to return after that human passed away?”
The blond elf sighed. “Sigh… she’s on her third human husband now… maybe fourth? I’ve lost count.”
“Look on the bright side, friend,” another elf from a nearby station joined the conversation. “At least it’s better than the Frostleaf family. I heard High Messenger Sonia went to Ansu just for that reason…”
The elves exchanged knowing smiles.
Someone remarked, “Even becoming a high ranger can’t escape a mother’s influence…”
Northern outsiders might find it hard to imagine, but even the mysterious and elegant elves talked about such everyday matters.
Suddenly, their casual chatter was cut off by the ringing of wind chimes.
The sound came from one listening station. At first, the Listener there thought it was a system false alarm—similar false alarms had occurred three times in the past month. But soon, more stations began chiming, and holographic displays showed markers indicating detection of unknown communications!
The Listeners, ready to end their shift, were momentarily stunned. Then all elves forgot about clocking out and hurried back to their posts.
“Tracking signal…”
“Confirmed from the Magnificent Wall, last forwarded by Sentinel Tower 37! Internal signal—but no Sentinel Tower encrypted mark. Unknown signal!”
“Tracing origin… starting point at Sentinel Tower 6! Northern continent!!”
“Signal strength too weak—Lorin, activate the gain antennas! All gain antennas, point to Sentinel Tower 37! Hurry, hurry, we’ve got a signal from the north!”
Throughout the Starry Sanctuary, silver-white armored panels silently slid aside between spires and palace roofs. Elegant antennas rose from hidden compartments, rotating swiftly in the air, all aiming toward the ruins of Gondor.
Minutes later, a high-ranking elf in pale gold robes and a floral-leaf crown hurried toward the sanctuary’s core—the queen Belsethia’s chamber.
Belsethia was preparing to rest in her attendant’s robes but had already sensed the unusual activity of the sanctuary’s antenna arrays. Just as she was about to inquire, her trusted minister arrived. She stood immediately. “What’s happened?”
“Your Majesty, the Magnificent Wall’s communication link has suddenly been restored—the signal is from the north. High Messenger Sonia and the human Duke Gawain Cecil wish to speak with you.”
“Sonia and Duke Cecil…” Belsethia’s eyebrows lifted slightly, then she asked, “Wasn’t the Sentinel Tower’s communication function supposed to take until at least next spring to self-repair?”
“The signal didn’t come from the Sentinel Tower; it’s some kind of human communication technology,” the Regent lowered his head. “Sonia, the High Messenger, reported an emergency. She had no choice but to acknowledge that the humans established an emergency channel.”
“…Understood.” Knowing Sonia’s principles well, Bercetias didn’t press the issue further. She waved her hand, dismissing the attendants, then stepped forward. “Lead the way. Switch the communication to the main control room.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
(End of chapter)