Chapter 447 Truly Enchanting (2/2)

“We will treat it as the accepted theory for now. This… key, as you call it. It is indeed a piece of a larger puzzle. Some of these enchantments are incomplete,” Iana explained. “I would be very much interested in finding the rest, just to see what it looks like. However, as it is, this likely won’t be of use for the gates.”

“I agree,” Christopher said and sighed. “I would still like to study it whenever you are here. There are some obviously protective enchantments here that I have not seen before.”

“Sure, knock yourselves out. Iana, maybe as a day off project, I have a house near the ocean. Thought about securing it against potential looters and intruders. Make it harder to find or something. Maybe you can help?” Ilea suggested.

“Of course. That actually sounds like a good distraction. Maybe Christopher can come as well. Whenever you have time. I’d just like to study the runes and machines you have brought. And do some testing with you and the gates. If that is agreeable?” Iana said.

“Sure. It’s not a priority. Just something on my list. The house has pretty much been unprotected except for the group of Swordmouth tigers in the nearby cave,” she said.

“Swordmouth… tigers?” Christopher asked and glanced at the group with slight concern.

“You are standing in a room that holds teleportation gate prototypes. With two Shadows,” Iana said and smirked.

He waved her off. “I haven’t fought a lot of monsters, alright? They can reach rather high levels.”

“I will be there to protect you of course,” Ilea said.

“Creatures like that are no concern for a Shadow?” Christopher asked with interest.

“I have fought Elementals. No. Swordmouth tigers are not a concern,” she said.

Ilea looked at Iana and continued. “Have you three talked about potentially teaching some students about enchantments?”

“We did,” Iana said. “It isn’t a top priority at the moment. Claire suggested to focus on the gates and Trian agreed. The potential to support Riverwatch or the Empire in the war would place as at an entirely different stage in human affairs. If you want us to teach, we can do that as well. I plan to enchant the future gear of the Sentinels and teach on the basis of that process. Father has some ideas but we haven’t decided on a model yet.”

Ilea nodded. “That sounds like a good plan. And I agree with you. Focus on the gates first. Balduur is in Morhill now, right?”

“He is. Should I contact him for you?” Trian said.

“No. I’ll visit myself at some point. He has plenty of work to do anyway. Our students don’t exactly need equipment quite yet,” she said.

“Agreed,” the man said.

“Speaking of equipment though… I’ll have to talk to Orthan later this week. He’s a bone mage, right?”

“Blood and bone,” Trian confirmed. “Why are you grinning like a lunatic? Oh no… don’t tell me?”

“It’s just an idea, don’t shit your pants. It’s safe, trust me,” Ilea said and winked.

“Your choice,” Trian said and smiled as he shook his head.

“Iana, you upgraded Aki a little?” she said, changing the subject.

The woman nodded. “Improvements… protective alloy layers based on how much he could handle before his speed would suffer. His blades should be quite a bit more deadly. The main thing is a slow self repair enchantment. The way Taleen Machines gather ambient mana is a mystery to us and while Aki can use this ability, we have as of yet failed to understand the technology behind it. However, it enabled some quite ridiculous possibilities. Like said self repair.”

“Why didn’t the other Taleen machines have something like that? If it can be fueled by ambient mana,” Ilea said.

“I would assume it is a simple question of cost and efficiency. Perhaps there were not enough enchanters to supply all the machines,” Iana said.

“Or the levels were not worth it,” Ilea suggested. She hadn’t done extensive testing with machines higher leveled than Centurions. Even Praetorians had an implemented self destruction integrated, meaning the Taleen cared more for their technology’s concealment and the destruction of their enemies instead of the safety and recovery of their machines.

“It would be interesting to have that tech as well,” Ilea said. “Keep working on that too as soon as some time slots open up.”

“Of course. The city’s defenses would benefit greatly if we didn’t have to charge the enchantments from time to time. Let alone the equipment we could provide. Self repairing and inlaid with various spells and projectiles,” Iana said.

“High level skills and classes will prevail nonetheless,” Trian said.

Ilea nodded. “Of course they will. The existence and availability of such equipment would lead more people to such classes however. And it would provide quite a bit of security for low level people in the wild.”

Like guns did for us.

“Your class is starting in around two minutes,” Trian said.

“Ah yes. When did you become a living clock?” she asked, taking the Tungsten key back into her necklace. “I trust you two, I hope that is clear. I simply think it would attract more attention than all the other things you have down here.”

“I understand,” Iana said. “Your concerns aren’t invalid either. The key being a part of something bigger also means there might be connections that we can’t necessarily detect or prevent. A spacial item like your necklace is one of the safest bets we have.”

“It was nice seeing you again. And thanks for all the new toys,” Iana said, touching Ilea’s arm lightly.

“Thanks for all the additional work,” Christopher said, avoiding her eyes as if he regretted the joke.

“Shut it, we both love it,” Iana said with a smile.

“I do hope that’s true. Talk to Trian if not. See you tomorrow,” Ilea said and walked towards the opening gates.

“Until then,” Iana said.

Ilea and Trian teleported back up to the seventh layer.

“That was quite fruitful. Thank you for providing all of that,” Trian said as they reached the closed off section of the stairwell.

“I have no use for runes, nor much interest in the matter. Perhaps some day,” Ilea mused.

“You can take the afternoon off if you want to. Maybe grab some food and enjoy the city? Or the mountains?” the man suggested.

“I’m okay, Trian. I will let you know when I need a break. Training the students is part of the step I am taking. Plus, I find it quite enjoyable. Not constantly working on my own skills and power for a change,” she said.

“I agree. It brings a different kind of satisfaction. Every new revelation, skill and level a major milestone at their stage,” Trian said with a smile.

“Don’t get too used to it. I’ll help you get to three hundred soon enough,” she said with a smirk.

___________________

Nathan couldn’t quite believe that he was still here. That he had chosen to return to this afternoon class. Two people were notably absent. He had counted.

They had remained in their respective rooms.

He certainly understood them. And still, there was something about all this. Something exciting. They were part of something special. That’s what all the cults and orders tell you, that’s how they get you.

Nathan reminded himself that the first encounter with Lilith was her basically openly having them tortured. She had answered their questions and concerns in an honest, almost comical way. The results however were there.

Skills he hadn’t had before. It was worth the pain he would have to endure. He gulped. It had to be. This was his chance of becoming something more. To make a difference. Like dad used to say.

“Is she not coming?” Luke whispered behind him.

Most of the people were quiet, some shaking. He didn’t know if it was fear or excitement. Aftershocks perhaps.

“She said she would. She will,” Celeste commented.

“You should get used to disappointment, girl,” Lorelei said, the older woman casually standing around with a mug.

“I grew up in the gutter, lady knight,” she said in a mocking tone. “This place is anything but disappointing,” she added and smiled.

“Here we go. Hello again. I see nearly all of you have chosen to come back into the hall of pain and blood!” Lilith exclaimed after she had suddenly appeared.

Trian stood close by.

“So, ready to be sacrificed in a blood ritual?” she asked.

Nathan glanced around, unsure how to react. She’s joking.

Celeste chuckled. Some others did as well, not all of them as casually.

“I’m kidding of course. Kind of. Today we will start with something called Blood Manipulation. The potential dangers and how to get rid of it,” Lilith said as a glass container suddenly appeared n her arms.

Everyone remained silent. A storage device and not even a murmur. I like where this is going.