11 The Dungeons Entrance (2/2)
Rainer couldn't help but smile, though he just waited for her to continue her story.
”The skill came from my great-grandmother who used it to slay her husband and, through a series of duels, become the new ruler of the tribe. Now it is passed from mother to daughter though we don't particularly exclude men from learning it in our tribe. It simply doesn't suit them.” Her face tinted slightly red while she spoke perhaps now being affected by her previous comment.
”However, the whole skill became possible because of the Aura ability she developed in order to buff her blades to a near weightless form. I can only perform it to a small degree compared to my mother. She can use a large heavy blade and wield it as if it were but air.”
Hearing this Rainer very much wanted to ask about Aura but feared it was common knowledge. He'd have to ask Luna later.
”Really, it's this ability that we are not allowed to teach others. The blade skill is freely taught and generally speaking would be useless without the Aura ability. You are a rare case.”
Her tail signified she grew more excited as she spoke.
”When I saw you call upon your blade I had been truly amazed. Your form cutting the tree as if it had not existed reminded me very much of my mother.”
Of your mother…
”Ah not that your form is womanly in any way, it is quite the opposite in fact…”
Hearing her go off track, Rainer just waved his hand signaling it was okay. Clearing her throat lightly, she progressed onto the skill itself.
”The skill is called [Weightless Blade Mastery]. It is a blade skill devoid of parries and ripostes, instead focusing on offense with your blade and defense by movement of body. I thought of a few alterations for you as your blade can likely cut through armor and metal but, that will be for a later time. Hmm...I suppose I might as well teach you a few basic forms now.” She jumped up without pause, her entire speech being at a rapid pace in the first place, and commanded Rainer, ”Form your hand into the same position as when you use your magic, and we'll begin from there.”
Following along and being corrected by her extremely strict standards, Rainer practiced a several move combination of steps and slashes for hours. As she had chosen a moveset that made it impossible for Rainer to cut himself, when he could he would cast and maintain his [Arcane Blade]. Covered in sweat and completely exhausted he finally saw a message he'd been expecting a bit ahead of time.
[Skill Gained: Weightless Blade Mastery lvl 1/10]
[Skill Gained: General Blade Mastery lvl 1/10]
However, in the midst of training, he had forgotten to hide it. And with a motion far too skilled for a beginner, he slashed out a few more practice moves. The trail of Arcane energy that followed the blade made this clearer.
Kara could only watch in stunned silence. She believed at first her eyes played a trick on her but there was certainly the marked improvement that accompanied from first gaining the skill.
Rainer stopped immediately once he realized what he had done, but looking over and seeing the look on Kara's face, he knew he screwed up. He quickly thought of saying that he only pretended to learn from her to get close to her but her next words stopped him.
”Your magic for such a level and in general was already strange, I suppose your secrets are quite deep,” she said a bit quietly.
”You do not have to worry from me. Just like the existence of your little friend in your pocket I have no interest in spreading this secret either.”
”Thank you,” he said, glad he didn't have to crush their relationship.
”I'm going to go have my...little friend...clean me off. Since you already know about her would you like her magic assistance as well?”
”I am alright. I merely got to enjoy watching you do all the hard work. It is a nice change of pace,” she smiled.”I'll watch out and make sure no one from the camp can see you.”
She seemed to be a good enough person, though he wasn't arrogant enough to believe he understood her fully. Well, he was about to update his armed [Arcane Bolts] anyways…
Having walked far enough away from the camp, Rainer called Luna out. But she had already flown out of his pocket before he got a full word out.
”Lu...”
”Calling Luna to clean Rainer after he sweated all night with that harlot. Does Rainer have no shame Luna wonders.”
”Luna you know we were training,” he said as the violet-black Fairy Fire comfortably spread around his body.
”Luna says sweating with a harlot is sweating with a harlot.”
She paused for a moment before asking Rainer a question.
”Does Rainer really trust Kara to keep me a secret?” she asked, switching to a more serious tone than usual.
”Not completely. But I'm altering my armed [Arcane Bolts] as we speak. I won't be surprised again at the very least. I do not, however, believe we have much to be worried about. If she was interested in money gained from giving your presence away, why would she be in a group that was so much weaker than her? She values her debts or perhaps her words.”
”If Rainer says so, Luna will trust Rainer.”
Sitting in a throne grown from tree and root, a woman, with the same emerald hair and emerald eyes Luna once had, looked down upon a group of Fae. Different from the Fairy that Luna was, they lacked her wings and her small size, the Fae Queen included, but had long pointed ears and hair of extravagant colors. The eyes on most differed from humans as well. Their clothes were a variety of colors and fabrics apart from the Fae Queen who wore a single smooth black dress without shoes. Yet contrary to the festive appearance of the dozen or so Fae kneeling before their Queen, the mood did not match.
”How goes the search?” The Fae Queen asked a woman of red hair and crystal-like blue eyes. Her entire eyes were that crystal blue lacking a visible pupil. The Queen's voice showed a clear sign of displeasure.
”The...t-tracking magic has proven ineffective my Queen,” she stuttered out fearing the importance of this to her Queen.
The Queen simply stared at her not showing any emotions on her face.
”And why has such a situation occurred?”
”T-The magic determines that she is alive but her location becomes scrambled. We can only conclude that it is t-the interference of another powerful source of mana.”
”So you are telling me not only has years of experimentation simply escaped, it has as well benefited another?”
”Yes-s my Queen.”
Contrary to their expectations the recently volatile Queen did not lash out at them. How could they know all her frustrations were being unleashed on the individual that helped Luna escape, though today that individual had died from their injuries unbeknownst to the Queen. Had they reported this tomorrow they might not get away so freely.
”Continue scrying and find a way around the presence. If not, send agents in the general direction and have them search for such a presence.”
”Yes my Queen,” they responded together.
”Leave me,” she waved her hand slightly and immediately the group of Fae rushed out of the room, happy to leave unscathed.
Her slender fingers drummed on her wooden throne before an emerald wind erupted from her and slammed into the place where the Fae had previously been. Her face was still a frozen facade of ice even if within her rage boiled over.
Ignoring the cracked marble floor she simply walked off from her throne, seeming to almost float above the ground, and headed to where she could relieve her frustrations. Opening a locked wooden door, the prison inside lacked the appearance of one. Its bars were replaced with tree and root. The floor was made up of a darker marble than the one in the throne room. She walked toward the current sole occupant.
”How shall you entrain me today you traitorous whore?” she whispered venomously as the roots and branches blocking the cell opened up. Not matching to the beauty around her was a disfigured Fairy. Yet now was only the corpse of Luna's former caretaker. The calm facade on the Queen's face finally broke.
”I want it found now!” Her mana-charged voice vibrated throughout the entire palace as an emerald swirl of wind consumed the prison cells around her.
An entire week of travel had passed uneventfully for the Winter's Guardians and Rainer. They would be reaching the small outpost that had begun to be constructed around the newly formed Dungeon. Rainer had wondered why its discoverers had bothered reporting it to the Hunter's Guild; a guild formed of Monster Hunters offering support, a middle man for selling monster goods and information, and as well certain missions. Though apparently, the reward for such information was good enough that taking the risk of trying to conquer the Dungeon wasn't worth it.
After a week of [Sleep Learning] on Kara's teachings and his own practice, he had managed to raise [Weightless Blade Mastery] to level 2 and [General Blade Mastery] to level 2 as well.
Rainer had spent about half of his time with Kara asking questions and discussing her blade technique while training. She happily indulged a student who learned the skill so quickly, while completely ignoring the method of his speed of learning it out of respect for his secrets.
Another part of his time focused on creating a shield from Arcane Energy, but all tests ended up simply creating a fat blade or a large thin bolt. He believed he'd need an example of an elemental shield spell. He tried using mana as well due to the goblin mage's shield seeming similar to that, but he hadn't the slightest clue on how to materialize the mana into a physical form. His [Mana Manipulation] only allowed manipulation of ethereal mana rather than something more solid.
The rest was spent with Leaf who discussed with Rainer various strategies for conquering the Dungeon. As of now, little information was known as Leaf's group had left for the Dungeon just a single day after the news was posted at their nearby Hunter's Guild. They hoped the new Hunter's Guild might have some new information. For Rainer, the strategy simplified down to saving his magic and mana for emergencies and boss fights. Otherwise, he would remain within the center of the group and keep his eyes open.
Walking into the outpost that had begun its construction only a month ago Rainer marveled at the appearance of it, the Dungeon entrance itself exceeding his imaginations alongside. A large shrine-like building juxtaposed the snowy landscape. Steps led up to an open but void-filled entrance. No people seemed to be around it at the moment.
Not far south of the shrine, a stone wall was being erected. Further back, several buildings had already been nearly completed. A large stone fortress structure with words foreign to Rainer, but still readable, declared the Hunter's Guild. Directly across from it was the Hunter's Inn that was in a completely finished state with the noise of discussion coming from within. Beside that, the other buildings seemed to either be related to habitation or were perhaps stores. Even after the Dungeon would be cleared, the town was meant to stay.
During nightly chats, he had discussed with Luna several subjects. She only knew Aura was a rare and often hidden attribute that various combat type classes had. She had mentioned this was how the Orc survived, though, she considered it still impossible that he did. Thankful for that information, Rainer knew why Kara gave off a similar feeling and it did not bother him.
She had also mentioned some of the greatest cities were built around Dungeons of high caliber, often monopolizing the resources inside for use of trade and supplying the town. Generally speaking, it still held a high mortality rate, but that mostly applied to those who wished to gain experience related rewards. Simply gathering resources from the first level was not too lucrative but held a lower death rate.
Many Monster Hunters would retire and do such a job having no further goals or giving up on advancing to higher levels anytime soon.
Rainer's first order of business was to register with the Hunter's Guild so he could sell anything he gained from the Dungeon. Soon, however, the Winter's Guardians were stopped by a group of heavily armed men that exited the Hunter's guild and approached them.