15 The Fog (1/2)

Staring at the [Return Stone] in his hand, Rainer realized they may not be as lucky as he assumed.

[Return Stone: Returns one to the entrance outside of the Dungeon. 5-second cast-time.]

A Dungeon it required and a Dungeon this was not. In fact, Rainer was quite sure they were no longer within the same world. Wherever the World Tree or otherwise sent them without that ring from the first quest they could not leave. There was an advantage to being outside a Dungeon, however: the experience was no longer stunted.

Rainer looked forward at Kara walking in front of him. He was entranced for what seemed like a moment at the swing of her tail until her abruptly spinning around to face him nearly knocked him flat.

”Rainer.”

”Uh..what?”

”Do you agree or not?”

Agree? Agree to what?

”I agree…”

”Good, Luna go scout ahead and look for a decent place to camp, preferably inside a cave or in a defensible position. Even with the overcast sky, the Undead will not be too active, but once the sun falls we may be set upon.”

”Aye aye!” Luna, still in a great mood from receiving a Main Quest, happily fluttered over the forest.

Well, I can just summon her if there's trouble. And it looks like I didn't agree to anything bothersome, how long was I out of it?

”Let's rest for a moment,” Kara said before sitting down on the stone path. They had walked quite a distance since they'd gotten here but the Tower they saw, likely the fort they needed to capture, was still a long ways away. Likely it was far larger than they had initially believed.

Rainer sat next to Kara and wrapped his arm around her. He sneakily used the chance to feel her ears with his face, while Kara simply leaned into him.

”Does it bother you?”

”Does what bother me?”

”If my eye stays transformed..?”

Rainer looked over and wondered if her ”demonic” eye may even be more beautiful than her other. He thought for a moment if he should reveal his true origins and perhaps ease any concerns she may have, but decided it was best left for another time. He didn't fully understand what being a traveler meant, if anything. While he had no interest in taking up the mantle of a ”hero” he couldn't be sure it wouldn't be forced upon him. And then he may very well be her race's greatest foe.

”Not in the slightest, rather it's as if someone extracted the very essence of a ruby and deemed your eye fit to hold its color.”

At this, she chuckled a bit.

”I suppose I should have expected such an answer...Then what of my tail?” she asked amused.

”So entrancing that when you had asked me if I agreed earlier I hadn't a clue what I was agreeing to.”

There was no laugh this time as she gave him a serious glare. Rainer had thought he messed up admitting such a thing, but it seems for once Kara had gotten one over on him as he heard her unable to hold in her laughter any longer. Luna had flown back just in time to catch the tail end of their laughter.

”Humph, Luna is doing all the hard work while Rainer relaxes with She-Wolf. Luna doesn't wanna share great spot she found.”

”Oh no, my mana, it's useless, it's all gone, what will Luna do…” Rainer said in mock sadness.

”Rainer is playing unfair…”

”Don't make such a face. We don't have anything in particular to do now the sun's setting. So come on, the quicker we make camp the quicker you'll have yours truly as entertainment.”

He said after standing and giving an overzealous pose. To his surprise, Kara stood up behind him and patted him on the butt before heading towards Luna.

”Come on yours truly, let's get going, she said, doing her best to hide the slight reddening of her face.

Giving a grin Rainer followed Luna and Kara into the forest.

It did not take too long before they found their destination...which was straight up a sheer cliff face.

”Luna...you know I can't fly.”

”Rainer is silly, just mount the She-Wolf.”

”Luna, that's only for tonight, yet you want us to do that in the open?” Rainer asked with as much serious intonation as he could manage.

”What-t...Rainer...I think she...means for me to carry you…” Kara spoke a bit flustered.

”Oh, in that case whenever you're ready Kara,” he said staring directly at her.

”I'm going to shift could you turn away Rainer?”

”I've seen it all already, there's…”

This time, her glare was honestly of the serious nature prompting him to turn around.

At a far slower pace than she did during the boss fight, Kara began shifting causing Rainer to gain some understanding why she tired out so quickly. It must have cost something to instantly shift like that. After 15 or so seconds of bone-cracking sounds, Kara called for Rainer to turn around, though, her voice had an odd vibration to it now.

”Come, I'll carry you. I promise I won't drop you…” Kara gave a toothy grin showing her fangs. She was a little worried Rainer would have an adverse reaction to seeing her form so up close and without the distraction of battle, but contrary to expectations he seemed extremely interested.

Walking up closer, Rainer reached out his hand to touch her ears, seeing it as his best chance. He was able to scratch and enjoy them for a few seconds before Kara realized what he was doing and hastily turned away. Though, he swore he heard a breath of contentment as he did it.

He picked up her scabbards, though he didn't grab her share of the supplies, already at his limit, before Kara bent down and allowed him on her back.

”Hold on tightly, it won't hurt,” Kara said before jumping towards the cliff, which in reality was more of a small plateau, though its sides were quite jagged.

Gripping the smooth fur tightly Rainer gave a look of amazement as he saw how high up they already were in but a few moments. They reached the top soon after, and Rainer looked it over. A decently wide space with a few trees they could use for cover in case of an archer actually capable of shooting up this high.

Luna really found a great spot, though the image of undead scaling the sides all around us is not exactly pleasant…

He looked straight up into the clouds noting it was already getting darker and colder. Whether or not they'd be beset by undead at night only the setting of the sun would tell.

”Kara it'll get cold tonight let's huddle together for warmth.”

”Of course.”

Rainer was a bit surprised how readily she agreed until he saw her still in her Werewolf form curl up and lay down waiting for him.

Good enough…

Though, that good enough became too good as he felt how perfect her fur was and laid down on her.

”How long can you stay like this anyways?”

”So long as I don't overextend my Demonic Aura or Stamina, a day or two with little issue.”

He relaxed in the comfortable fur for a moment before calling out to Luna. ”Luna come over and explain the gifts you have besides wind.”

She flew over while muttering to herself, though as usual at a volume that everyone could hear. ”All pleasure with She-wolf but it's all business with Luna. Luna feels underappreciated.”

”Kara you should get some rest, if we are attacked at night I only have so much mana,” he said not yet acknowledging Luna.

”It will be fine you may rest as well, I will sense anyone long before they see us. Though I will take up your offer,” she yawned and nestled closer around Rainer.

Rainer extended out his hand so Luna could have her favorite spot as she still seemed to be muttering complaints. Landing and sitting on his hand, she appeared content. He gave her a moment before asking again.

”What does Gift of Lightning do?”

”Luna says it's like Gift of the Wind, but it's half as strong, though it makes everything fast.”

”So, you always have that on when you're talking?”

”Luna says Gift of Stoneskin makes you tough like stone, but not metal, only stone. Gift of Translucence makes you like little snake with legs, but the kind you can't see very well, it doesn't last long though,” she continued, ignoring Rainer's comment while fully embodying it.

”From now on, Gift of Lightning on both me and Kara should be best when needed,” he decided, hoping the Arcane bonus he received from Gift of the Wind would also be in effect.

”Luna will do,” she affirmed before she laid down in his hand seemingly thinking about something. Her new size being a bit too large for his hand Rainer laid her gently on top of his head instead.

With Kara resting and Luna contemplating, close to half an hour passed before Luna spoke up once more. ”Rainer...are you still awake.”

”I am now,” he joked when in truth every time he'd closed his eyes he'd had to open them.

He thought several times to ask Luna to cast the sleep spell on him again but every time he couldn't help but compare himself to a sad old man drowning his sorrows with alcohol just to sleep at night. He refused to be such an existence, yet the reality was seeing all their faces every time he closed his eyes. He didn't understand it, he wasn't even that close to them. The only one who he held in any regard was Erik, who had inadvertently given his life for Rainer and wasn't even a part of those he killed.

He didn't regret his choice, though he was regretful over Leaf getting away. It was undebatable that one of them would succumb to greed and come after him and Luna or sell the information to another. Such a declaration, however, didn't make it any easier. Rainer could only hope time truly healed all wounds…

”Can Luna tell Rainer a story?”

”She can,” Rainer responded while the supposedly sleeping Kara twitched her ears.

”Well…” She started while cutely clearing her throat.

”There was a very special Fairy. The prettiest smartest Fairy that ever was. But this Fairy didn't come from a mother: she was instead made by many mothers and fathers in order to...serve a purpose.”

”But this Fairy grew up not knowing this. And this Fairy believed the prettiest and loveliest Queen in the land to be her mother, and that this Fairy was her daughter, the Fae Princess.”

”This Fairy grew up nicely but ever so often she would dream of horrible things. Of fire and screams, of being forced to burn the flames within her at the whims of others. Though this Fairy would wake up and no longer remember any of it.”

”But one day...this Fairy remembered everything. That Lu-the Fairy wasn't a real Fairy but magically created to revive the ancient and true Fae Fire. To be used as a sacrifice to give to her mother...the Fae Queen.”

”And then Lu-The Fairy's caretaker helped Lu-na but only Luna got away…” she ended and Rainer could hear her crying a bit. He took her off his head and did his best to hug the small Fairy despite the size difference.

”And then Luna found a wonderful hero who saved her and protected her but Luna never told this hero the truth.”

”That's when Luna felt the hero's strange mana Luna knew she could hide from those after her. That by being his familiar Luna could hide. They still would eventually find Luna though. But now Luna really likes hero but it's too late for Luna to make up for it. Luna will leave if Hero wants it, Luna will make sure they don't come after Rainer…”

Rainer looked at the crying Fairy in his hands and thought it over. He couldn't deny the situation wasn't ideal. That he was a bit annoyed being used in such a manner but it wasn't as if he didn't gain a great deal of benefit as well. In the end…

What's one more entire race of people coming after me going to matter?

Depending on to whom and what Leaf spread, there could be an army of fae, demons and/or humans waiting for them at the Dungeon entrance. If they believed them still alive. It may even be better for all of them to be there. Maybe they'd just wipe each other out. Either way, Rainer decided he wouldn't be leaving this place as long as he could manage.

At the end of it all, I'd like to see who's capable of standing in my way…

”I'm sorry Rainer…” Luna spoke lacking the usual tone of her voice.

Just before Rainer could say anything Luna suddenly blew out a silver dust with a violet shine onto Rainer's hand.

”Luna! What are you doing?”

”I'm happy Rainer is so worried,” she said wiping away her tears.

”But Fairies naturally produce a very small amount of dust, this was all the dust I made over my entire life. Whether Rainer accepts me or doesn't once this is over, I wish for you to have it…”

”You're my familiar...” he spoke his head feeling a little strange from the dust, ”You don't get to leave whether you want to or not…” he said before his vision turned black and he felt a feeling beyond anything he'd ever known. It was as if for but the briefest moment he could sense the entire universe. The flow of mana throughout all existence, the depths of magic...and then...it ended.

His eyes watered a bit and he then looked down at Luna.

”It's good you finally told-” Rainer said before he clutched his chest in pain. Violet lines like veins flowed up and down his arms shining through even his clothes.

He could feel that small amount of strange arcane energy within his mana expand and change in nature before reverting back to what it was, though slightly more.

”Rainer!” Kara called out. Both Kara and Luna looked at Rainer with concern. Luna especially as her dust was most certainly not supposed to have this effect.

Looking at his messages Rainer just waved his arm and spoke.

”I'm alright. No rather, I'm better than alright…”

[Fairy Dust has been absorbed. Affinity +4, Lifespan + 1]

[Arcane elements within the Fairy Dust compatible with user.]

[Arcane Attunement + 3]

My choice was not wrong...this could quite literally make someone a mage, or a stronger one, and in a society that treats strong mages as lords could you even put a price on that? Not only that but how much would a dying king pay to extend his life even just a bit, what or who would he be willing to sacrifice? Besides...this was just her natural dust...what lengths would people go to in forcing her to produce more?

Hastily, Rainer tried to find the [Arcane Attunement] attribute but it seemed even if it increased he likely wouldn't unlock it until level 10. Whatever it was, it dealt with that strange Arcane Energy within his mana.

”Rainer, what happened, did Luna screw up?” Luna, back to her old self, asked.

”The opposite. It seemed to increase the hidden attribute that I might get at level 10, though perhaps because I don't have it unlocked yet I haven't a clue what it really did.”

Rainer now understood that there may be more to a hidden attribute than just being hidden. He wondered if the +1 he'd gain to all attributes at level 10 would give him the ability to use Aura or just increase the attribute should he ever unlock it. Meaning that beyond hidden attributes like Lifespan, which was clearly working or he'd be dead, versus Aura, which may require other conditions other than simply raising it, there were major differences.

”What else did Rainer gain?!” Luna asked with shining eyes.

”4 to Affinity and 1 to Lifespan,” Rainer answered.

”Hehe isn't Luna impressive!” she said proudly.

”How long did it take for you to naturally produce that anyways?”

”Rainer shouldn't ask a lady's age.”

At this point, Kara had already returned to resting leaving the two to their play.