21 Deliverance (1/2)

Using the full force of her Aura, Kara ran farther and farther from the horde. They were heading to the farthest fort with the simple goal of capturing it as quickly as possible and then moving on.

Gunthar sat next to Rainer as Kara carried them forward. Once she ran out of energy completely, Gunthar would carry them both. The goal was as much distance as possible. Their previous action had likely been predicted which means now they needed to go beyond the nearest forts.

Rainer had a thought to head directly to Nalmar but the fear of both a 2nd Class Undead and the fact that there may be numerous classless undead kept him from such an action. He looked down at his ring and wondered if he should try transferring again but decided against it. It was too much of a risk the first time. They should have tried to break through the horde instead of getting trapped. Such a trick of escaping through the top of the tower wouldn't work a second time. And he already used nearly all his mana to get Kara to land here. He'd be defenseless following a transfer.

Furthermore, there was a more serious problem. Judging by the experience bonus the [Lich] he killed was at level 25. Which meant now their capabilities would be judged as perhaps needing a 2nd Class Undead to deal with them. They needed to get away as fast as possible before that happened.

Perhaps all feeling the serious mood, the group was mostly quiet. In terms of Gunthar carrying the group, Rainer went on his back followed by Kara. The enchanted gear allowed him to bear such a load amidst supplies. It was a silly scene with Rainer on his shoulders and Kara wrapped around him with the assistance of magically created belts courtesy of Luna.

But with her Demonic nature, Kara was quick to recover. And so they went on searching for any forts they could capture as quickly as possible.

Rainer looked around the small library he was in. This was the third empty fort they successfully captured, leaving the last five for reaching level 25. By the time he needed to capture The Shield clearing away the classless undead that may have been left there wouldn't be a large challenge. More importantly, he only needed to kill the small portion that stayed inside rather than all of them. Every level also meant more Arcane Power and a higher conversion rate, meaning his effective mana pool grew rapidly.

It had taken them close to a full day to travel to all these forts, with Kara getting faster with every quest completion.

[Half-Demon/Half-Wolkin, Female, Blade Dancer lvl 9, Demonic Werewolf lvl 7]

Rainer recalled his most recent appraisal of her. Her total level still outpaced his at 15. Although since their party wasn't set to share experience Rainer was catching up quickly.

Demons ordinarily had a massive experience penalty due to their race's natural power, but quests and Dungeons circumvented that penalty. This was precisely why Kara, who was able to enter all Dungeons, was both priceless to the demons and an enemy to everyone else. Demons, of course, experimented for years in trying to create Half-Demon hybrids, but their blood would always overpower the non-demon half.

Though she did split the quest experience between her two classes. Not that it mattered too much with a rare class like [Blade Dancer] also having great bonuses.

As usual he checked to see if the content of the small library differed but always found himself disappointed. All these libraries within the tower were nearly identical having only the spells often used by Paladins and a few assorted reference books.

Standing in this room within the fort simply called Dawn he couldn't shake the feeling that something was different. He recalled soon after the strange sensation of when he formed the spatial bubble around the party. He could sense the air around him, every inch of fur over Kara, Gunthar...as well. It was exhilarating, confusing, and slightly displeasing but all the same, he would use it once more.

Now he altered gravity by the smallest factor he could manage. He extended a bubble around him. Increasing gravity slightly, was in fact, easier than decreasing slightly. In actuality, Rainer guessed he could just directly sense the space around him with [Spatial Manipulation]. But, as of now, he needed to alter gravity as a crutch to do such a thing.

He tried to spread his bubble of Spatial magic even further around the room. Trying to see what made it feel so off. And then he understood.

The room was too small. The towers with the exception of The Shield were identical. So did Rainer manage to notice the room was too small through pure memorization and talent? Of course not. When did he have such a talent?

He simply noticed the hidden room behind the bookcase…

Yet he did not try to move the bookcase or destroy it.

A genuine hidden room! It must be given the proper respect it deserves!

Carefully and with bated breath Rainer looked over the bookcase. He specifically looked for any book he hadn't noticed before in any other library. He felt it would be cheating to check every book to open the door.

And then he finally found it. It was a book on cooking. Something that was most certainly not in any of the other libraries. And with a small pull, the bookcase opened.

Rainer immediately jumped back, prepared for battle upon seeing what was inside but an appraisal calmed him.

[Human, Male, Deceased]

It was just a normal skeleton. Though even as he was reassured by the use of [Appraisal] he still cautiously walked into the room before poking the head of the skeleton a few times. Seeing no reaction he started to look around for what exactly was hidden in this room. Some empty boxes were on the left of the small stone space looking similar to the food storage units within the tower. On the floor beside the skeleton was a simple journal that was unaffected by the time it should have been. The skeleton itself wore only brown rags having no similarities to whatever it was before along with many rings on its bony fingers.

What interested Rainer most was the well-preserved journal and sitting down at a table within the library he opened it up. Yet a violent flash of light erupted suddenly. He hadn't even been able to react as the massive surge of magic exploded out.

He slammed back onto the ground covering his eyes and screaming. Though soon the pain faded as suddenly as it came. Warily he stood up and walked back over to the table still rubbing his sore eyes. The book was simply there opened to the first page and with a cautious approach, Rainer read it.

To you who has found my final record I apologize for such magic. To allow my work to fall into the hands of an undead would bring me far too much shame. So long as you are one of the living this book shall not crumble upon your touch.

Even as his eyes watered Rainer read on with a renewed excitement.

Within this journal I leave behind my final and greatest work of magic. I had hoped to save my city with such a thing yet now I can only shatter my soul so that it may not be used for the Arch-Lich's purpose. My magic nearly crippled and my mana no longer recovering.

Once more a surge of magic came from the journal as Rainer turned the page. He struggled against it for a moment but soon found such an effort pointless as it overtook him.

Now with a headache, he still read on, focused entirely on discovering what magic lay within.

You have been proven a foe to my foe. Deemed worthy of attaining my final work. I will not say that you should use it for protection or value your own survival first. Take my will and smite our foes. Leave none of their filthy existences within this world.

Rainer thought right after that whatever magic had been used was either too advanced or not advanced enough to understand his relationship with Gunthar.

Immediately after the first two pages containing those messages burnt away leaving only an introduction to the spell that lay within. Titled at the top of the page was a single line.

Deliverance: Tier 7 Light and Space-Time Magic.

Rainer stumbled out of the library after hearing a loud Aura-filled yell from Kara that it was time to move on. His head in so much pain from reading runes he could barely see straight yet his face had an indescribable happiness. Did he learn the spell? Not in the slightest. Just looking at the Runes reminded him of when he first learned magic. Yet this was exactly what he sought in this world.

Within his arms was the body of one High Priest Yalin Velhinhem covered in his overcoat. He planned on asking Gunthar on how to perform the funeral rites for their people. On Rainer's fingers were two new rings that he hesitantly took from the High Priest. In fact, every finger of the Priest was adorned with a ring and he wore two necklaces. The others were either damaged with time or were the same [Ring of the Nalmar Knighthood] he already possessed. But all these adornments lacked the presence of magic.

He had already given him such a gift, but Rainer still valued his own survival first.

[Spatial Ring: allows the user to access a small pocket dimension outside of normal Space-Time for storing and retrieving objects.]

The spatial ring was a pure black ring lined with white on its edges.

[Ring of Nalmar's High Priest: Increases the power of Light Magic by 40%]

This one looked similar to the [Ring of the Nalmar Knighthood] but instead had a single spear, likely representing a spear of light, behind the gold carved sun. The ring itself was made of blessed steel as well.

As he went down the stairs of the tower he noticed Luna flying towards him who had originally been spending time with Gunthar.

”Why is Rainer carrying bones Luna wonders?”

”Not bones, my benefactor,” he replied simply before asking what he needed.

”Can you go ask Gunthar to prepare a burial rite as best as he can for a High Priest of his people?”

”Luna flew all the way up here and now Rainer just sends Luna away. But Luna is by far the best so Luna will do without complaint,” she proudly said as she flew back down the stairs.

Trying not to retort that she did complain he continued making his way down.

After some time Luna found Gunthar in the courtyard and transferred Rainer's request. Mostly.

”Gunthar, Rainer said to prepare a burial rite for...someone of your people,” Luna faltered, forgetting exactly what Rainer had told her.

The Fairy had already flown away before Gunthar could reply.

One of my people…

Gunthar thought a bit nervously and irrationally that for some reason Rainer wished to bury him.

Perhaps he thinks I wish to move on. I had thought I would wish to as well yet now seeing hope for granting judgment to those who corrupted my city I will see it to the end. And then after…

Gunthar had since meeting these three begun to think of an after as well. Though what exactly that entailed he did not know. With unneeded courage and a steeled will Gunthar marched towards Rainer to tell him that he wasn't so weak that he couldn't bear his current form. Kara currently sat meditating within the courtyard. Gunthar himself was replenishing their supplies when the fairy came to find him.

”Sorcerer!” Gunthar called out vigorously seeing Rainer exit the tower. Though seeing the body wrapped within his coat changed everything he was about to say.

”Yeah? Did Luna tell you to prepare a funeral rite for a High Priest of your people? Do you not need anything on hand for that?” Rainer said wondering why Gunthar had nothing with him yet was already calling out to him.

”High Priest?” Gunthar asked a bit quietly. Kara as well got up from her meditation.

”Might I inquire if you know his name Sorcerer?”