25 Descen (1/2)

[00:07:23]

Rainer sat at the table enjoying a last warm meal before they headed on to the second stage. Gunthar's position had been almost unchanged for the past two hours holding his blade upright and focusing on his new technique.

Rainer's gaze moved over to Kara who was now practicing with her blades. Contrary to before it was an entirely different scene to when she was merely a level 5 [Blade Dancer]

[Half-Demon/Wolfkin, Female, Blade Dancer lvl 12, Demonic Werewolf lvl 10]

Whether it was her speed, her aura, or the rushing of the wind that came as her blades cut through the air, the image caused Rainer to pause for a moment as he stared in admiration. Her aura which was previously significantly lesser than Gunthar's almost equaled his.

Level 10….skill store?

He realized he hadn't even thought to ask her about what she could purchase.

”Kara,” He called out finishing his last bite of food. Normally, if you didn't count his outburst when he thought Nalmar wrote their spells in code, he was a bit more careful about interrupting any training. But in this case, time was literally counting down.

She stopped on a dime with her hair blowing forward.

”Hmm?”

”Sorry to interrupt, but we've got a couple of things to talk about before we head to stage 2. You too Gunthar.” Rainer looked down now recalling the ring on his hand knowing that Gunthar would be the best to ask on the subject.

Both seemed to agree as they approached the table. Kara lightly wiped the sweat off her forehead before Luna flew over and assisted with her flame.

”Thank you as always Luna.”

Luna after finishing sat behind one of Kara's ears and lightly scratched it with her small hands. Rainer hadn't noticed when the two had gotten closer. He thought about that when he was studying magic back at the forts the two were always together out of necessity. A necessity Luna had created, but that nonetheless existed.

He stared at the Fae and Wolfkin pair for a moment. He realized he wasn't in the best situation with these two. Kara showed no jealousy, beyond wanting to be given mana herself, but at the same time, Luna was only just shy of 9 inches. There wasn't anything yet to be jealous of due to the difference in size. But according to Luna's words, she would eventually reach a human size.

He still hadn't gotten a clear answer what feeding mana to a Fae meant, but it certainly didn't seem like a thing friends would do to one another. Luna had been with him for close to 3 weeks and saved him as he saved her. They spent hours talking at night. Yet at the same time she was both small, and her personality apart from rare moments of seriousness denoted her as quite young. He had never really questioned their relationship till now. He could only hope he still had plenty of time before she reached a size where these questions needed answers.

”So?” Kara looked at Rainer who appeared to have a blank look on his face.

”Yeah?” He asked waiting to see what she wanted.

”Rainer...you were the one who called us…”

He scratched his cheek a bit awkwardly, recalling what he was thinking about, and went back to the topic at hand.

”Kara we never actually talked about it, but have you gotten any of your skill-store skills?”

”I have. It's a skill I think is unique to my nature...It cost most of the skill points I gained from mastering the Demon Language.”

Then what about English? Have I not gotten a skill because I have Luna's on? But I spoke before then...does the system not recognize the language?

”And what'd you get?”

”[Phantom Self], I can create a phantom version of my transformed demon half, but I lose the use of Demonic Aura and can only use my smaller and weaker aura pool from my Wolfkin half. My Demon half as well has a decreased total aura size. ”

”But both are still as strong as you disregarding the decreased Aura pool?”

She proudly nodded her head. Everytime Rainer thought he was far stronger than Kara an event would set that thought back. He, however, couldn't be more happy about such a thing. He wished for her to be his partner.

”It does put a constant drain on Aura, though, so I can't use it for too long.”

So she says, but will that constant drain even matter when she has a total level of 50 and isn't even in her 2nd class yet? It's a slight disadvantage splitting experience, but that's only true if there weren't level barriers. Experience loses value the higher you level; she can still enter a dungeon for below level 15 even though she's actually level 22. Class makes the second part of the trial harder, but at level 50, would it even be a challenge? Unless it compounded both classes…

And so just as Rainer stopped being nervous about her safety for when she would have to take the 2nd class quest, he once more had a deeper fear.

He could only think of seeing if the Fae's method of advancing could be stolen for Kara too. Though, even after their warning, his worry about his own advancement wasn't to the point where he even considered he could fail. No matter how much harder it was he, in the end, had maxed out spells with [Sleep Learning] others couldn't even dream of doing without years of dedication to a single spell.

Such was the advantage of an environment with a simulated infinite mana pool and now with constant [Arcane Rage].

He as well had another advantage he hadn't thought of too strongly about being so accustomed to it. He could alter spells with his runes related to mana flow and didn't have to learn how to cast them without a chant as other mages needed to. His class was nowhere near his only massive advantage in this world.

This world has, however, proven to him time and time again it couldn't be underestimated. Even if he were confident in his victory, he wouldn't lower his guard nor slow down his training.

”Luna, what about you?” Rainer asked after appraising her and being reminded she received the same experience from quests.

[Fairy, Female, Fae Enchantress lvl 16]

”Luna used skill points from Fae Language to gain skill which lets Luna's fire heal fatigue and help recover stamina. Cause Rainer always so weak after using that magic and Luna could never do anything.” She said the ending a bit bashfully.

”Did you only call me over so that I may once again dull my senses to shock?” Gunthar, who had been sitting there the whole time, finally spoke out. He wasn't sure what he should be more surprised with and simply lumped them together.

”No, it's about this,” Rainer said while taking off and holding out the incubation ring towards Gunthar. At the same time, he reminded himself to take extra long feeding Luna mana the next time.

”This...it's a Wyvern Incubation Ring! Was this your reward for the dungeon? To think you got a Wyvern's Egg and can even input your mana safely. ”

”Ah, not exactly. It's a Scaled-Wyvern Egg. ”

Gunthar's skeletal jaw dropped, and Kara made a face as if she knew it was a result of her choice that it became a Scaled-Wyvern. She didn't understand it the same way that Gunthar, who grew up amongst a city employing Wyvern Riders, would.

Gunthar gently took the ring from Rainer as if holding the world's most precious treasure and mumbled to himself.

”The Scaled-Wyvern's blood we collected must be prepped so that we may properly raise this little one. Oh and then there's timing it to hatch in a safe place. And building its nest, and make sure it's Scales stay perfectly clean... ”

”Little Wolf!” The volume of Gunthar's voice had surprised Kara as he jumped up in front of her.

”Whenever the Sorcerer pours in his strange mana you must as well pour in your Demonic Aura right after. Come on now!” He held out the ring to Kara as she looked over to Rainer. They could all see the clock and that they would be heading to the second stage soon.

”Gunthar we are leaving soon...” Rainer responded before seeing what was likely an angry skeletal face roar out.

”That has no bearing! This precious little child must have the proper care!”

Gunthar caught himself standing with his arms raised after his outburst and quietly sat back down.

”Everyday you must bring the ring to saturation with mana and aura; unfortunately I cannot add my undead aura to the mix. It's best that the feeding happens as close as possible to one another, at the same time would be best.”

”Gunthar is this egg that rare?” Rainer asked though in reality he already knew given the boss they faced it was at least a powerful thing. He wasn't sure it warranted such a reaction, however.

”For a Wyvern to already be Scaled before it is even born. This is unprecedented! Who knows what could be the result of the combination of both your mana and aura.”

”What do you mean unprecedented? Didn't we just fight a Scaled-Wyvern?”

”But to reach such an evolution, it's just below achieving the 2nd Class. Can you imagine a child being born at level 20? And a rare class at that?”

Now even Kara who simply had a content look on her face from giving up her reward looked intently at the ring before taking it and after shifting began pouring her Demonic Aura into it.

Just as she finished, Gunthar had taken the ring back and returned to admiring it. Rainer only chuckled at the scene and finished his meal.

The timer ticked down and the group walked through the portal to the second stage. The [Incubation Ring] was adequately fed and back on Rainer's hand, though, Gunthar had been quite reluctant when returning it.

The next moment Rainer found himself on the other side faceed with an icy gale. He could barely see 5 feet in front of him as the snow poured down. But one fact remained clear; he was on top of a far different mountain.

Shivering and gripping his coat Rainer turned to look behind him but only saw an empty pointed peak, covered entirely in snow and ice, portraying a far different appearance to the prairie mountain of before. Rainer saw Kara and Gunthar already heading down the steep slope. With careful steps he made to follow yet on his very first, he found himself losing footing and sliding down the path.

But before he realized what had happened he was already being supported by Kara.

Her mouth wordlessly moved, the sound blocked by the wind and snow, But her taking his hand in his cleared up any confusion.

Frost began forming on his eyebrows and hair, Luna herself stayed tucked in his pocket finding the wind and snow irritating even if the cold didn't bother her too much as a magical being.

As they walked down the narrow and treacherous circling path, Rainer finally found some relief from the cold.

[Skill Gained: Cold Resistance lvl 1/10]

He had spent some time trekking the snow in the past but back then the clothes Luna made for him had been more than enough to stifle the cold.

It did not take him long to gain another resistance skill.

[Skill Gained: Frost Resistance lvl 1/10]

The dull burning pain from the frost on his eyebrows dimmed. Now remembering his other resistances Rainer turned off fire and burn. When they finally got inside, he'd fully take advantage of the higher body temperature of a Wolfkin.

After a few near slips of Rainer's where Kara had instantly saved him the party reached a small crevice inside of the mountain peak. Even without the ice and snow, this mountain was clearly a far different one, the lack of a flat peak alone determined that.

They entered the crevice, and the terrible sound of the wind died down allowing voices to be heard once more.

”Cold, Cold, Cold, Kara come here p-p-lease,” Rainer said as he shivered and walked deeper into the cave.

He sat down and widely opened his arms making his intentions clear. Kara sat sideways in his lap and wrapped her arms around him as he did to her. He took off his overcoat so that it covered both of them and Luna began forming a blanket to cover both of them as well before joining them inside.

”I'll scout ahead; you warm up Sorcerer,” Gunthar said.

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Rainer noticed that Gunthar's steel boots made no sound onto the rock. He activated [Aura Detection] and saw a slight amount of aura. As he stared closely, he got a sharp flash of light and pain in his eyes before he shook himself out of it. No one else noticed the strangeness. He only thought that similar to pulling a muscle he must have pulled the metaphorical muscle dealing with [Aura Detection].

His attention turned back to the incredibly comforting and warm Wolf on his lap.

Kara soon felt a cold hand reaching down her blouse and wrapping around her chest.

”I didn't realize that was the most effective way to warm up.”

She nuzzled her head closer to him as she then felt mana coming from that very hand. All previous complaints about taking advantage of the situation, joking or not, no longer of any concern to her.

Hugging Kara close to him he slowly used just small amounts of mana. His goal was just to help her warm up as well. Despite her act, he could tell she didn't resist the cold much better than he did. She had her race's natural ability but he had resistances. They both relaxed as they shared their heat waiting for Gunthar's return.

Just as Gunthar was returning, quite loudly hitting his boots against the ground, Kara's voice could be heard slightly moaning out. Hearing the noises Rainer had stopped infusing any mana and Kara's face reddened further hearing Gunthar's approach.

Moments later Gunthar came around the corner still making sure to make loud steps.

Seeing the still flushed face of Kara Gunthar mumbled out a prayer. He had become glad in his choice to create a ruckus before approaching though from the looks of it the action didn't seem to help much.

”Those who hold out their hands in prayer cannot choose the miracle that comes to them…”

Kara's face flushed further as she buried herself in the blanket leaving only Rainer above.

”What'd you find?”

”Frost Giants…” Gunthar said, worry evident in his voice.

”Are they such a big problem?”

Gunthar fully understood how strong Rainer was after the fight with the Scaled-Wyvern. For him to believe Frost Giants posed a challenge caused Rainer to tense up.

”Their magic resistance...I fear it is strong enough even to repel most of your magic Sorcerer. Though with you, it is difficult to be sure…”

”It's best not to test that out if we don't have to, yeah?” Rainer immediately replied back.

”Correct. I believe the next portion of the dungeon is designed to be snuck past. Even if we had a full party, there are simply too many Frost Giants…”

Rainer looked down at his feet for a moment and just as he was about to try and move mana to them similar to how Gunthar moved his aura he felt a steel covered hand on his shoulder.

”Do not.”

”Huh, why…”

”Do not. It is not something that even you sorcerer can simply do without training. I assume you value your feet?”

Rainer's face blanched a bit as Gunthar continued to talk.

”It should be fine to walk normally but quietly. Frost Giants are not known for their hearing, or their intelligence for that matter and our group is small. In the worst case, the little wolf still hiding in the blanket may carry you. You seem oddly unashamed at such a thing; it should be perfect.”

At that, Kara shot out from under the blanket.

”Gunthar you understand right. He should be embarrassed when I carry him as a man does to a wife. But he's not. It's not fair.”

”I know little wolf. I know…” Recalling only Kara seemed to mind when he entered the room.

Following a cough from Rainer breaking up their...moment...The party stood up and followed Gunthar deeper into the cave.

Hearing that Gunthar had yet to muffle the sound of his steps both Rainer and Kara walked normally as they followed him. As they continued down the widening cave just as they were about to round a corner, Gunthar lifted his hand up towards them.

Rainer activated [Aura Detection] to confirm Gunthar's actions but to avoid whatever had happened before hand he didn't look too closely. He took a quick glance at Kara and noticed she had performed a similar action, though she used far less aura for it. She already moved quietly with or without aura.

As Gunthar carefully maneuvered around the corner, Rainer made sure to step on the ball of his foot and adjust the weight properly before moving forward. Most teenagers snuck past their parents, some simply researched the act further than others.

Following closely behind Gunthar they soon arrived in a far larger cave the ceiling stretching out. Far in the distance, Rainer could see one of the sleeping Frost Giants Gunthar had mentioned.

[Jotin, Male, Frost Giant Warrior lvl 23]

Even across the massive room, his breath could be heard. His arm alone was taller than Rainer. His skin was a frosty white and his hair like snow.

Rainer was about to whisper a question before Kara's hand was already over his mouth. She fiercely moved her head side to side. The fear of the Frost Giant wasn't exclusive to Gunthar.

Seeing that Kara, a fearsome individual in her own right, felt the same way Rainer stowed away any questions for now as he carefully followed Gunthar. They moved from naturally formed pillar to pillar. Gunthar always checked to make sure the Frost Giant was completely asleep before they moved forward once more.

Gunthar continued leading the group before he suddenly paused behind a pillar. Rainer kept moving forward before Kara's hand pulled him back. Soon loud footsteps could be heard as a giant passing right by them could be seen.

Rainer felt a bead of sweat run down his forehead despite the cold. The giant continued walking on before disappearing in a large entrance.