34 A New Wind Blows (1/2)

Rainer took a few moments to lay out all the armor and items taken from the four 2nd class Fae. Luna and Gunthar agreed to look over what was still salvageable as Rainer took Kara upstairs. With the Arcane's natural affinity toward destroying enchanted items his [Arcane-Fire Explosion] had rendered inert a Fae's armor and sword. Most, however, still worked.

Rainer set Kara gently on the bed as she relaxed slowly recovering her expended Aura and Stamina.

”Is this the part where it's my turn to watch over you?” Rainer asked as he moved over next to Kara. Though watching was not a part of the agenda. She felt his hand moving up her leg.

”Taking advantage of a defenseless woman? Have you no shame?” She asked with a grin. In truth, she did not even need to be carried back. Her two golden eyes stared at Rainer as he moved his hand upwards.

He took full advantage of the not so defenseless woman, leveling up some skills, old and new.

[Dextral Pleasuring Technique has reached level 2]

[Skill Gained: Oral Pleasuring Technique lvl 1/10]

[Oral Pleasuring Technique has reached level 2]

[Copulation Technique has reached level 2]

Kara decided to take a nap as Rainer headed downstairs. None of the enchanted items were of any interest to him, but he had some thoughts dealing with how he could use the mithril. Though, as he walked downstairs, it didn't seem as if much progress had been made.

”Lady of the Fae, I cannot fathom why you didn't tell me it was inert.”

”Gunthar didn't ask,” Luna responded while twirling her silver hair with her finger.

”One should think, that as I try to test out an enchanted weapon to tell me it doesn't work.”

”Gunthar expects too much from Luna. Luna is busy too.”

”With what!?” Gunthar asked, in a rare moment of losing his temper.

”To ask a lady her business, Luna sees she was wrong about Gunthar,” Luna turned away in a huff. Something a bit difficult to do given she was laying down, relaxing.

Gunthar's skeletal face couldn't seem to hide his frustration. Rainer took a moment to appraise the sword Gunthar referred to.

[Mithril Enchanted Sword(damaged): An enchanted sword of Mithril. +(0)3 Dexterity, +(0)3 Intelligence.]

The sword looked little different from its undamaged counterparts.

Gunthar had been trying to see if the enchantment worked together with his own sword. He was, of course, unaware until after quite a bit of testing that the sword didn't even work on its own. While he could tell right away if both swords worked by dual wielding them, such was not his combat style. So, he tried wearing both in various combinations on himself. Never understanding the sword, he tested with, didn't work. Luna had only told him it was enchanted.

Rainer guessed it had only become damaged, rather than destroyed, as it had only been hit by Arcane Magic rather than having the energy channeled directly through it.

”How's it looking?”

”Apart from all the Mithril armor, I doubt the rest would be of much use,” Gunthar said while waving his arm toward the items that had been sorted into damaged and undamaged. He had, in the end, determined the swords, the undamaged ones, only worked while held in one's hand, making them useless for him, or Rainer in that matter.

Rainer was a bit surprised at Fira technically having better items than the [Grand Fae Enchantress]. She had only a single ring.

[Ring of Intelligence: An enchanted ring which increases one's magic ability. +2 Intelligence]

It had a different appearance from Rainer's own, but as he assumed it did not stack. Apart from the armor and enchanted swords, the [Grand Rune Knights] carried nothing else of value.

”Gunthar, I have a question. How come they didn't just make the Mithril into chainmail?”

Luna's laughter partially answered his question.

”Rainer is so silly.” she replied soon after.

”Having it tight to one's body and spread out as well would not be ideal,” Gunthar finally answered, giving confirmation.

”You have never come across this question in your land, Sorcerer?” Gunthar asked, confusion not visible on his skeletal face.

”This question, rather I never needed to fight at all.”

”I see…”

”Most didn't. Well. That's not entirely correct, as there were stark differences between countries in our world. The differences in education, resources, and power were as if night and day.”

”And these far lesser countries were never conquered?”

”Why would they bother when there isn't much to gain and the rest of the world would look negatively on them?”

Gunthar scratched his head and let the matter go. It was an opinion far different from the Holy Empire of Gunthar's world. A Holy Empire that took whatever it could. Nalmar applied to the category of something unobtainable.

”I'm guessing we should just sell most of this. I imagine George might be interested. Speaking of which…” Rainer said while taking a single undamaged sword and a small set of armor into his ring, ”I should give George the items from the Fae he killed.” He then took the rest that was undamaged into his ring and hoped George would be willing to facilitate a trade with his guild. Rainer had no interest in directly doing it and revealing himself in such a manner.

”Sorcerer, perhaps you should hold off on parting with these items. Mithril is quite useful in enchanting.”

Rainer already considered the Mana-well to be his, so he decided to heed Gunthar's advice, mostly.

Followed by Gunthar and Kara, Rainer walked into the Baron's mansion.

He needed to speak with Charles' about assisting him on his advancement. Just as he reached the usual location where they learned Aura inscription from him, they heard George and Charles speaking.

”Charles, I truly wish you would reconsider my offer. Compared to anyone else, your treatment, under my recommendation would be far better.”

”I have no interest in becoming a dog of your guild, regardless of how my chances are improved.”

”Charles…your chances are not high.”

”Do you think I'm unaware!” Charles said slamming his fist into his table, ”But you know who I am. I will not comprise my ideals just to live longer.”

Rainer coughed loudly as he entered the room.

”Ah Ra-Lord Magus, are we to be off?” George responded.

”I just need to have a word with Charles first and then we can head for dinner.”

”Excellent, I shall leave you two to your discussion,” George said while leaving the room, completely unbothered by Charles' outburst. It was not the first time they had such a conversation.

”Lord Magus, I apologize for having to…”

”It's fine, rather you can just call me by my name, Rainer.”

Charles grew confused for a moment given the difference from the name he knew, but paid it no more mind.

”I suppose George's discussion with you actually makes my suggestion quite relevant.”

”Lord Magus…”

”Rainer,” Rainer said with a grin.

”Rainer…I appreciate your coming offer, but I refuse to be chained.” Charles said speaking with a tone far varying from his usual reverence for Rainer.

”And you won't be. I'm temporarily heading home for a few weeks at most. I plan on bringing back some enchanted weapons and armors for yourself. You may freely use them for your advancement. Your plans afterward, we can discuss,” Rainer continued before Charles could interrupt, ”And if you disagree with my offer you can just return the items. And I cannot exactly take back your 2nd Tier class, can I?”

”Such an offer…” Charles couldn't help but be stunned. Compared to the one offered by Mage Guilds it was simply a gift instead of an offer.

”How's my chef doing?” Rainer asked, changing the subject.

”Ah? Doing quite well. The child is quite a hard worker.”

”Good...may I borrow your Nightmares for the duration of my trip?”

”Of course, of course,” Charles said while creating two Aura Inscriptions, ”I shall bring them to you at a later hour, I will pour more Aura into them so you aren't too limited by time. And once more I'd like to give my apologies for…”

Rainer waved a hand stopping him, ”It's fine. Your lecture on inscriptions more than covered that,” He said as he left the room and headed outside of the mansion. George awaited him there.

”I have already reserved a private room at the place I oft dine at when here. If that is alright?”

”Perfect, let's go then.”

George grinned as he began casting a spell. With Rainer's level 2 [Magic Detection] he got a general sense that this spell's purpose wasn't offensive in nature. Nearly a dozen seconds passed before Rainer understood the magic's goal.

Wind rushed around as Rainer's party felt their feet lift from the ground. They rose into the air and flew at George's command toward their intended destination. The sphere of wind surrounding them had a slight green hue, denoting it as magic.

If Rainer had been unsure on breaching the topic of spell trading with George, his current desire made not asking for such a thing an impossibility. Buildings beneath them rushed by as they were encased in an orb of swirling wind. Rainer took this moment to inspect George's mana pool, but could only discern that its size equaled about 3 times his current one, its movements hidden entirely.

Rainer, while quite entertained, had [Gravity Domain] prepared at a moment's notice. Even if he fully trusted in George, the very nature of him being in this world prevented him from believing magic infallible.

Gunthar seemed unbothered, not that Rainer could tell. Kara stared with wide eyes at the scenery passing below them. And all too soon their journey ended. While George had been showing off, it wasn't hard for Rainer to see it was a bit taxing and that his mana pool suffered from carrying all of them.

Rainer felt a bit surprised seeing the unadorned and rather ordinary Inn in front of them. A bit surprised couldn't describe the rest of the people around them, who had watched people descend from the sky in a torrent of wind.

”Do not judge it by its appearance, I have yet to find better cuisine than here. Had the owner not rejected my numerous attempts he would be my personal chef.”

”On the contrary, seeing you bring me to such a place I knew it had to be extraordinary,” Rainer's praise had brightened George's face slightly.

They were led into a private room at the back. Keeping up his appearance as a guard Gunthar waited outside the room. It was not a secret, Rainer's relationship with Kara, and George had already seen Rainer personally carry her back, so she had no need to act as Rainer's guard.

They sat across from George, as they awaited their food.

”What were you talking about with Charles earlier, if you don't mind me asking?”

”It isn't particularly a secret. Mages are not common in this land and even less so those of the 2nd Tier,” Hearing about the basic information Rainer had asked from Martin, George explained more fully then he would to most, ”So many Guilds recruit those on the cusp of advancing to the second class. They offer them a set of enchanted items in exchange for 50 years of servitude after they complete their advancement. The years and gifts vary. Given the Lifespan increase from one's 2nd Tier Class, it is not a bad deal. But often…”

”They do the dirty work of the Guild,” Rainer answered, given the conversation he had overheard.

”Precisely. Hunting rogue mages and other such affairs,” George didn't bother hiding the truth of the matter.

”You don't seem like the type to do recruiting for your guild.”

George smiled a bit, ”I am not. I had even gotten a far better than usual offer for my old friend, but he won't relent. It is troublesome, you know, watching a friend walk to his death. I too fear the day my son may attempt the trial. Even with my support, I do not have high hopes.” He ended while sighing out.

Rainer too understood how many times he could have died without [Arcane Sight] at his disposal. He discovered a new-found respect for the man who completed the 2nd Class Advancement in front of him.

Kara paused a bit at his words, that were all too true seeing Rainer rush ahead of time to his trial. Yet even amongst her worries, she hadn't even given a thought to how she would react if he didn't come back.

Seeing no reason to hide it and possibly to gain George's favor, Rainer revealed his discussion with Charles.

”You…have made me far happier than you can imagine. How I wished to just steal a set of items for Charles, I had even made plans in my head after his latest rejection, though, in truth, they were, but folly…” George paused for a moment as he just realized Rainer planned on heading back home, and more importantly, that he would return in a reasonable amount of time.

”If it is not too forward, might I ask where exactly you are heading, and if I may join you?”

Rainer knew what George was really asking. Even still his thoughts steered towards having such an ally for the Main Quest.

But Rainer immediately moved away from such thoughts. Even if he was to work together with George in the future, the Mana-Well would always remain a secret. Rainer himself could not resist such a thing, how could he expect other mages to?

”I'm afraid that is impossible. Might I ask exactly where you believe I am heading?”

”The North,” George answered simply.

”I am not from there; I thought it was just a wasteland out there past the scattered tribes?”

While George grew slightly disappointed, he did not show it talking about a subject that interested him to such a degree, ”The further one travels into the wasteland the stronger the monsters get. It is considered a land of death and few believe there is anything of value beyond it.”

”Can't you just…?”

”Fly? Normally, yes. But the farther one goes the more and more their Magic, and Aura becomes suppressed. I will not deny I had some hope as my son did, that you hailed from the North. It has been a long-held interest of mine. I had even,” George cast a minor spell around them and the slight bustle and noise of the inn disappeared, ”Begun searching for the most capable of warriors who did not utilize Aura. But alas, such individuals are truly rare. Passing the 2nd Class Advancement as a melee class without even using Aura, I have only heard of one such individual, the Hunter's Guild Leader. I understand little on how he is considered to be so powerful, but it is known he does not use Aura nor Magic. ”

Rainer grinned after hearing the reason why no one could truly head north. He believed as an [Archon] he could gain a resistance to such effects.

And after such thoughts, ”While I'm not from there I may be of some use in the matter. I too now have an interest in what lies in the North. But nonetheless, I must return home for a few weeks. I assume you won't stay in town, where can I find you?”

George's eyes opened wide, ”Is this true…”

”I'm all, but certain. I may not be able to protect you from the effect, but I can take you along.”

George froze for a moment.

As he finally got out of his stupor he pulled a small token with his name and the Skyborne's Pegasus symbol on it, ”I shall be at the Guild Headquarters in the Capital of Mier. With this, it should be quite easy to find me, but I fear…”

”And onto a request relating to that. Can I see the item you used to see my class?”

”Yes of course,” George said as he handed the orb to Rainer, ”Just input a small amount of your mana with your target in mind.”

[Archon lvl 4]

Flashed through Rainer's mind dozens and dozens of times as he tried to activity resist the feeling. He hadn't tried this against Luna's appraisal in the past given that he didn't believe a level 1 resistance could help. But against the tool, he had some hope.

George felt Rainer's mana pool decreasing far more than a single use would require, but just watched on. Kara sighed, awaiting whenever the food would be here. She too, however, had some interest in heading North. But she had no idea whether what Rainer said, when he acted as a Lord Magus, was true.

[Skill Gained: Appraisal Resistance lvl 1]

The orb now required as much mana as it could hold to appraise Rainer. He continued and after expending nearly all his mana pool the Orb no longer could see through him.

[Appraisal Resistance has reached level 2]

Rainer handed the orb back to George.

”I'll be sure to visit you.”

”Excellent,” George responded. He believed this [Archon] possessed an ability to venture North. And so, he did not even question what went on just now.

”I do have a sensitive topic I wished to speak with your son about, but…”

”The matter of the Arachne? I can…”

”No. I have some interest in that, but my primary concern is something else. This wind spell blocks our voices, correct?” Rainer asked while pointing to the magic that still surrounded them.

”Correct.”

”You are more than welcome to deny me, but…I wish to trade for magic with you.”

George mumbled a bit inaudibly as he rubbed the bridge of his nose.

”What exactly are you interested in?” George asked, his tone different from the jovial mood of before.

”Any Tier one spell, lightning, wind or otherwise. And then the spell you used for flight. I'm not sure I have much of equal trading value, but,” Rainer said as he took out the Mithril armor from his spatial ring, ”Perhaps I have something that can be added to the deal.”

George couldn't hide the shock on his face at the sight of those several pieces of Mithril.

Mithril was not only effective as an armor for mages, but also had uses in enchanting. Rainer planned on keeping most of the Mithril after learning that fact, including the share he originally wished to present George, but trading a few pieces for the possibility of magic was another matter. It isn't as if George knew this was to be his share.

”The matter of trading spells…it is taboo as you've ventured. While a magical contract isn't strong enough to force someone into action, its holder will know when it is broken. Guild knowledge is listed under this contract and should I trade anything away I shall be questioned by a mind mage, although,” George paused for a moment, ”Should I say I traded a few tier 1 spells and a tier 3 spell for this amount of Mithril, it shall be more than fine. I may even be rewarded for such a deal. I cannot, however, give you anything at the tier 4 or above no matter what you offer me.”

”Perfect,” Rainer replied while taking out a few pieces of paper Luna made for him in the past, ”Just use your mana to write down the formulae on these. Is this enough Mithril?” The amount Rainer displayed was both Liliana's and the male [Rune Knight]'s armor, ”And make the tier 1 spells the easiest ones you know.”

”It is plenty. What fascinating constructions.” George said while writing on the paper, ”There are many spells from the first tier to second known outside of guilds, but Tier 3 spells generally stop providing useful amounts of experience prior to level 20. Making Tier 4 ones truly of value in both combat and otherwise. These are guarded quite severely.”

”And if you ran, how would the guild track you down?”

George laughed at this before responding, ”Even I at the 2nd Tier of my Class, cannot hide from tracking magic forever. They would find me quite easily. Though you…with that strange Mana of yours might be quite difficult to track.”

Rainer cursed internally. He had been so preoccupied about the reinforcements and then, more importantly, the Runes on the [Rune Knight]. He had forgotten to ask something so simple.

How in the hell do these Fae keep finding me…

George, saying it may be challenging to track him, only increased the mystery.

”What do you mean difficult?”

”It is…hard to get a grasp on you. You appear to have a mana pool denoting you to be around a level 20 Mage or less. But just beneath the surface, it is like a raging torrent of power. Such a strange Mana, I do not doubt it could interfere with the magic of tracking spells. I am, however, no expert in the matter.”

George handed him back several papers. 2 tier 1 spells of both lightning and wind were included, along with the tier 3 flight spell.

”In truth, trading a Tier 3 Spell is not completely allowed, but the flight spell is not one I learned from the Guild and is, in fact, common across guilds. So, it should be of little issue. And I shall be honest, but even some stronger wind mages are unable to manage it, making it not too valuable. There are more flight spells out there, but I never had the need to learn any.”

After finishing their meal, Rainer said his farewells to George, who was heading back to the capital to immediately report the trade. He had agreed, as well, to call Rainer nothing more than a rogue mage.

Rainer saw this too, as a perfect chance to see if George was trustworthy. [Mana Reading] had proven to be ineffective. But, Rainer believed in George's interests in the North and in himself as an [Archon].

In any case, he desired new magic. And gaining a spell that filled his dreams for so long, he took the risk.

Most importantly, George had been concerned about Rainer visiting him due to the presence of other items capable of appraising him. He knew there was a chance this was intentional, but he believed such paranoia would hinder him. His future goals were not ones he could accomplish alone.

He headed back to his mansion and planned to tell Charles he no longer needed the Nightmares. But Charles was already there upon their return and handed two coins to Rainer.

Rainer now had Luna appraise the two coins, just in case. And as far as she could tell they were in truth, Aura Inscriptions. But to Charles' surprise, Rainer handed them back.

”We'll be using a different means of transportation. Thank you for your aid, Charles. I'm sorry you took the trouble,” Rainer thought it over and didn't wish to leave a trace of where they had headed so instead he planned on learning the flight spell as quickly as possible.