41 A Trade (1/2)

Rainer thought for a moment as he looked at Elru across from him. His questions were numerous, but he started with what interested him the most.

”Let's start simple, how strong is your Queen.”

”I would prefer you not call her my Queen. Her name, Yulia, is already more than she deserves…” Elru rubbed her forehead after collecting herself, ”I'm sorry. Her rise to the Throne was not a pleasant one. Every 50 years we take a Trial given by the World Tree to decide our ruler. I was the guard assisting one of the candidates of the Winter Court. There is an agreement among courts not to kill one another during the Trial, but Yulia…She broke it many times over,” Elru did her best to control her anger but mostly failed.

”Yulia entered the Trial at the last moment, alone. It was not completely uncommon for loose Fae to attempt the trial but none ever passed the first portion and went on to the competition part. Yulia did. Her first primary class is [Wind Seeker], a 2nd Tier Class, and has a wind-touched Mana never seen before. Not too unlike yours, that's laden with strange energy, though certainly weaker. I know not her current level nor anything beyond her primary class.”

”No one can see through her [Appraisal] defense?” Rainer knew from Luna and his own experience with Fae that higher leveled one's [Appraisal], the better they can block attempts.

”No…this is the strange part. But it does not matter now. Her class limits her only to wind magic. It shall be easier to counter her in the next trial....”

Not that it matters for my sister…

Elru thought.

”Why doesn't she come directly for me?”

”The moment Yulia leaves the World Tree's protection, numerous Fae are waiting to kill her. She is powerful, but that was within the scope of the trial and as an unknown factor willing to fight to the death. Might I ask why she is so keen on you?”

Elru did not even think it related to Luna. Her thoughts that perhaps Yulia had somehow gotten this [Archon] to agree to help her with the next trial. And then going back on the deal. But Elru's skill had revealed that he considered Yulia his enemy.

”I'm afraid not. But know I'm more than keen on killing her, even if I need to pull out the roots of that damned tree,” Arcane naturally infused into his voice. The wooden floors and glass windows shook at his words. The fear Luna felt for just one of the Fae who assisted in her experimentation, gave him more than enough anger at the World Tree he now knows is protecting the Fae Queen.

Most Fae would be offended deeply by such a statement, but given Yulia was directly responsible for keeping a Fruit of the World Tree out of her hands, at the Tree's very protection; Elru was not among them. Recalling his title, [One who defies Divinity], and feeling the power of the Arcane in the air, a part of her believed his statement.

”You clearly aren't hiding your hate for Yulia, why did you accept her request?” Calming himself, Rainer asked.

Elru's clear blue eyes look downwards. She sighed and remained silent for a few seconds before answering, ”She promised me a Fruit of the World Tree in exchange, but in the end, the prospect of a captive Fairy tortured for dust is not something I can allow…”

As she said the last part she recalled a question she asked the [Archon]. In all honesty, it wasn't a fair question; whether he had any thoughts about Luna's dust. Everyone's thoughts would stray. Perhaps when first meeting her, his thoughts would lean in that direction at least a single time. Yet such was not the case. He never had any thoughts in that direction, greatly surprising her.

”Why do you need one?” Rainer already knew the answer but hearing this he decided where he'd lead this conversation.

Kara refused the Fruit. Gunthar likely couldn't use it; he wasn't even able to eat nor did he have an advancement quest. And Luna had centuries of life remaining. By then, Rainer knew he could acquire more, or have her, or the Wyvern, strong enough to where it wasn't even an issue.

”My sister, she is reaching her last years. Perhaps it is confusing to a human, but us Fae live for hundreds and hundreds of years, to most, it is not worth preparing for the 2nd class trial for a relatively small increase. My sister was among many who while reaching level 25, did not train or practice too strenuously, enjoying life. Even still, if I can prevent her death… Originally by assisting in the trial for the Winter Court, I would have received a Fruit. But my performance, resulting in the death of my charge at Yulia's hands…..”

”I have a Fruit,” Rainer simply mentioned as he took it out of his Spatial Ring. In part, he tested whether she could control herself.

Elru's eyes opened wide as she stared at Rainer. Given her new knowledge of a human who did not even have a second thought at taking a Fairy's dust, she did not even float a single thought of taking it by force.

”I imagine you have a point in telling me this?”

Rainer grinned and spoke, ”I want your body.”

She showed a shocked look on her face for a moment before preparing herself. Luna, however, answered first.

”Rainer already has the most beautiful Fairy, yet he wants two!” Luna said while lightly pulling at his hair, ”Luna doesn't agree. Rainer needs more variety.”

”It was just a joke, Luna. Elru, I want you to act as our guard for a year, train Luna in some fairy skills she lacks, and let me study the Runes on your body. Then the Fruit is yours.”

Elru breathed out a sigh of relief, slightly annoyed that she considered the previous request seriously.

”I accept.”

”Good, we can talk back at where we're staying. There are plenty of rooms in our section of the Baron's mansion, given we lack a house…” He put away other questions for now, given Elru would be staying with them.

”I suppose I am in the wrong in this, I should not have acted so hastily and prepared an ambush in your home…”

”It's fine; I tend to overreact, I'm glad there was no permanent damage. Is your companion alright?”

In the first place, he had forgotten about the items stored in the mansion, so he was quite aware at his overreaction no matter who was waiting for him. He still needed to study the [Mana Storage Ring] a bit more before replicating it in [Sleep Learning].

Though, he soon noticed that Elru had one, giving him a pleasant surprise.

”She is recovered. I sent her home. She had only accompanied me to help track you.”

”Track me…how did you do that in the first place?”

”It is surprising. I do not think there are greater magical trackers than the Fae, yet your Mana prevents us entirely. I cannot even notice the presence of your Fairy either. We use miniscule traces of your strange Mana left at wherever you cast magic to track you. Even those nearby, when you cast magic, can have residual traces remaining on them.”

”Can you teach me?”

”A bit. I am not very skilled at it, I only know the basics for tracking.”

”We can discuss it later.”

Rainer had used [Mana Reading] the entire time and found her telling the truth, at least by his standards. He began to suspect his inability to read George was a coincidence, rather than George controlling his Mana. Especially given the strength of Elru, yet her not doing the same thing.

”I had some stuff stored at the mansion. We'll stop by there and then to the Baron's,” Rainer said.

”I shall accompany you then,” Just as Rainer got up to leave Elru spoke again, ”Might I ask about those two undead who travel with you?”

”Yeah, is that a problem?”

”No…they are just a bit strange.”

”Don't let the bones fool you; both may as well be living,” Rainer chuckled recalling when it came to Wyvern's both Father and Son were more alive than anyone.

Seeing Rainer walking out of the store without conflict, the group dropped their guard as he waved them off.

”For the time being we have a new member of our group,” Rainer said pointing at Elru who followed behind him. To anyone but Rainer, her Glamour showed her as an average middle-aged woman with long brown hair and brown eyes. A far cry from the beautiful White-haired Elru.

As they walked to the Baron's mansion Rainer explained the situation. However, Elru added a point toward the end.

”I must confess, I did not intentionally write the letter in such a language. I had been studying a certain book recently added to the Fae Archives, and I forgot to switch the language of my writing, to the native tongue of this area.”

To Elru's surprise a deep, yet interested, voice emerged from one of the heavily armored and cloaked undead.

”That language was quite intriguing, might I ask what you were studying?” Theodore asked.

Calming herself at the prospect of a fully sentient undead that was not a [Lich], she talked with Theodore as the group moved forward.

”I was merely studying an old journal trying to determine who wrote it. The alphabet, well I can't even it call it as such, was so foreign it piqued my curiosity. I do not think the contents would interest you…”

”How could they not,” Theodore responded in high spirits, ”I have never seen a language even close to that, and I know 3 dozen. Well, more now…”

Elru long since noticed with her [Magic Detection] that these undead served under Luna. She assumed the 3 dozen were from his time among the living.

”Scholars of the other races had always impressed me with their ability to learn languages. My Fae skill is convenient, but I feel as if I lack something when reading.”

Elru recalled the contents of the journal, and what intrigued her most was her attempt at guessing the race of its writer. The years described meant they either extended their lives significantly, beyond anything seen before by Elru, or were a longer-lived race.

Most longer lived races had a singular language. They had dialects but wouldn't be different to such a degree.

As the party carried on, none having an interest in the conversation between Theodore and Elru, Rainer operated [Soul Detection]. He nearly walked into a food stand before being pulled away by Theodore. Much to the gratitude of the stall owner.

”Rainer, detection skills are quite useful but extending yourself to such a degree…I am more than capable of handling such things. You must preserve your strength for when it is needed.”

Rainer nodded. He had been aware in [Sleep Learning] more often than not as of late. And constantly using [Soul Detection] in his waking hours took a mental toll. One he didn't fully need with Theodore, who as an Undead lacked any fatigue from this. But even still, the very first Fae he fought left Rainer with a decent amount of paranoia, given her ability to avoid detection.

Reaching the ruined manor, Rainer noted that nothing had been cleaned. The mansion was nearly entirely destroyed, though most of the damage focused in the center, leaving just small parts singed around it.

”I can go by myself,” Rainer said as he moved forward. With his 59 Constitution and the overcoat itself, which had the strength of a normal armor, he had little fear from possible debris that may fall on him. Though, not even Luna's [Appraisal] could tell what the coat was made of.

He rushed to where the backroom would be and found the crates that had the mithril armor and blades. The boxes collapsed at his touch, burnt entirely, but the mithril inside seemed undamaged. The enchantments, however, were no more.

He took all the mithril into his rings before leaving, glad he could just borrow Elru's [Mana Storage Ring]. Given that the mithril was fine apart from ash covering it, he considered it a lucky conclusion.

”Elru, can I borrow your [Mana Storage Ring],” Rainer asked as he wiped ashes off himself and headed back to the group.

She was a bit confused but handed it over with little issue.

[Mana Storage Ring: A ring capable of Storing Mana. Current Capacity 46/250]

”I had been meaning to ask, but could you refill it? If I refill it with my own Mana, I won't be able to use it for consumption. Fae Mana is slightly different as I imagine you know,” Elru said.

Rainer immediately realized why a Fae would be carrying such a ring. He also assumed the Mana previously here had been used to heal the damage caused by his magic.

No one, however, mentioned the obvious strangeness then by how Rainer feeds Luna. If Elru could take it from a ring, it was reasonable to assume it did not have to be directly injected into Luna.

”It may take me some time to refill it, I'm only modestly skilled in enchanting,” Rainer, of course, did not have any skill in enchanting but planned to gain it overnight. With such a test subject, that could be readily studied, he intended to engross himself in understanding her runes and hopefully finding a way to create them on Kara in one way or another.

Different from before, he could look at them in use.

He had some thoughts to save his enchanting levels, especially the second level he easily gained with [Archon], for an enchanting class. But he abandoned this idea, now having someone like Elru around.

In the end, if I lack experience I can hunt some Monsters…

By having two tireless undead as guards, monster hunting became a far less dangerous task. Whether it be large packs or night ambushes, the combination of Undead guards and [Soul Detection] made what should be a high-risk job, an easy experience source.

Monsters were also quite skilled at evading Detection abilities and had a high sensitivity to the strength of others. Kara's hiding of her demonic half and Rainer' low Mana prevented that boar they faced long ago from fleeing long before they noticed it.

[Soul Detection] rendered many abilities for hiding, useless.

And If Theodore's legend about Demons proved true in this world, Rainer wouldn't lack for sources of experience.

He had regretted in the past, not abusing [Sleep Learning] to its full potential. Realizing now, he almost made the same mistake again.

Back at the Baron's Mansion Rainer expended 110 Mana but managed to fill the ring by 3 Mana, surpassing the ratio. The [Archon] class offered quite the helping hand, alongside his level 4 [Mana Manipulation].

[Skill Gained: Mana Object Transfer lvl 1/10]

[Mana Object Transfer: Transfers Mana between oneself, or another source of Mana, into an object. ]

[Mana Object Transfer has reached level 2]

”I was just testing something out, I'll fill it up fully later,” Rainer said handing back the ring to Elru, who had no reason to doubt him. She had just left the room she picked a few doors down his.

”I'd like to get started studying your runes right away,” He could barely contain himself. If he could master such a technique everyone would be receiving an improvement, himself included.

”Might we do it in private?” Elru asked a bit nervously. Many of the Runes and Runic lines were not in the best of places. They were done by a Female [Grand Fae Enchantress].

”You don't have to disrobe or anything; I can study them fine so long as they're activated. Rather I've already studied them when they were inactive, and it wasn't too useful,” Rainer said. Though, in truth, it was beyond useful, just not for recreating them on another person. It only helped him alter his Runic lines in [Arcane Awakening].

They all entered the shared room of Rainer, Kara, and Luna; everyone a bit curious at the functionality of Elru's runes.

”Then I shall start with a simple ability. Unfortunately, I used up the powerful version to block your spell, but this is a more general one,” As Elru spoke a Rune in the center of her back lit up, the lines tracing down to her stomach.

A tight bubble of Mana surrounded Elru as a shield. Far different from Rainer's defensive ability. She held her arms slightly out, as to not hide any of the Runic lines. Her height was almost half a foot shorter than Rainer, at 5 and a half feet. Having removed her mithril and leather armor, she only wore a magically constructed light blue blouse and tight black pants with bare feet.

He used [Arcane Sight] as he followed the lines which lead to another rune in her navel. Rainer realized that the other Fairy he studied lacked this one. It likely formed depending on the Rune used.

It's a shit version of my Mana Output Rune.

Compared to the one he modified for [Arcane Awakening: Final Arcanum] this was like a toddler's scribbles. Shaking away the distraction, he followed the lines back to the rune resembling parts of his [Mana Shield] spell, this one, however, was far more advanced.

”Another,” He simply said while staring the Mana Output Rune. Its form slightly changed as the Runic lines lit up across her body and then circled back to the center. He studied this Rune far more carefully as he had never seen anything like it before.

”A general body strengthening, based on various [Fae Enchanter] gifts. With my mana capacity and skill in using Runes I am one of the few who has effects similar Gift of Lightning and Gift of the Giants in one. The way the Rune is designed is that it can work in tandem with a Gift cast on me, given one is spirit magic and another is Runic based.”

Rainer's face did not lack surprise. He now knew why the four Fae he fought earlier were relatively weak. With how quickly he killed the [Fae Enchantress] he practically crippled them from their usual power.

”Aren't you telling me a bit too much?” He was, of course, happy about the information but didn't understand her motives to give out so much.

”You are an enemy of Yulia and hold no greed toward your Fairy Companion. I see no reason to hide this information,” Rainer didn't know the history of the Fae and how much him not coveting Luna's fairy dust in the slightest, truly meant.

Of course, were she to ask about other Fae, she would not be too happy. Rainer's thoughts back when he assumed all Fae as his enemy varied from his view of Luna.

”Another.”

A spear formed in Elru's hand as a Rune lit up there. Once again, the Mana Output Rune changed and the lines now only reached across her shoulder and down to her hand. Several other Runes lit up in concert.

He now knew for sure why studying the ones, not in use, had limited practicality in replicating them.

They were designed to change.

”Another.”

Two runes lit up on each of Elru's slim thighs,

”It might be better to demonstrate these,” Elru said while jumping in the air as a small burst of mana escaped her feet. The burst sent her over to the left. She repeated this a few times dashing across the air before landing.

”Even with wings such a movement is far more useful,” She added already seeing the question he wanted to ask on Rainer' face, ”With practice, it can even be used on the ground. Each of these Runes grants a skill to be trained, alongside a general one.”

”Hold this one for as long as you can,” He said with great interest. Having [Void-walking], he was more interested in creating something like this for Kara.

Though, when he had the time he would gladly create more skills for [Arcane Awakening]. Gaining the second level with such skills could be an easy source of experience, even for more useless ones.

She continued to maintain this form until her Mana pool reached a third.

”Such Runes are meant for quick bursts,” She added slightly fatigued.

”So what exactly are the lines made of?” He looked at her hand and noticed a difference from the other Fairy. Elru's lines were practically invisible when not in use.

Recalling the explanation given by the other Fae he interrogated, he realized he had been led down a pointless direction. Discussing the study of [Faraan Runic Language] and other factors related to the [Fae Enchanter] and Runes, rather than an actual step by step explanation.

At the time, he was seeking to improve [Arcane-Awakening] and unknowingly for the Fae; his tangent would later save Rainer's life.

”Blood infused with Mana. I had at one point in my youth wanted to be a [Fae Enchantress] before I discovered my love for combat. I can show you the process. The blood can be of any sort, though the stronger the Magic of its holder, the better. Yours might be quite effective with that peculiar mana. But…they are not very useful without the class bonuses provided by becoming a [Runic Knight]. They simply require far too much mana to use without it.”

Easily fixed…

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Rainer even had thoughts on how to alter Elru's Rune given its poor efficiency. But despite his interest in seeing his capabilities, he would not afford her such trust as of yet.

Even now he prepared to Void-Walk at a moment's notice. The spell itself, outside of the looseness of that space, cost a decent amount. It didn't change too much at close range. It now cost 21 Mana, after his class bonus.

”Even still, the study helps me with my magic.”

Elru nodded, and Theodore had already told Gunthar to fetch a bowl. To someone like him, the prospect of such a foreign magic controlled his entire focus. Even at the height of his interest, his [Soul Detection] never wavered. Gunthar already returned after a few seconds.

They often placed their dishes at the end of the long hall to be taken and washed. With Luna's [Appraisal] and the attributes of Kara and Rainer, poison presented little concern in receiving food here.

Gunthar handed over the bowl and a steak knife. Rainer sighed as he sat down and began to lightly cut his hand, squinting as he prepared for the pain.

Surprisingly he felt none. Looking down, he noticed the knife that ran across his hand didn't even cut him.

”Kara, could you handle it,” He asked, just now recalling such a thing wouldn't be easy with his new Constitution. He could still cut himself but didn't want to overdo it.

Elru had confusion visible on her face, no longer covered with a Glamour since coming here. She now fully [Appraised] all his items and while shocked at them all seemingly functioning together, her focus landed on his overcoat.

She knew not what Arcane Attunement was, but for any attribute to be that high, she had a new sense of the man in front of her. Of course, under the assumption that his Constitution resulted from the coat. Her [Appraisal] did not reveal his attributes leaving her to guess that the coat gave him his durability.

The truth, however, of his +1 to all attributes, would be even more shocking

”Remember this feeling, for it shall happen many many times and at far higher degrees,” Gunthar spoke as if speaking to a junior, preparing them for the road ahead.

Kara dragged her finger across Rainer's hand, using her [Aura Blade] so that force was no longer an issue. Different from [Arcane Blade] the wound wasn't cauterized.

The pain was not high with his resistance. He poured the blood into the bowl. Looking at it with [Arcane Sight], he saw faint traces of his Arcane Power laden Mana. Losing none of his Mana Pool, he asked a question.

”Where does the Mana in the blood come from?”

Theodore walked over as he chanted a healing spell. Luna had the sensibility not to use her flame, much to the surprise of Rainer who forgot to remind her.

As the spell cast, he answered, ”The Mana naturally affects all parts of your body. Mages can use this effect to expand their lifespan though I know not the exact method nor reagents required. I imagine you'll find several ways in all the notes you collected, for it was a secret kept amongst the towers. The less Mana you have, however, the less useful. Such resulted in my own choice to not join a Mage Tower. In any case, I imagine the resources used made it pointless to spread. Only 2 or 3 of the highest ranked in Mage Towers lived beyond both a Sun Elf's, and 2nd Tier Lifespan reward to a noticeable extent.”

Rainer had not yet gone through all the notes and tomes he collected from the 9 Mage towers, but hearing this he likely had solved one of his problems.