43 Flame-Touched (2/2)

After several miles, Elru suddenly turned around.

”From here I'll cover you in a Glamour,”

”Alright, let's go.”

Elru reached out and grabbed Rainer's arm. As they moved forward, they both shimmered and blended into the forest around them. He remained on guard, [Arcane Sight], activated since the start. [Void Detection] in preparation as well lest he needed to make an escape.

Reaching the end of the forest, they both overlooked a small cliff. Rainer saw just what Elru considered massive.

[Jotin, Male, Young Yeti lvl 17]

Hundreds of Yeti roamed. Thousands of wolves dotted the valley and the continued forest in the distance.

[Lupin, Male, Frost Wolf lvl 16]

Large wolves, teeming with a strange Icy Aura lead dozens of the packs.

[Lupin, Male, Ice Wolf Alpha lvl 7]

A monster could not be judged solely on its level, as Rainer experience before. Their classes often took various spots between or above the tiers. With the [Scaled Wyvern] at level 1 being just below the second tier.

In the center, near a large tent, a Goblin and a Wolf stood out the most.

[Lupin, Female, Ice Wolf Queen lvl 9]

[Flame-touched Goblin, Male, [Fire Sage(2nd)lvl 22, Druid(2nd) lvl 9]

Rainer carefully inspected the Goblin with [Arcane Sight] before taking a glance at himself. Just faintly he could see his Arcane-laden Mana within his flesh and blood. But, the Goblin was as if a creature of fire. His entire body intertwined with Magic.

”Breathtaking…” Rainer whispered in amazement. As of now, he had no plans to attack the horde. To fight such a Mage, he knew his current self might not be enough.

Elru was unsure of his meaning. But before she could ask, the atmosphere changed. The [Fire Sage] stared at Rainer, meeting his gaze.

The Goblin grinned in excitement, and erupted in fire, soaring to the sky at an unimaginable speed. [Arcane Sight] showed Rainer the Goblin had seemed to become fire itself.

”Protect them,” Rainer shouted as he shoved Elru back. She nodded and immediately flew toward the group. He would have to trust her in this moment.

Rainer ran to his left, steering clear of his party. As they were now, facing such a mage was not ideal. Without Kara being able to shift into her demon form, he'd rather she stay by Theodore and Elru. And Gunthar had recently switched classes.

”Luna, only heal me when Elru can't see,” He spoke running through the forest, at the edge of the valley. Several wolves howled seeing his figure. Immediately, [Arcane Awakening] rose to 100%. Violet Runic lines shined across his body and face. His [Overcoat of Arcane Constitution] shined in tandem. Its power increased with Rainer's now doubled Arcane Attunement.

Suddenly a ball of fire descended in front of him. He jumped back and cast an [Arcane Bolt] immediately into the explosion.

The fire erupted outwards, but Rainer was already beyond its reach. In its center was an unharmed [Fire Sage].

”A fellow Mage, I was looking for some entertainment,” An aged voice spoke. He wore only a simple crimson and black robe. Undisturbed by the icy winds. The hood hid most of his face, but two orange eyes glowed in the darkness, the sun just setting on the horizon.

Rainer looked at him. Based on his own mana, he guessed the Goblin's mana exceeded 500. The [Arcane Bolt] and its effects were nowhere to be found.

He wasted no time, his Arcane Power draining every second. [Spatial Domain] opened and Rainer leaped forward under a decreased gravity. An [Arcane Lance] formed in his hand.

”Cutting with the formalities then!” The [Fire Sage] turned back to flame again and met Rainer's charge. A lance of Arcane rang out, charged with power. It passed through the Fire, only weakening slightly and then continuing.

Rainer cast another lance, only to be met with a gout of Fire erupting from the mouth of a now reformed Goblin. He canceled the lance and returned with his own [Arcane-Fire Breath]. It quickly overtook the Goblin's flame.

A cackle could be heard as the [Fire Sage], once more a ball of Fire, soared into the sky.

Rainer looked up and used [Mana Detection] once more on the floating Goblin.

40…

He felt that Goblin had lost that much. Rainer grinned, it was not the action of becoming Fire that cost that much Mana; It was using the Fire not to be damaged by his Magic. [Arcane Sight] showed him as such.

He understood partly too, how knowing the counter to such an ability, an ability he assumed the Fae Queen shared, would be a significant advantage. But such thoughts were left for later.

Rainer's legs tensed as the gravity around him decreased. His Strength under [Arcane Awakening] exceeded even most melee combatants below the 2nd Tier.

His [Arcane Sight] caught a burst a mana he knew quite well. One that felled him hundreds of times in [Sleep Learning]. His legs erupted with power as he leaped skyward. A combustion of air exploded behind him.

A hilt came to his hand. The [Fire Sage] had but a moment to become fire once more. An [Arcane Blade] formed. Rainer soared past the ball of fire, his blade seemingly splitting space itself. A wretched scream rang out, as an arm flew downward.

The Goblin roared out in a tongue Rainer's skill could not translate.

Just as Rainer began to descend, large icicles flew at him after a series of wolf howls. A whip of fire tore through the air. Immediately he activated [Arcane Awakening: Shield Mode]. The whip broke against it, and the icicles shattered. Yet the force they carried sent Rainer flying into the forest.

Just as he recovered to slow his descent. A massive surge of Magic erupted out.

The [Fire Sage]'s Mana depleted to nearly half of its original. Rainer had no time to take advantage.

A ball of fire, glowing crimson as a devilish sun formed in front of the Goblin. At the expense of Mana, it had been cast at an extraordinary speed as Rainer fell from the sky.

Rainer momentarily thought over whether to retreat or advance. His [Void Detection] not reaching the Goblin made the decision for him. He Void-Walked sideways, just as the powerful flame spell exploded in his previous location.

The fire erupted outward, causing Rainer to Void-Walk a second and then a third time. With the earlier uses of [Spatial Domain] and recharging his Arcane power Rainer was left at 34 Mana. He could hear the howling of wolves and decided if he were to continue his fight it would have to be elsewhere.

Those Icicles had caused a small crack on his Shield Mode. He knew the [Ice Wolf Alpha] and [Ice Wolf Queen] were not to be underestimated.

The forest did not even have time to burn, the entire area around where the spell landed had turned to ash.

Rainer cast [Arcane-Wind's Ascent] and flew back toward his party. He picked them up in the sphere, Elru included, and surged away. He operated [Spatial Domain] to increase the flight speed, before stopping.

Seeing the [Fire Sage] had not pursued him, he waited a moment before landing.

”I'll explain later, let's run,” Rainer spoke. Having gained some distance, he'd run and regain Mana lest the [Fire Sage] send a chase party.

In the distance, the injured [Fire Sage] grimaced. He then turned to flame once more, before at a large cost of Mana turning his detached arm to flame as well. His body rejoined and he flew back to his mount.

His plans would need altering and his game for entertainment had nearly turned into his death. He would not let such a thing happen again.

Rainer's worries were unfounded. Once he recovered his Mana, he returned to the skies. Within the Sphere, Elru spoke first.

”That skill he used…it is the same as Yulia's, but you…” Elru spoke in surprise. She had seen Rainer cut off the [Fire Sage]'s arm even when he had been in his elemental form. As far as she knew even using a countering element would at most just increase the Mana cost to maintain the form.

It is good I calmed myself…

Elru thought. Seeing too how quickly he used the spell, she now knew, at their meeting, how much danger there was.

”We need to warn the Baron. Those wolves…they might be an even bigger issue given their number. They have a strong Ice Aura. I imagine each [Ice Wolf Alpha] to be at least equivalent to a low second tier person. And [Ice Wolf Queen]…”

He guessed the icicle fired by the Queen was the one that cracked his shield mode. His shield mode's weakness was not its power but its cost. For the Queen to damage it, was significant. Rainer immediately made his priority to level it within [Sleep Learning].

They flew non-stop. Rainer focused on the spell, to move as fast as possible. He knew with his Arcane Power, and level 10 flight spell they were unlikely to be caught even if the [Fire Sage] chased them alone.

And with Goblin's depleted Mana, that would be a boon for Rainer, now mostly recovered.

It was an hour before dawn when they returned. Rainer's sought first to speak with the Baron and then enter [Sleep Learning]. No longer would he too, put off learning Arcane-Ice or Arcane-Water.

As they entered the city, Theodore whispered to Rainer.

”Demons. I detect three.”

Rainer's eyes opened wide as he used [Soul Detection] as well.

”Let's head to the Baron's mansion to not be suspicious and then immediately leave the city. We'll lure them out…perhaps…if any are weak enough take them alive, before they have a chance to transform. Theodore, wait in the city as soon as they follow, trail them from a safe distance. Don't let them escape,” Rainer spoke quietly as well, familiar with Kara's hearing abilities and taking no chances.

”This may be our only chance before the situation changes,” Kara added. Even in her whisper, the anger in her voice was not difficult to discern.

”It'll be done,” Theodore spoke.

Elru had many questions on her mind but decided to leave them until they had solved the problem in front of them.

Wearing a hood over his head, a man stood behind a building. Blue serpentine eyes and a small amount of scales on his face denoted him as of the Lizards race. Anyone with a modicum of skill in [Aura Detection] would discover a far different truth were they to inspect him closely.

He had just spotted his target entering the city. Immediately he memorized her Aura, noting its strength. At level 3 of the second tier, he was more than confident at dealing with her alone. But those around her gave him pause. Most specifically, one of those traveling with her, had an Aura that he only recalled the higher level of the second tier having.

He followed them to the Baron's mansion, keeping a careful distance. 10 minutes passed, and the group left the mansion. They departed without the strongest of them. Now he assumed the strongest was related to the kingdom of Mier rather than the party.

Varren, couldn't help but grin. He knew they might no longer need to wait for aid and could claim the reward alone. His agents were nearby and were at level 25 of their first class. Quickly, he went to their hiding location. At this time of night, they were all there.

”They are leaving the city,” Varren said, ”Without the strongest of them. We'll do a final check. Kill the Mage first, and capture the Wolfkin alive. The other Aura user can be dealt with after. Avoid him. Take the servant woman as a hostage, don't kill her. She might have uses.”

They rushed out of the city, Varren was careful, however. He watched from afar as the group entered the forest, bags on their back.

The Mage's Mana only denoted him as the peak of the first tier. Varren believed his strength as a demon would be more than enough. In his haste, he did not question why a mage would be traveling on foot in such a poor manner.

Enchanters were rare among Demons. However, those of high status often kept slaves. The Demon Prince that Varren served was known for the enchanters he kept. Different from other Demons, he treated them extremely well. And it showed results in their skills. They were able to customize enchanted equipment fit for a Demon.

But, enchanting was time-consuming and expensive. Such a prize could only be given for a proper feat.

All involved in the Wolfkin's capture would be properly rewarded. And of course, the less involved, the less he had to share. None of his group would be leaving with him, so he planned.

The group of 5 demons rushed forward, leaping over the wall, carefully avoiding detection. Their white cloaks blended with the snow and were hard to see in the darkness.

He followed the group for nearly an hour.

”Circle around,” He whispered to his men. Taking no chance for their target to escape.

Varren waited a distance back, as his men got into position.

They all charged forward, their first goal, the mage.

But Varren could only defend himself as his target with traces of lightning across her body, slammed her fist into him.

Kara yelled out as her Aura clad fist slammed into the blocking demon. His disguise fell as he mobilized his Demonic Aura. He had decided not to rush a transformation.

It would be the last decision he ever made.

Kara gripped his hand and now visible horn. She torn it from his head, eliciting a visceral scream.

Her hand covered in an Aura Blade stabbed into his heart, and then her hand ripped it from his chest. In her anger, she did not even pause to try and take him alive.

Even with her Demonic Aura currently unusable, her attributes from both her classes combined, far surpassed the recently advanced Varren.

Elru, still in her Glamour, ran toward one of the demons, pretending to flee from another. The moment she reached him, her palm hit the back of his neck, leaving him unconscious. Seeing the strange situation, the remaining three demons instantly transformed.

One took the appearance of a fearsome minotaur that soon lacked any life as an [Arcane Lance] pierced through his Aura, and his head. Seeing Elru capturing one, the party took no quarter.

Theodore's Aura clad Sword, took the head of another, one who attempted to flee. His headless form was a horned goat, black in fur. Large muscles bulged in the now lifeless body.

A second [Arcane Lance] stabbed through the last fleeing demon, a large scaled man, with a lizard's jaw.

Gunthar's Aura Blade cleaved through his neck. Yet lacking his original strength, the blade got stuck halfway, only for the Arcane-Death unleashed to finish him off. Gunthar's eyes erupted in a violet flame before simmering down, a soul absorbed.

Messages flew by Rainer as he walked over to the unconscious Demon. The Demon's disguise faltered and revealed a single horn in the center of his head. A lion's tail stuck out of his cloak.

”Theodore, do you know of any way to seal his Aura?”

Rainer asked as he drained the demon beneath him. The skill had been gained easily enough. With the combination of his other drain skills and his [Archon] class, it took only a few minutes of experimentation.

[Skill Gained: Aura Drain lvl 1/10]

He let the Aura fade away, as he had no way to absorb the Demonic Aura.

Elru, who was about to ask what was going on, felt Rainer draining Aura and found her words jumbled, ”Demon why are there you after? Why demons there are after you?” Why are there Demons after you!?” Elru finally yelled out, getting it correct.

Everyone laughed, even Kara who was tense from the Demon's attack joined in. But not Gunthar. He approached her solemnly, placing a hand on her shoulder before speaking, ”It's alright. You'll get used to it. Eventually, the next surprise is just a matter of course.”

He understood she had been shocked not by the demons attacking them, but by Rainer casually draining Aura.

Elru blushed slightly as she rubbed her forehead.

”For demons to come after you, even in Mage Guild lands…” Elru spoke.

”Why exactly is it a big deal for them to be in Mage Guild lands?” Rainer had heard this before from Kara, as the reason she ran here. She never explained it.

Elru frowned for a brief moment. The reasons were all too similar to why it was unsafe for a Fae. The only difference was the Fae were not hated.

”Various parts of a Demon are quite valuable. For rituals, Magic, enchantments, points…and Demons heal quickly…”

”And they are easy to find. Anyone with level 1 in [Aura Detection] can closely inspect a Demon and see through their disguises,” Kara added.

He now understood why Kara was safer here than anywhere else. She couldn't be seen through so easily, whereas her pursuers could. Hiding in an enemy territory was exactly where she needed to be.

Rainer recalled the Vampyr needed in the immortal body ritual as well. Vampyr were considered Demons by the system, as Rainer learned in Wyvern's Roost. He looked down, his draining of Aura and Stamina complete for now.

[Demon, Male, Demonic Leo lvl 25]

”I have some thoughts for sealing his Aura and Stamina, but for now we should have a sleeping spell cast on him.”

”I'll do it,” Elru responded, ”So long as you drain his…stamina…occasionally,” Elru noted it wasn't just Aura being drained, ”It should last for a few days if not until his death, even on a Demon. It naturally reduces stamina recovery rates. With repeated castings of the sleep spell combined with draining, he may never awaken.”

”Can you teach that to Luna as well, her sleeping spell is nowhere near as strong.”

Elru nodded as she began casting it on the Demon.

His eyes beneath the lids moved around before the tension in his body disappeared. Theodore picked up his nearly 7-foot-tall body. Elru created a magically constructed blanket to cover the Demon.

”I'll cover him with my Aura, so his demonic nature isn't noticed.”

The party headed back to the city. Theodore and Elru went to Rainer's room to secure the demon as Rainer went to speak with the Baron on what he saw.

A guard let Rainer through as he then knocked on Charles' bedroom door. Even if the Lord Magus turned hostile, all the guards were instructed by Charles not to act. He knew they would be of no threat even to Rainer alone given how he killed the Yeti a while ago.

”Charles, it's important,” Rainer yelled.

Charles came out wearing a simple brown tunic and pants. With his gray hair were it not for his Aura, he'd appear no different than any old man.

”It's best we talk alone.”

”Come in,” Charles said while opening the door. He closed it behind them. Gunthar and Kara accompanied Rainer.

”It's related to the Yeti. It's not exactly padding…”

”Then they are isolated incidents?”

”No. I mean padding may still be the goal, but those groups of Yeti were nowhere near enough to call the reinforcements needed.”

Charles immediately understood.

”How strong…”

”Thousands of monsters. Led by a powerful Tier 2 Fire Mage. Far stronger than George. We fought for a moment, but with the aid of some Wolves capable of firing Ice Aura attacks, I retreated. I imagine there are several dozens of monsters within the horde capable of posing at least a threat to those of the 2nd Tier.”

”Evacuation, I'll order evacuation immediately. And a messenger, I will send him on my Nightmare to the capital,”

Just as Charles was about to leave Rainer stopped him.

”Charles. If your King or higher ups learn about this, what would they prioritize? Blocking the tunnel on their end, or seeing the evacuation completed?”

Charles frowned, but he knew it was not either.

”They would not give up their gateway to the north so easily. I can not speak more than that I'm afraid.”

”Then send your messenger. We'll be staying in town,” Rainer was curious what exactly was so important here. Judging from his conversation with George, he didn't think it was the forbidden lands in far North. That seemed too personal.

”Thank you,” Charles said while bowing his head.

Charles rushed out the room, and Rainer walked behind him. He knew he might have to kill the Demon before any Mages got here, which meant completing his experiments before then. The first tests would be in [Sleep Learning] on himself. In the outside world, he'd only be able to perform the experiment a few times before either the Demon was too injured or he ran low on blood.

He needed only to prove its safety on the Demon for Kara.

Rainer's priorities changed again. Now he knew Mier wasn't likely to give up this northern city; his goal was to use this Demon before anyone capable of detecting him arrived.

Theodore took the demon to another room and would keep guard with Gunthar. His [Soul Detection] was still enough to cover the party. Gunthar would use [Magic Detection], as always, with special care given their recent threat.

Rainer, exhausted from a day of flying and fighting, collapsed onto the bed.

With Elru no longer in the room, Luna used her fire on Both Rainer and Kara as they talked, removing a day of soreness.

”I'm sorry,” Kara spoke.

”About?”

”I lost myself, and I killed the one who was likely their leader,” Kara felt the differences in strength. Even untransformed, she thought the one she killed was the strongest.

”Lost yourself fighting people who chased you from your home? We still captured one. Don't worry Kara.”

He appraised Luna and Kara before looking at his messages.

[Wolfkin, Female, Blade Dancer lvl 24]

He was surprised by the increase but realized that Kara killed a 2nd Tier Demon entirely on her own. It wasn't uncalled for. He, of course, immediately appraised the Demon she charged toward in case he was stronger than [Aura Detection] had shown. She had in the past, killed a 2nd Tier Fae, but he had been preoccupied with Rainer.

Rainer received a bonus back when he killed the [Lich] that exceeded his level by 10, he imagined a similar bonus for killing one tier above.

[Fairy, Female, Holder of the Faerie Arcane-Fire lvl 7]

He then looked at the two levels he had gained from killing the Demons. The experience gained for [Archon] was negligible.

[Voidwalker has been leveled up to Lvl 3/25. Standard Attributes have been distributed. 1 Attribute and skill point have been rewarded]

[Voidwalker has been leveled up to Lvl 4/25. Standard Attributes have been distributed. 1 Attribute and skill point have been rewarded]

”Hehe, Rainer is appraising Luna,” The fairy twisted and turned, causing a smile to appear on the previously sullen Kara.

Rainer glanced at Kara before closing his eyes. His thoughts drifted between the Demons after Kara and the Fae Queen.

In the end, they'll be the ones worrying every night. Checking for danger in every corner, every hour of the day. And then one day...they'll be no more...

Such were his final thoughts before the night took him.