44 Of Mages and Arachne (1/2)

Rainer did his best to ignore the scene in front of him. A hairy lion man whose torso he unfortunately needed to stare at with careful attention. He found studying a nude Fae less distracting. A bowl of Rainer's blood was to the right of the unconscious demon.

Over the course of the night, he had managed to raise [Internal Runic Mana Formation] to level 4. As of now, he could hold a runic symbol within his finger with no danger. A constant flow of Mana prevented any build up and subsequent explosion.

Elru stood off to the side, her Mana Output Rune shining brightly for Rainer to see even through her clothes.

The final goal was to create a Body Enchantment for Kara that could be fueled by her Aura. Rainer ventured this could even help his idea in creating a book to learn [Faraan Runic Language] from. A mixed writing of inscription and enchantment onto a page.

”Elru, can you try drawing a Mana Output Rune on him first?” Even focusing on what he wanted to draw, Rainer couldn't get the formula to form. As of now he only copied the means, but the technique itself, which involved a whole formula to draw a single Body Enchantment Rune, wasn't completely clear.

”I do not have an idea how it would work on him. Even if as you say Demon's share enough magical physiology for it to be possible…”

”Then what about the bark you use for practice?”

”I'd need to go back home to retrieve some. If I hurry and activate flight enchantments, it would take 2 days at least to get to the fairy ring and return.”

”Might as well give this to your sister on the way back,” Rainer said, taking out the golden Fruit of the World Tree and throwing it to Elru. He wasn't so magnanimous to believe she would, without a doubt, return. He had gotten most of what he wanted from her, and was tired of being on edge.

And he could use the time away from her to use the Mana-well. Rainer even wished he could take away the memories of people he fully trusts when it came to the Mana-well, let alone anyone else. Why a quest had been formed was an important question to him.

It made him think that going beyond just using the Mana-well for enchantments was opening a Pandora's box.

If she returned, he would trust her more. If she didn't, that was fine as well. Such were his thoughts. The Fruit too, with Luna's long lifespan and Kara's insistence to complete the Trial on her own, held less value for him.

Elru stood there stunned. The object she so desperately desired casually thrown to her as it was truly just an ordinary fruit. Did he trust her completely, or did he simply care so little for such a treasured thing?

”Thank you, Rainer. I shall return as quickly as I can. Little Fairy, make sure you practice properly,” Elru placed a hand over her heart and bowed deeply before leaving the room. A small voice leaked out of Rainer's jacket in agreement with Elru's statement.

”What about the Demon?” Theodore, who watched alongside, asked. Kara, Gunthar were out in the hallway.

”It should be fine with just draining stamina, just wake me up if you can't handle him. Well, I needed a Demon to experiment on, but I never expected it would be so soon. I might as well give it a whirl, stand by in case you need to knock him out.”

Rainer stood kneeled over the Demon and dipped his finger in blood. Mana flowed, and he recalled clearly the Mana Output Rune he saw on Elru.

A sizzling of skin could be heard as he began drawing. He knew he failed the moment he heard this sound, all too familiar with the failures on his own body in [Sleep Learning]. But he continued. He trusted in his class.

But he quickly came across an issue, even drawing the least complicated Mana Output he could think of drained 60 Mana. Which with Gunthar as his undead, meant half his total.

”Has Elru left?” Rainer asked Theodore.

”She is in the hall, perhaps saying a temporary goodbye,” Theodore said.

Theodore's [Soul Detection] surpassed Rainer's.

Rainer went over his thoughts before a nod from Theodore confirmed Elru had, at the very least, left the range of his [Soul detection].

Retrieving the Mana-Well from his spatial ring, Rainer as well took out the book related to drawing Mana from it. It had been in the [Arch-Lich]'s spatial ring. There was not, however, anything related to what the [Arch-Lich] was attempting in his further research on the Well.

Rainer skimmed through it briefly. The skill the [Archon] developed and later taught to Nalmar's enchanters was similar to the [Mana Object Transfer] skill Rainer already had. The book was designed to assist others. He, however, only needed the basics.

The black cube pulsing with blue runic lines sat in his right hand. With his left, he picked a random floorboard to enchant. The Mana required a target. Carefully, he enchanted the most basic of strengthening Runes. Anything more and the floorboard would likely explode from his lack of experience.

A part of him focused on the Mana-well, trying to guide the Mana through his body and into the enchantment. The Mana was foreign, and its consistency strange, making it unusable for anything else. In this aspect, it was no different than a Mana Crystal, except in its limitlessness.

Rainer nearly expended his Mana pool trying to draw the Mana from the well. Each attempt only caused the Mana to dissipate and leave his body. But the [Archon] class and the previous knowledge by another [Archon] gave Rainer quick success.

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

The skill description was blank.

The transfer became smooth. And while it didn't completely remove the Mana cost of enchantment, it lowered it significantly. Rainer got a window into how Nalmar enchanted.

First, the Mana-well locked underground was connected to other Mana storage objects. Ordinary enchanters would then draw from it. Unknowingly, they took Mana, not from crystals but a strange and limitless source.

Rainer used the remainder of his Mana to guide the Mana-well's power and enchant several more floorboards. A grin visible on his face as he imagined the possibilities. An impenetrable fortress, a floating castle, an undersea city. With such a source of Mana, one was only limited by enchanting skill rather than resources.

But sadly, his Mana pool ran out.

Looking at the floorboards now strengthened with the presence of enchantments Theodore spoke to Rainer, ”A quick success. The possibilities of your class are truly endless.”

”As are the possibilities with this object…” Rainer said as he returned it to his ring. No matter the temptation, he would not try to pry open any more secrets. Not until he was ready to face the possible consequences.

”Since I need to recover my Mana, want to start teaching me the soul skill?”

”Of course,” Theodore responded.

The premise was to improve one's Soul through Aura and Mana. Theodore ended up almost by accident in the final result, which was to become a sentient undead even when not a [Lich]. Theodore carefully explained how to apply one's Aura to the soul, and while Rainer's [General Aura Manipulation] increased to level 2 he did not gain a new skill. A failure.

[General Aura Manipulation has reached level 2]

As his Mana recovered, he returned to his original task of enchanting a Demon. He held in his hand the Mana-well to use as an aid.

He thought over his purpose. It was to connect to the user's Mana Pool. Even if it didn't exist, creating a pathway for that Mana. He thought over the Runes in [Arcane-Fire Breath] which governed how the Mana moved through one's throat.

The Demon grunted in his sleep, but Rainer only repeated another drain of stamina. Theodore stood by, the hilt of his sword at the ready to deliver non-lethal damage.

Rainer finished drawing the Rune but gained no skill.

So, he repeated it again and again. He finally got the result he wanted, as a formula formed in his finger. Made of his version of the Mana Output Rune and the various Runes he knew already for controlling the flow of Mana.

For a moment, a dark blue glow lit on up the Demon, before receding. He did, in the end, not have any Mana. Among the burns still healing from a Demon's high healing factor was a faint silver and violet Rune. It soon became almost imperceptible.

[Skill Gained: Demon Body Enchanting lvl 1/10]

Information flowed into him, as he gained a new skill. Understanding too that unless he became like the Goblin, or apparently, the Fae Queen, he could not enchant himself. The Body Enchantment itself drew on its subject's innate magical qualities.

Even if Rainer had 10 times as much Mana as he did now, the residual amount in his blood and body wouldn't be enough for this. It didn't make him magical per say. Not like the [Fire Sage] was.

But is that what I want?

He questioned to himself. Even if the system claimed Arcane as the origin of magic, even if his Arcane seemed to stand above other magics, was it worth limiting himself to only Arcane Magic like the [Fire Sage] was limited to Fire? Would he actually be limiting himself given how Arcane Magic could enhance and mix with other magics? He knew too little.

It was true when he looked upon that Goblin through [Arcane Sight], he admired him. But there was no envy. He felt amazement for the commitment, but pity for the shackles that bound the Goblin to fire alone.

”Success?” Theodore questioned.

The words brought Rainer out of his thoughts, ”Yeah, a success,” He said as he brought a mana infused finger and erased the enchantment. Particles of Mana floated away, leaving behind only the burns of the previous failures.

”You don't seem to happy at such a feat?”

Rainer smiled, now fully realizing he could easily do this for Kara. And safely. It was just a question of changing the fuel source, and he had a perfect test subject in front of him.

”Just lost in thought. I still have a ways to go. It won't be very useful for Kara if it can't be used with Aura, especially given Elru's words. That one needs a specialized class to reduce the cost; else they are practically useless. ”

Rainer activated [Arcane Awakening]. He prepared to use Final Arcanum, though he, of course, did not unleash the skill.

The runes on his arms were like Mana Output runes but instead dealt with the Arcane Power inside him. Arcane spells automatically drew from Arcane Power, but such was not the same for the Runes on his body. It was slightly altered by his class, bridging the gap to the first skill level.

He continued his experiments on the Demon after canceling [Arcane Awakening], gaining a new skill in the process, in an attempt to make it fueled by Aura.

[Skill Gained: Aura Transfer lvl 1/10]

[General Aura Manipulation] could only allow one to manipulate Aura into someone body, but not inside their Aura Pool. This skill was different. And it was gained easily enough, given its similarities to [Aura Drain].

[Aura Transfer: Directly manipulate Aura into the targeted Aura Pool. The Aura may not be available for use.]

Running out of Mana after his attempts, Rainer talked with Theodore on the soul skill once more.

Rainer alternated between the two tasks but made little progress on Theodore's skill.

Just as he was about to make yet another attempt on the Demon, he was struck with an idea.

”What if I made my [Arcane Awakening] able to be fueled by my Aura…my [Arcane Sight] is already a mixed skill, fueled by either Arcane Aura or Arcane Power…” He mumbled to himself.

Theodore sat quietly watching over the Demon. Given their difference in strength, so long as the Demon lacked any Aura and couldn't shift, Theodore's advantage was absolute.

Rainer activated [Arcane Awakening] with as little power as possible and focused on his stomach. He knew not why the Mana Output Rune was placed here on both of the Fae he met. Assuming it was optimal, he didn't question it as of yet.

[Arcane Awakening] drew power from Rainer on its own, having no Runes except when he created skills. Rainer was just about to begin when he realized the danger of such a thing. If he, for example, made a Rune draw on his life instead of Aura.

”I'm going to get Luna to help me fall asleep first,” He said while draining his own stamina. Even without trying, a loss would occur in the looped drain.

Entering the white void of [Sleep Learning], Rainer took a moment to see if he could recreate the Mana-Well in here. The attempt failed and while disappointed he returned to the task at hand.

He activated [Arcane Awakening] to its maximum and looked once more at his stomach. Drawing on the knowledge he has from his [Arcane Sight] skill, he manipulated his Aura and tried to pour it into his [Arcane Awakening]. He used the Runic lines on his stomach as a medium.

A burst of Arcane Aura erupted from his stomach, reminding him why experiments were better left for [Sleep Learning]. Refreshing his formerly gutless body, he repeated the exercise.

The pain taught him to be far less forceful.

[Arcane Awakening has reached level 3]

Instead of a separate skill, the Rune that formed on his stomach became a part of [Arcane Awakening]. The skill permanently changed always to allow Aura to be used in its fueling.

Recalling the variety of Arcanist type classes, he knew this made sense as a part of [Arcane Awakening] rather than an additional skill.

Rainer committed the new rune formed on his stomach to memory before waking himself.

Seeing Rainer got up off the bed just minutes after he fell asleep Theodore asked, ”That was fast. A failure or did you accomplish converting an enchant to be Aura fueled?”

”I-”

”No, wait. Why did I ask? Come on; I wish to see the making of history,” Theodore said with a laugh as he looked down at the Demon.

Rainer only gave a slight grin and repeated the same actions for drawing the Mana Input Rune.

The Mana-well hummed with power as Rainer needed to draw for more Mana than last time. A Rune, the same as the one formed during [Arcane Awakening] took shape on the Demon. Rainer dipped his hand in blood once more, but this time he drew Aura to his finger as well. It was a finishing touch.

The Rune hummed for a brief moment as it connected to the Demon's Aura pool, before receding. An action aided by Rainer's own Aura. Something he understood was needed after leveling [Arcane Awakening].

[Demon Body Enchanting has reached level 2]

Rainer took a moment to memorize the Rune before erasing it. He noted the skill level was more based on one's actual enchanting ability rather than the enchants used.

”Is there anything of use for us to keep him alive?” Having found an old bounty poster of Kara among the demons corpses, he knew how they tracked them. He'd have to talk to her too, about why she used her real name. There was only a single question left; if they told anyone else.

However, having a high Affinity attribute is what allowed Rainer to learn [Mana Reading], alongside his [Archon] class. The same could not be said for any type of Aura reading. He tried it with no success.

”Interrogating him, given his natural strength….we have no way to restrain him safely. If we wish to awaken him, we'd have to leave him with some of his stamina, which is dangerous. His heart may be of use, though.”

As of now, the party couldn't be any more on guard. New information wouldn't change that to a significant degree. And with reinforcements coming to deal with the monster horde, this town was the opposite of safe for Demons.

Rainer didn't see any need to risk it for information that wouldn't change anything.

”We'll just get rid of him then,” Rainer spoke with an Arcane-Flame appearing above his hand.

Theodore placed his sword over the Demon's head and with a small burst of Aura, stabbed his sword through the Demon's head, killing him instantly.

An all-consuming Arcane-Flame cleaned up all evidence after Theodore removed the heart and placed it in the second spatial ring. Rainer encased it in an Arcane Weave so it would not cause an undue mess.

Theodore left the room to go and get Kara.

Kara entered before shutting the door behind herself.

”Hey Kara, before we start I have a question…”

”Hmm?” She intoned as she headed over to the bed. Theodore had already told her Rainer succeeded. Luna woke up and left Rainer's coat in case Kara needed healing.

”Why didn't you change your name if you were on the run?”

Kara blushed and looked away from his gaze.

”Because of…”

Even before she could come up with an excuse Rainer couldn't hold in his laughter.

Kara interrupted him, upset, given the trouble she had caused, ”It's not funny Rainer. I brought them to us. First without changing my name or hiding my appearance, and then with the bounty…I…”

”Look, it's fine,” Rainer said, ”What's the point of power if we have to hide? I'd rather see your smile, rather than having it always hidden by a hood whenever we leave this room.”

”How else can I keep the townswomen off me?” He added, eliciting a push from Kara, who was now in better spirits.

”So She-Wolf gets to be the open but Luna can't. Rainer is playing favorites,” The Fairy said with a mocking pout.

”Well for you I need to be a bit stronger, you troublesome little fairy. Hurry up and learn a proper Glamour to hide in public.”

”Humph, Rainer doesn't understand Luna's difficulties. She is working on it.”

”Oh? Then I might beat you to it. I already can do the Fae exclusive Body Enchanting. Give it time, and I'll do your Glamour too.”

”Then Luna will just do better,” She responded. No doubt within her as to his claim.

Kara reminded them of their purpose.

”Should we get started then?” Kara asked. Impatience was clear in her voice. The prospect of having even one of the enchantments Elru had excited her.

”I'll have to practice and learn more from Elru, but for now I can only set up the Aura Output Rune and a shielding enchantment.”

Out of all the ones Elru demonstrated, Rainer had complete confidence in the shielding Rune but none in anything else. He only didn't know how much, or if at all, such a thing would be more effective than Kara's cladding.

He wondered too if there was a class for Aura-related Body Enchantments. A selfish desire sprung up in a hope to delay Kara's Trial by having her switch classes. He truly wished a new and better class would result from his efforts.

His largest interest was in the Gift-like enchantments, though Elru mentioned they required weeks to be done, and quite the Mana cost. He hoped he could shorten this by a significant amount with the Mana-well. But he doubted it, for Elru said as well that her [Fae Enchantress] had an additional Mana resource to use.

”Lie back and let me see your stomach,” He said, and Kara complied.

His fingers traced over her taut stomach. Despite her constant training, she still retained an alluring feminine form. Rainer thought it a result of her Demonic nature, though he was brought out of his careful inspection by Kara's voice.

”You can look as much as you want afterward.”

He returned to the task at hand dipping his finger in a bowl of his blood already prepared. He noted Theodore's healing didn't alleviate the blood loss, whereas Luna's had an effect.

His finger drew across Kara. The flowing Mana eliciting Kara to breathe a bit quicker.

Rainer concentrated as he finished the Aura Output Rune. Fully connected to her Aura it instead shined white, as her Wolfkin Aura appeared, with a tinge of violet.

She felt a strange connection between herself and Rune. She flowed her Aura towards it as well. It remained alit with power, though lacking anywhere to go the Aura returned to her.

The silver lines faded entirely. Rainer viewed it as a product of her not being an entirely magical race, causing them to be dimmer than usual when not in use.

”I'll set up the Shield Rune.”

”Roll over onto your stomach,” Rainer asked.

As she did he did his best not to laugh at the accidental similarity of the command he gave. He stifled it completely, remembering the offense of such a thing.

Kara's blouse shifted to silver rings on her wrists, like when she transformed into her werewolf form, leaving her back bare.

He straddled Kara. Her tail, behind him, occasionally brushing against his back. He internally manipulated Mana and dipped his finger in his blood

His mana-charged finger moved along her back. Every reaction would cause her tail to move and let him know of her joy. Her fair skin soft and smooth.

Having carefully planned and memorized Elru's shield rune, along with the knowledge of his own Shield Mode, Rainer completed the second enchantment. Though, carefully drawing the lines took him 4 hours of uninterrupted focus. Without his attributes, he imagined he would have failed and screwed up working unstopped in such a manner.

This one cost 330 points of Mana compared to the Aura Output Rune taking only 9 of his Mana and Arcane Aura. Not counting, of course, the untold amount of Mana he drew from the well.

He in part took so long so that he could regenerate Mana as he did it.