45 A Message (1/2)

Walking to the Baron's Mansion, Rainer retreated into his thoughts. A slight alcoholic haze over his mind as he thought about his future, about the riches in the North, and about the relationships between Mages and Countries.

He learned from George in their conversation that Mier and the Skyborne Mage Guild were a unique case. To most royalty and nobles, the Mage Guild was a needed, but unwelcome presence. But in Mier, the Royalty were closely allied with the Skyborne Mage Guild.

The current crown prince, a talented 2nd Tier Aura user, was betrothed to the daughter of the Guild Master. Along with a close relationship to the Guild Master himself.

George, supported by Matheus, walked with the party. He had drunk the most out of the group. Ending the dinner in a tirade on how his 3rd wife was being cold to him.

Entering the Mansion, Rainer left his contemplations at the appearance of the 2nd Tier reinforcements for Mier. Three 2nd Tier Mages, and Three 2nd Tier Fighters, not counting the crown prince among them. Rainer noted ”Grand” among most of the 2nd Tiers, apart from the Prince and a single fighter.

He guessed they failed at unlocking anything else.

”Charles, is this the Foreign Lord Magus who discovered the monster horde?” A gray-bearded green-eyed man asked. His similarly colored hair was in a ponytail.

[Human, Male, Sword Saint(2nd) lvl 19, Swift Knight lvl 15]

Detecting Rainer's low Mana capacity everyone's guard was raised. Charles kept his report brief but mentioned the Foreign Lord Magus and his Guards were all but certain to be in the 2nd Tier.

They trusted his report. Which could only mean the Magus in front of them used the incredibly rare powerful passive-type magics to increase his power at the cost of his maximum Mana capacity.

”Greetings Lord Magus, this one is known as Protector Elijah. We were wondering if you could tell us a more accurate account of the Monster Horde,” He asked and bowed slightly.

”That's fine. You may know me as Rainer,” He said before sitting down at a large table in the center of the room.

Gunthar and Theodore maintained their roles as guards and Kara sat next to Rainer.

Before Rainer could speak someone else spoke first.

”We need not discuss such things with a common Mutt around,” The long blonde hair prince spoke. He was clean shaven, and his blue eyes stared with anger at Kara.

Rainer froze, appraising the man who had just spoken once more.

[Human, Male, Sword Saint(2nd) lvl 3, Knight lvl 9]

Before he could act, however, George was already by his side.

”Rainer, the Crown Prince is heavily favored by my Guild Master. You could say he is a Prince of Mages and Men. Do not act rashly,” George whispered after using his Mana to sober himself.

Kara nodded, agreeing with George.

”David,” Elijah harshly spoke. The Prince, however, ignored him and continued with his glaring.

Rainer, not wanting to make an issue of it as Kara looked fine, started speaking. He left out the Flame-Touched aspect of the Fire Sage, and in fact, did not mention anything more than a few spells exchanged at long range. He explained the full strength of the monster horde, though Kara added a point.

”Even this may have been another aspect of padding,” A term now familiar to Mier after the message sent, ”The actual horde may be even large-”

”Who allowed the dog to bark at the table?” David asked annoyed.

Kara tried to hide her anger again, but Rainer saw it this time quite clearly. Still inebriated from earlier he was about to act. But he decided against making a new enemy.

But just as Rainer was about to let it go, his thoughts turned.

[Arcane Awakening] flared to 100% and he disappeared into the void. He appeared several feet behind the Prince. [Spatial Domain: Gravity Slam] hit unto the Prince. Even with his hasty application of Aura, focused on his head, his entire body lurched, his organs shook, and the chair shattered beneath him.

He kneeled on the ground trying to stand and recover. Everyone around him rose to fight.

A [Gravity Domain] extended across the room. Yet before anyone else could act, Rainer's [Arcane Blade] reached next to the Prince's neck.

Even a common man could sense the power of the blade before them. In its new form, where space fluctuated around it, they knew he held their Prince's life in his hands.

A drop of sweat merged into the blood that went down the Prince's chin.

All the 2nd Tier experts feared to make even a slight move. The majestic Magus in front of them glowed with an unfathomable violet magic and seemed immeasurable in power.

”Tell me. Do you think your father or your Guild Master will act should I kill you? That because of them you can act as you please?” Rainer growled out; Arcane infused into his voice.

”They…” The Prince had mumbled before Rainer interrupted him.

”They would act alright…They would grovel and beg that my rage doesn't extend to them.”

”Lord Magus I kn-” Elijah took a step forward.

”Silence!” An Arcane Infused yell stopped Elijah in his tracks.

”I won't ask for something meaningless like an apology,” Rainer said, taking the prince by the hair and slamming him against the table. He whispered to him, ”If you so much as speak to me or any of my companions again, I'll kill you. And then when those who for some reason care about your worthless existence come to find me, I'll kill them too.”

”Now fuck off,” Rainer said as he slammed him against the table and Void-walked away.

Rainer took a deep breath and walked back to his room, the party in tow. No one spoke nor did any of the 2nd tier experts follow. Maintaining his [Arcane Awakening], Rainer used [Soul Detection] as well lest they attack their backs.

He had for a moment truly planned on killing the Prince. He knew why he was this angry. It wasn't just an insult, though, for a Wolfkin being called a Mutt was about the worst word to say to them. It was another reminder that his power was meaningless. That all his training and strength, mattered not. That Luna needed to stay hidden in his jacket. That Kara had to keep half herself locked away. That Gunthar wrapped himself in a mask and cloak. Rainer was almost still no different than on Earth when he would have to hold himself back and follow the laws of society.

He refused to live in such a way.

”My Prince, are you okay,” Elijah walked over to help him stand but was rebuked.

”It's fine, leave me to myself,” The Prince grunted out, still severely injured. He sat on one of the sofas in the foyer. One of the Skyborne 2nd Tier mages began chanting. A stream of crystal-like water moved around the Prince's injuries.

Elijah looked out towards the others in the room.

”You saw what was on his hand, right?” He asked.

”A Spatial Ring…and all his enchanted equipment…especially that coat. ”

”And that teleport, I only detected his mana decrease.”

”The Ring itself, it's likely far larger than our Guild Master's,” Another mage added.

”Yarric, did it work?” One of the mages asked the one currently healing the Prince.

”No, and when he noticed and glared at me…I had thought I'd seen death,” Yan said while revealing the appraisal orb that was hidden in his pocket.

Elijah only sighed while looking at the Prince. After a Beastkin assassin had killed his mother, he had grown incredibly racist. He only wished the Prince had read the situation better.

His arrogance increased after passing the Trial at such an early age, and even as a Bastard Prince, he was made the Heir. Added was his close relationship with the Skyborne's Guild Master, and his potential in the future was limitless.

Elijah slightly shook remembering too, the Aura of one of the Magus' guards.

It was far greater than mine, what kind of person is he to warrant a guard to follow him in such a manner...

It's true Elijah would protect the Prince. But he wasn't a servant or a guard by any means. Protectors, 2nd Tier experts who worked for the Royal Court, had a similar status to the King. While Protectors had no authority themselves, a King could never truly demand anything of them. They were there as deterrents in War more than anything else apart from any that were truly loyal. Were it not the payments and lifestyle given, along with the possibility of ready experience, most would not be here now.

Matheus looked at Rainer's departing back in a stunned horror.

He took his lifespan…and that teleportation magic, I couldn't even feel it…

Matheus with his Psionic Energy was, in fact, sensitive to all manners of energy. He noticed a small portion of Life leaving the Prince. Not enough to noticeably affect his appearance, especially given his pale and injured self, but still an amount.

He continued looking at Rainer's back as he walked off into his own separate wing. After seeing his outburst, Matheus had no intention of asking any questions that might elicit his anger and returned to his residence.

Rainer's party moved as he looked into his Mana Pool. Unlike when he drained his own life back from the [Arch-Lich] Rainer didn't know how to add this to his lifespan.

A usable resource.

Rainer thought as he recalled the skill's description. It would allow any drained life to become a usable resource. He guessed the [Arch-Lich] planned on regaining Mana.

After playing around with the Life Energy in him for a little bit, he was unsuccessful in doing anything with it before it naturally faded.

”Had you not acted I probably would have,” Gunthar, walking beside Rainer, said, ”Though I suppose with my recent change in class, it wouldn't be for the best.”

Rainer was a bit surprised no one disagreed on his outburst. He ventured the Prince had insulted Kara more than he originally assumed.

Theodore and Gunthar stayed on guard as Kara followed Rainer into the room.

”What happened?” Kara asked. Being called a mutt had enraged her as well, but she was sure she didn't show any of it on her face.

”You know in my world, doing something like that would end a lot differently. You would end up being imprisoned. Rich, poor, powerful or weak. More or less everyone was subject to the law. Of course, some got around it, but it wasn't smart to go around attacking people because they insulted your girlfriend. It didn't matter what they said, you would be seen in the wrong in the eyes of the law.”

”But here…here is different. Here I have power, and yet, even then I had to put up with it. To say nothing, and just walk away. What's the point Kara, of all this power, if I have to do nothing when you're insulted in such a manner?”

Rainer knew the alcohol had affected him and, he should have cleared it away.

Kara smiled and walked up beside him.

”I wished I could have done the same,” She said leaning into him. Forgiving it easily when Rainer made a dog-comparison and forgiving in this context, were two entirely different matters. Were it not for Rainer's otherworldly origins; she certainly wouldn't have forgiven him on the same day.

”I took some of his lifespan you know,” Rainer added. It was the thing that calmed him down and stopped him from going too far. A little piece of revenge. Even just a day of life was precious when you were at the end. He took years. Less than when the [Arch-Lich] cursed him] but still a decent amount.

”So what now? I'm not sure, but compared to the [Fire Sage]…” Kara said

”These people aren't enough. They may not even be able to do any real damage to him. I left out he was Fire-Touched. I didn't want to reveal I survived such an encounter. But with Matheus here, even without me, it should be fine.”

”We need to wait for Elru to return, in any case” Kara added.

”How am I supposed to make an academy if I cannot handle an arrogant noble…” Rainer sighed.

”The Dragon Isles, they are a different society. It is rare for a Prince or King to reach the 2nd Tier in most places. It is something you need to train your whole life for, and even then most fail. A King will often abdicate his throne before attempting the Trial. Not everyone can be like you...But in the Dragon Isles, one cannot hold a throne without it. They often have numerous wives and even more kids, and the strongest inherits the Throne. They only make the important decisions and leave the ruling to ministers and higher nobles. ”

”When did you learn this?” Rainer asked.

”Weren't you paying attention during dinner?” Kara asked confused.

Rainer only laughed. He had lost himself in the possibility of obtaining Magicite for his future academy. Many methods, some including the Arachne, flew through his head.

He judged the current relationship between the Mage Guild and Arachne as a necessity. They were not in any real alliance.

Remembering how the Arachne had treated him, Rainer thought that if even the slightest hint of how they obtained Magicite, and other resources got out, the Mage Guilds would invade and likely kill them all. Such was the respect, and perhaps fear present.

Rainer knew he needed numbers before he could truly approach them. Even if his current party became stronger, they were but few. They could survive and likely flee if needed, but they couldn't protect.

Rainer and Kara headed off to bed, a longer night than usual as leftover emotions from before played to their benefit.

Entering [Sleep Learning], Rainer thought over his next course of action.

He had numerous tasks to accomplish. Reaching level 10 with [Voidwalker] and unlocking its secrets, creating new magics to gain skill points, learning enchanting and improving the power of his companions. He needed to improve his [Arcane Awakening] and newly acquired [Arcane Revival] as well.

He saved the skill points for later. [Time Manipulation], he ventured, would likely cost far more Mana to do anything of true use than he could afford. Some thoughts went towards altering time within the [Sleep Learning] space, but he saw a major problem with that.

If he accelerated himself in relation to the white void, would it increase his time here? It may not change anything. He already changed the void to be like the devil world, but the time dilation that was present in the Devil World compared to this world never happened.

First Rainer stared out over the white void of [Sleep Learning]. Were he to practice enchanting, he needed a place where he could save his work.

Looking over to the endless white void to his right, Rainer began forming a long stone walkway. After several hundred feet, he created a black line perpendicular at its start. It went miles into the distance. The Pathway would lead to whatever he was working on, whereas the other half would be used for any damaging spell practices.

Marking it in half in such a manner, made it easier for Rainer only to refresh one side of the line.

Rainer nodded, happy with his work, before being hit with an idea. By this logic, he manipulated the white void. Immediately, he wondered if he could achieve such a skill in reality.

He only had minor hopes, as his previous tests told him he couldn't use [Void-Walking] in [Sleep Learning] without waking up.

”I have to do something different than before…” Rainer said to himself.

Using [Void Detection] Rainer focused on the space around him. This time he wouldn't be replicating the looseness of the devil-filled world, he would be creating it on his own.

Opening a [Spatial Domain] Mana poured out of him as he tried to will the space to change. To weaken the very essence of Space itself, instead of just copying his previous experience automatically.

Mana continued to pour out of him before he finally felt a difference in the white void with his [Spatial Domain]. The Void bent to his will, and become looser.

[Skill Gained: Void Manipulation lvl 1/10]

Rainer immediately stopped. He wished to level such a skill outside of [Sleep Learning]. He ventured something so powerful, something that could not only reduce the cost of [Void-Walking] but perhaps affect the world with the Void, would grant considerable experience.

And with his [Archon] class bonus affecting level 2 skills, he knew it might not take long.

He was a bit disappointed too. [Void Manipulation] was unrelated to how he created almost anything he pleased in this [Sleep Learning] void. But it hardly dampened his mood.

Excited by his progress Rainer went straight away to reducing the cost, and improving the strength, of yet another Space related magic.

Regarding pure combat power, he ventured nothing could make him stronger now than combining Arcane and Spatial.

He sat down and thought over the merging of Space and Arcane. He knew they were closely related, but he didn't have any idea how the two energies might mix.

A small Arcane-Flame burned above his hand. It was the first mix of Arcane he created. He used Arcane to alter the [Cone of Fire] spell.

Suddenly, Rainer grew confused. His class cited Arcane as the origin of magic. Why did mixing elements cause them to change and become empowered?

The flame vanished, and Rainer called forth a small ball of Arcane Energy.

What if I wasn't mixing, but rather changing the Arcane…using the Arcane to create Fire Magic…Using my knowledge of [Fire Manipulation] to not merge, but to bring out the element of Fire from within the Arcane.

He recalled too Luna one time explaining to him the [Arcane Bolt] for most was a common training spell. One that looked far different than Rainer's powerful magic.

The Archon is a legend to have freed people from the terror of monsters. Could the Arcane be used to create other magics? I used not only the formula for [Sleep Learning] but also [Arcane Bolt] in my study to create what I thought to be a wall-walking spell.

Rainer did not deny one could skip the knowledge of Arcane to create other magics. Manipulation skills allowed such a thing to a degree. But without it? He wasn't sure.

Different from before he sought to morph the Arcane, and the Arcane alone into Arcane-Fire and then simply Fire Magic. If he could do this, Rainer now thought of another method to create the element of Arcane-Spatial.

With [Arcane Awakening] at 100% and [Arcane Sight] monitoring the small ball of Arcane Energy in his hand Rainer focused. He had not a teacher nor someone else to show him the way, so he could only rely on his already existing skill of [Fire Manipulation] and [Arcane-Fire Manipulation]. He would use them to understand Fire, to understand how to make Fire Magic from the Arcane.

The Energy flickered in his hand as he manipulated, trying to pull the essence of fire from it.

In Rainer's world, only the Arcane existed in front of him.

Time flew by and without even realizing how long it had been, his time asleep ended.

Rainer was awakened earlier than expected by Kara. They headed out of the Baron's Mansion.

A message from the [Fire Sage] had come.

As Rainer headed out, he noticed George, Matheus, and everyone from Mier and Skyborne already waiting.

He used [Arcane Awakening] to a minor degree, lest he needs to use his Shield Mode quickly.

Not sensing the same level of power as before, no one reacted to it. He saw the mage, who had chanted the healing spell, and the Prince were missing.

”Yo Rainer,” Matheus was the first to greet him. George was a bit awkward and didn't say anything.

Rainer nodded to Matheus. He understood too; George couldn't openly take his side.

”I heard there was a message?”

”Yeah, a classic goblin war message. In the middle of the night, a flaming spear launched through the sky before landing in front of the gates. The fire spread and then left the Muknar word for Parley on the ground. Or snow in this case,” Matheus explained as the rest of the group headed forward.

Elijah approached Rainer, though he still kept a healthy distance.

”I won't excuse the words of my Prince, but you should know as a bastard, his mother was his whole world. And she was killed by a Beastkin assassin, misinformed that the King valued his mother and was hiding her for some reason.”

”If he's smart, the past is the past,” Rainer responded. He ventured any possible retaliations would be below board. Intentionally, he left his Spatial Ring in an easy to see spot, ”As you can see,” Rainer said while raising Kara's hand, one which held the second Spatial Ring as planned, ”Your Prince got off easy…”