46 Arcane Presence (2/2)
[Skill Gained: Arcane-Water Manipulation lvl 1/10]
Rainer stopped his practice. The difference compared to ordinary Water Magic was that it was easier to manipulate. Of course, when added on to Rainer's massive bonus to the Arcane, this was multiplied further.
Rainer repeated the process with Earth, Darkness, and Ice. Each element took on a different property.
He compressed Earth to his limit.
[Earth Manipulation has reached level 2]
Seeking to then bring out this sturdiness from the Arcane Energy, He gained the next skill.
[Skill Gained: Arcane-Earth Manipulation lvl 1/10]
The Earth became less malleable, but its strength was far stronger than before.
[Darkness Manipulation has reached level 2]
[Skill Gained: Arcane-Darkness Manipulation lvl 1/10]
Darkness not only absorbed light as before but seemed to use a portion of what was absorbed to fuel itself. It made all Darkness spells cost less in the presence of light.
[Ice Manipulation has reached level 2]
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Rainer formed a sheet of ice beneath himself. He manipulated it into many different forms, but until he sought to make colder, could he then take that feeling to bring out ice from Arcane Magic.
[Skill Gained: Arcane-Ice Manipulation lvl 1/10]
[Arcane-Ice Manipulation: Allows the user to directly manipulate and form Arcane-Ice. Mastery will improve all Arcane-Ice Skills and Spells.]
And with Ice, even as Rainer gained the skill he knew not the difference. Vaguely, he understood that the Arcane-Ice was colder, but felt there was more to it. He had struggled to gain [Ice Manipulation] in the first place. Its mysterious power could only be unraveled with use.
Still seeing no title, Rainer assumed there were far more elements out there. And now, he had a method to explore them in the future. More importantly, he reached closer towards gaining Arcane-Spatial.
His sleep naturally ended soon after.
After waking up, Rainer could hear Elru talking with Gunthar and Theodore in the hall. Kara remained to meditate at the foot of the bed after she awoke.
Heading out in the hall, even without the slightest ability to read emotions, Elru's high spirits were easy to see.
”So, how'd it go?”
”I cannot thank you enough,” Elru bowed deeply before Rainer could stop her.
”Its fine, its fine, it's a trade remember?”
Elru laughed lightly. A year of her life? To her knowledge, Fae have given up far more for the extra 200 years and power a Fruit of the World Tree provides.
”We can have our reunion along the way. Let's leave town as quickly as we can before we have a chance to be followed. I want to visit Furtak without any unwelcome members. Elru, can you follow a bit behind and check for followers.”
Rainer felt the whole meeting with Yarik was strange. And given that his word may not entirely be believed, Rainer had no intention of leading anyone from the Mier Kingdom to Furtak's tribe.
Above all else, however, Theodore noticed someone on the far ends of their assigned Mansion wing loitering about.
Covered in Elru's Glamour, the entire group left the Baron's Mansion and then the city. She had not the power to make them all unseen, but she could disguise them well enough, along with hiding their Mana and Aura to all but the most careful observers.
They rushed forward, barely making it out into the forest before Elru's Glamour broke.
Walking in the forest, Theodore maintained [Soul Detection] while Elru would on occasion cover herself in a Glamour and check a distance behind them. Rainer covered their tracks. He found the snow easy to manipulate with [Ice Manipulation].
”How was your sister?” Theodore asked.
”Worried. In fact, before I could even explain she began crying. Afraid I had taken a demon's deal with Yulia. She was half-right, so I could not blame her. I only mentioned that Yulia had asked me to kill someone and instead I decided to protect the target she gave. I then said that the target had been paid by Yulia with a Fruit but betrayed her.”
”And she believed you?” Rainer questioned.
”I said you were a Fae. That answered all her concerns.”
”How often are Fae taken in any case?” Rainer said recalling what Maiden Elru was known for.
”Now that we have cut off contact with the outside world? I have not heard of a case in over a hundred years. It was an easy choice to make. We had defeated our foe in our realm and no longer required any outside aid. We also put in place new rules requiring a certain amount of skill in Glamour to leave home ”
”Outside world…is your home, not on this world?” Rainer asked.
”It is a part of this world, and it is not,” Elru paused for a moment. But Rainer had only shown himself a friend to Faekind through Luna and an enemy to Yulia, leading her to continue, ”It is a separate realm of this world. And of others. ”
Rainer instantly grew interested. But, until he understood just what Luna having the Sacred Faerie Fire meant, to go anywhere near more observant Fae was not an option. At least, until he changed her class once more and Yulia was no longer an issue.
”I think you would enjoy it. It is an incredibly beautiful place, even when dampened by the recent coronation.”
Elru went back one last time to check for pursuers.
”Have you thought about what you'll be doing here on your own, Theodore?” Rainer asked.
”I'd like to speak with this Fire Sage. Then I'll spend some time scouting the edges of the Forbidden Land. Until those Mages leave, I have little interest in staying in Grimlar's Pass. My plans in learning Charles' technique and making sure he will survive his trial must wait.”
”We have time. Let's figure out how I can reach you.”
Theodore began explaining to Luna. Rainer noted it was a similar method to Morse code. Where across their vast Mana link, a message could be sent. It was a simpler method, though. One pulse meant to come as soon as you are able. Two meant, to come quickly. And three meant true danger.
”The question is then, can I Void-walk to you.”
”You said you used Luna as a target in the past? Then it should not matter, given your ability, if I am the target. Feel the familiar bond to her, and try to trace a path to me.”
Rainer focused on the Familiar bond first. Theodore had specifically instructed not to try and send a message like he had, saying without having the skill already it wasn't the type of thing to play around with.
He focused first on Luna. He activated [Arcane Awakening], and then tried to sense Luna's connection with Theodore. Slowly his mind seemed to follow along the Familiar Bond and then stretch out toward another connection.
Theodore had already moved out of Rainer's 50 feet [Void Detection] range. Senseing him, Rainer could then detect a small area of the Void around Theodore. And so he vanished.
”Theodore,” Rainer said from behind.
”Eerie…” Theodore grunted out.
”What is?”
”This spell of yours. It does not fluctuate space at all. As if you are just slipping through the cracks of the world. So, what do you think?”
”As far as I understand, the distance only truly becomes a problem crossing worlds. We can test it out before we leave. ”
”Sorcerer, how did it go?” Gunthar asked seeing the two of them walking back.
Rainer gave a reassuring smile, ”It went well. I should be able to reach your Father from quite a way apart.”
”Try not to call forth anymore Devils in the process, Sorcerer,” Gunthar joked.
Walking up to Gunthar, Rainer put an arm around him before speaking, ”Even if I do you'll be there to block me, right?”
”Please spare the low-leveled me from such a fate, Sorcerer…”
”Oh yeah. Last time you blocked a Devil you lost your pants.”
”Gunthar!” Theodore yelled, drawing everyone's attention, ”To think only a Devil could get you to remove your p-pants.” He barely made it through the last word.
”I feel the only conversation that happens between you and my father relates to embarrassing tales of my past…”
Gunthar's complaint only elicited further laughter.
”Don't worry Gunthar; Luna won't laugh,” The Fairy said as she fluttered to the top of his head.
”I appreciate the thought, Lady of the Fae. But you still cannot make me breathe fire from my mouth.”
”Luna is offended. Even if Gunthar offered Luna wouldn't make him breathe fire,” The pouting Fairy responded.
Elru returned soon after, not finding anyone following them.
In but a moment, Rainer cast [Arcane-Wind's Ascent] around the whole party. He soared forward at an incredible speed, keeping low with the tree-line despite Elru once more operating her Glamour around them.
They traveled for an entire day at this speed, only taking breaks when it was time for Rainer to recover Mana. Trees grew taller and the forest grew thicker, further they headed North.
Finally, they reached a series of crags standing above the forest. Finding the one in particular that had a slight crescent shape at its top Rainer landed. Having recently recovered his Mana Pool Rainer didn't need to pause.
Elru had been told of the negotiation with their former enemy by Theodore during their travel. She still felt a bit uneasy, given how the Goblin had seen through the Glamour she covered Rainer with back then.
Rainer remained on guard as they approached the crag. Saying the password given by Furtak, a door opened. Rainer noted that even with his [Arcane Sight] he needed to focus to see this hidden enchantment.
The door quickly shut behind them. Around them were walls lit up with a strange moss.
[Auer's Moss]
”It draws small amounts of the World's Energy to give light,” Elru answered seeing Rainer's interest.
”Wouldn't it be a bad idea to live around this for the Goblins? Wouldn't it slow their monster's growth?”
”The opposite. They draw in far more than they use. Leaving this area to have a higher concentration of the World's Energy. They also convert some to breathable air,” Theodore then answered.
Rainer glanced at it a bit longer before Theodore's words caused him to continue forward.
”Don't bother. We spent decades researching how to grow it. Other than where it grows naturally, we couldn't figure out. The problem with natural growing areas was they often changed. I do not know if these Tribes had found a way given the purposeful placement. You can feel the World's Energy thicken the deeper we go.”
Another wall opened in front of them as they reached a dead end.
”Rainer, I heard some whispers,” Kara spoke.
”Perhaps they were checking we didn't bring Mier with us?”
The party continued down the tunnel. After nearly an hour of travel, they reached their destination. The entire time Rainer and Gunthar stayed in between Elru, Theodore, and Kara.
Far different than the mine he saw before, it was a city of goblins. Brown of stone abodes jutted out from the walls. Various stairs constructed in between, leading down to a massive manor in the center. The moss glowed all around them. A white light ever so slightly tinted with green.
Rainer couldn't help but be surprised, the same surprise as the goblins looking at them. An occasional wolf moved between caverns down below. Though, none anywhere near as strong as the wolves that attacked Rainer previously.
But a surge of Flame caused the Goblins to bow in reverence.
The ball of Fire landed in front of the party. Elru couldn't but be slightly startled at his entrance. When she staggered back, Theodore chuckled lightly, earning himself a glare.
”Welcome, Friend. I'll bring you to the place of rest I have prepared. I brought along some maps and what we know of the North,” Furtak spoke as they headed down a stone staircase. Looking over the edge of the thin stone stairs and the dozen story drop caused Rainer a bit of a worry. That is until he realized the numerous tools he had to prevent such a fall.
”Where are the Ice Wolves?” Rainer asked. He immediately realized such a question was inappropriate, but Furtak answered.
”Returned to the wilds of the North. Without the correct Tongue, I doubt you could find them even if I pointed you in the correct direction.” Seeing Rainer's unmasked surprise, he continued, ”The healing spell you gave us. Already our best healer had used it to save a life. He only knew some incredibly simple light spells, but he was an old and well-practiced mage. With a strong Light Affinity. I always thought it is a shame he was forced down the path of a Fire Mage. It is why I instinctively asked for Light.”
”And the other?”
”I have already confirmed it to be genuine. It will take a considerable amount of time, but to even have the Great Fire Sage's true inheritance is more than enough. What do I owe the pleasure of such an early visit?”
”It's a stop. We plan on heading to the Arachne Tunnels next.”
Before Furtak could give his thoughts, Theodore than asked a question, seeing the glowing moss all around.
”How do you get the moss to grow here?”
”Theodore. That's something to be traded. We can discuss spells,” Rainer spoke before Furtak could. He saw the Goblin was truly overjoyed at the two spells he had gotten and prepared to answer. A perfect opportunity to solidify an alliance, he thought.
Furtak opened his eyes in surprise but recovered. The moss was something that ultimately depended on the secrets of the Druidic Magic Tongue. A secret he thought Rainer would have little use for. He felt slightly bad about taking advantage of that fact but decided to bring out his own tribe's spells in return. He had built upon the Great Fire Sage's notes in his centuries of life.
”Then let us head down,” Furtak spoke before turning aflame.
Rainer realized his folly and covered his group in [Arcane-Wind's Ascent]. Elru disguised herself as a normal middle-aged woman, and so was carried by Rainer's magic once more.
Sometime earlier at the Baron's mansion, Yarik spoke with the individual earlier detected by Theodore.
”What do you mean gone?” Yarik asked one of Mier's second tier experts.
”They are just gone…no one saw them leave. But food, a maid often left them, was ignored. I did not wish to check, but I believe they slipped away.”
Yarik only sighed. There was nothing he could do if they already left. It's possible they vanished right after their meeting. He would stay here for some time. His Guild members seemed to believe the negotiation was true, but only time would tell.
The mysterious Magus. His powerful Guards. The Wolfkin that was far too similar to the royal line. Such a figure couldn't be left unfollowed, especially given the sensitivity of the situation in the North. But now, Yarik could only bide his time and hope they returned.
Near the border between the kingdom of Mier and Lancost a meeting took place. Maya, a loyal agent of Yulia's, sat across a dark cloaked, hooded man. She had reached here through a nearby Fairy Ring.
A small bag was in his hand. He opened the contents and after several minutes of careful inspection finally spoke.
”How much then, are you offering?” He did his best to hide the excitement in his voice. He failed.
”For the death of the 2nd Tier Magus, 10 of what is in your hand. And a Fruit of the World Tree. For the return of the Fairy he carries, double.”
The man practically held his breath at the offer. Looking down at the token of the Blood Soul Guild Master Maya brought, he didn't dare rob her as she revealed the larger bag under her cloak. It clearly displaying the same trace of magic.
”Our group will be carrying out the task with haste.”
”One last requirement, I will travel with the group, and upon finding the target we will wait 1 day, otherwise no deal,” Maya added. She was to notify the Fae Queen once they were a day away from Grimlar's Pass. At which point Yulia would risk her escape. Getting in and out wasn't the problem.
The [Archon] was a rare case. If Maya wished to escape the mage in front of her, she could with ease given the strength of her Glamour.
The mage stared at her for a moment. It was clear she was going to contact whoever was providing the dust once the target was found. However, in combination with the token she possessed and the reward offered, he decided to go along with it. If they were capable of betraying the Blood Soul Guild, they wouldn't need their services in the first place.