69 Deaths Thief (1/2)

Sitting at a table, Rainer stared down at a piece of paper containing the first half of a Runic formula. At least, if one ignored the missing pieces. For, in the end, Rainer could only depend on [Arcane Energy Manipulation] on top of knowledge of [Arcane Rage] to truly mimic its devastating internal force. No different than the spell he first created when he came to this world.

The first part of his upcoming healing spell was simple in theory, destruction. Rather than manipulating Mana into their body, he'd replace that with pure Arcane Power and do his best to mimic the damaging part [Arcane Rage]. It destroyed in a way that was less explosive but more breaking down, making the result more healable and more pervasive. And it used [Arcane-Water's Gentle Touch] formula as a base.

Even for simple wounds, removing already created scar tissue before magical healing would be a long-term benefit. On top of any sort of infecting agents.

He wondered if he could even reform DNA or the Soul, given time, but left such notions for a far later date. Along with the hope, that the Fae's disease wasn't completely hereditary. He hoped it was closer to where certain Fae were simply more predisposed to catching it, but a disease nonetheless.

However, it quickly represented another problem to his spell; race. At least the race, as defined by this world.

Manipulating Mana into someone's body was different for every single system recognized race, even if [Mana Manipulation] assisted. Which meant likely the same for Arcane Power. This was his first time developing, or more telling, hearing of a spell with so many factors to take into account. He was already pondering how to incorporate his anatomical knowledge into a magical [Will of the Arcane] infused word or phrase representing a race.

Fae would obviously be the first choice. Demons, or rather a specific Half-Demon, competing for that spot. Not that he was able to acquire a Half-Demon Anatomy skill as of yet. It's not like he could open Kara up and see if that would do it. And studying her body at night hadn't given any anatomy related progress.

Though, he could admit to not trying for it in that case.

But there was a problem with Fae; their corpses disappeared too quickly. He could study a Demon corpse as long as he wanted and could create one that died just moments ago in [Sleep Learning], meaning the results wouldn't be too different from a living sample even if it lacked a Soul.

But any Fae corpse recreated in [Sleep Learning] started decaying into loose magic the moment it was made.

Test Subjects…

Rainer frowned. Fae certainly had to have criminals deserving of such a fate, despite his own knowledge of why laws existed against certain types of human research in his world. Having chosen Biology as a major for his first year of college he understood the laws behind such a thing. He knew the sordid history and lack of real success behind such trials.

It wasn't just that you could be using innocent people, that was only on the surface. But for any real research, the amount of people needed to even find out smaller things would be astronomical. Biological creatures were quite complex.

Which inevitably would lead to trumped up charges or other approaches to meet such a massive amount needed.

But with Maya's mind magic he could verify they were truly guilty of heinous crimes and the general ease of which Fae could be superficially healed with Mana meant he wouldn't actually need that many subjects.

But he wasn't sure if he was ready to take that step against people who hadn't done anything personally to him. And it was a fact that many criminals often lived a life subjected to crime. It was sometimes hard to say who was the actual guilty party in any committed crime.

Of course, as hypocritical as Rainer knew it to be, if they committed a crime against him personally then he blamed them fully for their actions.

Demons attempting to capture and subject Kara to a fate of breeding heirs for whatever Prince they worked for were far easier for Rainer to justify experimenting on.

But he needed to pay Quera back. Which meant healing her mother, alongside the deal he had with Maya. So, it came time to talk to Laneth's father about acquiring some of these prisoners and getting the worst ones he could find with Maya's help. Someone who lived a good life but still committed evil for whatever reason.

Whether or not he'd actually go through with what promised to be unpleasant testing, given that until he got it right, the Arcane Power would likely end any form of sleeping or stasis magic, was left to be seen.

His system-created hilt had after all proven the only type of enchanting ever to resist it. And even that was up in the air. Rainer was all but sure if he tried to destroy it, there would be nothing left.

So, for now, he went back to the frustrating formula in front of him before two hands grabbing his own brought him out of it.

”You shouldn't pull so much on your hair, especially after how nice it looks now,” Kara spoke from behind him.

He agreed with her on the topic of his new hair color, though her breath in his ear brought about another complication from his transformation.

Waking up with Luna currently away and pestering Laneth over what activities she could do in the Fae Realm, had led to morning activities between Rainer and Kara, breaking in the discovery of his ears not being entirely the same. They weren't sensitive like Kara's by any stretch, but it was enough to be far different than they once were capitalized by a bite from a Wolfkin.

He wondered just what else his near transformation to an Abyssal Elf had left behind apart from the otherwise harmless or positive changes. Rainer chuckled as he thought to learn some Elf stereotypes. Perhaps he'd gain a penchant for trees? Or whatever else Elves were supposed to like in this world.

”How's the spell coming along?”

”Not much more I can do without testing at this point,” Rainer knew that wasn't entirely true. He had after all fully created [Void-walking] after a year of tireless and constant work and likely more luck than any one person deserved to have. But he didn't want to stay in what was now partially enemy territory longer than needed.

Which meant experimentation.

Kara hummed before bringing up part of the reason she interrupted him.

”Luna would never ask you this, but there's a huge festival three days from now. Compared to anything else she wanted to do she wanted that the most.”

Luna not wanting to put him in a position where he either disappoints her or accepts the danger in revealing her before they planned to leave was just like the Fairy.

”Tell her to pick out what she wants to wear then, or rather play around and create what she wants to wear.” Rainer answered, ”Wait, do you mind if I suggest the idea to her?”

”It would make her happy.”

Kara let go of his hands and put her own on his shoulders. Rainer was just about to ask her what was wrong when, after a long breath, she answered herself.

”Rainer…if we weren't together anymore, could I still stay with everyone?” She spoke quietly.

Rainer froze for a moment, before instantly coming to an understanding. If she wasn't with them, Kara's life was all but certain to be far worse or non-existent.

It wouldn't be easy, Rainer thought, but she was his friend before anything else. She had saved him as often as he saved her. He wouldn't abandon her. Nor would he force her to remain with him, not even counting Luna as well.

Rainer's heart sank, but he pushed forward nonetheless. To him, forcing Kara to accept his relationship with Luna because the alternative was death or worse, wasn't acceptable.

”You could; you are always welcome with us Kara.”

”And you do not mind if afterward I took up with another?”

Rainer gave a self-depreciating smile, feeling even more so from Kara's tone that this was it for them, but answered anyways. He felt for a while something was off, and Kara's insistence to take the Trial far too early entered his mind.

At least he wouldn't have to deal with being alone with Luna still here. Deciding that being fully honest would help Kara believe him, he chose that route.

”If you left me for another man, yeah I would mind. The world being your enemy and all that is his and your problem then. But if you left me and then fell for another man. I can't fault you for that, nor would I. You are my friend first Kara. Ever since you rudely woke me up in a strange giddy form of excitement to teach me.”

Kara let out a deep and relaxing breath, her head now leaning against his back before she got up and started heading out of the room.

For a brief moment, he felt lonely. Elru and Theodore were going to stay in the Fae Realm and then head to the Forbidden North for scouting. Furtak would switch between his home and the realm. The Fire-Touched and magically powerful Goblin having formed the starting of a relationship with Laneth's niece. Her grandfather had actually already given the Goblin his approval so long as he was serious. The display of the Fae Queen's strength as a wind-touched was still fresh in his mind, and so he had no qualms of a powerful addition as the goblin.

Fae, after all, saw powerful Mana and Magic as attractive. Even Amer received looks from several of the servant girls in the mansion, confusing him greatly. He knew from Rainer how important it was to hide his appearance when he left the Fae Realm, and he was familiar with how hideous the other denizens of the Abyssal Planes found them.

Rainer would miss the surly Devil, having enjoyed their discussions on Magic during their month together.

And now Kara would be leaving, perhaps for better or worse, without physically departing the group.

Rainer turned around, seeing her more relaxed than he had in ages, now feeling guilty he never brought this up to her. It was for the best he told himself. He didn't blame her.

Kara spoke without turning around, bringing him out of his thoughts.

”You know with the festival we'll be going to, the drinking of wine and your conjured water for Luna might make it the perfect time for all three of us to get together finally.” Now assured that their relationship was her choice, she lost most of her reservations. That and the Fae's Mana-transferring at night left her curious.

Rainer stared at her retreating figure in shock, before realizing, or perhaps more hoping about, why she had been so relieved. It hadn't been that she could now leave Rainer and stay in his protection. It was that there was no longer an invisible pressure that forced her to stay with him.

Whether or not, out of joy or seeking confirmation, he Void-walked in front of her in an instant and wrapped her up in a kiss, one she returned once she got over her bemusement at the sudden show of affection. She hadn't thought him to be this happy of a night with both his loves, seeing as he never mentioned it.

But as they separated and she saw the look of relief that still adorned his face, she knew she made the wrong assumption. Not wanting to embarrass him, she decided to affirm her intent to stay with him. And Luna. She, however, was still a bit embarrassed when she had the previous day grabbed him as he awoke.

So, Kara decided, what was one more thing to be embarrassed about?

”Rainer, can you use [Mana Reading] on me, now that I have Mana?”

”Kara I would nev-”

”I know,” She assured him. She knew he would never use it on her, which made the next part a source of shame, ”But I used something similar on you. I listened to your heartbeat as close as my nature afforded me to. I want you to use it now.”

Seeing the [Archon] only furrow his brows for a brief moment before nodding, she continued, though looking down.

”I needed to know. I had to know that it was my decision to stay with you, to love you, to accept Luna. That I wasn't just afraid…”

”And?”

Her gold and crimson eyes gleamed with Aura for a moment as she looked into his.

”It was completely my decision.”

”I'm glad to hear.”

”You…aren't mad?” She asked, remembering her admittance just a moment ago.

Rainer knew he probably should be, but he wasn't. He was rather happy that Kara didn't have this weighing over her anymore, a part of him hoping this was why she wanted to rush towards the Trial. And with her knowing he told the truth, then all the better. And that he might be able slow her down a bit now from taking her advancement quest.

”I'm furious,” He answered, ”So you'll have to make it up to me.”

Kara returned his grin the moment she realized he wasn't serious. Rainer let out a laugh as he wrapped the Wolfkin in a Void-walk and landed back on their bed.

Magic could wait till later.

Rainer sat across the orange-eyed and haired older Prince as the Fairy thought over the [Archon]'s request. Prince Laneth's father didn't seem bothered by the request itself but rather how to answer it.

”I can get you the access and choice of life interned prisoners you desire, but the difficulty of the request would differ greatly depending on why.”

”Curing Akhor's Sickness,”

He drew a sharp breath. Unlike others, he knew Rainer wasn't from an actual Arcane Order, which made the claim that he had a chance at doing such a thing even more astounding. That, the sudden levels and raw power the now [Harbinger] gained over the course of a day did nothing to calm him.

”Can…you?”

”I have a good chance. The only issue is the first stage of testing will be painful. The magic I will be using counteracts any form of sleeping magic or enchantment. Something that first needs to be solved.” He explained, knowing the Fae in front of him might ask why he didn't just put his subject to sleep.

”Criminal activities among those diseased is not uncommon so…”

Rainer interrupted him.

”Perhaps later. For now, I only need a Fae that I can test on with no guilt, as this should be the only stage that causes pain. A Fae pushed to crime from what is essentially castration, if I understand your race correctly, is not the best choice for me even if it's not a valid excuse for any to cause innocent suffering.”

Rainer partially gave way his feelings on the matter, hoping he'd be seen more favorably. It wouldn't do for any possible ally to be too scared of him. And Laneth's father, despite his political background, utterly failed at hiding the mixture of shock and fear when he first appraised him after his return.

Laneth's father sat in thought. Rainer's previous self-healing from poison had been incredible. He only called a healer out of panic, for once he knew the actual poison, he believed the [Archon] would die for certain.

A poison so illegal any involvement in its making and use, apart from teaching nobles how to discern it, brought up one of the strictest punishments of their society; The permanent removal of Mana on top of life imprisonment. Fae viewed execution as a mercy, rather than a more severe punishment to life in prison.

It was the most lethal magical poison they knew of.

So, he was apt to believe the [Archon] had at least a chance of dealing with Akhor's sickness, despite other reservations of that being impossible. He was not the first in the long history of the Fae to try and cure this disease. After all, with their Fairy Dust, Gold, and [Fruit of the World Tree], Fae were one of the most valuable race to have in your debt.

And there was little some parents wouldn't give to see their children healthy and safe.

”I'll make the preparations. You do not mind if I tell this to necessary parties?” He then asked.

”Whatever you need to,” Rainer said as both he and Laneth's father stood up, the Fairy giving him a short bow.

Rainer returned the Prince's gesture before leaving. A part of him wondered when the debts gained would finally be collected.

He didn't mind helping with the silly trial that decided their leader, but he wouldn't offer. No need to step on the entirety of the Fae Courts toes until he needed to. Or until he was powerful enough it was at most a minor inconvenience.

Which could be now, he mused. After all, some of the strongest Fae were quite happy with him. And if he shared some of the body enchantments he planned to advance with them? He may very well be welcome to join their Ruler's Trial no matter what politician tries to complain otherwise.

Rainer left to find Kara and Luna, quite excited to not only see the Fairy happy with the outing but to see the Fae's reactions to her class. If there were any.

He was hopeful for some entertainment beyond just the three of them enjoying their time together. Though, if a literary buff like Elru didn't see anything important about Luna's class he wondered if anyone else would.

Either way, he looked forward to the festivities.

Given the title, he imagined them to be quite grand.

The Celebration of the First Queen.

Luna had jumped at him the moment he told her the news. Rainer himself made sure to specify how much he wanted to go, though he was sure Luna caught on after the Fairy gave a glance towards Kara.

Soon after Rainer went to give the item he created for Gunthar along with a second gift that item allowed.

Gunthar sat in the hallway of their rooms as always, reminding Rainer of perhaps yet another thing he took for granted. The fact that Gunthar's dagger had been the most expensive item to make, tempered that a bit. It also gave an understanding as to why weapon based Aura users almost never received weapons as rewards when they desperately needed them.

Of his roughly 3,600 points, Kara's ring had cost 700, his own 900, Luna's 500, Jor's a surprising 100 given the Serpents unique…everything, and Gunthar's 1,400. He would have added more to Jor's item but it didn't allow him to, leaving plenty for Gunthar's.

The dagger itself was far too expensive, even if the durability and sharpness was at best equal to Gunthar's current sword. But with [Aura Blade] available to him that wasn't the important part. It was the true feature of it that mattered.

[Death's Thief: A sharp yet durable dagger. Allows direct Soul Absorption for a Reaper-Type Class. Can only be used by Undead.]