84 Threads of Aura (2/2)

”Do?”

”Yeah, like with your free time?”

”Be with Rainer?” Luna responded, confused. Wasn't that much obvious?

”No I mean like do. Like how Rainer has his idea of the school and works on various magics. Or Gunthar does the same but with Aura?”

”I will do Rainer. And Kara. hmm, no...I think it's more like Kara does Luna,” The Fairy patiently ignored Sarah beneath her sighing.

”I meant something besides them.”

”I'll burn things.”

Sarah had to agree Luna was getting better and better at that. Before her flame had limited effectiveness against non-magical beings, or low magic ones, but it seemed to be changing with practice. Really, it was a versatile enough flame that Sarah could even accept that answer.

”I'm not really sure what I'm going to do…” Sarah added her own thoughts.

”Aren't you already doing something?” Luna asked.

”I suppose I am.” Sarah smiled. She'd take a page from Luna and just not worry about it.

Luna herself went into her own thoughts. From conversations with Rainer, Kara, and now Sarah, she got the distinct message there was something wrong with only wanting to be by Rainer's side. She sighed as the thought swirled in her head before she returned to her ruminations on her flame.

Late at night, the blonde-haired Liandra walked through the night streets of Fenrar, Capital of the Wolf King, with bated breath. Rumors of the Bard of Violets had spiraled and even several members of royalty ventured to taverns and places with musical performances at night to hear his music. Or perhaps offer him a more permanent position.

Whether high or low town, the Bard of Violets made no distinction. He always wore the same cloak of black with his body covered in too many enchanted items to count. A single song was all he'd play before vanishing in the same way he came. His music was talked about to the point that almost no one seemed to mention him being able to freely and easily teleport in the Dragon Isles, Liandra thought.

After hearing his song, ladies ventured their skin had improved and wrinkles softened. That their luck with romance improved tenfold and all their desires would come true. For soldiers, they heard sounds of battle or of long lost loves and opportunities missed, and a success of a 2nd Tier Trial was reported soon after hearing him play. Rumors they were, but Liandra floated her own thoughts of running into said Bard.

Some called him a Messenger of the Divine of Love, others whispered plots to capture him and unravel his secrets, but even more filled the seats of any place hosting musicians, hoping that their luck would turn out to witness just a single performance.

As she moved forward through the streets, on the way to her date, she thought over the past few months that led her into the service of the Wolf King as a sensor.

As Liandra fled from the north, her trip to the largest port town was largely uneventful. It was only when she reached the port that her plans fell through. With the Dragon Isles preparing for war, and two of it's members already engaged, opportunities for a hunter like her to accompany the safe and luxurious ship she desired were few.

They hired people far above her for such a thing. And having no interest in revealing her other abilities besides her [Enchanted Swordswoman] class, she was left to meander around. All the while, a part of her wondering if the dragon in human form would follow her.

”I heard ya lookin' for passage to the Isles?”

Liandra turned around on her stool in the Hunter's Guild and was met with a blinding white smile contrasting dark skin.

”I am,” She responded a bit cautiously.

”Good. Far too many are afraid to brave the waters right now. We could use a fighter on the deck in case any monsters board us.”

Liandra thought it over and decided to meet the crew. She always needed to be careful even with the Tideborne's stringent policy against slavers and slavery; she was an elf after all.

As they headed to the ship, her thoughts were occupied by other matters as the first mate spoke about the recent troubles in getting enough people to man the ship apart from the sailing crew. Heading down a pier, she saw the ship itself and let out a sigh of relief when she noticed the captain of the vessel: a merfolk.

”Are you ready to leave right now? You can have the standard fee for Hunters above level 10.”

”I'm ready.”

Liandra's sword glowed a deep blue as she slashed a scaled jumper in two and sent a blade of magic towards another. The grotesque looking frog monsters became a common problem without the Merfolk to regularly suppress them. Especially since the strongest of the race followed the Sea King to war.

Close to an hour later, she wiped the sweat off her brow and she headed down the deck. A loud crashing noise and subsequent jutting of the ship caused her to stumble on the steps and hit her head on the way down.

Liandra blinked her eyes as she came back to her senses an unknown time later. A taste of metal in her mouth and a feel of it around her wrists greeted her. That, and an arguing pair right in front of her.

”Who cares what the damn mage says, it's an Elf, captain. Let's have some of 'er before sendin' 'er off to them nobles.”

”You cost us a virgin elf and I'll take the gold out of your hide. Go grab Marcus and switch duties with him.”

What part of me is a virgin? Liandra wanted to retort but wisely kept the words down. Moments later the two left, and the likely so-called Marcus came as well. Sitting up, she glanced around seeing the rest of the crew in chains, though most not restricting Mana like hers. The first mate flashed a white grin towards her for a brief moment.

She had him to thank, it seemed.

As hours passed, Liandra lost the earlier moment of happiness at not having to entertain whoever captured them as she realised the fate that awaited her. There were more than enough rumors about the cruelty that nobles inflicted on their slaves. She brought her knees to her chest as the darkness reminded her of the training she endured to become a sensor. The hopelessness proved a stronger reminder.

Unable to think about it any longer, she instead sank into herself as she extended her senses. 17, she counted. The number of the crew that had died, and 43 seemed to be the number of slavers. The ship itself was clearly different, far larger.

She extended her senses out miles and miles further, looking for any monsters, hoping something that would kill them all found her before they reached their destination. Even better if she could subtly nudge a monster to come for them that would otherwise ignore them. Centuries of slavery was far less appealing than death.

She was granted her wish some time later. A presence of Aura, a mix of Aural and Magic, crossed the ocean at an outstanding speed. She had no idea what sort of beast this was, only feeling it something like a wolf, but she welcomed it.

Screams rang out on the deck as Liandra counted how many slavers remained.

37, 26, 17, 11, 7, 2, 1...

Distortions of magic rang out on the deck, Liandra keenly felt the presence of a powerful invisibility spell, perhaps how the slavers had snuck up on them in the first place. But following a huge shockwave that shook the boat, the last of them died.

Steps shook the stairs as they headed down to her position, and Liandra's eyes opened wide at the figure that greeted them.

She, was most certainly not a monster of any sort.

Brought out of her ruminations, Liandra headed towards the Star-struck Lounge as planned. The daughter of the head of the Blood Moon Elves, not that anyone knew her real identity apart from the Royals and a few others, would be playing again, and it was mentioned that after her playing was the first time the Bard of Violets ever appeared. If it wasn't for Alaya, she wouldn't have ever been able to get such a reservation.

The Blood Moon Elves were one of three clans which ran the Neutral City of the Southern Continent; the only place on the coast that wasn't directly under Tarainien Empire control. It stood at the edge of a cliff at the end of a peninsula, a mountain range behind it leading deep into the South. A mountain pass was maintained by the dwarves and inadvertently protected by the monsters inhabiting the mountain range from outside influence.

It was how she and many others left from the Southern Countries to the north. The city was technically claimed as territory by the Tarainien Empire, but the power of the three clans kept them from fully realizing that claim. Not only that, but no southern country would wish to see the easiest trade route and gateway to the northern lands lost.

She cut her way through an alley and was met with a sight she had since forgotten as she neared the lounge. Behind a mask, Violet-covered eyes glanced at her as she instinctively reached out her senses.

It was him.

He calmly looked at her, but Liandra could only stare back in shock at the blinding power that was his existence.

She froze and then ran as fast she could in the other direction. She grasped at the communication stone in her pocket that all sensors serving under the royals received. Cursing herself for ditching her guard, she stuck to darkness despite her distaste for it, and ran into an alleyway, hoping to lose line of sight with the man behind her. Moments later she felt pain in her legs and looked up to see a Ratkin figure cloaked in black looking over her, only for darkness to take her.

Rainer watched as the elf he recognized from Grimlar's Pass ran from him, before he paused. When she looked at him, he had felt a touch on his Soul. Did the elf follow him here, he darkly wondered. If she could sense his Soul, then did she know about Luna? Maybe even Kara...had she told someone...

Why else would she run?

He started walking towards her thinking over his plans, knowing he could easily catch the level 15 [Enchanted Swordswoman] with but a thought. She thankfully had Mana, so if by some chance he misunderstood her intentions he could at least check with [Mana Reading]. But he found that unlikely.

A line of magic pulsed from her and Rainer realized she somehow contacted someone else. Just like the Fae he fought after his Second Tier Trial so long ago. Right as he Void-walked to her, a figure from the darkness leaped out and kicked her legs out from under her, and slammed another foot into her head before making to pick up her body.

Rainer acted, appearing behind the figure, his fingers crackling with Arcane-Lightning. A palm into his back and the figure collapsed into a seizing heap. He'd leave him for later. Glancing down at the now unconscious elf with blood trickling down her forehead, Rainer realized he couldn't just leave her here without confirming her guilt.

Picking up and throwing the level 25 [Assassin] into a nearby Alley, and weaving a chain with [Arcane Weaving: Permanence], Rainer left him tied up for later. For now, he might as well bring the Elf back to the Inn to question her.

As he reached down to grab her a tinge of pressure entered his mind.

[Crisis Perception]

He Void-walked instantly, and spun around to see just what threatened his death.

A claw of golden aura swiped at where he just was, creating a deep scar in the ground. A cloaked figure landed just in front of the gouged dirt. Before Rainer could get out a word edgewise, the figure went forth.

An Aura so massive that it nearly blinded his [Arcane Revelation] covered eyes erupted as the fist headed in his direction. Rainer opted to Void-walk again as he found a force pulling him down. Two strings of Aura now connected him to the assailant. Having no time to do anything else Rainer covered himself in [Arcane Awakening: Shield] as his skill rose to 100%.

The fist collided with his two forearms crossing in front of his head. Rainer heard the cracking of his magic and then his bones as he was sent flying away. Crashing into the wall of a stone building across the street. Citizens screamed and ran away, but he paid them no mind.

A flash of violet and Rainer was free of the strings that bound him. He vanished just as a clawed hand struck his position again. Up in the sky, he armed numerous lances as a [Spear of Arcane Judgement] formed in his hand. An [Arcane-Spatial Domain] spread out in preparation. The spell charged with magic as it's target on the ground turned his view skyward.

The figure leaped outwards, just as Rainer desired. Lances flew one by one as the figure somehow twisted to dodge it. Gravity pressured down, slowing his foe. The [Archon] unleashed his spear and it soared upwards. He reached into his Void Will as he put a twisting [Void Call] in the attacker's path.

In an unnatural movement as if he was less man and more ghost, the figure suddenly jolted to the right. The guided spear followed, but several more unnatural movements caused it to stab into the ground causing a blinding explosion.

A figure came from the light and rushed at Rainer, as the [Archon] in turn moved towards his target. Though not by choice. Rainer grimaced as he tried to use his [Arcane Blade] to free himself, but he saw the charging Aura user move his hand and his own jerked back. Just before the two met, Rainer poured out his Void Will into another call to the Void.

At the last moment, his enemy jerked to the side, and Rainer used that time to cut apart the new strings tying him.

A quick glance saw the [Appraisal].

[Wolfkin, Male, Aura Puppeteer(2nd) lvl 24, Auraweaver(2nd) lvl 24]

[Title: Aural Existence]

Golden eyes glowed beneath a hood as the figure moved in the air towards Rainer again.

[Arcanum]

A flash of a ritual circle and a beam of violet light canceled that move. With a pained yell, the Wolfkin zoomed towards the ground, rolling to the side as several more beams of Arcane shot at him. Two directly hit his back as he stumbled forward.

Rainer cut through the strings with one of the [Arcanum]s and soared forth, [Arcane Blade] in hand. [Arcanum] after [Arcanum] fired, battering through the Aura defenses of the Wolfkin.

Aura erupted as the partially burnt figure spun around and unleashed a claw of Aura. Rainer vanished in a Void-walk a distance away. He prepared two Mana packets as a golden Aura covered his target. Fresh wounds disappeared from the Wolfkin as stitches of gold replaced the wounds followed by fresh skin.

The Wolfkin opened his mouth just before Rainer finished the spell. A fearsome roar tinged with Aura rang out, windows shattered and Rainer feeling his eardrums surge with pain and his very bones shake as the spell failed. Both of the Wolfkin's hands opened up as countless Aura strings covered the street in which they fought, numerous ones heading towards Rainer. Before he could react, he felt countless ones wrap across his neck and cut off his air. And another stripped his hilt from his hand. Rainer hid his grin from that. It never hurt when his opponents believed his [Arcane Blade] required said hilt.

The Wolfkin stared at him in confusion. He had made to cut off his head and instead was met with non-magical resistance.

What sort of Mage is made of steel?

[Arcane Awakening: Might] enlarged Rainer as he fought against the pulling of the strings that prevented his Void-walk. The Wolfkin's hands took on clawed shapes as he tugged on the Aura strings harder and harder. Rainer took this time to plan and fill up his Arcane Power reserves as much as he could, letting his opponent think he had him.

Rainer hid his shock as he saw a figure running straight towards the Wolfkin. Somehow Rainer found himself blinking once or twice as she seemed to be almost unnoticeable. A small [Arcane Blade] covered his hand as he prepared to cut through the Aura Strings holding him.

Just before reaching her target, a dark crimson Aura lashed out of Kara, covering her weapon to form an Aura Blade as she Void-stepped right behind her targets back.

The Wolfkin's golden eyes widened in surprise at the green-eyed face with a glowing backdrop of red in one eye and gold in the other, the aura unmistakably of a Demon. And yet something else mixed in.

But he had not the time to question it. The momentary pause proved almost fatal. His necklace simmered in heat as he tried to flee from the Aura formed blade in front of him. Whatever twisting darkness awaited in his escape route was not to be trifled with. His necklace had not heated up since the war with the north and him facing Yazir in combat.

So he embraced the blade of Aura, grimacing as it cut through part of his waist and spine and he soared past the demon. He stood askance, letting the Aura pour out of him and heal the new wound as he looked at the woman who appeared in front of him once more.

A voice echoing in the background brought the fight to a momentary pause. At least to those who could still properly hear.

”Wait, It's not what you think!” Liandra yelled.

But she was too late. The demon in front of him proved a feint as she vanished just before reaching him. His body constricted as he felt a force beyond any he'd encountered wrap around his body alongside two magic chains.

He glanced down at the chains attached into the ground when his eyes met with a glow of violet and a thundering of power. Eight hovering ritual circles arched over the mage he just fought with. Blood seeped from the man's eyes as his fist clutched in the same way Ymir felt his body held.

”Arcanum.”

Words charged with magic rang out.

And his world became violet.

Without even checking if his foe was slain, the masked Rainer grabbed Kara with a Void-walk and vanished.

”Rainer what happened?” Kara asked, after several Void-walks.

”I have no idea. I met with the elf from Grimlar's pass by chance, and after sensing my Soul she bolted. Someone else knocked her out and it seems I got blamed for it.

”But she said it was a misunderstanding?” Kara questioned.

Rainer stared blankly at her, wondering when this happened. He wiped a bit of blood from his nose and then his ears as he used [Arcane Invigoration], recalling the Wolf howl that canceled his magic likely damaged his hearing.

”So what now?” Kara asked, adrenaline still flowing from battle and a bit exhausted from combat testing her new skill.

”I don't know. Let's grab everyone and leave the city for now. At least your identity as a Demon should have been hidden.”

He also needed to prepare more [Arcanum] rituals as he ran through all 16 he made this morning.

”We'll talk about it with everyone,” Kara spoke, but before they could leave, a presence rapidly came upon them.

”Wait!” A tattered Wolfkin appeared before them, strands of gold already healing even the hair on his now visible head, his skin showing no signs of having been damaged apart from a healing missing arm and eye, ”Vera, please wait!” He held the elf from earlier under his arm, having used her as a tracker.

Both Kara and Rainer looked at him in shock but for different reasons. This was one of the 'women' Rainer saw with [Void Seer] and the Blood-tracking spell. Kara, however, heard her mother's name.

”Ver...ra?” The Wolfkin asked now deeply confused as he looked at the one golden, one crimson-eyed Demon. She was far more beautiful than Vera, looking more akin to a Fairy. Her nose was a bit different, jaw as well. And that was when it clicked for him. An image of a pregnant Vera leaving him despite his pleas.

”Daughter?”