85 The Wolf King (2/2)

”Besides, not everyone has your tolerance for pain…” Kara said a bit wearily. She had zero doubt in her mind that his process for learning and leveling his various Void skills had been extraordinarily painful for Rainer. Rather, when did he learn something in a non-painful way? He even on occasion made enchanting, a profession of scholarly and sedentary mages, into a cycle of life and death.

”Well, with Void Will it shouldn't be painful to learn any of it... probably. Either way, nothing I can do until Talvara deigns to visit again. Besides, I think you'd technically be given talents related to the Void, which I can't have or it'd also block me from magic.”

”We'll do what's best for both of us then,” Kara said, before they entered the technically underground, and yet higher in elevation than most of the city, training room.

Rainer sat in a corner a bit away from where Kara received instructions from Ymir. They seemed to be in decent spirits as Kara looked quite intense in her listening. Though, she most likely was more intense in studying his Aura rather than just his words.

Rainer himself stared at them both with [Arcane Revelation]-covered eyes as he tried to discern the Aural nature of Ymir as his Golden Aura moved and melded with parts of his body. Apart from wanting to help Kara do the same, he thought over his own path forward. Could he do the same with [Arcane Aura] without affecting his magic abilities? And what would be the result of becoming partially Aural with a magic-based Aura…

Sometime later Ymir had been replaced by Alaya, as the King had been called away by what appeared to be some sort of government official. Alaya demonstrated her own Golden Aura to Kara as she seemed to explain how to get to that point, switching between the two.

”Hello.”

Rainer's thoughts were interrupted by a blonde blue-eyed elf.

”We've met a few times, but I guess we haven't been introduced, I'm Liandra.” She spoke quite stiffly and sat next to Rainer on the floor.

”Rainer,” he responded.

”I'm sorry for earlier. I made the wrong assumption and you...had to fight.” She wanted to say nearly got killed, but she had trouble imagining the monster beside her nearly getting killed. Something about his Mana still got her hackles raised. The baby dragon now joining the Fairy in his coat only furthered her original assumption even if she could clearly tell the difference between his and the dragon's soul with him.

”I can't say you were wrong to run,” Rainer said and watched Liandra go as stiff as a board, ”Can I assume you joining with royalty is unrelated to what I am carrying?”

”I have not told a soul,” she quickly spoke before growing a bit somber at the thought, ”I would never reveal the existence of her, I know what happens to her race when others get a hold of them…” Liandra thought of her own recent brush with becoming someone's slave, ”Nor will me ever mention to anyones the most recent addition.”

”I appreciate it. Truly,” Rainer responded genuinely, momentarily turning off [Arcane Revelation]. He sensed her with [Mana Reading] and found no lies.

A few awkward seconds of silence passed and his sight returned to the training pair. Rainer felt Liandra nudging him with her elbow seconds later.

”So...we both lucked out with getting such nice pieces of ass, huh, huh?” The elf spoke looking at Alaya, who wore a quite a short leather skirt, ”Boy those girls sure are troublesome though, you know what I mean. Definitely sisters.”

”Are you drunk?” Rainer asked, only now noticing Liandra's face had been slightly red.

”Maybe.” How else could she gain the courage to go up and talk to him? ”And can you believe it? My beautiful wolf has to go be some guard for several weeks for the stupid Neutral City ambassador. You should treasure your time with your wolf!”

”Why don't you just go with her?”

”Oh…I can do that…”

”You know, as the first elf I've ever met, you're ruining my perception of them.”

”What, 'cause I'm a girl I can't leer at my woman and drink like anyone else?”

”No, because you're an elf,” Rainer said while noticing the said woman, Alaya, took a moment out of her instruction to look embarrassed, with Kara joining her. Wolfkin did have good hearing, he recalled.

Liandra paused for a moment, thinking of most of the elves she knew growing up back home.

”That's reasonable. So do you want some?” Liandra said, taking out a flask from inside her green shirt, ”I took some from Ymir's personal stash when he wasn't looking.”

”How about I just keep you company?” Rainer also doubted Ymir didn't notice her taking it. The man had even looked like he noticed when Rainer used [Void Seer] on him back when he confused the Wolf King for a woman.

”Suit yourself…”

Rainer then went on to ask her about her home, interested in the south beyond the Tarainien Empire while keeping most of his attention with [Arcane Revelation] on the training pair of Wolfkin.

”Rainer, we need to speak for a moment,” Ymir said walking over to him, having returned sometime later.

”Sure,” Rainer followed Ymir out of the room. Though first, he had to gently remove the sleeping and drooling Liandra from his shoulder. How did she end up hired by Royalty as a sensor? She truly must have impressive skills; she had noticed Luna's existence after all.

”I need you do something with that Undead of yours. I cannot have a Necromancer staying in the palace so openly. Kara and your other companions are welcome to stay here for at least several months. But, no matter what I feel for my daughter, I cannot risk my nation by permanently housing her here.”

Rainer paused, he hadn't expected that last part. Why was he telling him this instead of his daughter? And how did he know the risk that Kara brought as a half-demon? Or was it something other than the prophecy?

”And you'd like me to convince her to leave without your input?” Rainer then guessed. It wasn't as if they planned to stay for too long anyhow, he doubted Kara would want to bring that risk here herself. While thinking how to explain that Gunthar wasn't just some mindless undead he could do away with, Ymir spoke again.

”In exchange, I can-”

”I don't need a bribe to spare Kara from unnecessary pain.”

”Take it nonetheless. Either way, at least take all the information we extracted from the Harpy Demon we caught lingering around the city.”

So that's how he figured it out. No matter, Kara herself would probably want to leave once she knew about the Demons finding her here.

Rainer didn't want Kara's notions of her father to drop either, especially since once they eventually solved the issue of the entire Demon race coming after her, there would be no more barriers, though he felt wrong to trade that for anything. He sighed; what was some guilt if it meant saving her anguish? The truth only set free its speakers.

”I don't think Kara herself would want to stay too long, given her condition.”

”Then we are agreed. And about the undead?”

Rainer grit his teeth. Wasn't this exactly what he wanted to escape in the Dragon Isles and with his Academy as well? Places where they couldn't belong simply for what they were. But there was no point in being antagonistic here, nor to create friction between Kara and her father. Rainer's thoughts spun, he wasn't just going to tell Gunthar to go somewhere and take residence in the city. Not a chance.

He needed a better a solution. Thinking a moment about what he learned about Neutral City and the nearby mountain range, and how Amer theorized Gunthar could reach the second tier, he came to a solution.

”I have a proposition of my own,” Rainer said.

”Speak,” Ymir responded, suddenly seeming a bit more formal than usual.

”I can take Alaya's place in guarding the Ambassador from the Neutral City and take my… Undead… with me,” Rainer said, very much disliking to refer to Gunthar as such. Liandra's earlier descriptions of the city had made him deeply interested when she mentioned it after talking about her home. Even more so at the opportunity of meeting someone of their higher-ups in friendly terms.

”I had been reluctant to send Alaya away after she just returned home, but there had been no one else I could easily offer as a returning guard when they requested it. The waters for them had grown more dangerous as of late.”

”Then we are agreed?” Rainer still planned on checking with Kara and his party first, but he didn't see why they would reject his idea.

”With my introduction, I see no reason why they would say no. They are not called Blood Moon Elves without reason, they should have no issues with a Necromancer and Mage of your strength.”

”I'll see that no harm comes to them.”

”I as well,” Ymir responded, referencing his current guests.

Sometime later back in Rainer's room, the rest of the party had just returned to their own for the night after a discussion.

”So you might be leaving for a while?” Kara asked Rainer, the two sitting mostly alone in their room. He had just explained to the party his plans to go with the ship to the Neutral City as a guard with Gunthar, Luna, and Tiamat. No one seemed to disagree and Sarah herself ventured she wanted to visit once he set up a [Soul-Trace] there.

With all the time he'd spent here, he'd gotten used enough to the magic to Void-walk with at least one or two people over a long distance, such as back to the Northern Continent. At least, he thought so. He had yet to test it. Perhaps if the Demon who tracked Kara here was still alive he could get Ymir to give him or her as a test subject? But all three he'd take with him were technically his familiars, making it far easier.

And Kara, Sarah, and Lilia would be safe here in the palace on top of them all having Rainer's [Soul-Trace]s on them.

”Having an already neutral party as an ally, and as well as an example of a surviving neutral organization, would be useful.”

”I'll miss you,” Kara said. This would be the first time they would really be apart for a long time.

”Yeah I'll miss you too,” Rainer said, grinning. And soon after he earned himself a hit on his shoulder.

”And what's so amusing?”

Rainer wisely stopped grinning when he saw Kara was most certainly not joking with him.

”Kara...I can Void-walk.”

”You can…” Kara's face turned red when she realized it. He wouldn't actually be leaving, and he could visit whenever he wanted.

”And you couldn't have told me that?”

”But I did tell you that.” Did she think he would only come back if they were in trouble?

”Yeah, after grinning about it.”

”I thought you were playing around so we could have an emotional goodbye and then I'd see you tomorrow night as usual,” Rainer had no plans of sleeping on a rocking ship.

”That does sound nice…”

The night had been spent in Auto-pilot to make sure he healed fully from his overuse of Void Will, with Rainer trying to level both [Void Domain] and [Arcane-Spatial Domain] along with the manipulation skills they involved. He felt an increase in familiarity with both spells, but neither seemed to have a numerical increase from his brute forcing. They were tier 6 and tier 5 spells.

In the morning, Ymir agreed to Rainer's request of temporarily handing over the Demon to him.

Rainer looked over the Harpy Demon as she was called. Clearly, she wasn't in a good state, seeming to be barely alive.

[Demon, Female, Demonic Harpy lvl 24]

She had varied black feathers instead of hair and talons instead of feet, but the rest of her body seemed quite normal, lacking any sort of wings. Perhaps that was part of her Demonic Transformation and how she had found them so quickly?

With her already set to be executed and, here in the first place for the sole purpose of helping to capture Kara, Rainer found it hard to garner any sympathy. He took the unconscious demon by the wrist and prepared to Void-walk.

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Moments later and with a [Void Seer], Rainer silently Void-walked into a room on the Northern Continent Port City he set off from. Checking that the demon arrived with him with no issues, and without even waking the man he used for the [Soul Trace], he went back with her. The magic still distorted him and he had to use Void Will in addition to extra Mana for his Void-walk, but he was growing used to it. So long as he maintained his focus and grip on his target, there was no issue. Especially with a familiar bond to aid him.

”Impressive…” Ymir remarked.

”So there's no problem with me coming back at night?”

”None, so long as the undead doesn't come with you. I can't be known to be housing a dark mage.”

”Then there's no problem.” Rainer was still bothered with Gunthar being called just an 'undead' but now wasn't the time to make a fuss about it and reveal such a large secret.

Rainer took Gunthar and Void-walked from the palace soon after saying 'goodbye' and making sure everyone could at least easily send a basic ping through their [Soul Trace]s.

”Can I keep Tiamat with me?” Gunthar asked as they walked down the port. Before Rainer could respond, Tiamat jumped from Rainer and onto Gunthar's clothes, before burrowing in and finding a spot in his rib cage. In the busy morning of the Port, no one even paid the two any mind. Apart from a few stolen glances at Rainer from sailors they were mostly ignored by the busy crews. Not that anyone could discern what Tiamat was from a glance.

”I suppose that's her saying yes. You look quite happy about that,” Rainer said before he realized there was no way for Gunthar to look happy about anything.

”I am. I wonder if she'll manage to fly soon. She's been getting better and better at it. Any day now.”

Rainer chuckled a bit at Gunthar who sounded like a proud parent.

”Humph, she clearly doesn't understand who the superior mobile home is,” Luna said in a muffled voice from Rainer's pocket.

”I thought you preferred having me to yourself?” Rainer asked. She had fought over his coat pockets with Tiamat in the past.

”That is that and this is this.”

”Anyways, part of the reason I agreed, Gunthar, is for you to reach the next tier.”

”What do you mean?”

”Well, Neutral City functions through an underground pass beneath a mountain range maintained by Dwarves all the way past the Tarainien Empire's territory. The mountains themselves have natural guardians. Where is better to get you the Souls you need?”

”Would they allow us to hunt in such a place?”

”It's a moderately popular hunting ground since, unlike most places, the monsters are quite aggressive regardless of strength levels. But it comes with an equally high rate of death. But that won't matter when I can just Void-walk us away,” Rainer spoke. Liandra had been a surprisingly knowledgeable source on the Neutral City.

”Even if that won't advance me, I'm sure the Souls there would be worth it,” Gunthar added. As strong as his [Devil King] Soul and even [Devil Lord] Soul was, it required such an amount of Aura from him that it wasn't always practical.

Rainer took the rest of their walk to think over his plans. This was a good opportunity to meet with possible future support for his Academy. He still planned on having the Academy itself in the Dragon Isles to take advantage of the Magic in the air, but they were close enough to the isles and intertwined with trade enough to be a worthy future ally.

He was, of course, just a guard. Even if his strength made him one of a high status. But it was an opportunity to meet with the ambassador and get acquainted with someone of rank.

They reached the ship they would be taking soon after. It was of an elegant yet harsh design and quite large, painted with red outlines across its sharper points, a carved figure stood at its bow. The ship's design seemed to speak more of battle than it did any sort of diplomatic mission.

Rainer presented the letter from the King and was let aboard. Ymir had also sent his own messenger ahead of time regarding the change in guards. They strangely had no issue with it, something that surprised Rainer. Perhaps the Wolf King's word was heavier than he thought? Though, it could be that the Wolf King had continued the ploy of him being a Magus from past the forbidden North. According to him, the information on Yazir's death had spread quite far from spies and others.

A veiled Moon Elf approached him, two second-tier guards flanking her on each side.

”I am most appreciative of your aid, Lord Magus of the Deep North.”

[Moon Elf, Female, Magic Bard lvl 14]

[Title: Bard of the Moonlight]

The Bard from a few nights ago?

”It's my pleasure, Ambassador. I have long wished to visit your magnificent city. To provide you protection on the way, is of no matter.” Rainer bowed as the Wolf King had told him to this morning, a simple nodding of his head. Anything more, and he'd be suggesting himself as far beneath her.

”If it is alright with you, might we set sail immediately? We can head to more private quarters for a morning feast.” Unknown to Rainer, her own eyes opened in recognition. She wouldn't forget the magic and mana she had sensed that night.

Rainer agreed, and one of her guards set the rest of the crew preparing to leave. It wasn't long before they set sail to the southwest, and whatever dangers may or may not await them.