87 Moonlighting (1/2)
”You wished to speak, Magus Nvos?” Ymir asked, more focused on something on his desk than the mage himself.
Now that Rainer offered Body Enchantments as a political tool to Neutral City, Rainer figured he'd offer it 'first' to Ymir.
”I'd like to thank you for furthering the rumor of me being from the deep North, it was quite helpful in dealing with their Ambassador.”
”Of course. It made it easier to recommend you on my part as well. It's quite the useful rumor you've cultivated.”
”On that note, I'm planning on offering a gift from my homeland to Neutral City in order to improve relations, or rather to have any relations at all. I do need some help in that matter, and I figured I may as well offer to you as well.”
”Said gift being?” Ymir asked, now no longer paying attention to any of the work on his table. Ymir, of course, knew it wasn't a gift from his ”homeland”. Rather, the Wolf King now found himself hoping the gift would reveal something about his origins. Who exactly cultivated such a mage outside of the guilds? Given that he was Human, Ymir found himself drawing a blank.
”You've seen how Kara can suddenly increase her speed or use a strange shield right? Well, I'm offering Body Enchantments.” Rainer said, the Void-step being one enchantment he'd likely offer only people he fully trusted. Though, depending on his Dungeon party, he may have to just give it to everyone. Weighing it against his friends dying in the Dungeon made for an easy choice for Rainer. And yet he may be equipping others to flee or to turn against him.
Ymir fumbled with his quill for a moment, missing the inkwell, before continuing writing as if nothing had happened. ”Body Enchantments...like of the Fae?” Ymir quietly asked. Even if the Fae have officially retreated from the world over a century ago and had been doing a lion's share of their retreat far earlier, there are those who remembered their kind. And knew of the strength any Fae could seemingly wield.
”Similarly. The materials are quite expensive, but I have no issue providing the service as a token of friendship between us. Kara seems far happier than usual too,” Even if Rainer wouldn't mind doing it for the Wolf King completely free, he couldn't have him believing he could do it on any Wolfkin with little cost. He wasn't looking to become a Court Enchanter or some other pretentious title.
”I know enchanters fail quite a bit in their work, what's the risk here?”
”I will admit I have not done it on a Wolfkin before so I will need a few days to calculate the material cost. But I've never failed on a live target, nor would I ever do something so dangerous on Kara.”
”It won't be any issue?” He reasonably asked.
”No, Kara is close enough to a Wolfkin where it is easy for that to transfer. But for every race the materials are slightly different.”
”Then I shall await. Hand me a list when you know what you need, and I shall consider it.”
”Might I borrow access to your library as well?” Rainer knew he still needed to figure which ingredients he needed exactly.
”Of course. Your apprentice already spends countless hours there. It is open to any guests of mine. If you require more than that, we can speak later.”
Rainer grimaced. He had offered the Body Enchantments first so he could get easy access, but it seemed he only put a timetable of figuring out what he'd request. Magicite and Magic Crystals were on the top of the list but he wanted to see whatever else he could add on. More importantly it needed to be expensive enough that he wouldn't be swamped with requests, and if he ever agreed to front the materials himself he'd be seen as a saint.
”Much appreciated. I do have a final request.”
”Yes?”
”I think I know a good present you can get for Kara,” Rainer said.
After having listened to Rainer's idea and thought it over Ymir spoke, ”Yes...yes, if she is truly so interested in them that sounds like a good gift. I'll have them bought and sent to an enchanter for a priority job.”
Rainer blinked a few times as he heard the latter half. The man in front of him was a king after all.
”Thank you for bringing this to me,” Ymir said, a bit of cheer in his voice. He was far too busy to spend the time he would have liked to with his daughter, so this was a nice consolation.
”Have you spoken with Kara about the other issue?” Ymir then asked.
”I plan to tonight.”
Rainer went to the library soon after, getting directions from a nearby servant. Ignoring the whispers said servant shared with one of her co-workers, he vanished around the corner.
So it seems the Wolf King is either a moral or smart man, or both.
Rainer said shaking his head as he recalled the whispered conversation earlier. It was apparently not allowed for any of the Royal Family or other guests to force themselves on the servants in any way, and not just in an official sense. Moral for obvious reasons, and smart because it never paid to poorly treat the people who served you.
Their specific conversation involved them not minding if the visiting Magus broke the rules.
Entering the library soon after, he found Lilia reading at a table, and felt Sarah's soul somewhere in the massive library. Rainer took in the scene around him, bookshelves covering the wall and extending into a massive room with a visible second floor overhanging. A display of Royal grandeur most likely, he doubted any from the Royal Family had the time or inclination to have read most of this. It was a display appreciated nonetheless.
”How's my apprentice doing?” Rainer said, taking a seat beside the reading Lilia. Rather than candle-light the library was lit by what seemed as sunlight-mimicking enchantments on the ceiling and on a few fake windows. He glanced at those with [Arcane Revelation] out of curiosity and found the enchantment not too complex. At least the light part. The one that kept it going was both of more interest and far more complex.
Had Rainer been in a rush, that would have been the worst question to ask. The next few minutes were filled with Lilia talking about the Library and ignoring the one thing Rainer really wanted to ask which was the training she was receiving from the sensor.
”And the old man managing this place knows everything! I think he even…”
Oh well…
Rainer thought as he settled in to continue listening. He could always ask Sarah about said training later. Lilia seemed to grow more talkative and comfortable with them every day, he wasn't about to revert any of that recovery from her time as a slave by interrupting her.
”How is master doing this night?” Lilia eventually returned his question with a bit of a blush on her face, having now just fully realized her master had most likely not asked for a long explanation about the library and her time here. She had just been a bit too excited.
”I actually have something I could use your help with,” Rainer said. With a quick pulse of [Soul Detection] he asked, ”I need help making a list of ingredients for a certain ritual. Fake ingredients. They need to be available to the Royalty of the Dragon Isles while also costly enough that they can afford it, but they won't consider purchasing more than required for a few rituals. I already have Magic Crystals and Magicite as two ingredients.”
Though, he may take off Magicite from it or, better yet, pretend to offer it from his own supply if it wasn't possible for said Wolf King, or any King, to acquire.
”Oh, it's related to money? I'll ask Aunt Sarah to help,” Lilia responded, happy to have such a responsibility.
”I appreciate it,” Rainer said, rubbing her head and [Void-walking] out of the room. He giggled a bit at the reputation Sarah had now as a money-grabber, and wondered how Sarah became 'Aunt Sarah' even if it technically fit. He had no notion of putting the whole task on their shoulders, but he had just received a ping from Gunthar so it seemed he had other plans for the evening.
Returning back to the ship at Gunthar's request, he sensed what the undead had called him about. Standing outside the door was the same guard who had come to fetch him earlier.
Rainer void-walked into the hall, and said Moon Elf spun around after a slight coughing noise. Quickly regaining composure, he spoke what he came here for.
”The Ambassador inquired if you would join her on the deck.”
”I'll head out now.”
Rainer noted that the crew had changed, now the ship was manned by more Moon Elves than anyone else. The replacement at the wheel used some faint bluish-light magic.
At the highest deck, a ways behind the wheel, Ele sat on the edge of the ship, enchanted stringed instrument already in hand. Rainer Void-walked to her side, now sitting on the railing himself. He had to give her credit, she barely even flinched when he just suddenly appeared. Had it not been for his quicker mind, he wouldn't have noticed it at all.
”I'm glad you could join me tonight,” Ele was first to talk.
”The pleasure's all mine. I was quite disappointed with Ymir for interrupting my planned duet with you that night.”
Ele raised her eyebrow slightly at the familiarity he had with the Wolf King, but filed it away for later, only mentally questioning what exactly led to their fight then.
”I'd be quite interested in a song from your homeland,” Ele spoke.
Find authorized novels in Webnovel，faster updates, better experience，Please click for visiting.
”I thought you'd be playing first.”
”Didn't you know that part of the deal for getting you as our guard was entertainment?”
”So I'm moonlighting as a musician then?” Rainer stifled a giggle at his own joke, knowing it wouldn't translate in more ways than one. He'd have to share this with Gunthar later.
The roll of her eyes surprised him. ”You know there's a law in Neutral City that I could have you executed for such a joke.”
”Good thing we're on open waters then.”
”Well, I have to admit, it's far better than those who call me more beautiful than either Moon, thinking they are being clever.”
”Of course it's better. And either Moon? Really? At best you're only better looking than the smaller one. The larger of the two has you beat.”
”Compliments are always exaggerated,” Ele responded back with a slight laugh.
”I'll pick out a song, join in when you can,” Rainer said, weaving a guitar into his hand. Ele watched carefully as if trying to divine some secret, but the look on her face didn't betray her discovery of any such secrets.
Rainer briefly thought over what he should play. He didn't particularly feel like playing any of the songs he'd use as part of the excuse to get a girl into his room to hear him playing guitar, with his current goal not being that kind of private concert. Those had involved him playing whatever song happened to be popular at the moment. For all the flak a certain young popstar got, he had helped out Rainer quite a bit.
Moments later he thought of one. Hotel California was always a favorite of his, and it was different enough to the music he's heard thus far that it should either surprise or offend her delicate sensibilities, if she had any.
Rainer started a bit slower than usual, before slowly ramping up the speed along with his magic. A mixed in [Arcane Presence] on top of the magic visibly vibrating the air along with the notes, sent the working sailors to distraction. Even the captain lost his original spell as he found his focus brought to the back of the ship.
After some time he heard the magic and music of Ele beside him. It seemed he wasn't the only one who found following the magic of the music easier than the music itself. The magic in the air intertwined, carried along by the power of the Arcane as it lit up the night for miles on end.
Seeing the entire crew listening intently, Ele now included even as she accompanied him, Rainer got some understanding as to how the rumor of him spread. He had never actually stuck around after playing.
The song ended soon after, a silence brought over as the crew returned to their work with an unusual slowness. Ele let the silence hang a bit in the air, enjoying the leftover echo of magic that followed the music and spread out over the air and waters. The way his magic had brought hers in, taking her mind with it as well, and grasped around it hadn't been something she experienced before. She may have met musicians better than him and even her, but none of them could truly meld their magic playing with her as he did. Even if his technical skills lacked, the magic in the air showed no signs of that.
A few minutes of a comfortable silence later she spoke.
”That was quite the song. Had our performance together improved your abilities so much?” Ele asked, recalling him mouthing 'Thank you' to her the first time they met. Compared to the first time she accompanied him, the difference was distinct.
Rainer glanced at her, confused, before he took a look at the only real difference between now and then, apart from a slightly better constructed guitar.