88 Neutral City (1/2)

With [Void Descent] taking longer than he assumed, Rainer decided to spend the rest of his short time in [Sleep Learning] on another task.

Kara didn't seem to have any success in storing Aura. A few foods still had some Aura remaining, but it quickly dissipated. That poked a large hole in Rainer's theory. Or, the method to inject or merge Aura with food or liquids was beyond just simple manipulation. He himself grabbed a half-eaten glazed doughnut with a bit of Aura remaining.

He shrugged, devouring it and sensing it's progress. Unsurprisingly, he breathed out the loose Aura before it even entered his stomach.

Kara sat over to the side, the fluctuations in her Aura telling him she likely worked on unlocking her bloodline's Aura. Not wanting to interrupt the seated Wolfkin with her eyes closed, Rainer headed over to Sarah and Luna to see what they accomplished.

Luna was surprisingly focused as the two exchanged the bare minimum of words. Sitting right on Sarah's head, the Fairy had an easy angle to Appraise anything Sarah needed.

”And this one?” Sarah asked, holding up a ruined copy of Rainer's [Overcoat of Arcane Constitution].

”No good.”

”This one?”

”It is not of acceptable merit.”

”This one?”

”Luna thinks it doesn't good.”

Bare minimum of words, for Luna that was.

”That wasn't even a proper sentence this time,” Sarah complained, ”Just repeat a phrase if you can't think of an actual new one.”

”Boob-Rainer complains too much.”

”I think that's the worst one yet…and they are only Bs, not D-cups or larger so the nickname doesn't work, or rather be more creative, stop using Rainer as a suffix. That's just lazy.”

”What's a D-cups?”

”Never mind you.”

Rainer had to agree. On it being the worst one yet that is. Even if he did enjoy how much it bothered his sister, he wouldn't be endorsing that nickname. Not that he minded how embarrassed Sarah became once she realized he heard everything.

”Here,” Sarah said, throwing Rainer a black ring, ”It barely holds even a thimble, I checked, but it does work.”

”A spatial ring?” Rainer asked. Even if he could mimic a spatial ring in a relatively short amount of time, he certainly wouldn't be casually selling it.

”I didn't know what to start with so I just hopped around. It was oddly easy making the enchantment smaller and simpler, subsequently decreasing the size of the space offered. The end result is still pretty freakin' complicated but I'm sure you can figure it out.”

”Anything else?”

”No, why? Have you finished your Constitution enchant?” Sarah said while smirking, knowing he had not.

”Get back to work Boob-Rainer,” he replied, having nothing to say to that, ”But also, what's with the whole 'Aunt Sarah'.”

Sarah shrugged, ”I was helping your little apprentice out during the sensor training since she was struggling to understand some of the concepts. I guess it gave me a promotion. I also got any book she wanted from the higher shelves...I'm not sure which she was more happy about.”

”She talked to you yet about what I'm having her doing?” Rainer said, not wanting to admit it was probably the latter.

”I'd be happy to help for a 5% fee,” Sarah smiled 'innocently,' ”Which would include all future related miscellaneous tasks of your dealings with Body Enchantments. Quite the deal, hmm?”

Rainer shrugged. Having Sarah motivated on that would free up his time without making him feel guilty about it. On that note, maybe he should start putting away some money for when Lilia eventually graduated from being his apprentice. Not that he'd be kicking her out of the 'house', but it would be a nice thing on top of a gift to celebrate her eventual success with magic.

”Deal. Make sure to include Magicite and Magic Crystals on the list. Research the amount that would be appropriate.”

”I'll get started on it during the day tomorrow. But figuring out how much would be appropriate may be a little difficult.”

”Why?”

”The past war with the North.”

Rainer wondered why that would matter before he understood. Any mages killed could be carrying their magicite doses with them, and if any guildmasters were killed, there went their ring and all its contents. He was actually a bit surprised at the lack of magicite in Yazir's ring but said mage was never a guildmaster after all.

”Do your best, and stick to the higher side. I can always pretend that I'm providing my own if they don't have enough.”

”Looking like a saint while being a crook? I like it. Looks like I'll be getting a proper 5% from everything you steal.”

”And don't forget it's a secret that Body Enchantments don't actually need any materials,” he mentioned, ignoring that last comment. He'd also have to tell that to Kara when they woke up.

”Obviously. I, unfortunately, can't forget how my own enchantments were done.”

”An everlasting memory? I see you haven't gotten over your case of love-at-first-sight. What a sister I have…” Rainer said, sighing in exasperation as he walked away, narrowly dodging a copy of his Arcane hilt thrown at his head. It wouldn't have actually hurt more than just a tickle, something Sarah knew too especially since he always kept [Arcane Awakening] at maximum in [Sleep Learning] on top of his resistances, but he wouldn't give her the satisfaction of hitting him.

Jumping away from his party again, Rainer wanted to check something before it came time to wake up. Sinking into his thoughts he felt around his [Sleep Learning] space. There was the white space they were all in, and then the Void he added on himself so that he originally could Void-walk in here without waking up.

And yet, all this time he had zero issue practicing with [Arcane Energy Manipulation] and drawing Arcane from the previously named 'Beyond'. Did that mean the space was inherently related to the Arcanium? Or that the space filled in the gap and just produced arcane energy when normally it'd be drawn from somewhere else.

Rainer found that the former surprisingly fit. Especially since [Sleep Learning] seemed to be Arcanist exclusive, the Earth-named Arcanist in any case rather than the specific [Arcanist] class. Neither Sarah nor any other magically oriented family member could learn his grandpa's spell, skill, or whatever it truly was, other than Rainer.

The problem was, Rainer had no idea what his grandfather did beyond just using the runic formula to access it for the first time. Rainer knew Frederick did something to him prior to using the spell for the first time. But not what that was.

Rainer briefly tried to attach a fake Arcanium to [Sleep Learning] as he did with the Void. Much of his success with [Void Descent] depended on having full control of a fake Void.

It was equivalent to needing to reach a 200-pound bench press. Common sense dictated you start with a lower weight and slowly work up. But what if you didn't have a lower weight? Then you'd need a spotter to take some of the weight off as you work upwards or use some other method. The spotter could be a teacher; your own experience and constant training with other methods, which may never be enough; or some sort of mechanism to lessen it, like Rainer's control over his own fake Void until he could descend it with just [Void Presence].

Something he lacked in making the Arcane version even if he did have far higher bonuses in relation to the Arcane.

Rainer glanced around the white void as he soon realized only he and Kara remained here. Or rather, remained asleep. Mass amounts of Aura swirled around Kara as sweat beaded on her forehead.

Rainer watched quietly from afar, guessing she may be at a turning point in unleashing the Golden Aura of her bloodline. The mass of Aura died down just as it reached the peak of its power. He saw just a faint light of gold prior to this.

”So close...” he heard Kara say to herself.

”We can stay in here a bit longer if you'd like.”

”No, I could use some advice from Alaya or Ymir,” she said, shaking her head and refreshing her body with [Sleep Learning], no longer feeling as if she just spent hours training, ”Though… we could stay in here for another reason.”

Kara didn't give Rainer the chance to react as she rushed over with a Void-step and knocked him flat on his back. The outpour of Mana that followed said Rainer wasn't willing to lose this 'fight'.

”Good morning,” Rainer said with a smile to Kara, sharing a kiss. As much as he didn't want to think of Luna as convenient, having her flame to get rid of morning breath before they were even awake was always a plus.

”Ugh, enough…” Sarah complained from a table where Luna and Lilia sat with her. Said apprentice looking just as much of a tomato as his sister did.

Rainer raised an eyebrow wondering what that was about. Had their actual bodies displayed some sign of what they were doing while they were asleep?

”Then you shouldn't be in my room,” Rainer pointed out quite reasonably.

A drawn out 'Ugh' was all he received in response from Sarah.

”I finished a basic list, Master Nvos, and Aunt Sarah checked it over,” Lilia said.

He supposed that explained them waiting for him to wake up. Especially since they usually woke up at the same time when they used [Sleep Learning] together, so it would be quite strange for him and Kara to be asleep. Even more so if Luna left them inside, the Fairy oddly awake before them.

Rainer noted both he and Kara were already dressed, while he lacked only his overcoat.

”Good job,” He said, walking over. Rainer looked over Lilia's shoulder while patting her head. He wondered how they figured out the specific amounts of the crystals and magicite.

Luna shrunk and fluttered over to his other palm he stretched out for her.

”You worked pretty hard last night too.”

”The hardest. The Greedy Mana Goblin never let me rest,” Luna complained as Rainer stroked her head with a finger. In the background Sarah muttered out how that was 'better than usual'.

”Next time in [Sleep Learning] we can play together.”

”I can make Rainer breathe fire?”

”How about we think of something when we're there?” Rainer said, remembering that little request aimed at Gunthar from a while ago.

”Okay. We can figure out how much Mana Luna can eat.”

”I don't get a pat on the head?” Sarah joked though she hadn't done that much other than altering some of the amounts in terms of the list.

Rainer ignored the joking tone and did just that, messing up her carefully brushed hair.

”How could I have forgotten my sister,” he 'chastised' himself, ”Perhaps I should make sure to treat her more like a little sister when I can. Her crush on me isn't healthy,” he said quietly, though clearly made it loud enough for said little sister to hear.

”Go away with you,” Sarah said, but didn't bother trying to remove his hand.

”Go away from my room?”

”Yes.”

”Well, so long as you know what you were asking. Until Gunthar calls me back I'll work on the list with you, unless you have other plans?”

”Not for a few hours.”

”Then we have a lot of work to do.”

Rainer glanced out over the water as he floated above the ship, easily keeping pace with the vessel. Three weeks had passed since they originally set sail, with Rainer dividing his time between the ship and the palace. Tomorrow morning he'd be enchanting Alaya Fenrar as the Wolf King watched, the list having since been completed. Kara had given it to her father during one of their training sessions.

He couldn't very well ask to perform a foreign magic unsupervised on a member of royalty. But with the number of Mana Crystals they ended up asking for, he could easily perform ten enchantments let alone just one. The girls had done well in creating the list. And with his Arcane-laden Mana, his blood looked and felt anything but normal, so there shouldn't be a question where all the materials were used.

But, for now, he had another problem to deal with. Far in the distance, a ship gained on their position. The smaller and faster vessel would catch them sooner or later. Rainer could use some magic to speed up his ship but, the next time they met, the problem could have grown to be more than one ship.

Reaching the range of his [Void Detection], Rainer scanned across the ship. They were all armed to the teeth, and there wasn't anyone on their ship unwillingly from what he could see. Even those sailing themselves seem to prepare for battle amidst their other duties.

There were several figures with a touch of Divinity within them, so there was no question where they came from even if their appearances matched the rest. He appraised the strongest presence of Aura and Divinity. The rest were some degree below his level and lacked classes that didn't have grand in front of them.

[Human, Male, Striker lvl 21(2nd), Priest lvl 9(2nd)]

[Title: Priest of Tarai]

The ship steered their way; it wasn't hard to guess at their intentions. Having finished his scouting, he flew back down to the deck while making a small note to ask about the various Divinities of the Tarainien Empire.

”They have 6 [Priest]s from the Tarainien Empire on board, and they seem to be preparing for battle.”

”Then they are here for us. The Tarainien Empire has grown more and more aggressive in privateering and supporting raiding parties on the Neutral City's ships and trading route. It is why I sought Princess Alaya Fenrar on my ship. To think they would send so many [Priest]s…” She briefly questioned how he identified them so quickly and easily but brushed it away for now, ”Perhaps you have magic that could assist our speed? We are close to the Rat King's Capital. They would not dare to attack us there,” Ele said. Dragon's End was the closest major trade hub to the Neutral City on the Southern Continent.

Rainer noted she was the perfect example of composed, as she often was, if one ignored her hand scratching the side of her robe as if there were the winning lottery numbers beneath that spot. He couldn't fathom why she was unnerved. There were some tier 2 Aura users on the ship, but there was nothing he couldn't handle. In fact, he bet Gunthar could kill all but their strongest.

There was one other premise that let Rainer feel confident. Divinities of the Tarainien Empire couldn't descend outside of it. Apparently, this was something of a common knowledge and the explanation given in any history book as to why few ever invaded the Tarainien Empire and why none have had any modicum of success. Once they took land and consecrated it, there was no single instance of that land being taken back.

”I'll take care of them, stay on course,”

Ele didn't seem to relax with that. Perhaps she sensed something about them and assumed he couldn't match for whatever reason? He didn't know if she had a class outside of [Magic Bard], or even what said class entailed. He'd have to see if he had any new music-related classes when he had time.

”Is there an issue?”

”There is no need to push yourself, perhaps you are unaware but the Priests of Tarainien Empire are trained in killing magic wielders. Even here...but with so many of them…”

”I've killed them on consecrated ground. Here in the sea, they may as well be ordinary men,” Rainer replied to her shock and decided to make a show of it. And, recalling their Aura flight ability, trying to run with the ship would only waste his Mana.

These were people who'd happily slaughter everyone on this ship, so he had little sympathy since they were coming after them and not the other way around. That, and he now had a group of people deserving of his frustration over Gunthar and soon Kara being forced to leave solely for what they were.

He soared in the sky, floating a couple thousand feet in front of the enemy ship's path. [Arcane Awakening] flared to its maximum as he slammed his hands together, magic reverberating as a dense packet of Mana flared to life.

Arcane power flowed as fast it was converted, a constant hurricane of energy condensed to its limits between Rainer's palms. Space itself distorted as the magic grew larger and larger. Battle cries entered his ears as the ship in front of him prepared. A spear covered in Aura and influenced by a touch of Divinity soared toward him.

Three ritual circles of Arcane blocked its path. The spear shattered the first two but broke in half as it shattered on the final [Arcanum Shield]. Six strong Aura users took to the sky. Their Aura soared in power alongside them as they rushed forth.

But they were too late. A frigid air blew in all directions as Rainer slowly opened his hands, a crescent of condensed violet mana following, promising an everlasting sleep to all in its wake.

”Absolute Frost.”

And the Priests of Tarai found their world marred with ice.

Elelaria stared blankly at the scene before her. What were once turbulent waters now showed a scene of serenity, a violet ice still spreading in every direction but theirs. Her peace was interrupted by the crashing and shattering of falling ice, reminding her of just what purpose such a thing served.

Five of the six Aura users that had assaulted the Magus had fallen from the sky. The last ran in a panic, the lower half of his body entirely frozen, his Aura still fighting against the creeping cold that sought his final hour.

He did not head to the ship that was already a sculpture of violet and ice, but almost aimlessly fled in whatever direction he thought had the least amount of cold.

Words, still charged with the strange power of the Magus, rang out.

”Jormungandr, Devour.”

Ele's eyes somehow managed to open even wider as a Serpent, far larger than the man it came out of, flew towards the last surviving member of the assault ship. Not even a scream came out as the man vanished into the consuming maw of this so-called Your-moon-gone-there.

The Magus himself gave one final look at his work, before floating back down to the ship. The expression on his face spoke more of him taking a leisurely walk than slaying numerous tier 2 Aura users and a force meant to be stronger than her original planned guard. A leak from their side floated through her mind before she found her thoughts drawn again to more current matters.

Had he just wielded the might of a group spell on his own, and, more importantly, so quickly? He can't have cast for more than 10 seconds, she thought. Had she underestimated the status of this mage and that of his supposed homeland?

”Hmm, should I have maybe spared the runner? Now they might just bother us again not knowing what happened to the others.”

”That would have been unnecessary, Lord Magus, I do not believe they will send another, they shall not know of their group's failure until we have already arrived in Neutral City.”

”Lord Magus? Who would've thought you would be more affected by my Magic instead of my music? I'm hurt Ele, deeply hurt.”

”I meant no off-” Ele started before she realized what she was saying, or rather, what he was saying.

”I'm sorry, Rainer, your display was a bit surprising. I think I might retire to my room for a bit?”

”Go ahead.”