93 Elemental Awakening (2/2)

An entire Guild at his beck and call to make the greatest possible tools for those he loved. He could even let in the more trusted ones into the White Void. It was hard to imagine what a true enchanter could create with limitless Mana and life at their disposal.

There was no question as to whether other enchanters would join him. The promised rewards were too great. It was the equivalent of giving a truly passionate scientist unlimited funding to pursue that which interested them. How could anyone in such a place resist the temptation?

Now it was just a matter of finding a place that could be his and his alone. And so long as he kept up the image that he was transporting in Mana Crystals, there was little fear of thieves, and his [Soul-Trace]s kept his companions under his protection. Though, he'd have to learn from Amer a better version of that spell just be safe. It was a basic one after all. And he would dearly like to have something similar on the Mana-Well itself. Asking Theodore what other protection methods they had or had considered for the Mana-Well would be wise.

Given their current stuck nature, an Enchanter's Guild could even be perfect for helping Talvara and her Void Lords create another gate. Void Lords alone would be more than enough as protectors of his Guild, even if the nature of their abilities limited them in wide-scale War.

And his own [Void-walking] meant he could protect the future Mana Crystal Mines in the Far North in Furtak's territory. Not for the Mana crystals but the Magicite that came from the same sources. Perhaps another thing to ask of the Void Lords in exchange for a gate or he could offer help against the Taranien Empire. Since fighting with one of their descended divinities, and consuming part of it, he doubted they considered him anything less than a mortal enemy.

And now that he officially revealed himself as an [Archon], he had little doubt the magic-hating empire would see him as an even larger threat.

Though what interested him about that gate was creating a more permanent one for any to use. At that point, the Far North and Dragon Isles may as well be next-door neighbors.

Rainer sat up straighter in his chair as he finally felt his goal coming together. It was no longer a thing of the distant future. Now, he just had to make sure to take it slow and properly build up his foundation.

”I am officially yours,” Ele said, walking in the room Rainer currently occupied. She had just left a few hours ago, so it seemed this was something she planned for ahead of time.

”And there were no issues?”

”There were. But given my relationship with my grandfather, no one voiced a complaint. They had long since been wary of that and figured he was grooming me to run the clan with him as the fist behind me. Even if that was far from the truth. And this will work for your relationship with the city as a whole, as everyone assumes they have an 'in' with you now. That it also speaks to your lack of human supremacy is a benefit.”

”Is that a usual problem?” Rainer asked. He figured that was just a Taranien Empire thing, but he supposed that had been a naive thought. Even if he hadn't witnessed outright racism from anyone but the Crown Prince of Mier, that didn't mean it wasn't there in more subtle ways.

”Most of the Northern Countries and Guilds follow such a thing, though in varying degrees. Given that every country west of Mier has legalized slavery is also a point against them. In that most slaves are non-human despite human populations far outnumbering everyone else. I'm sure you can imagine why Elves and Lamia do not take well to such a practice.”

”I can. Does it help I'm currently taken by a Wolfkin?” Rainer asked, and momentarily wondered if revealing her golden eyes would be of benefit. He'd have to speak with the Wolf King, Ele now, and Kara of course on whether they should do that.

”It does, if a little strange that you have no Magus at your side. Though for now, let's keep that you consider yourself unavailable a secret.”

”My younger sister is traveling with me. She's a powerful Magus in her own right,” Rainer added, even if Sarah's large Mana Pool had nothing to do with her actual ability in magic. Sarah herself could now overpower Kara's Wolfkin side, given her recent advancements in [Enchanted Flesh] and all her class skills. She still lost every so often in their spars, or he wasn't sure if he could call duels to the death as spars, but that was lessening. It wouldn't be long before Kara had to use her Half-Demon's aura and then her actual transformation.

Though, he guessed it could be years, if ever, before Sarah put up a challenge to Kara's transformed state. Kara's own ability at clearing dungeons proved just how much in a 1-1 comparison Demons had the advantage. Were it not for their low birthrate and in-fighting, there was little doubt to who would rule this world. Transforming into their Demon state was a bonus equivalent to having another primary class. In that regarded, Kara had three.

”Is she open to a political marriage?” Ele asked.

”No,” Rainer said in a way that made it clear it wasn't up for negotiation.

”Then I suppose it is not particularly helpful. Though…”

”Hmm?”

”It would be far better if she claimed herself as the Necromancer to your Undead, rather than yourself. If you are to be in the public eye, being a dark mage isn't a good idea. While Neutral City would not care, others in the Dragon Isles might. I know anyone other than the Serpent King, and I suppose given your relationship the Wolf King, would take offense to you being a dark mage.”

”Can't they tell he's connected to me?” Rainer could with [Arcane Sight].

”Generally no, even then they'd have to prove it, and likewise be skilled in necromancy themselves. In fact even without this, I doubt any of the Dragon Isles would actually care if you were a dark mage so long as you weren't killing and raising common populaces to fill your armies. The promise of enchanted items is far too strong of a benefit. Though, we should be prepared to deal with any fallout should someone use the knowledge against you.”

”On that subject, I have a bit of magic I'd like to test out on you.”

”On that subject? Given that we were just speaking about your necromancy, I'll have to refrain.”

”No, no. Nothing like that. Just some harmless magic.”

Rainer remembered a question he had soon after and put a pause to his [Arcane Presence] experimentation.

”Why did your grandfather let the Lamia house me? It seemed to be something important.” He didn't know why that would be important, but he was at least observant enough to know that it had been.

”Implicit support from him followed by allowance to get the support of the Lamia. I imagine it is as close as you'll get to an apology from him for threatening you.”

”He told you about that?”

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”No. Though you just did. Please be more careful with your words.”

Rainer rolled his eyes; like he could ever manage that. ”So, how'd you know?”

”I cannot say to know enough about your temperament, but you do not seem like a man to fight without someone having crossed your bottom line. Your non-reaction or enjoyment of my own barbs against you is an excellent example. Anyone of your strength may very well have had my head, and no one would hold it against you. Someone as weak as myself is replaceable after all.”

”You aren't very replaceable to me.”

Ele smiled for a brief moment and continued on, ”It wasn't hard to guess he angered you in some way to use that unpleasant magic of yours. My grandfather has had quite the trouble sleeping you know.”

”From the assassins?”

”From your magic.”

Later that night, Rainer went to the Wolf-King's capital. Now that they had a place to go, it was coming up on their time to leave Fenrar City.

”Time to leave,” Kara said wistfully as the party gathered in her room. They would be making a public showing of leaving so there would be no question about it. Her father had specifically allowed a Demon Scout to remain undiscovered for this purpose at her request.

”Sooner or later, we'll be able to visit again Kara. Not to mention we'll, at the very least, meet with him at the Dungeon Meet.”

Kara nodded, she had been away from her Mother for so long, she was already used to it. Even if it didn't truly make it any easier.

”We still have to visit your mother too, don't we?”

”Yes, yes we do,” Kara agreed with a smile. Rainer had always been adept at cheering her up.

”Besides, your father asked for Body Enchantments. It'll be easy enough to take you with me when I do them.” Rainer also needed to discuss a target or two for his [Soul-Trace] with him, lest he finds a normal way back here gone.

”Let's go meet with him and leave then.”

Demon Prince Fang watched in confusion as two Humans, A Fairy, Wolfkin, Magical...Human, Undead of surprising strength, and an infant Dragon hidden within a coat left the Wolf King's palace alongside the man himself.

It took all his willpower not to switch to his Fairy Soul to appraise this group. After all, it would be a poor choice to drop his disguise now. He briefly found himself desiring a Full Dragon's Soul above the rest of them but remembered his goal. All the strength in the world was pointless if he couldn't reach level 25 with both of his classes before his life came to an end.

A sharp pain erupted in his mind moments later. Fang barely kept from writhing on the ground as he stared at the Mage at the cause of this. Every look with Foresight brought about an endless number of possibilities. All people of power had a similar effect to where they were harder to predict. But even the strongest only numbered in the dozens of possibilities, not millions.

This Mage was never a possibility when he used Foresight to see how his attack on the Half-Demon would go. It could mean that he simply wasn't close enough, or it could be far worse. That Fang couldn't predict him coming.

Was this man the cause of tracking magic failing as well? Fang thought as he reassessed the danger of capturing the Half-Demon. Oh, such a thing would not stray him from his path. But it seemed he'd have to wait for the perfect moment.

He watched the group talk for a while longer as he rethought other individuals he might need to control with his Incubus Soul. A surge of power distracted him as he saw the Mage performing some sort of magic. His own experience in teleportation told Fang he was loosening the space for some purpose. Though Fang couldn't imagine why. Looser Space could be fatal for teleporters and was often a method used to stunt all but the most capable of Spatial Mages, ones that would have legends named after them.

The Human-looking Demon's eyes bulged as the entire group vanished. What manner of teleportation was this?! He hurried to the Inn with his tracking mage. Reassessed threat level, indeed.

Deep within a long-abandoned mountain and yet not so long forgotten city, elemental power stirred. A frost of uncontrollable strength ate away at the miasma around it and the tens of thousands of souls that lay frozen by it had since congregated into a cocoon.

The strongest of them, drawn from [Devil King]s of unimaginable might, served as the base. The Frost swirled unceasingly. An all-consuming never-ending Frost that resulted from a mage who had not yet learned to control its power. A result that was as much as accidental as the spell that allowed said mage to reach across the planes and worlds in the first place.

Beings from around the Abyssal Planes felt the shift. A new power would be borne. To join the ranks of the highest elementals, those of the Arcane.

But one that would be unique among them. An Elemental borne of Arcane, Frost, and the power of Miasma. A being not borne of nature, but of Magic with intent and the strength of corrupted Souls.

The cocoon shattered.

Rainer woke up in haste, feeling something off. He had awoken Kara, though Luna merely grabbed tighter onto him and adjusted herself, still as calm and asleep as ever. Nothing short of an actual fight would wake the Fairy up when she did not want to be. As odd as ever for a Fairy that did not even strictly need to sleep.

”What's wrong?” Kara asked, already moving her Aura in a way as to instantly transform.

”Looks like I'm a father.”

[Title Gained: Elemental Creator]

[Experience Gained: Deferred, Deferred]

[Title Gained: Arcane Elemental Creator]

[Experience Gained: Deferred, Deferred]

”Explain,” Kara said tersely but found herself not caring as his hand massaged her scalp and then her wolven ears. Whatever this was could wait till tomorrow, she 'logically' reasoned. That her 'logic' was affected by having her ears scratched went unnoticed. Rainer had always been an expert in such efforts.

”We have plenty of time tomorrow,” Rainer answered, unable to control his own curiosity over the titles' descriptions.

Rainer thought over his new additions. The two titles were self-explanatory enough. Somehow or another he had given 'birth' to an Elemental. One Arcane in nature. As there was no familiar bond nor any hint as to how he accomplished such a thing, he didn't have any more thoughts on that matter other than to speak with Talvara.

[Elemental Creator: One who has defied the natural order. A creator who has impossibly caused the natural conditions necessary to produce a being of the very elements. 25% Bonus Experience. 10% General Improvement to all Magic Skills and Spells.]

[Arcane Elemental Creator: One who has defied the natural order beyond all scopes. A creator who has impossibly caused the natural conditions necessary to produce a being of the very Arcanium. 30% Bonus Experience. 20% General Improvement to all Magic Skills and Spells.]

He briefly glanced over to Kara who had fallen asleep easily enough. Her wanting an explanation for how he was suddenly a father lost out to her desire to sleep without entering the White Void. Though, now that he woke up he would need to drag everyone else back into [Sleep Learning] to set them on Auto-pilot again.

Shortly after sending everyone else into Auto-pilot again, Rainer called for Talvara and questioned her.

”[Elemental Creator]?” Talvara clarified as if tasting the words.

”An Arcane one was as well. It was two titles.”

Talvara stared quietly before finally speaking.

”And you haven't a clue as to when you did this?”

”No. I know nothing about Elementals.”

”Elementals are born from raw elements of the world, often in places where these elements are in their most extreme. I… I have never heard of one being made by someone as opposed to something. Mind you, that doesn't mean it never happens or is particularly rare, though you can be assured it is at least a rare event in the Abyssal Planes for me to never have heard of it.”

”I see…” Rainer said, instantly understanding where he had created a place of extreme elements. His first [Absolute Frost] hadn't been particularly skillful, and he had been in a rush and under the threat of death. Knowing what he knew about how emotions affect magic, it was perfectly possible on top of the miasma component, that his unique state of mind of being chased restlessly for days and backed into a corner by ten-thousand Devils that something unexpected might happen.

That the spell itself had a magic voice component only furthered that belief. Such a spell would be particularly susceptible to his emotional state. That Jor couldn't consume their Soul afterward, spoke even more to the fact that something happened.

But he had fully expected the Frost to be long gone by now. Even more so when you took into account the four or more years that passed in the Abyssal Planes since he left.

”If you wouldn't mind, could you get me a connection to the Abyssal Plane, like you did when I rescued Aurora?” He could use the time to prepare the Enchanting skills he'd need to set up the Mana-Well, as well as some practice for the Avatar Ritual. Some extra miasma aided growth for Tiamat, or Devil given Souls for Jor, wouldn't be declined. And given his strength and now friendly relationship with Talvara, the danger was next to none. At least compared to before. The time difference as well meant he could react to his companions being in danger even quicker than normal. Of course, he would be checking with Kara and Luna before he made any more trips to the Abyssal Planes.

The most recent title bonuses made the trip a bit easier. In fact, Rainer felt if he used all his attribute points, he might almost be able to reach his grandfather and mother. Though, he doubted it would help him all the way to them. They were truly far away. He trusted in his grandfather's strength to keep himself alive.

Talvara raised an eyebrow at that. She wasn't sure how he accomplished it, but it seemed he was more than capable of traveling from here to the Abyssal planes with no other help. And that it was easy enough he could do it whenever he desired. [Void-walking] brought about as much envy as usual from her. She doubted she'd ever get over the fact that while he walked through the Void as if a strolling King, she had to travel like a peasant.

”It can be arranged. If possible, I'd like you to take one of my followers there and then back with you,” Talvara spoke, hoping for him to say the latter was impossible.

”No problem,” Rainer responded, feeling a bit confused when that answer seemed to displease her, ”I have a general idea where the Elemental might have formed, could I trouble you for a guide?”

”Yes, yes, whatever you need,” She agreed with a pout that wasn't fitting for an ancient Void-being.

Now it was Rainer's turn to raise an eyebrow. What had soured her mood so much? She left a few moments later, a with promise in a few days time to get him the connection he needed. He went back to an Auto-piloted sleep. Tomorrow would certainly be a long day.

”I'll contact you again when I'm ready to leave.”