94 Of Arcane and Fros (1/2)

Elelaria was already awake and drinking tea when the [Archon] joined her. Following him were the sister he previously mentioned; two lovers, one a red-haired Human and one a golden-eyed Wolfkin with obvious royal ties; an apprentice, and his Undead. She briefly wondered about the silver-haired Elf she had seen him with. Given recent knowledge, she had assumed he brought her to his room with a teleport from his home. And his own insistence at being taken only furthered that.

No matter. She wasn't one to spread the secrets of her new Lord.

She was a bit surprised at the Human's Mana level given that he said only his younger sister was a Magus. Said black-haired younger sister was beside her brother.

Although, said younger sister's level of Mana put her on the higher end of tier 2 mages.

Do they have different mothers?

Ele briefly wondered. While they shared hair and eye colors and general features, Rainer simply outpaced the, while still beautiful, Human girl by a large margin in the attractiveness department. A situation that was usually reversed amongst brother and sister.

And he fell significantly behind in the Mana department. Truly, that was one of the most confusing things about the grossly powerful mage who was now her Lord. The only reasonable explanation she could gather was an extensive use of passive magics. She had already witnessed a causal feat of great strength when he easily moved the current table they sat at. She knew full well how heavy these thick wooden tables were.

The final young girl was his apprentice. That she already had her Affinity unlocked showed she must have an astounding talent for Mana. Certainly a decent symbol of status to have such an apprentice. Anyone lucky enough could become strong, but this procession of individuals should put to rest any theories that Rainer Nvos was not the Lord Magus he claims.

Even she found her own theory about his backstory being a complete lie stifled. She had noticed a few inconsistencies in his story, not to mention the largest one of him being a master of Body Enchantment and yet them only working on magical races. Something certainly made intriguing by his claim of his homeland being nearly all human. She may need to speak with him on that matter before he tells anyone else.

Not that she cared if that was the case, so long as he was capable of fulfilling his promises in general and to her. The Body Enchantments, his class, and his spectacular and frankly bored, execution of Taranien [Priest]s was enough to prove that at least for the Elf. Truly, him treating his voyage and current destination like a vacation, on top of treating the attack by said [Priest]s as a simple annoyance, did more to reinforce his image to her than anything else.

They exchanged regular greetings and names soon after. While the conversation was stilted at first, they quickly forgot about their new guest and left Ele to her tea.

Ele found a particular exchange quite 'interesting'. And she also noted that no one acted or treated each other as if they had particular status. Part of her made a note to ask if that was specific to their group or 'homeland'. On top of every other issue she had relating to Rainer's homeland.

”Don't forget my portion of the Enchantment profits.”

”You don't trust your own brother?”

”Trust you to not scam me? Of course, I'd bet my life on that. But trust with money? Not even in the slightest. Not even the tiniest bit. Who other than you gives a sailor a piece of Fae Gold because he explained the basics of sails to you?”

Had Elelaria been less accustomed to his surprises or less trained she would have spit out her tea at that last sentence.

”You're lucky you weren't around when Sorcerer dines. Even if I did not fully understand the amounts, the look of utter gratitude and shock on any servant's eyes when he handed them additional money for some odd reason was enough.”

”There was no tipping in Nalmar?” Rainer asked. The North American was already aware of other countries in his world seeing that practice as silly. But he had always been in favor of commission or merit-type practices even if tipping leaned in the favor of pretty women and immoral business practices more than actual merit.

”Tipping? As in tipping Wyverns? I must admit I never understood the fun in such a practice.”

”Now I'm glad I'm the one that dealt with those Carpenters. We probably would have had to live in the street once we got to Fenrar if you paid them,” Sarah spoke.

The [Archon] shrugged in response to his sister, seemingly having no defense.

”Master Nvos has no need to spend time thinking on such trivialities,” his apprentice offered her own defense.

Given the amount of money he would handle should his plans succeed, and she had every intention of seeing them succeed, Ele made a mental note to get as many decisions out of this man's hands as possible. She did not doubt his intellect, but even all the genius in the world was pointless when you simply did not care about most things.

”Are you sure I have to be present?” Rainer asked Elelaria again as she lectured him on his upcoming meeting with the founding head and current heads of the Lamia clan.

”I will not dignify such a question with an answer,” Ele sniffed, getting a chuckle out of Sarah. After he gave his idea of the Moon Elf lecturing his sister on political matters, they both took interest in it. Ele, because it would put some credence on him being a Lord Magus, if at least his close family was proficient in that matter, and Sarah purely out of personal interest. Well, he assumed that was Ele's reason. He wasn't going to call out every partial lie, so long as it wasn't a direct one. That would put a light on his own ability to do so in the first place. And everyone told partial lies frequently enough, even if Ele was exceptional in that case.

Rainer sighed. Even he understood that sending a subordinate to meet with someone of similar or greater status was either extremely rude or an intentional slight. He hoped the rest of the meetings he could leave to Ele since they were unlikely to include Mala. Momentarily, he wondered what his new employee was going to ask for payment, as they hadn't covered that topic yet. Given that their needs were currently fulfilled, it may be a while. But he figured that he shouldn't make her have to ask.

”By the way, what kind of salary do you want?”

”For now, living and clothing expenses shall do. We can discuss it further once I have achieved something of merit.”

”Yes, 'we',” Sarah chimed in, giving the Moon Elf a speculative look.

”No matter how easy it would be, there is little merit in fleecing my Lord of money. I prefer challenges.”

”That's good to know. I can see why you took this job.”

”Hey?” Rainer complained, but said complaint went ignored by the two women.

He wasn't that bad with money, was he? Then there was the obvious implication that this job would be a large challenge. Shrugging, Rainer let the matter drop. It's not like he actually cared about money beyond what it could do for him. Perhaps a result of growing up rich and having anything he wanted with no worry for the future. He guessed Sarah might have been similar except she had grown up extremely worried for the future. At least she seemed far happier now.

”My Lord, there is one last thing you should know, and I have little doubt that everyone expects me to have told you.”

”My Lord?” Rainer questioned, having heard her calling him that earlier.

”Merely preparing my vernacular for the meeting. Neutral City has been pressured more and more by the Taranien Empire. That my own grandfather and Uthor aren't able to protect the trade routes as well as before, and all the preparation for the upcoming Dungeon Meet has seen a significant increase in raiding. Part of the reason the Ambassadors were sent to out was to gather military support of any measure.”

”They are going to ask me to help?”

”Yes. Not directly of course, but they will ask. And I need you to avoid answering for as long as possible. I had told of your strength, and they have seen your teleportation abilities, so undoubtedly they dearly want your aid. And I'm guessing you have little issue killing pirates or [Priest]s of the Taranien Empire for what would be for you, free Experience.”

”But?”

”But, this is exactly what we need to say no to. Do not allow yourself to be purchased like a common Mercenary. We already have plenty of those. If that happens, the only real route forward would be that of a subordinate. You will one day protect the trade route, because it carries your own goods and enchanters, not because you are a servant or protector of this city. That is the point we must hint at if you wish to do your initial establishment here before finding an island for yourself and become autonomous.”

”So what exactly do I have to do?” Rainer asked. He knew by nature of his 'power' he could become autonomous whenever he pleased, but muscling through such political issues would undoubtedly blow back on him and ruin the whole reason he was dealing with politics in the first place.

”Be evasive, and do not offer or accept to help protecting the city in any way, shape, or form. And please do not under any circumstance, no matter how good the offer seems, trade your protection directly for something else. That may be even worse even if in the short-term you get what you want. I shall handle the rest when the time for you to lead the diplomacy has ended.”

They spent the last of their time prior to the meeting finally working on the magical experiment Rainer wanted to do on Ele. And after some tweaking, the level 9 [Arcane Presence] soon became subtle enough to be undetectable to even the magic-sensitive Sarah, along with her recent advancements in that regard. Rainer even briefly returned to Liandra, the chosen carrier for the [Soul-Trace] in the Wolf King's Capital city, and tested it there.

That was an advantage Rainer planned on fully using.

Rainer Void-walked to the front of the meeting place, Ele and Kara in hand. After a talk with the Wolf King, he agreed that, while they needed to keep him out of it, there was no issue in alluding to the fact that Kara was of his line. That she wasn't necessarily his daughter but could even be a sister, an aunt, or a distant cousin, blurred the relationship enough not to cause any problems to the Throne while being beneficial to Kara in particular.

He entered soon after as a guard led the way for them. Momentarily relaxed as he watched the slithering beauty that was showing them the way, he wondered just what this meeting would hold for the future. An apparently polite thing to do despite the pinch in his side he received from Kara, and her own eyes roving the same places as his. It was considered polite to look at a Lamia, especially if they were intentionally being enticing.

Moving up the ramp to the room in question, Rainer went over everything Ele had drilled into him. While important things may be discussed here, this was mainly a meet and a greet with the Founding Head and some of the leadership. If anything, it'd be more of him handing over the list related to Lamia for body enchantments and promises of future meetings.

Somehow or another, being fully prepared for the meeting made him more nervous. A surprise given that things like this had never made him nervous before. Ignorance was bliss.

Had it been the best idea to become even a little bit more educated on the matter? Wasn't he at this point knowing enough to be nervous but not enough to actually be a politician of any sort?

Further introspection was put on pause as he entered the room. Sitting in a semi-circle were the very Lamia he expected to see. And several others who would be joining the meeting. To his surprise the red-haired Lamia who still glared at him was here as well.

With Mala in the center, they all sat on fur rugs on the floor, with more empty for Rainer's and his party's use. Though, sat wasn't exactly correct given their lower halves. Rainer was opposite from Mala, with Kara on his left and Ele on his right. Left being family of importance, and right being people of importance in a political sense. A small thing, but no reason to show unnecessary disrespect to their customs.

That the Lamia's seating wasn't raised was a good sign. They went out of their way to remove things from the seating just to make it clear it was a meeting of equals. It seemed his teleportation and revelation of his class had quite the large effect.

The meeting went on with simple pleasantries exchanged, all the while Rainer used his [Arcane Presence] to secretly make himself seem more imposing. A bit of Arcane infused into his voice didn't hurt either.

His request for a more permanent residence was taken into consideration, followed by a mention of the list and a single free gift of a set of enchants sans materials. While spaced between other discussions it was obvious as to why a free set was offered.

”I should hope you do not mind I watch as you enchant my granddaughter, Saya?” Mala questioned, and it became more than clear to everyone in the room Saya was not made aware of this beforehand.

Rainer kept a stoic face despite wanting to grin at the almost literally fuming Lamia. Did her hair somehow turn more red?

”Such is expected.”

”As you may know, many of our clan while quite specialized are enchanters themselves. Would it be possible for an explanation to accompany the enchant?”

Rainer got the feeling that this wasn't expected either, even if the rest hid their surprise far better. It was a traditionally rude question to ask a mage to reveal anything about his magic. And also unallowed under the rules of many Guilds. In fact, it wouldn't be unreasonable for a Northern Mage to start an armed conflict over a question like this.

Well, part of my pitch is being different than the northern mages…

Rainer thought it over. The chances of them actually learning Body Enchantment were nonexistent. At least in a time-frame that mattered to him. By the time they made progress on the horribly dangerous [Internal Runic Formation], the information would likely already be taught by his academy. Assuming they ever could. It was a racial skill made only possible to him through a combination of [Sleep Learning] and his [Archon] class. He himself had no idea where he'd even begin in teaching it outside of [Sleep Learning]. Even the basics of basics were all but certain to maim someone.

But, it was still better to check with Ele on things like this.

”I'll take it into consideration,” Rainer answered, and did his best to switch his [Arcane Presence] to less stifling and more pleasant feeling.

The rest of the meeting was riddled with subtle mentions of their problems with trade, raiding, and security, that Rainer did his best to evade and was occasionally helped with by Ele. He guessed his use of [Arcane Presence] was the only thing that saved him from being lead into a corner, after all, several of Mala's own aides in the meeting found themselves fumbling over words for seemingly no reason when he merely looked at them. He doubted they'd ever figure out how the [Archon] made them so impossibly nervous.

”We are hosting an auction a week from tomorrow, followed by a party for all the visiting dignitaries, I should hope to see you there, Archon Nvos.”

”Of course,” Rainer answered and they left soon after.

Back in their guest housing, Rainer explained his titles and conversation with Talvara, and then eventually what he wanted to do. Ele was elsewhere, already meeting with someone of the Lamia about possible residences of a more permanent nature.

”Do you really have to go,” Luna spoke up first.

”No. But this is something I created. I have no idea what that means, I can't just leave it alone if I have a choice.”

”You can't leave alone... our child?” Luna asked right after.

His father thing had been a half-awake joke. But wasn't he technically the father? It being an complete and utter accident oddly supported that, he mused. And he had more than enough intelligence to not dispute the 'our' part of Luna's question-statement.

”Maybe.”

”Looks like there's really no choice,” Kara said, wryly smiling at the Fairy who seemed happy at the new addition, ”What of us coming with you?”

Rainer went on to explain why that wasn't possible, much to their disappointment. A disappointment that led to Kara all but demanding he make a body enchantment to convert Miasma to something else. That her idea had some plausibility, given Draconic Magic's similarity to [Arcane Invigoration], was most certainly noted by the [Archon]. But not something he could do in a reasonable time-frame. Especially when a month had already passed since the birth of the Elemental in Abyssal Plane time.

Rainer did his best to pick a more normal time of day as he checked on Laneth with [Void Seer] and then Void-walked to the Fae Realm.

If he was going back to the Abyssal Planes, he may as well talk to Amer. The Devil hadn't seem to be torn up about the loss of his cult, but that had been when there was nothing to do about it. For all he knew, it was just extreme pragmatism from his advanced age rather than actual disinterest.

He had already told the Devil that they had nothing more to worry about from Void Lords, but Amer didn't ask to return. Not that Rainer could blame him. Despite his appearance, a Devil's sense of beauty wasn't that much different from a human's. And here Amer had a supernaturally beautiful race of women deeply interested in him because he was a strong mage.

That, and despite being someone of high status, Amer lived in what was basically border-line poverty anywhere else. Only his book collection spoke of any wealth. Rainer could see why he wouldn't want to return. Which was exactly why he wasn't surprised by his answer.

”There is no need for me to go back,” Amer said.

”What about your cult?”