Chapter 150: Burning Bush (2) (1/2)

Vivian sighed, shaking her head as well before she directed her attention towards Bracha.

”What else haven't you been telling me?” She asked.

Bracha, without missing a beat simply replied, ”What have you been told?”

Vivian gritted her teeth, partially in annoyance, for she was the one used to keeping secrets -- not the other way around. This entire situation was beginning to grate on her patience. Mysterious Grimlock with unimaginable powers, Rank two adventurers with the ability to surpass even a rank three temporarily, and the strange encounter in the forest. It was all a bit too much for a single day.

”I know that you're a Guardian. I also have a better idea of what that means. That power you displayed--”

Oliver's ears perked up at the present course of the discussion.

Bracha held up her hand to halt Vivian and sighed.

”He always does this. Breaks his own rules.” She said as she resigned herself to an explanation.

”Guardian is more than just a title. A guardian is responsible for the well being of their territory, as I've already explained.” Bracha explained.

”What you may not know is that, with the title comes the ability to tap into a special part of the system ; Guardian Mode. Guardian mode is an ability that uses powers from our Systema to 'overload' our normal abilities and impart new ones.”

Oliver listened intently, his goal was to see if Bracha's words made logical sense. From his perspective, he'd seen her use powers well beyond her means. Oliver recognized this as a phenomena similar to another aspect of magic -- being an Omni.

An Omni was an adventurer capable of using both inner and outer methods of gathering and manipulating the energy known as mana. Exceedingly rare, there were only three Omni that Oliver currently knew of. Himself, Agni and one other.

”Are you an Omni? I was pretty sure you use Inner Mana.” Oliver asked as he folded his arms.

”This is...different from normal magic.” Bracha said, although she seemed to be struggling to explain herself.

”It's like..tapping into the mana of the world itself. Because it's so vast and so plentiful, as a Guardian I am regulated to how much I can use.”

”That's...impossible. Do you know what kind of control it would require to generate the kind of energy you were manipulating? Then, don't even get me started on your movements -- they were almost god-like. One second you were standing still, the next you were in three different places at once.” For Oliver her explanation, though plausible, seemed like a staggering implication. Even as an Omni there was a limit to the amount of power he could gather and control at any given time. Furthermore, the more energy he sought to gather, the longer the process took.

Bracha, the Runemaster before him, was shattering the laws of reality with her explanation. The thought alone vexed him, yet he felt her answer was true.

”Wait. When did this happen?” Vivian asked.

”When you were unconscious.” Oliver said, even as he mulled over the facts in his head.

”Can you show me now?” Vivian then asked. Bracha shook her head in response.

”It doesn't work like that. There are rules..regulations. Also..you have to consider the state of my body. It's very taxing to channel all of that energy. It's not something I can sustain long, or repeatedly use in a short amount of time.” Bracha explained. She suddenly lifted the small black orb to eye level before adding, ”And that's all I can tell you for now.”

*That's all you can tell us? You literally just turned down the laws of magic on it's head...and that's all you can tell us? Vivian's not going to accept that!* Oliver thought to himself, folding his arms in a most smug fashion.

”Fine.” Vivian responded, much to his chagrin.

”What?” Oliver nearly shouted as his jaw dropped.

”Doyenne! That's ridiculous! Where did she get this Guardian mode? How does it work? There are so many questions--”

Vivian shook her head and motioned for Oliver to calm down.

”That's not important right now.” She explained.

”Not important? What?” Oliver was beginning to feel as if only he understood the significance of Bracha's revelations.

”I lied about the circumstances surrounding the explosion.” Vivian then said.

”Obviously.” Oliver responded, he was beginning to grow annoyed.