31 31 (1/2)

Elelaria had felt the strange presence that descended across the whole mansion and cautiously entered the room some time after it ended. Six headless human corpses lay against the wall, a circular scar in stone marring the entire room.

”Grandfather?” She asked slowly, seeing his sword on the table, and the man himself calmly drinking his tea.

Later that night, Rainer stood alone in the white void of [Sleep Learning] as a [Void Domain] spread out around him. Yet his thoughts were not on leveling the skill but rather a major point he realized during his discussion with Ele's grandfather; he 'was' a Lord Magus from the Forbidden North.

Sooner or later he'd need to prove that identity, and his power alone wouldn't be enough. Not when all the ancient powers of the world would be pushing to their third tier in less than a year's time. He had two easy options for helping out with that… not that he wanted to go find them for that purpose.

There was his Grandfather and Mother… he checked almost every night for their location with the blood-tracking spell but it was still far too distant for him to reach. Achieving something like Void Dominion wasn't just for the safety of now, but for the future. Even more so if he could one day fuse it with Arcane and then bring that over to having his Arcane Bonuses work on [Void-walking]. No matter the distance, the combined boost from his Talent and Arcane bonus on top of having improved leveling for the spell itself would be more than enough.

The Void arches might be a possibility, but he'd need two of them, one for the return trip. Given that he wasn't even sure if they were moveable, that was something to ask Talvara.

He could even ask her to let him borrow the Void-Lords she still had on this world. They wouldn't even need to put themselves in any real danger, but just act as members of his organization. Yes, they were not magic users, but who said the Guild he supposedly came from was only mages? It would fit even better with the Arcane Order identity he had with the Fae. They were not incompatible.

And if the state of the Abyssal Planes were of any relevance, they were beyond powerful.

He could also merely cite the great distance that the Far North was, and that he was traveling on his own. There may not necessarily ever come a time when he truly needed to make a show of his fake background.

However, those were only the more mundane solutions. Illusions and especially Glamour could certainly be used to fake things if he ever needed a show of numbers. Perhaps even a fake father or brother in the form of the Avatar Ritual.

”Talvara!' He yelled in a sing-songy voice before laughing to himself. As if that would-

”Hello Rainer. Miss me?”

Rainer spun around, shocked. Though once he got a look at her, that shock turned to utter horror.

”What the hell did you do your face!?”

”What? I did what you said to!” Talvara said, oddly offended over her fake face.

”What part of that monstrosity is what I said to do? I said a little, a little, less symmetrical. Not make it lopsided. Your eyebrows look like a competing happy and frowning face, your eyes from two different races and your nose...dear god your nose. I could have happily gone on with my life never knowing that sight, but now it will forever haunt my dreams. Any time I imagine any person I shall see that nose. Thank you, Talvara. Thank you.”

”This isn't easy you know, I don't technically have a face and I was in a rush to put something together after you called, I just-”

”Please just stop talking and making expressions with that thing...just copy off one of your elves and then improve it. Or better yet use Luna's face and mold it to match an Abyssal Elf more,” Rainer sighed. It was easy to forget with her airy attitude, but Rainer doubted he'd ever seen or would ever see a woman more beautiful than Luna. It wasn't a fair comparison of course given that she was artificially created and based off a Fairy known for her appearance after her immense power.

”Ah, the pretty and humorous Fairy? That is an excellent suggestion. You've chosen well with her, she is a most pleasant girl,” Talvara said as she went back to her original appearance. Original in the sense of her fake one, that is.

”More like she chose me. And a girl? She's older than me...” Rainer replied, a part of him now noticing he was dating two older women. He froze for a brief moment wondering how she knew who Luna was.

Void Seer…

He realized. They even discussed the unsavory applications of their ability. Rainer tried to drum up a bit of anger so that he could use this for a future favor but found himself lacking. The memory of how he brutally hurt her while rejecting a well-intended gift and that she complimented Luna took the wind out of his sails.

”I thought you said you didn't have a hobby of being a voyeur?”

”Who would admit to such a hobby?” She countered, seemingly not at all bothered at his discovery.

”That is a good point. And also not an answer to my question.”

Talvara shrugged, not wanting this to become a point of contention between them, ”It had been long since I've met with anyone, especially in this sort of fashion and not a distorted message to my followers. I wished some assurance that any deal we made would have been honored. For all I knew, I was delivering Aurora into your hands, or myself by visiting this illusionary realm of yours.”

”And what did you find out that mattered?” Rainer asked. He also got the feeling that up until he actually trapped her in here, the powerful Void-being didn't even consider he could threaten her, but he accepted the answer nonetheless.

”That you are a man who honors your words and debts. That race is nothing more than a word given by [Appraisal]. To an extreme degree, frankly, if any of the stories you've told your sister are true. I couldn't have asked for more from a Human I seek as a friend.”

Rainer grew a bit embarrassed at the straightforward praise. The time period matched up to when he was telling his past to his sister. It would have been an easy snapshot into his whole time on this world. And racism always looked silly from an outsider's perspective, even if racism in this world had some logical base and wasn't just a made-up construct. They were different species after all.

”How did you know I was calling for you anyways?”

”I left a small piece of myself in your Void, should you ever need me. I have been busy of late.”

”Anything I can help with?” Rainer asked, a tiny bit bothered by that first sentence, but he doubted the ancient Void-being didn't have better things to do than randomly check in on him all the time.

She laughed, ”You have already helped more than enough. I am still taxed on my time, have you finally decided on what to do with the gift of Void Will?”

”Not yet, I have some questions on the matter and something else I could use your advice on.”

Talvara merely nodded as if for him to go on. Rainer thought about it for a moment before explaining his ideas on Void Dominion, [Void Descent], and the eventual mixing of Arcane and Void.

Talvara hummed thoughtfully for a moment before giving her answer, ”I would be happy to assist... I would say your idea of a Void Dominion to mimic the various skills would be impossible had you not already done so. So you seek to solve the problem of not being able to use [Void Hold] and other Void skills at the same time?” She guessed.

”Of course that's a possible benefit,” Rainer said, ”Holding someone down while calling the Void upon them, there are few who could do anything against that. But the main premise is to make a magic to freely use the Void and also stronger and easier to use for me. And one that can be partially persistent like my [Void Presence Armament]. Especially with the inclusion of [Void Descent] in there.”

”[Void Descent],” She said, as if tasting the words, ”I never imagined someone not a being of the Void could learn such a thing. It seems every time we meet, I lament you not becoming a follower of mine.”

”We want what we can't have.”

”That we do,” She agreed shamelessly and licked her lips, ”I can offer you some advice with your final idea as well.”

”In what way?” Rainer had only mentioned his final idea as an afterthought. Even more so because it was nice to finally have someone to speak with on such matters. His sister, despite being a Mage, had little interest in most spells, similar to Gunthar who saw magic purely as a tool. Amer's expertise lent to a far larger focus on the Soul and the [Devil's Soul Language]. Kara was certainly intelligent but if their discussion on biology was any clue on top of her usual practice with Aura, she just did not have much interest in the inner workings of things. Luna… he was actually not sure about.

Talvara was an ancient being with a larger scope of knowledge, however. And her interest in his magic had already led to extended discussions for hours when they first met.

”An explanation of the relationship between the Arcanium and the Void, and the world as a whole,” Talvara said, and Rainer judged by the satisfied smirk on her face that his own showed his shock. A larger scope of knowledge, indeed.

”Kara, to think you've succeeded so quickly,” Ymir said as he entered the training room. Her Aura had burst out and, with the assistance of what seemed like her Demonic Aura, the originally colorless energy of her Wolfkin half turned gold and exploded out with a great power, cracking the ground around her. Ground made to withstand the fights of Tier 2 experts training.

”It's all thanks to you and Alaya,” Kara said, smiling. For a long while she felt her Wolfkin half was far weaker, but with this addition, it felt a perfect match for her Demonic Aura.

”Whatever the case may be, I've prepared a gift for you when this day came. I'll go get it myself, you rest and figure out the changes in your Aura.”

”Thank you,” Kara said to his departing figure. Though, soon after she sighed, noting this was the most they've spoken in the past few days. Getting to know her father hadn't been going as she thought. From what she understood about the political landscape of the Dragon Isles, Ymir's role should be more military in nature and much of his governance was handled by subordinates.

After all, if he truly acted as a King like, say, of the Northern Countries, there was no chance he'd be as strong as he was.

Does he truly enjoy being so busy? Kara wondered as she thought about her own future. For all intents and purposes, Rainer would essentially be a King in his own right even if he didn't have such a title. Would he delve himself so heavily into the running of his Academy and dealing with all the political issues that came with it? Kara had plans to adventure out in the world just like her mother had in her youth, but now those plans weren't hers alone. And then there was what came after...

She laughed a bit to herself as she recalled the Avatar ritual that Amer used. Rainer did have a habit of solving problems with magic, and she had little doubt said [Archon] had the patience or will to put up with political and administrative problems all day. It was just like him to outsource his issues to magic rather than anything else.

Ymir had even pointed out some flaws of Rainer's fighting style to her that relied too heavily on his stronger magics. She'd have to explore some of those flaws herself when they truly fought in [Sleep Learning] before of course talking to Rainer about them and seeing if they were even true. After all, Ymir made assumptions on Rainer's abilities.

Looking down at her hands, Kara started manipulating her Aura as she awaited Ymir's return. The string technique of her family was truly interesting, she thought as she easily formed one between her hands.

Ymir entered soon after, and Kara was unable to hide the Aura string between her hands in time. She had enjoyed having her father teaching her the technique and wanted that to last a bit longer.

”Looks like we can already move onto the next step for that,” Ymir said, smiling.

Before Kara could say anything else she saw the two sheathed blades in his hands gleaming with enchantments.

”I was told you were quite fond of these blades. I sent them to my best enchanter and inscriptionist, I hope they are to your liking.”

Kara walked over and gently took the blade from Ymir's hands before in a quick maneuver unsheathing them and having the sheathe enter her spatial storage enchantment. She had always preferred keeping her weapons in there rather than her spatial ring.

Her Aura covered the blades as she went through a series of slashes with the pair of them. She felt her body grow light and stronger despite the heft of them and noticed how effortlessly her Aura flowed into them.

After some time, she put them away before walking back and giving Ymir a hug.

”Thank you, father,” She said for the first time. It was truly a wonderful gift but it was only the catalyst on everything else he was doing. A shame those pursuing her are forcing her to leave soon. She'd also have to thank Rainer for giving Ymir the idea.

”I was happy to.”

Rainer rested in a cave as Gunthar stood outside, glancing over the snow-covered mountain. Luna sat in Rainer's embrace and covered them both in a cloak as the two shared heat. Neither of them needed to do it, one being a high-attribute [Archon] with [Arcane Invigoration] and various resistances, the other being a magical existence free from most environmental issues. Yet both enjoyed it just the same.

”You aren't feeling sick or anything are you?” Rainer asked as he recalled a possible issue in the form of altitude sickness. He was barely human anymore with attributes he had, and while he wasn't sure, Mana preventing most human ailments may include altitude sickness even if it technically wasn't an ailment.

”No?”

”Then good,” Rainer said. Tiamat was doing fine as well, currently in Gunthar's arms at the foot of the cave. The temperature didn't bother the little dragon in the slightest. Even more so since Gunthar's feathered arms kept the chill away, the very cold around them in his control.

Absorbing the portion of the soul with a bit of help from Rainer was easy enough. It lacked the same strength and impact of the full soul, but such a powerful monster came with equally powerful abilities. Beyond his [Devil King] Soul, he now had another powerful card to play.

”Rainer?…” Luna broke the silence.

”What?”

”I'm sorry for earlier this week. When the elven woman saw me. I was awake...too sleepy to hide in time. I should have been more careful,” Luna said, oddly serious.

”Luna,” He said and then pressed his lips to the Fairy's cheek, ”I should hope there never comes a time where I actually want you to apologize for being naked in bed next to me.”

”Rainer always thinks of just one thing.”

”That's not true, out of the two of us you definitely hold that title.”

”That's right. And yet Rainer had fun with Kara in the white place without me,” She pouted, though Rainer could tell she didn't actually mind. Unlike Kara, Luna was happy with just the occasional transfer of Mana and joining in when the mood hit her. When it was just the two of them, she preferred the Fae way of doing things.

”So what exactly did Sarah offer to convince you to help her?” Rainer had originally been planning on lending his own [Appraisal] skill.

”Not telling,” Luna said with a huff.

”Then I'll have no choice but to force it out of you,” Rainer said, furthering Luna's giggles as he channeled Mana specifically in places she was ticklish.

”Luna...will...never...surrender…” The Fairy got out in between laughs.

”Sorcerer!” Gunthar ran, interrupting the two, ”I believe your interrogation will have to wait. I've found what we've been looking for.”

”Don't think this is over Luna,” He said 'menacingly' as she retreated into his overcoat followed by Tiamat. Briefly noting that Gunthar seemed harder and harder to tease with his prudeness, Rainer followed the undead outside with the thought in mind of getting him to say his mantra again.

They had spent close to three days in the Mountains. The first day proved just how lucky they were to find that Hawk, nothing above the first tier in strength appeared, even worse there were level 1 to 2 insect-like monsters which lived in the ground and would pop out at them, trying to grab their feet. But with Rainer's constant [Void-walking] they managed to cover a vast amount of ground.

After their first failure, they had gone to the Hunter's Guild and looked through the openly available resources on the various monsters in the mountains and where they might be found. Rainer blanched a bit as he found information on the hawks they fought, though noticing that there was nothing on their leader. It seemed he wasn't the first mage who thought of teleporting behind them to bring them down, though he was apparently the only surviving one.

On top of the magic of the mountains, the hawks were incredibly sensitive to such display of magic and sent the mage, that entry referenced, plummeting to his death. A swirling storm of frost preventing him from teleporting to safety. It seemed one of their abilities prevented Mana use to a degree. [Void-walking] as a more quiet form of teleportation appeared to be immune to this detection. And had Rainer switched to fueling it with Void Will he doubted his movement would have been stifled at all.

Both he and Gunthar had looked thoroughly, trying to find monsters at the perfect level of strength and with good enough abilities for the [Arcane Reaper] to get a hold of. Based on his first experience in absorbing that Soul, one would be his limit. And even his failed assimilation of the [Skyfrost King]'s Soul had caused significant damage when he forced it out of him. Which meant he could potentially lock himself out of his advancement until his Soul got stronger by leaps and bounds to grab another.

”What did you find?”

”Over there, harassing that pack of wolves. Look closely with your mage eyes.”