47 47 (1/2)

Elelaria rubbed her temples as she tried to dissuade Rainer from yet another idea relating to the Enchanter's Guild. It wasn't that he was naive, or stupid, he merely didn't care about most things. If anything was too troublesome, such as preventing people from abusing the Mana Crystals offered too freely by the Guild, he'd just write it off as an acceptable loss. While he assured her that she could assume the supply of Mana was 'unlimited', it was still hard to do so.

As it was only three days until the auction, she was a bit pressured to have the Guild ready to take in members and make connections.

”Okay, new plan. You tell me what you wish to accomplish with this Guild, and I'll handle the rest?”

”Why didn't you say that from the start? I mean it is your job to handle the background stuff.”

Elelaria ground her teeth while wanting to yell 'it was you who argued with me!' but held back. There was no point in doing so and she didn't want to act so uncouth.

”Well?”

”Three things then: to advance Enchanting as a whole, to train Enchanters of our own, and then the less important to make money. I guess you can add a fourth or fifth,” Rainer trailed off. This idea was looking better and better as frankly he found his love for magic didn't fully transfer to enchanting. Especially since all he was doing was copying, often poorly copying at that, it started to grate on him. He was still at a loss as how to create his own enchantments without a base or pieces from others.

Even with his Avatar doing the heavy lifting it wasn't as enjoyable as a craft. Especially since he still didn't know if [Draconic Enchanting] was dangerous, and therefore he couldn't use it.

In the past, he might have wanted to create a defense force as well, using the enchanted items to raise their Tier or bribe them but there was no point now. The combination of Kara's village and the enchanted Aura-cloaking bracelet meant he had a loyal - to Kara in any case - force. The disadvantage of not having Dungeons to level them was offset by Delilah's pack and a full source of enchanted items to help hunt with minimal risk. Plus his own abilities for being anywhere in the world so long as he had a target.

”And the fourth or fifth is?” Elelaria asked after a lengthy pause where his frankly no longer impressive but just annoying display of manipulation skills showed he wasn't paying attention. The spinning violet-colored elements lost their aesthetic appeal pretty quickly.

”I guess you can add a fourth or fifth,” he repeated. ”You are the Vice-Guildmaster after all.”

”Oh… Oh.” Elelaria now had an excited grin on her face. This was exactly what she was after in joining his service in the first place. She had to admit a bit of boredom at not having to secretly work for her own agenda but perhaps this could be more entertaining in its own way?

Elelaria ignored the look of boredom on Rainer's face as she pushed him towards yet another visiting dignitary. The auction would be starting in two days and she had suggested hosting a party for them.

The day right before the auction would be set for them getting their money in order as a partial list of the items for sale was revealed. Elelaria had no doubt they'd be trying to liquidate some of the assets they brought once it was shown beyond the few that were revealed for attracting attention in the first place.

She had wisely suggested for herself to be his escort rather than either of the two women by his side. Rainer may not be a jealous man, but he was an overprotective one. If any of the old men attending the meeting today stepped out of line, she knew exactly what Rainer would do over even a subtle comment or glance. Or what Kara would do. Or even Luna. Really, it was with supreme strangeness that only the talking Skeleton was a normal person among their group.

Elelaria didn't even want to get started on that weird shadow that was hanging around. Being told how delectable her hair was ran close to the strangest compliment she had ever received.

Which is why she was a far better choice. Apart from being familiar with these crowds, she was adept at dealing with them.

”Archon Nvos.” A middle-aged man with the insignia of the Flameborne stepped forward.

Elelaria inwardly groaned at the challegening tone when he said 'Archon'. How is it only her grandfather had the good sense to fear this man on her arm? Were the rumors of him single-handedly ruining a century of war with a single sentence not spread yet? Or that he ignored enchantments against teleportation like they were decorations? Or did they think the rumors that reached their ears were exaggerations?

It was to her surprise that they made easy small talk. It was only now she noticed that this was Rainer's Avatar rather than him. She had enough understanding of the Avatar to know that he could put it on auto-pilot, which it looked like he did whenever the conversation switched to her. No wonder he had seemed little more than a functioning mannequin during some parts of the night.

”But still, to gather so many Mana Crystals in a single location, you mages from the far North are an interesting bunch.”

”It is the difference that makes this new place so interesting to me.”

”Well, I wouldn't worry about the literal defenses, the enchantments are quite impressive, but any defenses with a door only require someone to bring with them the proper key. Or take it and hold the key in a safe location. In any case, you have such an impressive lineup for the auction. I'm wondering if you would consider a contract with the Flameborne relating to creating Enchanted items?”

Elelaria felt her heart drop as she heard what that man said. She tried to awkwardly shuffle away but there was no escaping her current spot on Rainer's arm. This was her favorite dress. A 31st birthday gift in the form of an enchanted dress from her late mother. And now it would have brain matter all over it when Rainer slapped the man in front of her to death. Would it be inappropriate to ask that if her Lord kill him he leave no mess?

Her thoughts steered to how she could possibly turn a murder at this event into their advantage. But to her complete and utter surprise Rainer smiled amicably.

”Any business ventures related to the Guild can be discussed at another time. I'd rather not count my dragons before they hatch.”

”Of course, of course,” the Flameborne Mage Guild representative smugly said, Elelaria noting the stupid, overconfident man had no idea how close to death he just came and instead seemed pleased with himself.

”What the hell was that?” Elelaria asked once they were relatively alone. She ignored how she was chastising him for doing exactly as he should have. It was just too out of character. Did he miss the reference to the 'key' being a hostage?

”Delayed gratification,” he said, mimicking his enchanted ring for blocking out sound with [Wind Manipulation].

”Meaning?”

”As soon as this auction is over I'm going to track him down and spread his ashes to the winds.”

”Oh… well... that's very reasonable of you to wait until later.”

”Thank you.”

Elelaria sighed and took Rainer to meet more guests. This would be a long night.

”Rainer?”

”Yeah?” Rainer asked, a bit confused as Kara stared despondently at her tea. They were currently in the 'Chief's Hut' of the new village being built. He had offered them actual buildings but they seemed attached to their frankly poorly built huts. His Avatar was still at the party with Elelaria.

”I was spending some time with Sarah in [Sleep Learning]. Whenever she wants to take a break she usually makes a Tee-Vee and watches something. Though it seems it's hard to watch anything other than a Dee-Vee-Dee. I've been joining her on occasion. I find a break usually helps with my Aura and…”

Rainer raised an eyebrow as Kara rambled on about the shows she was watching. He hadn't seen her this nervous and blushing since when they first got together. He enjoyed a blushing Kara with twitching ears and didn't have any particular worry about the why. It was probably something silly. He just rubbed her ears as she continued, not really paying too much attention.

”Do you regret… being with me?”

Her question brought him out of his calm. So not something silly.

”What?”

”I mean… the first thing Francis wanted to do... And you are younger than me, and even younger than that if you go by your world's standards. And I saw on Sarah's Tee-Vee shows, that it was weird for your age, and then usually-”

”Kara, those are just fake stories.” Rainer wasn't going to admit that it was weird for a 20-year-old him to have his future planned out.

”Rainer, I asked Sarah what age people got married in your world. She said it wasn't strange for them to be 25 or older. And that was based on an 80 year old lifespan. I inferred. I…when we got together in Nalmar I just assumed we'd be together forever. It was just natural to me and I don't want to push that on you if-”

Damnit Sarah, couldn't you sense the mood?

”Kara. You are being silly,” Rainer said before quickly realizing how stupid that was to say. He pushed down her head as she was about to look up to him, likely a glare, and continued scratching her ears as she stared down at her tea.

”Do I seem like an normal Earthling to you?”

”How would I know?”

”Kara, when was the last time you've seen someone make me do something I didn't want to do? If I didn't want to 100% be with you, I wouldn't.”

”Well Luna-”

”Luna doesn't count.”

”That's right. How can Luna count?”

Rainer raised an eyebrow at that weird response. He thought her and Luna were getting along well. A bit too well if he was honest. He couldn't see Kara's face as she was still staring at her tea as he was standing behind her so he had no idea what she meant.

”Kara?”

”You could sleep with every woman in this city and when you tell Luna about it you'll get one of two responses: Did you get enough variety? Or she'll promise endless revenge for waking her up from a nap.”

Rainer stifled a laugh down as this was definitely not the time. Nor was it a good time to mention they weren't currently in a city. Luna had no boundries of her own while being perfectly accepting of his for her. Putting those standards on anyone was not even close to fair and he'd never do so. Nor did he have any desire to.

”And?”

”And how can I compete with that?”

”Why would you have to compete with that?” Rainer asked, understanding why this whole thing happened. It was a reasonable worry if he was a normal person that wasn't utterly obsessed with Magic. If it wasn't for Kara or Luna, he'd probably be alone. Alone, alone.

”Because…”

”Because?”

”I don't know,” Kara said with a long sigh and put her head on the table . Rainer manipulated an earthen chair and sat next to her, still scratching her ears. She eventually rested her head on his lap instead of the table.

”What's really the problem?”

”Doesn't it bother you that you never got to enjoy your Charisma? Sow your 'wild oats'? What is a wild oat anyways! You and your ridiculous Earthen metaphors!”

”Kara, you are looking at that backwards.”

Kara just let out of muffled hum for him to explain.

”It is because of my high Charisma you can trust I'm perfectly happy where I am.”

Another hum.

”I can have any woman I want.”

An annoyed and disbelieving hum.

”And yet I don't. Because I'm not interested. Why would I be? I love magic and I love you. Why do I need anything else when I have already met someone like you? Is there any reason to fill up my life with empty sex? I enjoy my high Charisma with you all the time.”

A less disbelieving hum. Rainer had to admit Kara acting shy again was enjoyable but went on.

”Do I resent you being around when I have Luna who'd let me sleep with anyone and not even comment on it? Of course not. It's not bad having someone possessive of me, you know?”

”Really?”

”Really.”

”Is there any chance you can forget this whole conversation?” she said, still muffled into his lap. She suddenly felt very embarrassed. Something about becoming insecure about her relationship with Rainer due to Tee-Vee shows felt incredibly shameful. Plus, Rainer still hadn't gotten revenge for her teasing him about seeing her mother naked and getting everyone to join in.

She was screwed.

”I'll be replaying your blushing red face in my head for years to come.”

Completely screwed.

”Rainer is Luna's,” the Fairy mumbled from his jacket, not viewing their conversation worth fully waking up for.

”Of course he is,” Kara said in a better mood, gently patting the part of the jacket Luna was in.

Rainer held a hand to his Avatar's back while Talvara stood off to the side - a look of focus on her he'd be hard pressed to see anywhere else.

While his Avatar worked on letting both Arcane Power and Void Will take half his Soul, his main body would function as the buffer - to be replaced by the [Sleep Learning] space when he did this for real - and would do his best to mimic the presence of it with [Soul Manipulation]. As well as controlling the general situation with an outside [Soul Manipulation]. He could always try and remove this crutch in the future.

Rainer grimaced as he put most of his focus on controlling the Avatar and damaging it's Soul. Seconds passed as Arcane Power and Mana opposite his Void Will merged closer into his Soul. He followed the path of the great sage but his goal was far different than becoming Flame-Touched.

Rainer focused on the fake-space in his Soul as a buffer, and used it as an anchor to stabilize the rest of his Soul.

The separate energies seemed more than content to stay to their own sides. He wondered if merging them in his Soul and recent advancements in resisting them did the trick. Along with his constant efforts of [Soul Manipulation] to stop any errant parts that tried to mingle with the other half.

[Avatar Control has reached level 5]

The improvement to [Avatar Control], came as a help, but it wasn't enough to change the situation.

But further pain, now in his body, changed that thought. Since they no longer collided in the area of his Soul, the energies started spreading into his body. Blood vessels burst as the energies both tried to dominate over his physical body, no different then the process of becoming 'Flame-touched', ignoring that there were two energies instead of one.

Rainer did his best to control his thoughts as he switched back to the main body and watched with [Arcane Revelation]. His eyes bulged as he saw the powerful grey energy forming when Arcane Power and Void Will collided in his body. [Arcane Invigoration] seemed to only make the situation worse.

But any further thoughts on that were interrupted as an impossible black light began to gather in his Soul in a repeat of the prior attempts. Talvara ended further efforts as both him and the Avatar vanished in a powerful [Void Call].

Rainer reappeared moments later, noting that if he had to choose a way to die, [Void Call] was the most pleasant method thus far.

Rainer quickly recovered the damage that occured to his Avatar's Soul, and therefore his.

When colliding with his Soul as the medium it produced the black light, but when colliding in his body it produced something else. Rainer shook his head as things seemed to have become more complicated than just balancing them in his Soul. Even that was tentative as he had to exert pressure with [Soul Manipulation] to keep them apart.

At least his efforts in resisting the effects of Arcane Power and Void Will seemed to have a positive effect.

”Let's go again then,” Rainer said, excited at all the possibilities.

”Lovely.”

”You should have seen his cramped face. It seems you were right, Guildmaster, he is nothing more than a weakling of little merit.”

The Flameborne Guildmaster, Verne Semptar, listened with disinterest as the middle-aged man serving as one of his diplomats continued to prattle on. The moment he left the room the wooden chair he had once occupied vanished into an explosion of blue flame.

”Samuel,” Verne growled out as a shadow left the corner of the room, ”what the hell is this?”

”Whatever do you mean?” the tall cloaked man in the corner asked with 'confusion'.

”I mean, why is this stupid, fat fuck still alive?” he growled out.

”Well you-”

”If you say I missed burning him and only got the chair, I'll roast you alive instead.”

”Clearly, Archon Nvos saw no need to kill him,” Samuel corrected, his face showing no emotion despite his continued mocking.

Heat radiated from Verne's eyes as he stared at his partner.

”Easy love,” Samuel said while chuckling and going over to massage the seated Guildmaster's shoulders, ”there was always a chance it wouldn't happen.”

”A small one.”

”Yes, admittedly a small one. With what we've gathered since his appearance, Archon Nvos is shown to violently defend his companions from even the smallest insults, even if coming from a Crown Prince. His willingness and ability to kill a descended Divinity - albeit in an imperfect host - to rescue another. And he immediately rushed to the front-lines when a suicide attacker assaulted him despite no harm being done. And those are only the confirmed rumors. There is still the whole thing with Yazir's death.

”Our diplomat threatening his companions, even if indirectly, should have produced an explosive result. At the very least I expected some maiming.”

”And that it didn't? Did not most all of our plans hinge on hanging the death of him over Nvos' head? Just looking at that sorry excuse for a Mage makes me want to burn him alive, how could he not have managed to annoy a powerful Magus with a temper? The stupid man even thought him being sent here was a sign of trust. Hah, a sign of trust in him annoying Nvos to death.”

”We need to reassess. Plus, Nvos avoided bringing his current known lover. Perhaps he was aware of his own faults? And perhaps we must consider he truly represents the Far North and that his backing is real. So, he can't act too unbridled when it comes to their interests such as the Enchanter's Guild. The origin of the strange race that has been antagonizing the Taraniens as well as the one saved by Nvos is still unknown. It could mean all our plans other than a working relationship or total war have become useless.”

”I'll attend the auction then.” He had come secretly to the city precisely because he didn't want to overstate the importance of the Enchanter's Guild. But with evidence including the enchantment of and the physical building of the Guild itself leaning towards the Magus Nvos truly coming from the Far North, and therefore a possibly powerful background, that wasn't a good option anymore. His relationship with the Flame-Touched Goblin King of the North was troubling as well. And not just because of Verne's burning envy towards the achievement of the subhuman, unintelligent Goblin.

”From how he acts towards you, we can learn more.”

Francis stared at the flying fortress' core with uninterrupted interest. It was a massive sphere taller than him by at least 10 feet. The concept that this fortress ran, along with the defenses, on the environment was an interesting one. The limit of this society wasn't energy but rather materials and the strength of the core - they would degrade quite quickly if made of only normal metal.

Prejudice towards Mages wasn't an issue here as enchanted cores were quickly unenchanted within hours and therefore pointless. Though Francis had to wonder how [Draconic Enchanting] would fare.

However he was sure of one thing: the Mana-Well could definitely replace the ambient Mana this core used. The other cores had been too small for him to see it clearly. The system of harnessing the ambient Mana was pretty close to the enchanted workstations Nalmar developed.

Francis nodded to himself. An academy of Magic that didn't fly simply shouldn't exist.

”Francis,” Frederick approached him from beyond, joining him in staring at the core.

”Gramps.”

”I would like to apologize for the last few days.”

”There's no need.”

His grandpa went on as if he hadn't heard that.