Chapter 40: Fruit of the World Tree

Rainer sat at a table within his mansion deep in thought. To the side, Gunthar watched over the two guests, who Rainer had drained of mana and would continue to do so periodically.

Kara, with a little Luna scratching her ear, joined Gunthar in guard, though, in truth, she was staring at Rainer. He sat resting his head on his fist gazing out toward nothing in particular. Her relief had caused her to gloss over it when he came out of his trial, but now even without knowing how much it increased by, his new appearance left her stunned. A foot followed her thoughts, kicking the unconscious Fae, eliciting a small grunt.

“Little Wolf?” Gunthar asked a bit confused.

“Look at Rainer, his 2nd Tier class improved his charisma significantly...these stupid Fae ruined an entertaining reunion…”

“I see,” Gunthar mumbled and looked off into the distance, “Those who hold out their hands in prayer cannot choose the miracle that comes to them…”

“What 2nd class is he, in any case, Luna?” Kara asked ignoring Gunthar’s antics. She had heard the Fae mumble Lord Archon, but was positive she misheard. Sure, in herself mishearing, to the point where it wasn’t even an option.

“Archon,” Luna answered while still absentmindedly moving her small hands on Kara’s ear. Luna had already mentally noted Rainer as better than the “First Hero.” So him being an Archon, was just an all, but expected result.

Kara and Gunthar just stood there frozen. The existence known as an Archon meant different things and had varying legends between the two, yet one thing was clear: It was an existence beyond anything they could imagine.

An invisible tension seemed to ease in Kara’s shoulders as she leaned against the wall. The only time she felt safe ever since she was forced to run away was with Rainer. Yet after the attack on him by the Fae, she was once more reminded of those who sought her. Had he told her not to run to keep him safe, she may very well have. But now, she fully believed the words she had told Rainer before him leaving for his 2nd Class Advancement.

Even up until now Gunthar had been unsure as to why a small group of 3 had been chosen for the quest in Nalmar. Even after all of Rainer’s abilities, the Little Wolf’s strength, and the Lady of the Fae’s absurd healing ability, they were, in the end, three people. But true understanding came to him.

As both Gunthar and Kara lacked words, Rainer spent his thoughts on exactly which second primary class he’d choose. Luna had opened the menu for him, and he went over the descriptions of the most promising ones.

[Magic Scholar: One who seeks to solve the mysteries behind Magic and its Runic Languages. 25% Increase in the learning of Runic Languages. 25% General Improvement to all Magic Skills. +2.5 Intelligence, .5 Affinity, per level after 1]

[Arcane Bladesman: As a seeker of the Arcane, the true origin of magic, all secrets of the universe await thee. Wields his magic in his blade and lets his foes know of the Arcane’s versatile power. 60% General improvement and growth to Arcane spells and skills. 25% Improvement and growth to all skills and spells. 25% Total improvement to Aura and the [Arcane Blade] spell. Allows the initial learning of any skill far easier. +1 Intelligence, +1 Affinity, +.5 Strength, +.5 Dexterity, +.5 Aura Control, +.5 Aura Attunement, +.3 Willpower, +.5 Arcane Attunement, .05 All Attributes per Level after 1]

[Paladin: A truly versatile combatant. Wielder of Might, Aura, and Light. One who knows no bounds in seeking the mastery of combat. 50% General Improvement to Aura and its skills. 40% General Improvement to all Light skills and spells. 30% General Improvement to all physical skills. +.5 Intelligence, +.5 Affinity, +1 Strength, +.5 Dexterity, +1 Aura Control, +1 Aura Attunement per Level after 1]

He also had no plans on gaining more Familiars anytime soon, so any beast and familiar related class were of little interest. Rather he hoped Luna or Kara could take the Wyvern as theirs instead of him.

Rainer decided to choose one, that even at level 1, would provide the most benefit for his upcoming battle. [Arcane Bladesman] only added 60%, which while on its own was powerful, compared to his already 400% Arcane bonus it was not too large of a power up. Yet Rainer found a class ideally suited to his combat style, especially if the Fae coming included those among them that fought in melee range.

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[Chronomancer: Bender of the very fabric of our universe. Controller of Space and Time. 75% General Improvement to Spatial and Time skills and magic. 25% Improvement to Spatial and Time Manipulation skills. +1 to Affinity, +2 to Intelligence, +1 to Willpower per level after 1.]

Jack of all trades, master of none…

Rainer thought to himself. He could improve his melee ability, but then compared to an actual warrior it was lacking. Instead, if he could improve his ability in controlling gravity and possibly far more useful subjects related to space-time, then his combat abilities multiplied.

With the bonus of 1 to all stats he ventured there wasn’t a mage who could fight him in close combat and to compete against a warrior, he’d rather do that as a mage.

Even then, lacking stats against a warrior, the presence of [Gravity Domain] could set an equal playing field. An equal playing field, that would then be torn asunder by the very existence of a spell like [Arcane Blade].

Rainer immediately used [Spatial Domain]. Not only had the mana cost decreased significantly, the accuracy of what he could sense within the domain increased. Out of all his magic he wished to level up [Spatial Domain] the most, yet he always lacked an idea of what to do. He hoped that extra 75% would get him over that boundary.

He extended it around the room and noticed the strange atmosphere surrounding Gunthar and Kara. Gunthar mumbled something about how it all made sense. What made sense, went beyond Rainer’s understanding. Kara leaned quietly against the wall with her eyes closed, a relaxed smile on her face.

Most importantly...neither guarded the Fae.

Rainer cleared his throat and gained both their attentions as he walked over.

“I see you’re really paying attention to our guests?” In truth, there was little reason to guard them. Rainer had recently drained both their mana and stamina. Even if they awoke, they could probably do little more than slur together a few angry words. They certainly wouldn’t have the magic to break through the rope tying them. Thanks for reading on ManaNovel!

“Sorcerer! Is it true?” Gunthar, out of his stupor, ran over to Rainer.

“No...neither of you were paying attention. It was sarcasm. You’re kind of out of it Gunthar.”

“Not that Sorcerer. Are you truly an Archon?”

Rainer looked at Gunthar a bit surprised. The Fae had reacted strangely as well. But neither Gunthar nor the Fae seemed to care about him being an [Arcanist]. Though, of course, Gunthar and Kara cared when he revealed information about the class.

He only had the memory of choosing the [Archon] class. What choices he had or why he had those choices was unknown to him, the memory erased.

“I am. The Fae were surprised too. What’s the big deal?” He knew just how strong the class was, but this way was always more fun for him. He, however, knew nothing of the history of it.

“What’s the big deal, he says. Judging by Little Wolf’s reaction I imagine an Archon is a similarly legendary existence here. It was an [Archon] who discovered how to use the Mana Well for enchanting. Prior to that, it was, but a useless curiosity. He even constructed the barrier that was fueled by it. Without him, there would have never been a Nalmar. In combat, he was considered unrivaled. It was, however, long before my time.”

Kara joined in on the conversation.

“In this world, most races consider the story, or perhaps truth, of The Archon as a tale of their savior. Who helped to bring magic across the world and for the people to rise above the monsters that engulfed the world. I never knew that it was a class. It could be a coincidence, but...given the nature of your 1st class I cannot imagine this one is any less astounding.”

Rainer took a moment to share his class with both. Kara, who had already understood that he had become far more powerful only licked her lips imagining the future increases in attributes, whereas Gunthar stood entirely still. Lacking a facial expression no one could tell what Gunthar was thinking yet he was completely immobile.

“Silly people. Being so surprised. Luna wasn’t surprised at all,” Luna proudly declared as such, though no one paid the boasting Fairy any mind.

“Gunthar?” Rainer asked waving his hand in front of Gunthar’s face.

Gunthar seemed unresponsive.

Rainer only laughed a bit and focused on the next task at hand. He turned his attention toward the unconscious Fae. More specifically toward the female one.

[Fairy, Female, Rune Knight lvl 17]

Seeing her ability to resist his [Gravity Domain], his interest piqued. Such interest, only multiplied when he considered how a single Rune seemingly accomplished this. Add in the similarity of her runic lines that shown through her clothes across her body to his own [Arcane Awakening], and Rainer’s innate curiosity for magic grew to a point where he had no say in the matter.

“Hey, Kara, some of her leather armor looks complicated. Help me strip her,” Contrary to his expectations Kara didn’t even bat an eyelid.

With Kara’s help, Rainer unclothed the unconscious female Fae and was currently staring at the Runic patterns on her body. He noted his body during [Arcane Awakening], after fighting his other self, seemed Runic in nature though it didn’t seem to form anything. The Fae in front of him had far less complex silver lines across her body, but in the few places where they joined together as runes, they surpassed his own.

Slowly he traced his finger along the fair skin of the Fae. His eyes followed closely as he traced the lines across her chest and toward the Rune in the center. He stared at it intently, as if she were a tome of magic and not a woman who had her chest displayed in front of him. Her chest rose and fell with her every sharp breath, as she lacked stamina.

He knew the Rune; he understood the Rune, but he had no idea how this single Rune produced the effect he saw. It was a variation of one of the Runes in the formulae for [Mana Shield]. The effect that allowed her to resist the gravity he placed on her.

Kara stood guard a bit away, just in case, as Rainer checked over the Runic patterns. Her eyes were focused sharply on him causing Luna to speak.

“Is She-Wolf jealous?” The little fairy asked with a giggle.

“Not in the slightest. I was hoping to tease Rainer about the glances he took, but he hasn’t taken a single one. As if one of the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen wasn’t naked in front of him. It’s a bit disappointing.” Kara said while sighing and looking at the Blue-Hair Fae covered in elegant silver runic lines.

“Ah! Luna understands. Rainer is always making fun of Luna, but Luna can never do anything back. Saying how Luna falls asleep on guard or doesn’t appraise things properly, always playing around with Luna’s small body.”

But you do all those things…

Kara thought with a smile on her face.

After nearly an hour of tracing the lines and flipping over her sleeping body repeatedly, Rainer was no closer to understanding just how any of it worked. The Runes, from his perspective, while they were correct, they shouldn’t do anything. He knew not of any formulae that contained only a single Rune. Somehow it worked in concert with her mana pool and the entirety of the runic markings.

Rainer got up and covered the Fae with a blanket, deciding he’d have to interrogate them to understand how these Runes worked. He believed it crucial to advancing his [Arcane Awakening] skill beyond level 1. He, of course, expected some assistance from his [Archon] class in that endeavor. He, however, needed to at least understand what he was trying to achieve.

Luna was little help in the matter beyond a quick explanation on the difference between a [Fae Enchanter] and a normal one. The difference simply being one involved nonliving, enchanted items, and the Fae counterpoint involved the living. Luna’s personal abilities extended only to a small amount of spirit magic and the 4 gifts she could perform. And her Faerie Flame, unrelated to her class.

“Luna, can you come here for a second?” He called out with his palm stretched out.

Getting valid information could be the difference between life and death. And as of now, he had no way of determining the truth of anything these two Fae would tell him. He knew the [Rune Knight] seemed to care for the [Fae Enchanter], and hopefully in reverse, but it isn’t as if he could immediately test all the information gained.

Luna fluttered over and landed on his palm. As he stared at her intently, she merely tilted her head.

Whenever Rainer had surpassed 100 in Affinity and Intelligence, he always felt exhilarated. As if he could see and feel more when it came to magic. As if crossing some sort of boundary. Now, he was always past that boundary. And after inspecting his mana pool, in a way he never could before, he thought perhaps he could use such an inspection for a different purpose.

“Luna, just answer my questions yes or no, it's important.”

“Okay, Rainer.”

“Is Luna your name?”

“Of course, Luna is Luna’s name. How could Rainer forget!”

“Luna...yes or no.”

“Yes.” She grumbled out not understanding anything. Rainer carefully inspected her Mana pool with [Mana Detection] while receiving aid from [Fae Anatomy].

[Mana Detection has reached level 2]

The lack of experience distracted him for a moment, but he pressed on.

“When we first met in the mine, did you fall asleep while on guard?”

“Luna did no such thing!”

[Skill Gained: Mana Reading lvl 1/10]

[Mana Reading: The ability to observe the changes in another’s mana pool and discern their meanings.]

Whether it was emotions or otherwise, one’s Mana Pool was not a stable existence. This was true for Rainer as well who had learned [Arcane Sound Infusion] due to a minor leak of Mana laced with Arcane Power. He also had activated [Arcane Rage] without meaning to. And now, gaining the skill, he could clearly tell Luna was untruthful.

“Luna...you fell asleep on guard in such a dangerous place!” Kara asked rushing over.

“Luna said she didn’t…” She responded while playing with her fingers. Kara continued to stare at her prompting another response, “Okay, Luna fell asleep a little. Luna was very tired, and Rainer was so comfortable.”

Rainer just gave a slight laugh while rubbing her head with his finger. Luna instantly cheered up.

“I’m guessing you achieved the skill you were searching for?” Kara asked Rainer seeing he didn’t continue his questioning.

“Quite easily. Unless [Mana Reading] is a common thing, I can’t imagine these Fae will be capable of lying to me.”

“I’ve never heard of such an ability.” Gunthar off to the side responded, now out of his stupor. He, however, mentioned nothing about the stunned state he was in nor did he mention Rainer’s class again. Kara too nodded at what Gunthar had said.

“Then we’ll see just what these Fae can tell us,” Rainer spoke while narrowing his eyes toward the [Rune Knight].

If these two cared for each other, by far the easiest method to interrogate was to torture the other in front of their loved one. He steeled himself, knowing that any lack of information could mean his death. He had already killed to keep himself safe, and he would once more try and do whatever it took.