Chapter 54: The Mana-Well (3)

Gunthar and Theodore walked through the city, crossing over an ocean of bones, that cracked under their steps. They headed towards their home. The sun, to their displeasure, shone down on them no longer blocked.

“Have you thought about it Gunthar, why Nalmar was chosen as the site for a quest?”

“Because our city was taken by undead, no one else could free it?”

“I do not think the quest givers are such benevolent beings,” Theodore while a believer in the Holy One, did not take a view that the Holy One was almighty, or alone, “Whatever the [Arch-Lich] planned to use the Mana-Well for, something did not wish it. I am worried…”

“That we won’t be able to go back with them? I had such an initial fear. But, I have already been to their world, I see no reason why that would change,” Gunthar interrupted.

“I see…” Theodore spoke no more as they then hurried to their home.

Neither Gunthar nor Theodore took any time to look for items of sentimental value, and instead prioritized things they could use. Gunthar took one of the extra enchanted items they had for assisting in the unlocking of one’s Affinity attribute, assuming they had affinity at all.

Theodore went down into his basement and took his own personal research on the soul. He had methods for strengthening it and planned to restore the damage he caused to his own. The path forward, he did not know, but he sought now to at least try, finding the liberation of the city to be bittersweet.

--

Standing in the Enchanter’s Hall, the group spent the last hour of the countdown sorting what they would take with them. Theodore and Gunthar had taken suitcases from their home. They used them to carry any extras. Rainer’s ring was filled to the brim with both the [Arch-Lich]’s research material and tomes he didn’t have enough time to read to bring later up in [Sleep Learning].

After meeting up with Gunthar and Theodore, Rainer headed to Nalmar’s library and then finally on the way back took any enchanting books with him. He found most of them too complex for a quick read.

Gunthar had assorted items from his house, the formerly collected [Scaled Wyvern] blood, and two sets of armor and weapon, himself wearing one of the armor sets. In one of the suitcases, Theodore put everything he thought would be useful from the hidden library.

[Grand Paladin’s Full Plate Set: An enchanted full set of plate armor and helm of blessed steel: +18 Constitution, +18 Endurance, +18 Strength, +9 Aura Attunement]

The same as Theodore’s armor.

Nearly all enchanted items slightly changed sizes to fit their wearers; rings especially. While It was far less for armor, the clothes Luna created also helped keep the armor, larger than his original, on Gunthar’s body.

“It shall be hard, but since the armor is one where the enchantment altered the item itself, a proper [Magic Blacksmith] could do alteration without damage,” Theodore who had been quiet up until now commented as Luna made a final adjustment for the armor to fit properly.

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[00:03:32]

“When we return to your world, I would like to head to the North immediately,” Theodore said.

“We should meet up first with someone who can help us, he’s done a lot of research on the matter.”

“I wish to go alone, for a while…” Theodore said and seeing the distressed faces added, “Do not worry I will not venture in deeply, and I am more than capable of defending myself. I merely wish some time alone. Truly alone, without the [Arch-Lich] within my mind. You can track with my connection to the Lady of the Fae.”

Changing the subject, Rainer asked an important question given Gunthar’s new level.

[Undead, Male, Death Knight lvl 25]

“Did you get the quest for advancement?”

“No. I did not receive anything.”

“I’ll look through the [Arch-Lich]’s research. Maybe the immortal body has to do with it. We’ll figure it out.”

“Do not worry about me, Sorcerer. I am more than content; I can always level another class with the Lady of the Fae’s help. Who knows what my undead form may offer me?” Thanks for reading on ManaNovel!

Rainer nodded as the timer counted down. He sat down quietly with Luna sitting in his lap.

[00:01:00]

[Party Leader Granted Reward: The Object known as the Mana-Well.]

Suddenly the message distorted and changed.

[Party Leader Granted Reward: Overcoat of Arcane Constitution]

A black coat lined with violet runic lines landed on Rainer’s lap as he looked on in a confused rage. He shoved it away without even appraising it, but before he could run down the stairs toward the Mana-Well another message stopped him in his tracks.

[Gunthar LothFane Removed from Rainer’s Party]

[Theodore LothFane Removed from Rainer’s Party]

“What the fuck is going on?”

“Something…someone…does not wish for Nalmar’s secrets to leave,” Theodore growled out.

“Luna add them back. Go!”

She flew out from Rainer and tried to draw the magic symbol for the party onto their hands, but it found no purchase, simply fading each time.

“Rainer what’s happening?” Kara asked as she ran over to Luna, but she could do nothing to help them.

Rainer’s thoughts raced as the timer ticked down. He knew what was happening. Again he believed some entity in control of the system sought to impede him. Yet no matter what he thought he didn’t know what to do.

[00:00:18]

As the timer ticked down the rings and items, Rainer gathered from Nalmar slipped through his hands as he phased out of this world.

“No, no, no, Gunthar quickly, give me your hand,” Rainer desperately tried to grip onto a still Gunthar to take him with them, but his hand simply slipped through.

[00:00:14]

“It was a pleasure…Sorcerer,” Gunthar held out his hand in the very handshake Rainer had shown.

[00:00:11]

“Gunthar…” Kara softly said as she stared at him. Her arm gently passed through his shoulder as tears formed in her eyes.

[00:00:08]

“Gunthar has to come with us, Luna demands it!” The fairy flying through and around him yelled out, but Gunthar was unmoving.

[00:00:06]

Rainer reached out his hand, and held it in Gunthar’s, even though he couldn’t touch it.

[00:00:04]

“Goodbye, everyone.”

[00:00:03]

“Thank you for the time you have given me, to feel alive once more."

[00:00:00]

Kara and Luna faded back into the other world. Rainer’s hand faded from Gunthar’s leaving the Father and Son alone amidst a dead city. Silence permeated the room.

And yet...the calm became chaos as a man tore back through the void.

He borrowed from the very power that threw him away and wielded the magic that sent him to this new world.

[Spell Gained: Void-Walking lvl 1/10]

[Title Gained: Voidwalker]

[Experience Gained: Deferred]

Numerous messages continued to flash by Rainer but seeing the ones he desired his focus was undeterred. He pushed through the void toward Nalmar once more with a new strength. And in this void a divine might roared, but its audience did not heed the call. Rainer’s second created item shattered in its use.

[Ring of Granting Resistances: For 1 second increases one's ability to learn resistance skills by 210%. Does not work on any physical, magical, or elemental resistances. Destroys on use.]

For anyone other than an [Archon], a useless trinket. Prior to learning of his memories being erased by a system related force, he could only see this object as a strange paranoia of the unknown. Rainer later learned he tried to directly create something to resist some sort of god-like figure but was unable. He found by adding enough relevant negative restrictions the percentage could be improved to a useable amount.

Rainer looked at the messages allowing him to fight the power weighing on him.

[Skill Gained: Divine Resistance lvl 1/10]

[Divine Resistance has reached level 2]

[Title Gained: One who defies Divinity]

[Experience Gained: Deferred]

Gunthar’s skeletal face could not express his emotions as he felt his hand gripped. Rainer grabbed him and flung him back on the path he took, sending him to Kara and Luna.

The Runic lines of [Arcane Awakening] shone in their full power as Rainer trudged forward toward Theodore.

Theodore hesitated for a moment before he rushed over and picked up all the fallen rings, the rewarded coat, as well as the suitcases and then allowed Rainer’s hand to grab him, sending him to his son.

Rainer gazed toward the stairs leading to the Mana-Well and without pause moved forward.

Each step he fought against the power seeking to return him. Rainer knew, that without having used this power, which already opened a passageway, moving between worlds was too difficult. He welcomed this power, and he still had a use for it.

He headed down the stairs and approached the Mana-Well. Unbeknownst to him, a Holy Radiance covered him, blocking the full force of the Divine Power.

As if slogging through a thick liquid Rainer finally reached the Mana-Well. He couldn’t help but grin as he wrapped his hands around it.

He could not remove it from its enchantment.

And he did not need to. He honed and focused his spell toward a specific target.

He let the power return him through space and time, disappearing in a massive spatial fluctuation, collapsing the already failing structure of the underground room.

And the Mana-Well went with him.